The Fall of Outremer
More Rivalries in Outremer
The Archbishop of Liège had accompanied Prince Edward on his crusade. Soon after, the archbishop became Pope Gregory X, and he dedicated himself to launching a crusade. He called the Council of Lyons in 1274, at which the concerns for the East were paramount. A crusade was actually proclaimed in 1275, but nothing came of it.
Meanwhile, King Hugh removed to Cyprus in 1276, frustrated by the constant quarrels among the barons, the merchants, the Orders, and the towns. In 1277 Maria of Antioch, who had inherited a rival claim to the throne of Jerusalem, sold her claim to none other than Charles of Anjou. Charles at once sent Roger of San Severino to serve as his bailli. This created new difficulties, for there was no real King of Jerusalem but only various representatives of regents and claimants, with plenty of room for varying interpretations not only of their legitimacy but also the extent of their authority.
The Temple and the Venetians sided with Roger, but the Patriarch and the Hospital stayed loyal to King Hugh. The barons didn't like Roger, but they had been feuding with Hugh as well, and Roger had brought some soldiers with him, so the barons reluctantly recognized his authority (and, by proxy, the authority of Charles of Anjou). Hugh was furious, and in 1279 went so far as to seize all Templar properties on Cyprus in revenge.
Roger was strong and his master was endlessly ambitious. They were determined to make Outremer part of the Angevin's holdings and to make the powers there subservient. It's unlikely that Charles intended to lead a crusade, for his chief interests lay in the direction of Constantinople.
Qalavun
Baibars died 1 July 1277. He was succeeded by his son, but he was young and not a strong leader, and he was overthrown August 1279 by one of his generals, Qalavun, who quickly established his authority both in Syria and in Egypt.
The Mongols, meanwhile, had re-ordered their house and were ready to move once again against the Muslims. A double army marched down from the north and east, crossing the Euphrates in 1281. Qalavun marched north and they met near Homs on 30 October. Once again, Christians fought alongside the Mongols (the Hospitallers and the Armenians this time). As it had been with Baibars, this support of the hated Mongols made Qalavun decide that the Christians simply could not be trusted.