The Fall of Outremer
Death of Kalavun
In 1289 the Ilkhan Arghun called for an alliance with the West. He sent letters to the kings, of which the one to Philip of France survives. The Ilkhan even promised that the Christians could have Jerusalem. Fine replies were written, but the matter was left up to the pope and nothing was done.
Meanwhile, the riots in Acre determined Kalavun; or, more specifically, the refusal of the barons to turn over those who had perpetrated the murders. He organized his forces in secret. The Templars were tipped off, but no one believed them, for they were always arguing for a fight against the Mameluks. But the seriousness of the situation became evident when Kalavun set out with an army in early November, 1290.
Four days later, however, Kalavun died (10 November 1290). The army turned around and another Mameluk succession was under way. Unlike earlier changes of leadership, this time the Sultan's son succeeded with little trouble. Al-Ashraf Khalil swore to continue his father's campaign to drive out the Christians.
Khalil was capable and strong, and he quickly established his control. He continued the preparations almost without missing a step. It became clear even to the most doubtful that something big was afoot. Spring came, and the Mameluk army set out. The army had hundreds of siege engines, some of which were monstrously huge. He had tens of thousands of troops—perhaps as many as one hundred thousand.
The Christians had appealed for help over the winter, but only a handful of troops came from the West. But all of Outremer's strength was gathered, including troops from Cyprus, led by Amalric, the king's brother. They tried negotiating with Khalil, but the Sultan simply threw the ambassadors in prison, where they soon died.
By the time Khalil reached Damascus, he had armies from across the sultanate and outnumbered the Christians ten to one. They arrived before Acre on 5 April 1291.