Mongols Bohemond VI of Antioch

bohemond s reign saw major conflict between mamluks , mongols. mongol army had been approaching steadily central asia, cilician armenia , antioch directly in path. mongols had deserved reputation of ruthlessness – if settlements in path did not surrender immediately, inhabitants slaughtered tens of thousands. christian country of georgia had been conquered in 1236. hetoum of armenia, bohemond s father-in-law, prudently decided subject mongol authority well, sending brother sempad mongol court in karakorum in 1247 negotiate details. hethoum later persuaded son-in-law bohemond vi same, , antioch became tributary of mongols in 1260. both hetoum , bohemond participated own forces during 1260 mongol conquests of aleppo , damascus. historical accounts, quoting writings of medieval historian templar of tyre, dramatically describe 3 christian rulers (hetoum, bohemond, , kitbuqa) entering city of damascus in triumph, though modern historians have questioned story apocryphal.

the mongols rewarded bohemond allegiance, , returned him various areas had been lost muslims, such lattakieh, darkush, kafar-dubbin, laodicea, , jabala. bohemond able re-occupy them, assistance of templars , hospitallers.

in return lands, bohemond had install greek patriarch euthymius @ antioch, in place of latin patriarch, since mongols trying strengthen ties byzantine empire. earned bohemond enmity of latins @ acre, , bohemond excommunicated patriarch of jerusalem, jacques pantaléon. pope alexander iv put bohemond s case on agenda of upcoming council (as cases of hetoum of armenia, , daniel of russia), died in 1261, months before council convened. new pope, choice fell pantaléon, took name pope urban iv, , after hearing bohemond s explanation submission mongols, suspended excommunication sentence.

bohemond vi joined armenians , mongols in capture of damascus in 1260.

after taking damascus, mongol army had cease westward push, due internal troubles in mongol empire. bulk of mongol army left syria, smaller force left under kitbuqa occupy territory. provided opportunity egyptian mamluks. mamluks advanced northward cairo engage mongols, along way negotiating unusual pact of neutrality franks of acre allowed egyptians pass through frankish territory unmolested. mamluks thereby able defeat mongols @ historic battle of ain jalut in september 1260. mongol army removed, mamluks proceeded conquer syria , iran, had been ravaged mongols. mamluks, under leader baibars, began threaten antioch.

in 1263, bohemond , hethoum tried various methods of regaining control of situation. kidnapped greek patriarch euthymius, , carried him off armenia, replacing him latin patriarch opizzo. attempted gain financial leverage on mamluks. example, bohemond , hethoum controlled forests of southern anatolia , lebanon, wood of needed egyptian mamluks build ships. hethoum attempted use bargaining chip obtain truce mamluks. however, attempts @ blockade merely further incited baibars.

in 1264, bohemond sought assistance mongols. traveled court of hulagu, trying obtain support possible mongol rulers against mamluk progression. however, hulagu unhappy bohemond replacing greek patriarch latin one, byzantine alliance important him, against turks in anatolia.

coat-of-arms of poitiers of antioch

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