Battle of Al-Raydaniyah| The Rise of Ottoman Rule
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| Tuman Bay II |
Battle of Al-Raydaniyah in 1517 was a defining moment that marked the fall of the Mamluk Sultanate and the establishment of Ottoman dominance in Egypt.
The clash unfolded near Cairo, in the Al-Raydaniyah area, named after Ridan Al-Siqilli, a relative of Jawhar Al-Siqilli from the Fatimid era.
Selim I led the Ottoman forces against Tuman Bay II’s Mamluk army, leveraging superior weaponry and advanced tactics to claim victory.
Internal discord and inadequate resources further weakened the Mamluks, This triumph granted the Ottomans control over Egypt, a strategically critical hub connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa.
The battle emphasized the transformative role of military innovation in shaping early modern empires and set the stage for Ottoman territorial expansion in subsequent years.
The Prelude to Conflict: Selim I’s Proposal and Tuman Bay II’s Dilemma
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| Sultan Selim I |
After the decisive Ottoman victory at the Battle of Marj Dabiq, Sultan Selim I consolidated his power in the Levant, culminating in Sinan Pasha’s triumph over Janberdi al-Ghazali at Khan Yunis.
Before advancing into Egypt, Selim I sought to avoid further conflict by sending an emissary to Mamluk Sultan Tuman Bay II.
The Ottoman Sultan’s letter proposed peace under specific terms, Tuman Bay II would retain rulership over Egypt and Gaza as a vassal of the Ottoman Empire, sending annual tributes and mentioning Selim I in the Friday sermons.
This offer came with a stern warning to avoid the fate of his predecessor, Qansuh al-Ghouri, Though Tuman Bay II appeared inclined to consider the proposal, internal pressures from his Circassian Mamluk followers and self-serving factions escalated tensions.
Their anger led to the execution of the Ottoman envoys, forcing Tuman Bay II into an unavoidable confrontation with the advancing Ottoman forces.
The March to Egypt: Selim I’s Advance and Tuman Bay’s Preparations
Following the execution of his messengers, Sultan Selim I resolved to invade Egypt, leading an army of approximately 150,000 troops and a formidable arsenal of mobile light cannons.
The campaign commenced with the army reaching Al-Arish on January 11, 1517, In preparation, Tuman Bay II ordered his forces to assemble at Al-Raydaniyah, intending to confront the Ottomans after they endured the hardships of crossing the desert.
However, his efforts were undermined by internal disloyalty—some soldiers abandoned their posts, retreating to Cairo under cover of night.
Bedouin tribes conducted raids on the Ottoman forces, incentivized by Tuman Bay, who offered gold for each Turkish head.
Yet, heavy rains aided the Ottoman army, solidifying the sandy terrain and facilitating their five-day march across the desert.
Meanwhile, Tuman Bay gathered 200 heavy, stationary cannons from Europe, believing these would deliver a tactical surprise, He also enlisted European gunners to operate the artillery.
With a combined force of 90,000 soldiers—half Mamluk military and half Egyptian recruits—Tuman Bay prepared to defend his domain against the advancing Ottomans.
The Battle of Al-Raydaniyah: Tuman Bay’s Last Stand
Tuman Bay fortified his defenses at Al-Raydaniyah, positioning 200 heavy cannons with European artillerymen and implementing trenches, dungeons, and anti-cavalry barriers inspired by Ottoman tactics at Marj Dabiq.
However, Ottoman intelligence, aided by the treachery of Khayer Bey and the Mamluk dissenter Janberdi, uncovered the Egyptian strategy.
Selim I orchestrated a daring flanking maneuver, bypassing the Mamluk defenses and striking from an unexpected direction.
Despite Tuman Bay’s efforts to rally his forces and counter the Ottoman advance, internal disorganization and delays weakened the Egyptian position.
The two armies clashed near Al-Raydaniyah in a ferocious battle lasting 7–8 hours, The Mamluks fought valiantly, inflicting significant losses on the Ottomans, including the death of Sinan Pasha.
Tuman Bay personally led a daring raid into Selim I’s camp, mistakenly killing one of Selim’s ministers, believing him to be the Sultan.
The superior artillery and firearms of the Ottomans ultimately overwhelmed the Mamluks, leaving around 25,000 dead.
Tuman Bay retreated, and the Ottomans advanced into Cairo, facing resistance before solidifying their control.
Though the Mamluks displayed extraordinary courage, they could not withstand the organized and technologically advanced Ottoman army, marking the end of Mamluk rule in Egypt.
Tuman Bay’s Resistance and the Fall of Cairo
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| Khayr Bey, the traitorous governor of Aleppo |
Sultan Tuman Bay, undeterred by defeat, gathered 7,000 knights and continued to resist the Ottomans in fierce street battles across Cairo.
Supported by Arab tribes, his forces launched daring attacks on Ottoman camps in Al-Raydaniyah.
Tuman Bay fortified himself in the Al-Saliba neighborhood, using Sheikhoun Mosque as his resistance center and establishing defenses at key locations such as Ras Al-Salibah, Qanater Al-Sebaa, Ras Al-Rummila, and the Mosque of Ibn Tulun.
His valor and leadership shone even in the face of overwhelming odds.
However, the Ottomans regained their momentum and stormed Cairo, unleashing a catastrophic massacre that historian Ibn Iyas termed The Great Misfortune.
Over 10,000 innocents, including women, children, and the elderly, were slaughtered within four days, their bodies left to decay in the streets.
The Ottomans looted and desecrated sacred sites, including the Sayyidah Nafisa Mosque and Sheikh Imad al-Din’s corner in Nasiriyah, while torching nearby homes.
Sheikhoun Mosque, Tuman Bay’s stronghold, was burned, and 800 captured Mamluks were executed.
Despite his heroic efforts, Tuman Bay’s resistance could not prevent the fall of Cairo to Ottoman forces.
Tuman Bay’s Defiance and Betrayals Amidst the Ottoman Onslaught
Sultan Tuman Bay assembled 2,000 skilled Mamluk cavalry and 7,000 Arab allies near Atfih to confront the Ottomans.
In a remarkable display of strategy, Prince Shadi Bey seized Ottoman boats on the Nile, trapping the enemy between his forces and Tuman Bay’s.
This tactical brilliance resulted in the annihilation of an entire Ottoman force, sparing only two survivors: Janissary leader Iyas Agha and the treacherous Mamluk prince Abu Hamza, who had defected to the Ottomans.
The devastating loss enraged Sultan Selim I, who accused Khair Bey of underestimating the Mamluks’ resolve and leading the Ottomans into a quagmire.
In a bid for peace, Selim proposed allowing Tuman Bay to remain in power, provided he acknowledged Ottoman sovereignty.
Tuman Bay agreed, but treacherous factions within the Mamluk ranks undermined the accord by killing the Ottoman envoys, igniting Selim’s fury.
The Ottomans responded with calculated aggression, dividing their forces into four divisions led by Selim I, Al-Ghazali, Yunus Pasha, and Janissary commander Iyas Pasha.
Despite an initial victory by Prince Shadi Bey’s 2,000 cavalry over a much larger Ottoman force, relentless assaults supported by Arab Ghazala tribes overwhelmed Tuman Bay’s forces.
Betrayals, internal discord, and relentless Ottoman pressure ultimately led to the defeat of the Mamluk resistance.
The Heroic Final Stand of Sultan Tuman Bay II
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| Hassan bin Marai The Traitor |
After his defeat, Sultan Tuman Bay sought refuge with Hassan bin Marai, a trusted ally who pledged loyalty to him.
Tragically, Hassan bin Marai betrayed him to the Ottomans, who captured the valiant leader and presented him to Sultan Selim I.
Despite being a prisoner, Tuman Bay’s unwavering pride shone through as he boldly told Selim: “The souls that have been raised on pride do not accept humiliation.
Have you heard that the lion is subjugated to the wolf? You are neither braver nor more honorable than us, Impressed by his courage, Selim remarked, “God, such a man does not deserve death.”
However, the relentless lobbying of traitorous Mamluk princes Khayr Bey and Jan Bardi Al-Ghazali convinced Selim that Tuman Bay’s survival posed a threat to Ottoman rule.
Succumbing to their fears, Selim reluctantly ordered Tuman Bay’s execution, On April 23, 1517, the sultan was paraded through Cairo, bound on a donkey, As he approached Bab Zuweila, he saw the rope that would end his life and walked towards it with composure.
In his final moments, Tuman Bay asked the people to recite Surah Al-Fatiha with him three times, After joining them in prayer, he turned to the executioner and calmly said, “Do your job.”
The execution was marked by mishaps as the noose broke twice, but on the third attempt, Tuman Bay ascended to his eternal rest.
The people mourned him deeply, their cries echoing through Cairo as they watched the last Sultan of Egypt depart.
On the third day, his body was taken down, washed, and buried with honor, His death left a void in the hearts of the people, with widows and orphans lamenting the loss of their courageous leader.
Yet, as the sun rose the next day, life in Cairo resumed as if nothing had happened, marking the end of the Mamluk Sultanate and the dawn of Ottoman rule.
BY the way..In march 1519, Sultan Selim I ordered the arrest of Hassan bin Marai, but Hassan managed to escape from Khayr Bey’s prison.
This act of defiance angered Khayr Bey, who immediately commanded his soldiers to recapture him.
Once Hassan was apprehended, Khayr Bey ordered his execution, Hassan’s head was severed and publicly displayed, hung on Bab Zuweila as a grim symbol of the consequences of defying the Ottomans and their agents.