Battle of Elbistan

Battle of Elbistan (aka Abulustayn and Abolustan)
Part of the Mongol invasions of the Levant
DateApril 15, 1277
Location
Elbistan (Abulustayn)
38°12′05″N 37°11′18″E / 38.2014°N 37.1883°E / 38.2014; 37.1883
Result Mamluk victory
Belligerents
Mamluk Sultanate
Commanders and leaders
Tödä'ün Noyan 
Tuqu Noyan 
Uruqtu Noyan 
Pervâne
Leo II
Demetrius II
Baybars
Isa ibn Muhanna
Zayn al-Din Ahmad bin Hanna
Strength
  • 14,000
  • 11,000 Mongols
  • 3,000 Georgians
  • Unknown number of Rum Seljuk troops
14,000
Casualties and losses
6,000–10,000 Mongols, 2,000 or more Georgians and Rum Seljuks Relatively few

On April 15, 1277, the Mamluk Sultan Baybars marched from Syria into the Mongol-dominated Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm and attacked the Mongol occupation force in the Battle of Elbistan (Abulustayn). Upon reaching Elbistan with at least 10,000 horseman, Baibars made ready for battle with the Mongols, expecting them to be around 30,000. The Mongol forces were smaller but they were supported by Armenians, Georgians and Rum Seljuks that bolstered their numbers. The Mamluk army was led by Baybars and his Bedouin Arab general Isa ibn Muhanna and his Egyptian companionship vizier Zayn al-Din Ahmad bin Hanna.