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Battle of Marj al-Saffar against the Franks

وقعة مرج الصفر مع الفرنج

1126 CE · 520 AH – 1126 CE · 520 AH

The battle of Marj al-Saffar, late 520 AH; the Franks mustered their kings and counts and camped at Marj al-Saffar outside Damascus — the Atabeg Tughtakin summoned the Turkman of Diyar Bakr, left his son Buri sworn over the city, and joined battle; he was unhorsed and the Muslims broke, the Frankish horse chasing after them, but the Turkman infantry stood and fought to the death, massacring the Frankish foot and looting their camp before returning laden to Damascus — the returning Frankish cavalry found their camp plundered and their footmen dead.

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At a glance

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In time

1110112011301140
The Buyid, Fatimid and Seljuk Era · The Crusades, Ayyubids and Mamluks

Overview

The battle of Marj al-Saffar took place at the end of 520 AH, between the Franks and Atabeg Tughtakin of Damascus. 1

The battle

The kings and commanders of the Franks gathered, marched to Damascus and camped at Marj al-Saffar. Tughtakin asked the Turkmen of Diyar Bakr for help, and left his son Buri in charge of Damascus. Then he was unhorsed, the Muslims were routed, and the Frankish cavalry pursued them. 1

The end

The Turkmen foot soldiers held firm in the battle and fought to the death; they killed the Frankish foot soldiers and plundered their camp. The horsemen returned and found their camp plundered and their infantry dead. 1

The Gregorian date is derived from the Hijri date.

Sources

  1. Kitab al-Ibar of Ibn Khaldun
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Battle of Marj al-Saffar against the Franks”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/event/marj-al-saffar-520/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-16.

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