Battle of Machghara

Battle of Machghara
Part of the Fifth Crusade
Date 15 December 1217 Location Machghara Result Ayyubid victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Hungary	Ayyubid Dynasty
Commanders and leaders
Dionysus (POW)	Unknown
Strength
500 cavalry	Unknown
Casualties and losses
All but 3 killed or captured	Unknown

The Battle of Machghara occurred on December 15, 1217, as part of the Fifth Crusade. In it, an army led by a Hungarian nobleman was ambushed and defeated in Machghara.

Background

Shortly after the failed siege of Mount Tabor, a handful of adventurous crusaders, mainly Hungarians, decided to launch a raid against the castle of Beaufort. The Hungarian leader, a certain rich nobleman named Dionysus, led a force of 500 cavalry. Arab sources claim that they were led by the Nephew of the Hungarian king, Andrew.^[1][2]

Battle

The Balian of Sidon tried to warn the Hungarians of the difficulties in the mountainous region, inhabited by mountaineers who harassed the Crusader territory of Sidon but paid no attention to it. The Hungarians set out and arrived in Machghara, located between the mountains, whose seat is approximately halfway between Sidon and Damascus. The inhabitants learned of the upcoming raid and evacuated the town. The Hungarians rested there for three days. On December 15, the Muslims attacked the Hungarians, who were taken by surprise, killing and capturing a large number of men and horses. Their leader fell prisoner.^[3][4][5][6]

Those who escaped the massacre retreated towards Sidon. During the battle, the Hungarians captured a Muslim prisoner called al-Jamus, and he guided them to a safe route in exchange for his freedom, to which they agreed. However, the Crusaders entered a deep ravine, where they were chased by Muslims and slaughtered. The Hungarians executed the Muslim prisoner for his treachery. Few of the Crusaders survived the massacre. According to Abu Shama, only 3 out of 500 Crusaders survived and reached Sidon.^{[7][8][9][10]} The prisoners were then taken to Damascus.^[11]

The battle marked the end of the Hungarian Crusade. King Andrew began preparations to return home.^[12]

References

Sources

• László Veszprémy, The Crusade of Andrew II, King of Hungary, 1217–1218.[1]
• Kenneth Setton, A History of the Crusades, Volume II: The Later Crusades, 1189–1311.[2]
• Reinhold Röhricht, History of the Kingdom of Jerusalem (1100–1291) (in German).[3]
• József Bánlaky: Military history of the Hungarian nation (MEK-OSZK), 0014/1149. Endre's crusade in 1217–1218.[4]