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.
At a glance
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In time
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
- 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. Accessed 2026-10-18.