Editing 1266 (section)

==== Levant ====
* [[July 23]] &ndash; [[Siege of Safed (1266)|Siege of Safed]]: Mamluk forces capture the castle of [[Safed]], defended by a garrison of 1,700 men (including some 500 [[Knights Templar]]), after a 6-week siege. Sultan [[Baibars]] promises [[safe conduct]] but when the Christians and Templars are on their way towards [[Acre, Israel|Acre]], they are seized and beheaded.<ref>Andrew Roberts (2011). ''Great Commanders of the Medieval World (454–1582)'', pp. 194–196. {{ISBN|978-0-85738-589-5}}.</ref>
* [[August 24]] &ndash; [[Battle of Mari]]: Mamluk forces (some 30,000 men) led by Baibars defeat the Armenian army in [[Cilicia]], in retaliation for the support of the [[Mongol invasions of the Levant|Mongol invasion in Syria]]. He expands his domain, capturing the city of [[Byblos]] (modern [[Lebanon]]) and the important castle of [[Toron]] from the [[Crusader states|Crusader States]].
* [[October 28]] &ndash; A Crusader advance guard is ambushed by the Egyptian garrison of Safed, while local Arabs attack the Crusader camp. The 13-year-old [[Hugh II of Cyprus|Hugh II]], ruler of [[Kingdom of Cyprus|Cyprus]], is advised to retire and withdraw with heavy losses. Meanwhile, Baibars campaigns in [[Galilee]] and leads a lightning raid to [[Tripoli, Lebanon|Tripoli]].<ref>[[Steven Runciman]] (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 268. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>