Barry

Konya in the Mamluk IL Khanid war of 1277
In 1277 the Mamluk of Egypt under Baibars (Zahir Rukn-al-din Baybars - Bu`ndukdari. 1260 - 1277) drove north through Syria into present day Turkey to attack the Mongol IL Khanid forces under the IL Khan Abaqa. They met at Elbistan (Elbistan/Kahramanmaraş Province Turkey) in a great battle. The Seljuk s of Rum Forces under Pervâne sat out the fight even though both the Mongols and the Mamluk expected Pervane to lead the Seljuk to their aid. Baibars led 10,000 troops and expected 30,000 Mongols but due to the IL Khan war with the Golden Horde of Berke they only faced 7,000 Mongols. While they beat the Mongols the Mongols broke the Mamluk left flank and then fought to the death. Baibars took his victory with no rejoicing since it was a partial victory at great cost.
The Karamanoglu who are usually referred to in this war as the Qaramanids used this opportunity to break with the Seljuk and ally themselves with Baibars and the Mamluk. The were able to drive the IL Khanid forces out of the Konya region. The IL Khanid Mongols regrouped and received massive reinforcements from Persia and the Mamluk withdrew south into Syria where Baibars died. The Mongols devastated Eastern Rum i.e. the Konya, Karaman region but the affect was only temporary. The Karamanoglu really won since their setback was temporary and they separated themselves from the Seljuk and became a power in their own right soon repopulating the Konya region.