Saladin's victory at Horns of Hama secured Ayyubid control over Damascus, Baalbek, and Homs, reshaping power in Syria against the Zengids.
Key Facts
- Date
- 13 April 1175 (19 Ramadan AH 570)
- Total combatants
- ~20,000 men on both sides
- Treaty date
- 6 May 1175
- Gökböri defection
- Gökböri defected to Saladin in 1182
- Outcome
- Nearly bloodless Ayyubid victory
- Territories secured
- Damascus, Baalbek, Homs
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Saladin sought to consolidate Ayyubid authority over Syria at the expense of the Zengid rulers who had previously dominated the region. Tensions between the two powers came to a head as Saladin moved to absorb Zengid-held territories, prompting armed confrontation near Hama.
At the Horns of Hama on 13 April 1175, the Ayyubid forces under Saladin clashed with the Zengid army, whose right wing under Gökböri initially broke Saladin's left flank. The timely arrival of Egyptian reinforcements produced a psychological collapse among the Zengids, delivering Saladin a nearly bloodless victory despite roughly 20,000 combatants on both sides.
Following the battle, Saladin installed local heirs over conquered territories but later deposed them in favor of his own dynasty. On 6 May 1175, his opponents signed a treaty recognizing his rule over Syria except Aleppo. The Abbasid caliph acknowledged his current holdings and urged him to direct efforts against the Crusader kingdom in Jerusalem.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Saladin.
Side B
1 belligerent
Gökböri.