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Crusader States Decline and Mamluks Rise
- The Crusader States steadily declined due to military defeats and internal fractures. - The Mamluks, Turkic slave soldiers, rapidly advanced, capturing key Crusader castles before focusing on Acre.
Acre's Fragmented Defense
- Acre's defense was fragmented among various groups with no unified command. - Italian merchant republics undermined the Crusaders by trading war supplies to the Mamluks.
Mamluk Army Composition
- The Mamluk army heavily relied on skilled Kipchak Turk soldiers raised as slave warriors. - These troops were converted Muslims with strong fighting capabilities, often recruited via Christian intermediary traders.