History
The town was established in 1219 by Abu-Bakr Malik Al-Adil I (also known as Saphadin, ‘Saif ed-Deen’), Salahuddin al-Ayyubi’s brother during Ayyubid dynasty. It was named al-Mansurah, which means ‘The Victorious’ after the Muslims defeated the Crusaders on its land during the Seventh Crusade. The town was then being made as capital by Abu-Bakr’s son, Sultan Malik al-Kamil in 1221 to replace Damietta, which had fallen to the Crusaders.
In 1249 a Crusading army led by King Louis IX of France (St Louis) succeeded in crossing the Ushmum Canal (now the Bahr el-Sughayyar; near the main bus terminal) to Al-Manṣūrah after ferocious fighting. Unfortunately, they were then surrounded and defeated by the young Sultan el-Moazzam Turanshah (other source indicate that Kamal al-Ayyubi, the nephew of Salahuddin al-Ayyubi was the one who defeated the crusaders). Their fleet was destroyed and their supplies were cut off.
Dar Ibn Lokman; now Mansoura National Museum.Louis himself was taken prisoner in April 1250, and being confined in the house of Ibrahim ibn Lokman, secretary to the Sultan, and under the guard of the eunuch Sahil. The king’s brother was made prisoner at the same time, and carried to the same house. The king was then released on May 6th, 1250 in return for a heavy ransom and the surrender of Damietta. The house of Ibrahim ibn Lokman has now been turned into Al-Manṣūrah National Museum for his possessions and memorabilia.
The locals are light-skinned and fair-haired - supposedly because Al-Manṣūrah’s women are the most beautiful in Egypt! (according to locals) The town is regarded as the Bride of the Delta (Arabic = `Arous el-Delta) and Geziret el-Ward (the island of roses).
Sikkah or Souq al-Khawagat?
Abbasi Road: A place to shop electrical goods.
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