Aistulf vs Shajar al-Durr

Aistulf succeeded his brother Ratchis as king of the Lombards after Ratchis abdicated to become a monk. Aistulf immediately pursued an aggressive expansionist policy, aiming to conquer the remaining Byzantine territories in Italy and the Papal States.

Aistulf captured Ravenna, the capital of the Byzantine Exarchate, ending Byzantine rule in northern Italy. He then demanded tribute from the Pope and threatened Rome, leading to a direct conflict with the Papacy and the Frankish Kingdom.

Aistulf besieged Rome, demanding submission from Pope Stephen II. The Pope appealed to Pepin the Short, King of the Franks, for aid. This event set the stage for Frankish intervention in Italy and the creation of the Papal States.

Pepin the Short invaded Italy and defeated Aistulf's army, forcing him to lift the siege of Rome and surrender territories, including Ravenna, to the Pope. Aistulf was compelled to pay tribute and promise peace, but he soon broke the treaty.

After Aistulf again threatened Rome, Pepin the Short launched a second campaign against the Lombards. Aistulf was defeated again and died shortly after, possibly from a hunting accident. His death ended Lombard expansion and solidified Frankish dominance in Italy.

After the death of her husband As-Salih Ayyub, Shajar al-Durr became the de facto ruler of Egypt. She was proclaimed Sultana with the support of the Mamluk commanders. Her reign marked the first and only time a woman ruled Egypt in the medieval Islamic period.

To legitimize her rule and appease the Ayyubid caliph, Shajar al-Durr married the Mamluk commander Aybak. She abdicated the throne in his favor but retained significant influence. This marriage established the Mamluk Sultanate under Aybak's nominal rule.

Shajar al-Durr ordered the assassination of her husband Sultan Aybak in his bathhouse after he planned to marry another woman. She feared losing her power and influence. This act led to a power struggle among the Mamluks and her own downfall.

After Aybak's murder, Shajar al-Durr was arrested by the Mamluks loyal to Aybak. She was beaten to death by Aybak's concubines or slaves, and her body was thrown into a ditch. Her death ended the brief period of female rule in the Mamluk Sultanate.