Fought 1517, between the Turks under Selim I, and the Egyptians under the Mameluke Sultan, Toomaan Bey. The Egyptians were utterly routed and Cairo taken, 50,000 of the inhabitants being massacred[massacred]. Toomaan Bey, the last of the Mamelukes, was hanged before the city gates, and Egypt annexed to the Ottoman Empire.
Cajwah.
Fought January 8, 1659, between the Moguls of Delhi, under Aurungzebe, the Great Mogul, and the army raised by his brother Shuja, in support of Dara, the rightful heir to the throne. After an obstinate conflict, Shuja was driven from the field with heavy losses in men, leaving behind him 114 guns.
Calafat (Crimean War).
This position, strongly entrenched and held by 30,000 Turks under Ahmed Pasha, was invested by the Russians, 40,000 strong, under General Aurep, about the middle of February, 1854. The Russians delivered assault after assault upon the place, without effect, and finally withdrew their forces in May; having suffered a loss from disease, privation, and battle of 20,000 men. The Turks lost 12,000.
Calais (Hundred Years' War).
Siege was laid to this fortress in August 1346 by the English under Edward III. The citizens made a gallant defence, holding out for nearly a year, but at last were forced to surrender August 4, 1347. In the course of the siege, six burgesses offered themselves to the king as ransom for their fellow citizens; but their lives were spared on the intercession of Queen Philippa.
Calais.
The last English stronghold in France was captured by the French under the Duc de Guise, January 8, 1558, after a siege of seven days only. Mary is said to have exclaimed, on hearing the news, that at her death the word "Calais" would be found engraven on her heart.