 In southeastern Anatolia , the Ayyubids continued to rule the principality of Hisn Kayfa and managed to remain an autonomous entity , independent of the Mongol Ilkhanate , which ruled northern Mesopotamia until the 1330s . After the breakup of the Ilkhanate , their former vassals in the area , the Artuqids , waged war against the Ayyubids of Hisn Kayfa in 1334 , but were decisively defeated , with the Ayyubids gaining the Artuqids ' possessions on the left bank of the Tigris River . In the 14th century , the Ayyubids rebuilt the castle of Hisn Kayfa which served as their stronghold . The Ayyubids of Hisn Kayfa were vassals of the Mamluks and later the <unk> until being supplanted by the Ottoman Empire in the early 16th century . 
