Kitbuqa Noyen was a lieutenant and confidant of Huluga Khan , assisting him in his conquests in Persia and the Middle East. He was in command of one of the flanks which advanced on and sacked Baghdad, and he assisted in the conquest of Damascus. He was left in charge of the Mongol army remaining in the Middle East when Huluga Khan returned to Mongolia after the death of his brother, the Great Khan, and was advancing towards Egypt when confronted by the Mamluk army.

Kitbuqa was killed at Ain Jalut (spring of Goliath) in the Mongol defeat by the Mamlukes. Mamluk histories paint him as a great warrior who refused to retreat when the Mongols were clearly being overpowered at Ain Jalut, and who wanted death in battle over retreat and shame. Ironically, he was apparantly captured alive and executed. Mamluk histories say that he expected his death to be avenged by Huluga Khan, which never occurred. Kitbuqa's death and the defeat of the Mongols at Ain Jalut marked the beginning of the end for the Mongol Empire. It was the first occasion they had been decisively defeated and failed to avenge such a loss.