Mamluks of Egypt

The Mamluks of Egypt: Overview, Facts, History, and Leaders

1. Who Were the Mamluks?

Firstly, the Mamluks were a military section, they were raised in Egypt the Levant. Originally the Mamluks were slaves or maybe we can say they were slaves-soldiers of Turkic origins. Moreover, they were often captured or brought from the steppes of Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe. These slaves were trained as elite soldiers, and over time, their military powers and development were enough to qualify them to rise to significant power. They were transformed from slaves to leaders.

The Mamluks were known for their discipline, martial skills, and loyalty to their commanders. They made themselves a formidable force. Notably, Ayyubid sultans of Egypt employed them for personal intent, but their ambition was not only under the control of Ayyubid sultans. They eventually overthrew their masters and established their sultanate.

2. Beginnings and Ascension

The Origins of the Mamluks date back to the mid-13th century. Sultan As-Salih Ayyub The Ayyubid Sultan who is recruiting, and trained them to be added to the power of the Egyptian army at this time. He invested heavily in their training, and education, and integrated them into the Egyptian army. Furthermore, he chooses them to be his elite troops. They were known for their discipline and loyalty to their commanders.

In 1250 a significant victory happened for the Mamluks when they played a crucial role in capturing King Louis IX of France. Such a victory made their reputation even better among others and they became a very strong power. Shortly after, the Mamluks seized power by overthrowing the Ayyubid dynasty, marking the beginning of the Mamluk Sultanate.

Sultan Aybak and Sultan Qutuz were the Leaders of the Mamluk Sultanate. Such great leaders transferred their military experience to their armies and they were able to take down the Mongols at the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260. Additionally, this victory not only secured their dominance in the region but also marked the first significant defeat of the Mongol army.

The Mamluk Sultanate was divided into two main periods: the Bahri dynasty (1250-1382) and the Burji dynasty (1382-1517). During each of these periods, the Sultanate was continuously expanding. Their rule, marked by a strong military skill and effective management, made a great impact on the history of Egypt and the wider Islamic world.

3. Historical Overview

• The Early Mamluk Period (The Bahri Dynasty) (1250-1382)

The Bahri Mamluk period started when slaves-soldiers were recruited. Additionally, they followed the same method as the Ayyubid Sultan in adding new blood to the military army. This dynasty was founded by Sultan Baybars, a very disciplined and powerful leader. Notably, the name “Bahri” comes from the Arabic word “River” as they were stationed along the Nile.

The Sultan Baybars ruled Egypt from 1260 to 1277 and he was famous for defeating the Mongols at the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260. He was responsible for securing the Islamic world against the threat of Mongols. Furthermore, this great victory expanded the area of Egypt and made it stronger.

Baybars also made important changes to the administration, making the government more efficient. He set up a postal system and reorganized the military, which helped maintain control over the large territories. The Bahri Mamluks are known for building many castles and forts to protect their land. During this period, Islamic arts and architecture flourished, with impressive structures like the Qalawun complex in Cairo showing the dynasty’s support for culture and learning.

• The Late Mamluk Period The Burji Dynasty (1382-1517)

The Burji Mamluk period started when Sultan Barquq overthrew the last Bahri sultan. The name “Burji” means tower because Mamluks of Circassian origin came to power during this time. Additionally, the period of Burji faced a lot of political instability, with frequent leadership changes.

The Sultan Barquq ruled Egypt from 1382 to 1399, at this time he faced a threat from the political situation by alliances and military actions. The Burji Mamluks have supported the architecture. They built the Mosque of Sultan Hassan in Cairo. Despite facing challenges such as the Black Death and threats from the Ottomans and Timurids. However, internal conflicts and corruption gradually weakened their rule, leading to their eventual downfall.

• Events and Turning Points

The Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260 was a major victory that stopped the Mongol advance and solidified Mamluk authority. Moreover, the fall of Acre in 1291 ended the Crusader’s presence in the Holy Land and cleared the way for the Mamluk to take over and rule the eastern Mediterranean.

The change from the Bahri to the Burji dynasty was a major turning point. It showed the struggles and the division among the Mamluk military leaders. In 1516, the Ottomans defeated the Mamluks at the Battle of Marj Dabiq. It was the beginning of the end of The Mamluk Sultanate. The final defeat was at the Battle of Ridaniya in 1517 making Eygpt part of the Ottoman Empire.

4. Notable Leaders of the Mamluks

• Sultan Baybars

The Mamluk Sultan, Sultan Baybars was a very famous Mamluk. He ruled Egypt from 1260 to 1277, he started as a slave but by time he become a brave and smart leader of Mamluks. Baybars is remembered for winning the big battle against the Mongols at Ain Jalut in 1260. He stopped the Mongols from expanding and almost ended the Islamic era. Baybars made the Mamluk kingdom stronger and more organized. Moreover, he built lots of beautiful mosques, schools, and strong buildings. He changed the look of cities like Cairo and made the Mamluks even more powerful. People still talk about how amazing Baybars was and how he made the Mamluk Sultanate a really important time in history.

• Sultan Qalawun

Originally a Kipchak Turk Sultan Qalawun ruled Egypt from 1279 to 1290. He helped Baybars and together continued to make Egypt stronger and more developed. He rose through the ranks due to his skills in the battles. Additionally,  his reign was full of significant military campaigns. The most famous one was capturing Tripoli in 1289 which was a heavy defeat to Crusader states. Qalawun also never forgot the Internal affairs of Egypt, he started to build the Qalawun complex in 1285 in Cairo. The Qalawun complex was the first of its kind as it has a hospital, a madrasa, and his mausoleum. Qalawun added much to the Mamluks from battles, wars, and running government making his era stronger.

• Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad

Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad had multiple reigns from 1293 and 1341. One of the most successful and effective Mamluk rulers ever. He was a great leader for the Mamluks his reign was characterized by peace. Al-Nasir Muhammad was facing a threat from the emirs he saw their power was getting stronger day by day. He tried hard to reduce the power of the emirs, which were like powerful leaders and gave more power to the sultanate.

Additionally, Al-Nasir Muhammad was born in Cairo, Egypt, in 1285. He became the Sultan when he was only 8 years old. Even though he had many times been the leader, there were also times when other people were in charge. Notably, Kitbugha and Sanjar al-Shuja‘i were the actual rulers of Egypt. But overall, he made the Mamluk Sultanate more peaceful and successful. Notably, he also loves art and construction so he built many important places in Cairo. He built the Citadel of Cairo, which is a huge fortress, and the Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque. Furthermore, he constructed schools and hospitals, which helped many people. Notably, he also loves Astronomy so he builds a special place in the Citadel to look at the stars.

• Sultan Barquq

This Sultan is different from the others he is the founder of the Burji dynasty that lasted from 1382-1517. He ruled Egypt in two different periods first in 1382 to 1389 and second from 1390 to 1399. Barquq is the first Sultan to originate from Circassian Mamluk his father is Christian. He was enslaved and then arrived in Egypt later he ascended to power through his strategic alliances and military expertise. Notably, his ascension marked the beginning of the Burji dynasty. Barquq faced numerous challenges, including internal revolts and external threats.

However, he successfully maintained the peace and expanded the Mamluk territories. Barquq did a great job of bringing back peace and order to the Mamluk Sultanate. He made a lot of changes to make the economy more better and stable.  Because of his hard work, the Mamluk rulers who came after him were able to keep control of Egypt and the surrounding areas.

5. Mamluk Society and Culture

• Social Structure

The Mamluk Society was divided into different classes and groups. At the top were the Sultans, who were like kings, and the Mamluk emirs, who were the most powerful soldiers. What is known about the emirs is that they were slave soldiers and many of them came from places like Turkey or the Caucasus region. They are like an elite group of leaders in the government or the army. On the other hand, there are the classes that are below the emirs and Sultans they are the regular officers and soldiers. Lastly, there are the regular people like the merchants, crafters, and farmers, were at the bottom. However, if there was a good fighter from the local who wanted to join or go higher in ranks it was restricted.

• Military Organization

Mumluks were known for their well-organized army and were very strong. This is why the Mamluks were the best soldiers they trained since they were young and they were raised with the idea of being good fighters. They learned how to ride horses, shoot arrows, and fight with swords. This made them very good fighters who worked well together. The Mamluk army was split into smaller groups, each with its leader, who made sure they were ready for battle. The Mamluks liked to use horses with soldiers riding them, and these soldiers had special bows and long spears. This helped them move fast and win battles.

Never forget about the navy the Mamluks also had a strong navy. Which is important for protecting the sea trade routes and stopping enemies from coming by sea. So, overall, the Mamluks had a very powerful military with good organization and strong soldiers.

• Art and Architecture

The Mamluks were so popular with their style of art and design that were influenced by many different cultures. Their most impressive buildings were big mosques, schools, and special tombs. These buildings were decorated with detailed patterns, beautiful writing, and fancy designs. One of the impressive buildings was The Sultan Hassan Mosque in Cairo a masterpiece made with a lot of details and decorations. On the other hand, there are the Mamluk craftspeople who are not less skilled. They were very popular with making all sorts of things, like metal objects, wooden items, and cloth. Their special colorful glass and metal objects with detailed designs. Even today, people think the art and buildings from that time are amazing.

6. Interesting Facts about the Mamluks

• Unique Aspects of Mamluk Rule

The rule of The Mamluks was special because they were not like other groups in power at that time. Usually, power is passed from the father to his children but Mamluks were different. They brought each other to the army and chose which was developed fast and raised him to be in the elite group. These boys were taught how to fight and follow the Islamic faith. If they showed they were good fighters and loyal, they could become very powerful leaders.

Another thing about the Mamluks is that the Sultan had to be very careful and do his job to earn the people’s love and respect. Otherwise, the Sultan may face a Military coup from emirs or soldiers which was a famous way to get rid of Sultans who thought about their interests only. This system made sure that only the strongest and most capable leaders stayed in charge.

The Mamluks were also good at organizing things. They divided the land they ruled into smaller parts, each with its leader, who would listen to the sultan. This made it easier to control everything and collect money from taxes, which they used to make their military stronger.

• Notable Achievements and Innovations

1. Everyone from the world loved what the Mamluks designed and created. They changed how Cairo looked, they built a lot of mosques and decorated Cairo according to the Islamic Style. They built mosques, schools, and big tombs. The Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan and the Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque are great examples. Moreover, they invented the minarets, which are very tall towers for seeing Astronomy.

2. They trained soldiers to be very skilled, especially on horses. They were able to prevent the Mongol Empire from expanding and taking over Egypt and the Middle East in the great battle of Ain Jalut in 1260. This was important because it kept the Islamic world safe.

3. Mamluks helped science, literature, and religion grow by making schools and libraries. Many scholars came to Mamluk lands, and this made the Islamic Golden Age even better.

4. Cairo became a busy place for trade during the Mamluk time, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean. Mamluks made trade safer and easier, which brought more money and different cultures to the area.

7. The Fall of the Mamluks

• The Rise of the Ottomans

In 1300 a new powerful people called the Ottomans started to become stronger. They came from a place called Anatolia and were very good at fighting wars and making smart deals with other groups. Moreover, they raised very quickly and took over more land including the land that the Mamluks controlled. Furthermore, The Mamluks were having problems inside their group and with their money, so it was hard for them to fight the strong Ottomans.

• The Battle of Ridaniya

The Battle of Ridaniya took place in 1517, and something important happened. The Ottoman leader, Sultan Selim I, who is known for his greediness to have power. This Ottoman Leader brought his army to Egypt during the reign of Sultan Tuman Bay II and tried hard to protect the land. Unfortunately, he couldn’t face the new power of the Ottomans, they had new weapons like big guns, and they used better strategies, which meant they planned their moves better.

The Battle of Ridaniya was not just two armies fighting, it was like two different ways of fighting and using weapons clashing together. The Mamluks were brave, but their horses and soldiers were no match for the powerful weapons of the Ottomans. After this battle, the Mamluks couldn’t fight against the Ottomans anymore.

• The End of Mamluk Rule

After the Battle of Ridaniya, the Mamluks couldn’t defend Egypt as before the Ottomans were growing quickly and developing their military skills which left no chance for the Mamluks. The Ottomans took control of Egypt and ended the Mamluks. The last Mamluk sultan Tuman Bay II was captured and killed which completely ended the rule of  Tuman Bay II and the Mamlukes. Egypt became part of the Ottoman Empire. Even though the Mamluks didn’t rule anymore, many of them still had important jobs in the Ottoman army and government. The end of the Mamluk Sultanate was a big change in the Middle East, and the Ottomans became the most powerful group in the area. But the things the Mamluks built and the culture they created still left a mark, and some Mamluk leaders still had influence even under the Ottomans.

8. Conclusion

The Mamluks were once soldiers who were slaves. They became more powerful over time and took over large areas of the Middle East and ruled for a long time. They were good at fighting and won many battles, even stopping the Mongols and taking back Jerusalem from the Crusaders. However, they made Egypt a great place for culture and money-making, and Cairo became a famous place for learning about Islam and seeing beautiful buildings.

The idea of being a slave and then becoming a Sultan or leader changed how people thought you don’t have to be a son of a Sultant or a king just earn your way to the top by being a good soldier. They made Cairo look amazing with their buildings and helped a lot of people learn about Islam. The Mamluks also made society better by bringing different groups together and making the country strong. Their influence can still be seen today in how people admire their work and how they changed the history of the Middle East.