Bahri Mamluks
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| History of the Turkic peoples pre–14th century |
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The Bahriyya Mamluks or Bahri dynasty (Turkish: Bahri Hanedanı, al-Mamalik al-Bahariyya - المماليك البحرية) was a Mamluk dynasty of mostly Cuman-Kipchak Turkic origin that ruled the Egyptian Mamluk Sultanate from 1250 to 1382. They followed the Ayyubid dynasty, and were succeeded by a second Mamluk dynasty, the Burji dynasty.
Their name "Bahriyya" means 'of the river', referring to the location of their original settlement on Al-Rodah Island in the Nile (Nahr al-Nil) in Medieval Cairo[1] at the castle of Al-Rodah which was built by the Ayyubid Sultan as-Salih Ayyub[2][3]
History
The Mamluks formed one of the most powerful and wealthiest empires of the time, lasting from 1250 to 1517 in Egypt, North Africa, and the Levant—Near East.
Development
In 1250, when the Ayyubid sultan as-Salih Ayyub died, the Mamluks he had owned as slaves murdered his son and heir al-Muazzam Turanshah, and Shajar al-Durr the widow of as-Salih became the Sultana of Egypt. She married the Atabeg (commander in chief) Emir Aybak and abdicated, Aybak becoming Sultan. He ruled from 1250 to 1257.[4][5]
The Mamluks consolidated their power in ten years and eventually established the Bahri Mamluks. They were helped by the Mongols' sack of Baghdad in 1258, which effectively destroyed the Abbasid caliphate. Cairo became more prominent as a result and remained a Mamluk capital thereafter.
The Mamluks were powerful cavalry warriors mixing the practices of the Turkic steppe peoples from which they were drawn and the organizational and technological sophistication and horsemanship of the Arabs. In 1260 the Mamluks defeated a Mongol army at the Battle of Ain Jalut in present-day Israel and eventually forced the invaders to retreat to the area of modern-day Iraq.[6] The defeat of the Mongols at the hands of the Mamluks enhanced the position of the Mamluks in the southern Mediterranean basin.[7][8] Baibars, one of the leaders at the battle, became the new Sultan after the assassination of Sultan Qutuz on the way home.[9][10]
In 1250 Baibars was one of the Mamluk commanders who defended Al Mansurah[11] against the Crusade knights of Louis IX of France, who was later definitely defeated, captured in Fariskur and ransomed.[12] Baibars had also taken part in the Mamluk takeover of Egypt. In 1261, after he became a Sultan, he established a puppet Abbasid caliphate in Cairo,[13] and the Mamluks fought the remnants of the Crusader states in Palestine until they finally captured Acre in 1291.[14]
Tatars
Many Tatars settled in Egypt and were employed by Baibars.[15][16] He defeated the Mongols at the battle of Elbistan[17] and sent the Abbasid Caliph with only 250 men to attempt to retake Baghdad, but was unsuccessful. In 1266 he devastated Cilician Armenia and in 1268 he recaptured Antioch from the Crusaders.[18][19] In addition, he fought the Seljuks,[20] and Hashshashin; he also extended Muslim power into Nubia[16] for the first time, before his death in 1277.
Sultan Qalawun defeated a rebellion in Syria that was led by Sunqur al-Ashqar in 1280,[21][22] and also defeated another Mongol invasion in 1281 that was led by Abaqa outside Homs.[23] After the Mongol threat passed he recaptured Tripoli from the Crusaders in 1289.[24] His son Khalil captured Acre, the last Crusader city, in 1291.[25][26]
The Mongols renewed their invasion in 1299,[27] but were again defeated in 1303.[28][29] The Egyptian Mamluk Sultans entered into relations with the Golden Horde who converted to Islam[30] and established a peace pact with the Mongols[31] in 1322.
Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad married a Mongol princess in 1319. His diplomatic relations were more extensive than those of any previous Sultan, and included Bulgarian, Indian, and Abyssinian potentates, as well as the pope, the king of Aragon and the king of France.[32] Al-Nasir Muhammad organized the re-digging of a canal in 1311 which connected Alexandria with the Nile.[31] He died in 1341.
Dissolution
The constant changes of sultans that followed led to great disorder in the provinces. Meanwhile, in 1349 Egypt and the Levant in general were introduced to Black Death, which is said to have carried off many lives of the inhabitants.[33][34]
In 1382 the last Bahri Sultan Hajji II was dethroned and the Sultanate was taken over by the Circassian Emir Barquq. He was expelled in 1389 but returned to power in 1390, setting up the succeeding Burji dynasty.[35]
Military organization
On a general level, the military during the Bahri Mamluks period can be divided into several aspects
- Mamluks : the core of both the political and military base, these slave soldiers were further divided into Khassaki (comparable to imperial guards), Royal Mamluks ( Mamluks directly under the command of the Sultan) and regular Mamluks (usually assigned to local Amirs).
- Al-Halqa : the primarily free born professional forces, they are also directly under the sultan's command.
- Wafidiyya : These are Turks and Mongols that migrated to the dynasty's border after the Mongol invasion, typically given land grants in exchange for military service, they are well regarded forces.
- Other levies : Primarily Bedouin tribes, but also on different occasions also different groups of Turkomans and other settled Arabs.
An outstanding achievement of Mamluk army were their success defeating the Ilkhanate Mongol army which considered invincible on the field in that era has outlined the major parts of the military quality of the Mamluk. training manuals of the Egyptian Mamluks and others reveal the methods that could produce the remarkable skills of slave soldiers mamluks. The Egyptian Mamluks were expected to be able to shoot three arrows in one and a half seconds; and capable to strike with the sword, while galloping, three times a second. They are also able to outshooting Mongols cavalry.[36]
Another reason was recorded by Ibn Battuta that the Mongol horses were suffered by the climate of summer. Which is the similar reason the Chagatai Khanate was defeated by Mamluk dynasty of India counterpart led by Ghiyas ud din Balban, who also possessed military might in similar quality with Mamluk of Egypt, as Amir Khusrau remarks "Although each year the Mongols come from Khurasan, (they) yield up their ghosts wherever the Turks send the showers of their fatal arrows."[37][38]
List of Bahri Sultans
| Titular Name(s) | Personal Name | Reign | |
|---|---|---|---|
| al-Malikah Ismat ad-Din Umm-Khalil الملکہ عصمہ الدین أم خلیل |
Shajar al-Durr شجر الدر |
1250 | |
| al-Malik al-Mu'izz Izz al-Din Aybak al-Jawshangir al-Turkmani al-Salihi الملک المعز عز الدین أیبک الترکمانی الجاشنکیر الصالحی |
Izz-ad-Din Aybak عز الدین أیبک |
1250–1257 | |
| Sultan Al-Ashraf سلطان الاشرف |
Muzaffar-ad-Din Musa مظفر الدین موسی |
1250–1252 | |
| Sultan Al-Mansur سلطان المنصور |
Nur ad-Din Ali نور الدین علی |
1257–1259 | |
| Sultan Al-Muzaffar سلطان المظفر |
Sayf ad-Din Qutuz سیف الدین قطز |
1259–1260 | |
| Sultan Abul-Futuh – سلطان ابو الفتوح Al-Zahir - الظاهر Al-Bunduqdari - البندقداری |
Rukn-ad-Din Baibars I رکن الدین بیبرس |
1260–1277 | |
| Sultan Al-Sa'id Nasir-ad-Din سلطان السعید ناصر الدین |
Muhammad Barakah Khan محمد برکہ خان |
1277–1279 | |
| Sultan Al-Adil سلطان العادل |
Badr-al-Din Solamish بدر الدین سُلامش |
1279 | |
| Al-Mansur – المنصور Al-Alfi - الالفی As-Salihi - الصالحی |
Sayf-ad-Din Qalawun سیف الدین قلاوون |
1279–1290 | |
| Sultan Al-Ashraf سلطان الاشرف |
Salah-ad-Din Khalil صلاح الدین خلیل |
1290–1293 | |
| Al-Nasir الناصر |
Nasir-ad-Din Muhammad ناصر الدین محمد |
1293–1294 (first reign) | |
| Al-Adil Al-Turki Al-Mughli العادل الترکی المغلی |
Zayn-ad-Din Kitbugha زین الدین کتبغا |
1294–1297 | |
| Al-Mansur المنصور |
Husam-ad-Din Lachin حسام الدین لاچین |
1297–1299 | |
| Al-Nasir الناصر |
Nasir-ad-Din Muhammad ناصر الدین محمد |
1299–1309 (Second reign) | |
| Sultan Al-Muzaffar Al-Jashankir سلطان المظفرالجاشنکیر |
Rukn-ad-Din Baibars II رکن الدین بیبرس |
1309 | |
| Al-Nasir الناصر |
Nasir-ad-Din Muhammad ناصر الدین محمد |
1309–1340 (Third reign) | |
| Al-Mansur المنصور |
Sayf-ad-Din Abu-Bakr سیف الدین أبو بکر |
1340–1341 | |
| Al-Ashraf الأشرف |
Ala-ad-Din Kujuk علاء الدین کجک |
1341–1342 | |
| Sultan Al-Nasir سلطان الناصر |
Shihab-ad-Din Ahmad شھاب الدین أحمد |
1342 | |
| Sultan As-Salih سلطان الصالح |
Imad-ad-Din Ismail عماد الدین إسماعیل |
1342–1345 | |
| Sultan Al-Kamil سلطان الکامل |
Sayf-ad-Din Shaban I سیف الدین شعبان اول |
1345–1346 | |
| Sultan Al-Muzaffar سلطان المظفر |
Sayf-ad-Din Hajji I سیف الدین حاجی اول |
1346–1347 | |
| Al-Nasir Abu Al-Ma'ali الناصر أبو المعالی |
Badr-ad-Din Hasan بدر الدین الحسن |
1347–1351 (first reign) | |
| Sultan As-Salih سلطان الصالح |
Salah-ad-Din Salih صلاح الدین بن محمد |
1351–1354 | |
| Al-Nasir Abu Al-Ma'ali Nasir-ad-Din الناصر أبو المعالی ناصر الدین |
Badr-ad-Din Al-Hasan بدر الدین الحسن |
1354–1361 (second reign) | |
| Al-Mansur المنصور |
Salah-ad-Din Muhammad صلاح الدین محمد |
1361–1363 | |
| Al-Ashraf Abu Al-Ma'ali الأشرف أبو المعالی |
Zayn-ad-Din Shaban II زین الدین شعبان ثانی |
1363–1376 | |
| Al-Mansur المنصور |
Ala-ad-Din Ali علاء الدین علی |
1376–1382 | |
| Sultan As-Salih سلطان الصالح |
Salah-ad-Din Hajji II صلاح الدین حاجی ثانی |
1382 | |
| Al-Zahir الظاہر |
Sayf-ad-Din Barquq سیف الدین برقوق |
1382–1389 | |
| Sultan As-Salih Al-Muzaffar Al-Mansur سلطان الصالح المظفر المنصور |
Salah-ad-Din Hajji II صلاح الدین حاجی ثانی |
1389 | |
| Burji dynasty takes over Mamluk Sultanate (Cairo) under Sayf-ad-Din Barquq in 1389–90 C.E. | |||
- Yellow shaded row signifies nominal rule of Ayyubid dynasty under Sultan al-Ashraf Musa 1250–1254.
- Silver shaded row signifies interruption in the rule of Bahri Mamluks by Burji dynasty.
See also
- Turkic peoples
- Timeline of Turks (500-1300)
- List of Turkic dynasties and countries
- Aybak
- History of Arab Egypt
- Mamluk
- Qala'un Mosque
- Shajar al-Durr
- List of Sunni Muslim dynasties
- Nâçerî
References
- ^ There is another theory about the origin of the name which states that they were called 'Bahariyya' because they came by sea or from over sea. (Shayyal, 110/vol.2 )
- ^ (Al-Maqrizi, p. 441/vol.1 ) - (Abu Al-Fida, pp.66-87/ Year 647H - Death of as-Sailih Ayyub) - (Ibn Taghri/vol.6 - Year 639H )
- ^ After the Castle of al- Rodah was built, As-Salih moved with his Mamluks to it and lived there. (Al-Maqrizi, p.405/vol. 1 ). Later, the Mamluk Sultans lived at the Citadel of the Mountain which was situated on the Muqatam Mountain in Cairo (Al-Maqrizi, al-Mawaiz, p. 327/vol.3 ) where the Mosque of Muhammad Ali and the remains of the 12th century Saladin Citadel of Cairo stand now.
- ^ (Al-Maqrizi pp. 444-494. vol/1 ) (Abu Al-Fida, pp.66-87/ Years 647H - 655H ) (Ibn Taghri/vol.6 - Year 646H )
- ^ See also Shajar al-Durr and Aybak .
- ^ Abu Al-Fida, pp.66-87/ Taking of Aleppo's Castle by the Mongols and new events in the Levant.
- ^ Shayyal, p. 123/vol.2
- ^ The victory of the Mamluks against the Mongols brought an end to the Ayyubid's claim in Egypt and the Levant . Ayyubid Emirs recognized the Mamluk Sultan as their sovereign. (Shayyal, p.126/vol.2 )
- ^ (Al-Maqrizi, p.519/vol.1 ) - (Ibn Taghri/ vol.7 )
- ^ Qutuz was assassinated near al-Salihiyah, Egypt. Those murdered him were emir Badr ad-Din Baktut, emir Ons and emir Bahadir al-Mu'izzi. (Al-Maqrizi, p. 519/vol.1 )
- ^ See Battle of Al Mansurah .
- ^ See Battle of Fariskur
- ^ Sultan Baibars recognized the Sovereignty of Abu al-Qasim Ahmad as the Abbasid Caliph in Cairo only in religious matters after a few Bedouins witnessed before the supreme judge of Egypt that he was the son of the Abbasid Caliph Al-Zahir Billah. The Caliph took the name al-Mustansir Billah. (Shayyal, p. 132/vol.2 ) - (Ibn Taghri/ vol.7 ) - (Abu Al-Fida, pp.66-87/ Murder of al-Malik al-Nasir Yusuf) . Though the Abbasid Caliphs in Cairo during the Mamluk era legitimated the sovereignty of the Mamluks' Sultans, the Caliphs were actually powerless. However, contrary to the Ayyubids who were to some degree dependent on the Abbasid Chaliph in Baghdad, the fact that the Chaliph lived in Cairo gave the Mamluks independency and full freedom of action.
- ^ See al-Ashraf Khalil
- ^ In 1262, during the reign of Sultan Baibars, many Tartars from the Golden Horde tribe escaped from Hulagu to Egypt and were followed later by other Tartars. Baibars welcomed the Tartars and employed them in the army. They had their own army unit which was called al-Firqah al-Wafidiyah (the arrivals unite). Throughout the Mamluk era, the Wafidiyya (arriving Tartars) were free men and the Mamluk system did not apply to them. Baibars resided the Tartars in Cairo and gave them various official posts. The largest group of Tartars immigrated to Egypt in 1296 during the reign of Sultan Kitbugha who was himself of Mongol origin. They resided at the district of al-Hisiniyah in Cairo and many of their women married Mamluk Emirs. (Shayyal, p. 144/vol. 2)
- ^ a b Ibn Taghri/ vol. 7
- ^ (Abu Al-Fida, pp. 66–87/Year 675H- Al-Malik Al-Zahir entering land of the Roum) - (Ibn Taghri/ vol. 7)
- ^ (Abu Al-Fida, pp. 66-87/ Soldiers entering the land of the Armenians) - (Ibn Taghri/ vol. 7)
- ^ Cilician Armenia was devastated by Sultan Baibars's commander Qalawun upon the Battle of Mari in 1266. The Principality of Antioch was destroyed by Sultan Baibars in 1268.
- ^ Baibars defeated both the Seljuks and the Mongols at the battle of Elbistan. (Shayyal, p. 138/vol. 2)
- ^ Abu Al-Fida, pp. 66–87/ Year 697H.
- ^ Shams ad-Din Sunqur al-Ashqar was a prominent emir and one of the most devoted Bahri emirs since the days of Sultan Baibars. He was taken prisoner by the Armenians and was freed in exchange for Leo the son of King Hethum I, King of Armenia who was captured during the invasion of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia in 1266. During the reign of Baibars' son Solamish, he was the deputy of the Sultan in Damascus. During the reign of Qalawun, Sunqur al-Ashqar proclaimed himself a Sultan while in Damascus, taking the royal name al-Malik al-Kamil.
Mongols
Sultan Sunqur al-Ashqar fought a few battles against Sultan Qalawun's Emirs but was pardoned later after he joined Qalawun's army against the Mongols. (Al-Maqrizi, p. 51, 121, 127, 131-133, 145/vol. 2 )
- ^ (Abu Al-Fida, pp.66-87/ Year 688H ) - (Shayyal, p. 165/vol.2 )
- ^ (Abu Al-Fida, pp. 66-87/ 688HYear) - (Shayyal, 168/vol. 2 )
- ^ Abu Al-Fida, pp. 66-87/ Year 690H
- ^ See Al-Ashraf Khalil .
- ^ Abu Al-Fida, pp. 66–87/ Year 699H
- ^ Abu Al-Fida, pp. 66-87/ Year 702H
- ^ See Battle of Shaqhab
- ^ Sultan Baibars sent his first emissaries to Berke Khan the ruler of the Golden Horde in 1261. (Shayyal, p. 141/vol2)
- ^ a b Shayyal, p. 187/vol. 2
- ^ Shayyal, pp. 187–188 /vol.2
- ^ Shayyal, p.194/vol.2
- ^ The Black Death probably began in Central Asia and spread to Europe by the late 1340s. The total number of deaths worldwide from the pandemic is estimated at 75 million people; there were an estimated 25-50 million deaths in Europe. - (Wikipedia / Article Black Death.)
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, pp.140-142/vol.5
- ^ Smith, Jr., John Masson. "MONGOL ARMIES AND INDIAN CAMPAIGNS". mongolian culture. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
- ^ "Ibn Batuta, The Travels of Ibn Battuta, H.A.R. Gibb trans. (Cambridge UK: Cambridge UP, 1962), II, 478".
- ^ A. Wink, Al-Hind: the Making of the Indo-Islamic World, II (Leiden: Brill, 1991), 207.|url=http://www.mongolianculture.com/MONGOL-ARMIES.htm#_ftn3
- Abu al-Fida, The Concise History of Humanity.
- Al-Maqrizi, Al Selouk Leme'refatt Dewall al-Melouk, Dar al-kotob, 1997.
- Idem in English: Bohn, Henry G., The Road to Knowledge of the Return of Kings, Chronicles of the Crusades, AMS Press, 1969.
- Al-Maqrizi, al-Mawaiz wa al-'i'tibar bi dhikr al-khitat wa al-'athar,Matabat aladab, Cairo 1996, ISBN 977-241-175-X
- Idem in French: Bouriant, Urbain, Description topographique et historique de l'Egypte,Paris 1895.
- Ayalon, D.: The Mamluk Military Society. London, 1979.
- Ibn Taghri, al-Nujum al-Zahirah Fi Milook Misr wa al-Qahirah, al-Hay'ah al-Misreyah 1968
- Idem in English: History of Egypt, by Yusef. William Popper, translator Abu L-Mahasin ibn Taghri Birdi, University of California Press 1954.
- Shayyal, Jamal, Prof. of Islamic history, Tarikh Misr al-Islamiyah (History of Islamic Egypt), dar al-Maref, Cairo 1266, ISBN 977-02-5975-6
- www.SumitBahri.com: website
