In the medieval Islamic world, warriors raised from slaves were the foundation of the military power of many Muslim armies. But only the Mamluks were able to turn from slaves into masters and create the powerful Mamluk Sultanate (1250-1517), whose borders included the territories of modern Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan.
Mamluks
The word "Mamluk" is translated from Arabic as "one who is owned" or "slave". The political life of medieval Egypt was characterized by palace intrigues, betrayals, incessant struggle for power, so the caliphs needed selflessly devoted and well-trained military people who were not associated with various clans.
The solution was found simple and effective. In the slave markets, strong Turkic and Caucasian boys were bought, then they were made into professional warriors. From childhood they lived in the barracks, they could only be seen by educators and the caliph. They studied the basics of Sharia and Islam, learned to write and speak Arabic, mentors instilled in their students reverence for the monarch andblind devotion.
But their main occupation was teaching martial arts, horseback riding, fencing and archery, swimming, wrestling, possession of a spear. The Mamluks were rightfully considered the best cavalry military force in the Islamic world. Moreover, the caliph used them not only in wars, but also to suppress uprisings or intimidate political rivals.
About the Mamluk Sultanate in brief
The gradual rise of the Mamluks began under Sultan Saladin, who ruled Egypt from 1171. The brilliant Saladin, who successfully fought with the crusaders, generously granted freedom and land to the Mamluks who distinguished themselves in battles. Slaves became seigneurs, by the middle of the thirteenth century the Mamluk emirs represented such an impressive political and military force in Egypt that they were able to take power in the country.
The coup occurred in 1250, when the Mamluks overthrew Turhan Shah and put in his place a man from his midst. Aibek (Aibak) al-Muizz Izz ad-Din became the first sultan of the Mamluk Sultanate. The Mamluks abolished the transfer of power by inheritance. Each sultan was chosen from among the emirs for military merit, valor, intelligence, and honesty. This principle made it possible to bring active and capable rulers to power. This is partly due to the fact that former slaves and strangers (Turks and Circassians) were able to remain at the head of the Mamluk Sultanate and rule the Arab population for more than two and a half centuries.
Guardians of Islam
The Mamluks seized power in a decisive momentislam time. Waves of crusades rolled in one after another from the north to the Middle East, and ruthless Mongol hordes came from the east. The existence of the Muslim faith was threatened.
The Mamluk Sultanate was the only force that could repulse the conquerors. The entire Islamic world united around the Mamluks. Between 1260 and 1291, the Mamluks inflicted three defeats on the Mongols and practically ousted the crusaders from the Middle East, finally putting an end to the major crusades.
Military successes made the Mamluk Sultanate the most authoritative state in the Islamic world. From now on, the rulers of Egypt and Syria were called "pillars of Islam" and "defenders of the Faith." Under the rule and protection of the Mamluks were the main Muslim shrines in Medina and Mecca, they led the Hajj and guarded the faithful pilgrims.
Internal struggle
The Mamluks were divided into two large ethnic groups. Slave boys from the Caucasus, mostly Circassians, were settled in the barracks, which were located in the towers (burjs) of the Cairo citadel, so they were called Burjits. Mamluk Turkic slaves were brought up on an island located on the Nile, their name "bahrits" comes from the Arabic word "bahr" (river).
These groups became the founders of two dynasties in the Mamluk Sultanate. From 1250 to 1382, the Bahrits ruled, but then, through intrigues, a string of coups and conspiracies, power passed to the Burjits. Ethnic Circassians occupied all leading administrative and military positions, discontentArabs and Turks were quickly and ruthlessly suppressed, which allowed the small number of Burjites to rule until the conquest of the Sultanate by the Ottomans.
Falling
At the beginning of the sixteenth century, the Ottoman Empire reached its peak of power. Like most empires, it sought to capture neighboring territories. Therefore, its clash with the Mamluk Sultanate, a formidable rival but weakened by internal conflicts, was inevitable. The main battle took place in August 1516. The Mamluks fought bravely with the Ottoman troops, but there were fewer of them, and most importantly, they were opposed by artillery and selected Janissary infantry.
The Mamluk Sultan died, the remnants of his completely defeated army fled to Egypt. The Mamluks elected a new sultan and tried to organize a fight against the Ottomans. However, in 1517, the Ottoman Empire easily broke the resistance and incorporated the Mamluk Sultanate into its structure. The Mamluks remained landowners for almost three centuries before the arrival of Napoleon in Egypt, but they almost completely lost their actual power.
