The mamlūks in Egypt and Syria: The Turkish mamlūk sultanate (648-784/1250-1382) and the circassian mamlūk sultanate (784-923/1382-1517)

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

The Arabic term Mamlūk literally means owned or slave, and was used for the white Turkish slaves of pagan origins, purchased from Central Asia and the Eurasian steppes by Muslim rulers to serve as soldiers in their armies. During the 630s/1230s and 640s/1240s the Saljuq sultanate of Anatolia, Lesser Armenia in Cilicia, the northern Crusader principality of Antioch, and Georgia accepted Mongol suzerainty, a relationship that endangered Syria. In the wake of the Mongol invasion of Syria, an influx of civilian and military refugees poured into Egypṫ Fugitives from the defeated Ayyūbid armies, and Turcomans and Kurds who had arrived in Syria earlier in flight from the Mongols, all joined the Mamlūk army. Barqūq’s seizure of power in 784/1382 symbolises the restoration of the nondynastic Mamlūk sultanate, and the move from a Turkish to a Circassian sultanate. Mamlūks of Circassian origin formed the majority in the army and the sultans were drawn from their numbers.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe New Cambridge History of Islam
PublisherCambridge University Press
Pages237-284
Number of pages48
ISBN (Electronic)9781139056151
ISBN (Print)9780521839570
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2010

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Cambridge University Press 2010.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Arts and Humanities

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The mamlūks in Egypt and Syria: The Turkish mamlūk sultanate (648-784/1250-1382) and the circassian mamlūk sultanate (784-923/1382-1517)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this