The Mamluks seized control of Egypt, Palestine, and Syria from the Ayyubids in 1250 AD, and held these volatile regions for over 250 years. They yielded to the Ottomans in 1517, but even then continued to dominate the internal administration until the beginning of the 19th Century. The name "Mamluks" means "those possessed, slaves", referring to the origins of the first members of the dynasty, who were soldiers in the service of the last of the Ayyubid rulers.

The lengthy Mamluk rule is traditionally divided into two dynasties, the Bahri (from 1250 to 1382 and again in 1389) and the Burji (from 1382 to 1517, with a brief interruption in 1389). The Bahri line followed a fairly traditional form of family succession, but the Burji rulers came from a most unusual process: the leading amirs selected the rulers from groups of youths that had been imported as slaves from the Caucasus and had received rigorous training as soldiers.

The origin of the dynasty in 1250 AD occurred while Saint Louis (King Louis IX of France) was being held for ransom after his ill-fated landing on the Egyptian coast during the 6th Crusade. Another attemped invasion occurred ten years later, that of the Mongol forces led by Hulagu. The defeat of this formidable army at 'Ayn Jalut was one of the key events of the 13th century, as it ended up defining the southwestern limit of the Mongols' expansion.

TO SUMMARIZE...


Mamluks

Mamluks (Bahri)
Mamluks (Burji)