Al-Adil Kitbugha
Kitbugha كتبغا | |
---|---|
Bahri | |
Religion | Islam |
Kitbugha (
Background
He was originally a
During the reign of Qalawun's son Sultan
About 300 of the Burji Mamluks who were removed from the Citadel by Kitbugha rebelled and went on a rampage in Cairo. These Mamluks, known as the al-Mamalik al-Ashrafiyah Khalil (the Mamluks of al-Ashraf Khalil) were enraged because Hossam ad-Dain Lajin, who was involved in the murder of their benefactor, Sultan al-Ashraf Khalil, had arrived in Cairo but was not arrested and punished.[1] The Ashrafiyah Khalil were defeated and many of them were killed and executed.[8]
Rise to power
Kitbugha continued as the regent and the actual ruler of Egypt with Al-Nasir Muhammad, being a child, merely the nominal Sultan. After the murder of Vizier al-Shuja‘i, Kitbugha became more powerful. He was then convinced by Lajin, who was aware that the Mamluks of Khalil and Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammed would want to seek revenge for the death of Sultan Khalil, to depose Al-Nasir and take on complete power.
The Oirats
In 1296 a large group of
Loss of power
Later in the reign of Kitbugha, Egypt and the Levant faced shortages of water and food in addition to an epidemic that caused the death of many people in Egypt.[22][23] Kitbugha was not popular among the Egyptians who regarded him as a bringer of ill-omens.[24] Also, the Egyptian were not pleased with Kitbugha's generosity towards the Oirats who were not Muslims while they, the Egyptians, were suffering from high prices of food and economic hardship.
While Kitbugha was in Damascus the emirs decided to get rid of him. The emirs went to Kitbugha and met him while he was on his way to Egypt. Kitbugha was angry with Bisari, who was a prominent emir, and accused him of corresponding with the Mongols. Fearing that Kitbugha would arrest Bisari, the emirs,[25] including Lajin, carried arms and went to the Dihliz [26] of Kitbugha and clashed with his Mamluks.[27] A few of Kitbugha's Mamluks were killed or injured. Kitbugha left the Dihliz through a back passage and fled to Damascus, accompanied by five of his Mamluks. The emirs were unable to catch him. Lajin was placed on the throne as the new Sultan of Egypt.
Kitbugha took refuge inside the citadel of Damascus, but at last he resigned and recognized Lajin as the new Sultan saying: "al-Sultan al-Malik al-Mansour ( Lajin ) is one of my Khushdashiya.[28] I serve him and I obey him. I will stay inside the Citadel until the Sultan decide(s) what to do with me". Kitbugha left Damascus to rule in Salkhad.[29] He ruled there for two years and 17 days.[30]
In 1299 while Sultan
Coins of Al-Adil Kitbugha
In 1295, during the reign of Sultan Kitbugha, it was decided for the first time in Egypt, that coins had to be weighed before being exchanged for goods or services. Thus the value of coins were based on their weight and not on their quantity.[34]
See also
- List of rulers of Egypt
- Bahri dynasty
- Al-Ashraf Khalil
- Lajin
- Oirats
- Qalawun
Notes
- ^ a b c d e Ibn Taghri, Sultanante of al-nasir Muhammed.
- ^ (Al-Maqrizi - Al-Khitat Al-Maqiziyah, p. 388/vol.3) - (Ibn Taghri, Sultanante of al-nasir Muhammed)
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, p.218 & p.222 /vol.2
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, p.249/vol. 2
- ^ Shahrzuriyah were Kurds who escaped from Mesopotamia after the Mongol invasion.
During a battle between Al Karak and Sultan Qutuzthey deceived al-Malik al-Mughith king of Al Karak and walked over to the Egyptian side. ( Al-Maqrizi, p500/vol.1 )
- ^ Bilbays, also spelled Bilbeis or Bilbis, town, southeastern al-Sharqia Governorate in the eastern Nile Delta , Lower Egypt , northeast of Cairo. - ( Encyclopædia Britannica, p.15/vol. II)
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, pp.252-255/vol.2
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, pp.259/vol.2
- ^ Ibn Taghri, Sultanante of al-Nasir Muhammed.
- ^ First Kitbugha refused the advice of Lajin but he became convinced after Lajin warned him that later when Al-Nasir Muhammed is old he will punish him as he was also involved in the murder of Al-Nasir Muhammed's brother Al-Ashraf Khalil. - (Ibn Taghri, Sultanante of al-nasir Muhammed.) ( See also Al-Ashraf Khalil )
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 275/vol.2
- ^ The Oirats were about 10,000 persons with horses and cattle. (Ibn Taghri, Sultanate of Kitbugha )
- ^ Oirats, in Arabic Uyratiya.
- ^ According to Abu al-Fida’, Turghai was the husband of the daughter of Mangu Timur the son of Hulagu. - (Abu al-Fida’, year AH 695)
- ^ In 1262, during the reign of Sultan Baybars many Tatars from the Golden Horde tribe escaped from Hulagu to Egypt and were followed later by other Tatars. Baybars welcomed the Tatars and employed them in the army. They had their own army unit, which was called al-Firqah al-Wafidiyah (the arrivals' troop). Throughout the Mamluk era, the Wafidiyah (Arriving Tatars) were free men and the Mamluk system did not apply to them. Baybars settled the Tatars in Cairo and gave them various official posts. The largest group of Tatars 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, vol. 2, p. 144)
- ^ Also spelled al-Husayniyya. The district still exist in present-day Cairo.
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, vol. 2, p. 266
- ^ Shayyal, vol. 2, pp. 144–145
- ^ Shayyal, p.145
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, al-Khitat al-Maqriziyah, vol. 3, pp. 32–36
- ^ Shayyal, vol. 2, p. 145
- ^ Al-Maqrizi described the era of Kitbugha as following: "His days were the worst days with high prices, epidemics and death " - (Al-Maqrizi, p.260/vol.2)
- ^ According to Al-Maqrizi the epidemic caused the death of 127.000 persons. - (Al-Maqrizi, p.268/vol.2)
- ^ When the palace servants heard that kitbugha took power a kitchen servant exclaimed: " This is an ill omen ! This is an unlucky day ! ". The words of the servant spread around and were repeated by all the people. - ( Al-Maqrizi, p. 260/vol.2 )
- ^ the Emirs who attacked Kitbugha's Dihliz included Lajin, Bisari, Qara Sunqur, Qabjaq and al-Haj Bahader. - ( Al-Maqrizi, p.273/vol.2 )
- ^ Dihliz, royal tent of the Sultan which he uses during his travels and battles
- ^ Mamluks of kitbugha were called al-Mamalik al-Adilyyah referring to Kitbugha royal name Al-Adil.
- ^ Khushdashiya ( خشداشية ): Mamluks belonging to the same Amir or Sultan.
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, pp. 277-278/vol.2
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 274/vol.2
- ^ Ostadar ( أستادار ), supervisor of the royal kitchen and everything connected to the food and drink of the Sultan.
- ^ Al-Maqrizi, p. 326 and p.329/vol.2
- ^ Abu al-Fida, Al-Mukhtasar fi Akhbar al-Bashar, IV:61-63.
- ^ Mahdi, p. 100
References
- The Concise History of Humanity
- Abu al-Fida, Al-Mukhtasar fi Akhbar al-Bashar, IV, Cairo 1999.
- 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
- Ibn Taghri, al-Nujum al-Zahirah Fi Milook Misr wa al-Qahirah, al-Hay'ah al-Misreyah 1968
- History of Egypt, 1382-1469 A.D. by Yusef. William Popper, translator Abu L-Mahasin ibn Taghri Birdi, University of California Press 1954
- Mahdi, Dr. Shafik, Mamalik Misr wa Alsham ( Mamluks of Egypt and the Levant), Aldar Alarabiya, Beirut 2008
- Sato Tsugitaka, State and Rural Society in Medieval Islam, Brill 1997, ISBN 90-04-10649-9
- Shayal, Jamal, Prof. of Islamic history, Tarikh Misr al-Islamiyah (History of Islamic Egypt), dar al-Maref, Cairo 1266, ISBN 977-02-5975-6
- The New Encyclopædia Britannica, Macropædia,H.H. Berton Publisher,1973–1974