Until 14th century
Egypt and Syria
The Bahri Mamluk line was the first major ruling line of the Mamluk Sultanate described in the extract. It was associated primarily with Turkish mamluk military recruitment and experienced severe succession instability after the death of al-Nasir Muhammad in 1341. The line ended in 1382 when Barquq deposed the child-sultan al-Salih Hajji and established the Circassian-dominated Burji line.
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The Story
The Bahri line entered a prolonged crisis after the death of Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad in 1341. During the following forty-odd years, twelve descendants of the sultan were proclaimed rulers, including sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons. Some were children, and rapid changes on the throne allowed powerful mamluk amirs to exercise effective authority through factional alliances, intrigue, and competition for wealth.
The instability affected Cairo directly. Rival Mamluk regiments fought in the streets, turning the capital into a battlefield and damaging the economic life of Egypt. Even rulers who held the throne for longer periods, including al-Hasan and al-Ashraf Sha'ban, remained dependent on the political balance among military commanders rather than on a stable hereditary succession.
The Black Death and warfare also weakened the military foundations of the Bahri regime. The South Russian steppe ceased to supply Egypt with adequate numbers of young Turkish slaves, while Caucasian mamluks became increasingly important. In 1382 Barquq deposed al-Salih Hajji, the last Bahri sultan, ending the line and inaugurating Burji rule.
Until 14th century
Egypt and Syria
The Bahri Mamluk line was the first major ruling line of the Mamluk Sultanate described in the extract. It was associated primarily with Turkish mamluk military recruitment and experienced severe succession instability after the death of al-Nasir Muhammad in 1341. The line ended in 1382 when Barquq deposed the child-sultan al-Salih Hajji and established the Circassian-dominated Burji line.
Continue exploring
The Story
The Bahri line entered a prolonged crisis after the death of Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad in 1341. During the following forty-odd years, twelve descendants of the sultan were proclaimed rulers, including sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons. Some were children, and rapid changes on the throne allowed powerful mamluk amirs to exercise effective authority through factional alliances, intrigue, and competition for wealth.
The instability affected Cairo directly. Rival Mamluk regiments fought in the streets, turning the capital into a battlefield and damaging the economic life of Egypt. Even rulers who held the throne for longer periods, including al-Hasan and al-Ashraf Sha'ban, remained dependent on the political balance among military commanders rather than on a stable hereditary succession.
The Black Death and warfare also weakened the military foundations of the Bahri regime. The South Russian steppe ceased to supply Egypt with adequate numbers of young Turkish slaves, while Caucasian mamluks became increasingly important. In 1382 Barquq deposed al-Salih Hajji, the last Bahri sultan, ending the line and inaugurating Burji rule.
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