XIᵉ siècle – XIᵉ siècle
Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Badr al-Jamali was an Armenian former slave who became governor of Acre, commander of the Fatimid armies and chief vizier. Summoned by al-Mustansir during Egypt's military and economic collapse, he restored order in Cairo, centralized administration and became the effective ruler of the Fatimid realm.
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Le récit
Badr al-Jamali entered the political centre of Fatimid Egypt at a moment of acute crisis. Rival Turkish, Berber and Sudanese troops had devastated the country, while attacks on irrigation infrastructure and a low Nile flood had contributed to famine and plague. As governor of Acre, Badr had acquired a military position from which he could respond to the caliph's summons.
Al-Mustansir called Badr to restore order, and he arrived by sea with Armenian and Kurdish troops. Entering Cairo at the beginning of 1074, he surprised the Turkish forces, dispersed and disarmed them, and had their officers put to death. During the following three years he also brought Arab and Berber tribesmen and the Sudanese infantry under control.
After being appointed commander of the armies, Badr assumed the civil vizierate and leadership of the missions. He became the virtual ruler of the Fatimid realm and reorganized its centralized administration, controlling tax revenues, military payments and the allocation of military fiefs. His reforms restored prosperity and extended the life of the dynasty, although they left the caliphs largely dependent on military dictators.
XIᵉ siècle – XIᵉ siècle
Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Badr al-Jamali was an Armenian former slave who became governor of Acre, commander of the Fatimid armies and chief vizier. Summoned by al-Mustansir during Egypt's military and economic collapse, he restored order in Cairo, centralized administration and became the effective ruler of the Fatimid realm.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
Badr al-Jamali entered the political centre of Fatimid Egypt at a moment of acute crisis. Rival Turkish, Berber and Sudanese troops had devastated the country, while attacks on irrigation infrastructure and a low Nile flood had contributed to famine and plague. As governor of Acre, Badr had acquired a military position from which he could respond to the caliph's summons.
Al-Mustansir called Badr to restore order, and he arrived by sea with Armenian and Kurdish troops. Entering Cairo at the beginning of 1074, he surprised the Turkish forces, dispersed and disarmed them, and had their officers put to death. During the following three years he also brought Arab and Berber tribesmen and the Sudanese infantry under control.
After being appointed commander of the armies, Badr assumed the civil vizierate and leadership of the missions. He became the virtual ruler of the Fatimid realm and reorganized its centralized administration, controlling tax revenues, military payments and the allocation of military fiefs. His reforms restored prosperity and extended the life of the dynasty, although they left the caliphs largely dependent on military dictators.