African Kingdoms

Islamic Egypt

Ancient Egypt had been conquered by the Roman empire before falling under the control of the Islamic empire when its forces swept through in 639-640. For the next century the region was governed directly by the Umayyad caliphate, restoring a situation that had existed periodically between the rise of the Assyrian empire until the division of Alexander the Great's Greek empire. Gradually, most Egyptians converted from Christianity to Islam and learned to speak Arabic (the remaining Christians became known as Copts), and a new capital was established in the north (modern Cairo).

Abbasid Governors of Egypt
AD 750 - 868

The Abbasid usurpation of the caliphate saw the Umayyads deposed except in Spain. The general, Saleh ibn Ali, captured Fustat for the Abbasids in 750 and he handed control to the first governor soon afterwards. A new headquarters was established at the northern edge of the capital, el Askar ('the soldiers'), but this quickly merged with the expanding city itself. Details on the governors other than their names seems to be vary sparse.

750

Saleh ibn Ali ibn Abdullah

Abbasid general who conquered Fustat from the Umayyads.

751 - 753

Abu Awn Abdul Malik ibn Yazid

First Abbasid governor of Egypt.

753 - 755

Saleh ibn Ali ibn Abdullah

Returned as governor.

755 - 758

Abu Awn Abdul Malik ibn Yazid

Second term of office.

758 - 759

Moussa ibn Ka'b ibn Oyayna ibn Aisha

759

Mohammed ibn al-Aha'th al-Khoza'i

760 - 762

Hamid ibn Quahtaba

762 - 772

Yazid ibn Hatim al-Mohalabi

772

Mohammed ibn Abdul Rahman

772 - 778

Moussa ibn Ollai ibn Rabah al-lakhmi

778 - 779

Eissa ibn Loquman al-Gomahi

779

Wadih, Mawla of Abu Ga'far

779

Mansour ibn Yazid ibn Mansour al-Re'ini

779 - 780

Yahya ibn Daoud al-horashi

780 - 781

Salim ibn Sawada al-Tamimi

781 - 784

Ibrahin ibn Saleh ibn Abdullah ibn Abbas

784 - 785

Moussa ibn Mous'ab al-Khath'ami

785

Asama ibn Amro al-Ma'fri

785

Al-Fadl ibn Saleh ibn Ali al-Abbassi

786 - 787

Ali ibn Salman al-Abbassi

787 - 789

Moussa ibn Eissa ibn Moussa al-Abbassi

789 - 790

Muslima ibn Yahia al-Bagli

790

Mohammed ibn Zoheir al-Azdi

790 - 791

Daoud ibn Yazid al-Mouhallabi

791 - 792

Moussa ibn Eissa ibn Moussa al-Abbassi

Second term of office.

792

Ibrahim ibn Saleh ibn Abdullah al-Abbassi

Second term of office.

792 - 793

Abdullah ibn al-Mousayyeb ibn Zoheir

793 - 794

Ishak ibn Soliman

794 - 795

Harmatha ibn A'youn

795

Abdullah ibn al-Mosayyeb al-Abbassi

795

Abdullah ibn al-Mahdi al-Abbassi

796 - 797

Moussa ibn Eissa ibn Moussa al-Abbassi

796 - 797

Oubeidullah ibn al-Mahdi al-Abbassi

797 - 798

Ismail ibn Saleh al-Abbassi

798

Ismail ibn Eaissa al-Abbassi

798 - 803

Al-Layth ibn al-Fadl

803 - 805

Ahmed ibn Ismail ibn Ali ibn al-Abbassi

805 - 806

Abdullah ibn Mohammed al-Abbassi

806 - 808

Al-Hussein ibn Gamil

808

Malik ibn Dalhem al-Kalbi

809 - 827

This period is marked by instability within Egypt.

809

Al-Hassan ibn al-Takhtakh

810 - 811

Hatim ibn Harthama ibn A'youn

811 - 812

Gaber ibn Asha'th al-Ta'i

812 - 813

Abbad ibn Mohammed ibn Hayyan

813 - 814

Al-Mottab ibn Abdullal al-Khoza'I

814

Al-Abbass ibn Moussa ibn al-Abbassi

814 - 815

Al-Mottalib ibn Abdullah al-Khoza'i

815 - 816

Al-Serri ibn al-Hakam

816 - 817

Soliman ibn Ghalib ibn Gebril al-Bagli

817 - 820

Al-Serri ibn al-Hakam

Second term of office.

820 - 822

Abu al-Nassr

Son.

822

Obeidullah ibn al-Serri

822 - 826

Khalid ibn Yazid ibn Mazid al-Shibany

826 - 827

Abdullah ibn Tahir ibn al-Hussein

827 - 829

The position of governor is vacant for two years as the post and its responsibilities becomes unworkable.

829

Eissan ibn Yazid al-Gloudi

829

Omair ibn al-Walid

829 - 830

Eissa ibn Yazid al-Gloudi

Second term of office.

830 - 831

Abd Waih ibn Gabla

831

The Turkic general, Afshin, puts down a joint Arabic-Coptic rebellion, and the Arabic families lose power for good.

831 - 832

Abdullah al Ma'mun

Abbasid caliph.

832 - 834

Quaidar Nassr ibn Abdullah

Son.

834

Mozzaffar ibn Quaidar

Son.

834 - 839

Moussa ibn Abi al-Abbass

839 - 841

Malik ibn Quaidar

841 - 843

Ali ibn Yahia al-Armani

843 - 847

Eissa ibn al-Mansour

848 - 849

Harthama ibn al-Nadr al-Gabali

849

Hatim ibn Harthama ibn al-Nadr

849 - 850

Ali ibn Yahia al-Armani

850

Isshac ibn Yahia ibn Mo'az

851

Khout Abdul Wahid ibn Yahia

852 - 856

Anbassa ibnn Isshac al-Dabbi

856 - 867

Yazid ibn Abdullah al-Tourki

Non-Abbasid governor.

867 - 868

Mozahim ibn Khaqan

Non-Abbasid governor.

868

Ahmed ibn Mozahim ibn Khaqan

Non-Abbasid governor.

868

Azgour al-Torki

Non-Abbasid governor.

Tulunid Dynasty
AD 868 - 905

During a period of uncertainty within the Islamic empire, the newly-assigned Tulunid governor of Egypt assumed independent control of the country. Ahmad ibn-Tuluh, who was the first fully independent ruler of Egypt in over eight hundred years, built one of the oldest monuments in Cairo: the ibn Tulun Mosque. Despite their independence, the Tulunids never openly proclaimed their removal of Egypt from the caliphate. Eventually, the dynasty fell victim to the brief revival of Abbasid power at the beginning of the tenth century.

868 - 884

Ahmed ibn-Tuluh / Ahmad ibn Tulun

Established himself as an independent governor of Egypt.

877 - 878

Abbasid troops are sent against Ahmed because he has failed to send enough tribute to Baghdad. Defeating them, the following year he invades and captures Palestine and Syria.

The tomb of Ahmed ibn-Tuluh in Cairo

884 - 896

Khumarawayh

Son.

890

Benefiting from a well-trained army, a stable economy, and an efficient bureaucracy, Khumarawayh is able to achieve further military gains, including the capture of areas of northern Iraq. Unfortunately, his military efforts weaken that stable economy for future rulers.

896

After Khumarawayh's death, the emirs who succeed him are weak and ineffective, allowing their slave-soldiers to take control of the day-to-day running of the emirate.

896

Jaysh / Abu l-Ashir

Son. Deposed by the military commanders.

896 - 904

Harun

Brother. Assassinated.

904 - 905

Shayban

905 - 935

Following an invasion of Egypt, the Abbasids regain direct control of the country on 10 January 905.

Abbasid Governors of Egypt
AD 905 - 935

The Abbasid caliph regained direct control of Egypt with a successful invasion of the weakened Tulunid emirate on 10 January 905. They placed governors in the capital to maintain day-to-day control of the country. Again, as with the previous period of Abbasid Governors, details on them seems to be vary sparse.

905 - 910

Eissa al-Noushari

First restored Abbasid governor (wali).

910 - 915

Abu Mansour Tekin

915 - 919

Zaka Al-A'war

Second term of office.

920 - 921

Abu Mansour Tekin

Second term of office.

921 - 923

Hilal ibn Badr

923 - 924

Ahmed ibn Keghlegh

924 - 933

Abu al-Mansour Tekin

933 - 935

Abbasid control of Egypt proves to be short-lived when the country falls under the control of the Mameluke dynasty of Turkic governors.

Mameluke Dynasty of Ikhshidite Amirs
AD 935 - 969

Mamelukes (or Mamluks) were originally Turkic soldiers who had been captured in war and recruited into the armies of Islam. They became more important over time simply because they became indispensable in maintaining control. The Mameluke Ikhshidite (or Ikhshidid - Persian for 'prince') emirs began the process of drifting out of Abbasid control again under the Turkic slave soldier, Muhammad ibn Tughj al Ikhshid. At its greatest extent, the emirate included Palestine and Syria, but then it found itself trying to stop the triumphant Fatimids, ultimately unsuccessfully.

935 - 946

Muhammad ibn Tughj al Ikhshid

Turkic Mameluke slave soldier and governor.

944

Egypt loses control of Syria to the Hamdanids of Aleppo.

946 - 961

Unujur

961 - 966

Ali

966 - 968

Kafur al Labi / Abu al-Misk Kafur

Vizier and effective ruler following the death of his master.

968 - 969

Ahmad

969 - 1171

In 1969, Egypt is removed from Abbasid control and ruled by the North African Fatamids following their capture of Cairo.

1169

The formal career of Salah al-Din Yusuf Ibn Ayyub (or Saladin), begins when he serves on the staff of his uncle, Asad ad-Din Shirkuh, an important military commander under Mahmud of Aleppo and Damascus. They are involved in a race with the Crusader kingdom of Jerusalem to conquer Fatamid Egypt. On 2 January 1169, the Crusaders retreat from their siege of the walls of Cairo and evacuate the region, allowing Shirkuh to take control as vizier (prime minister) under the Fatamids, founding the Ayyubid dynasty in Egypt (although not, at this stage, an independent one).

1169

Asad ad-Din Shirkuh

General and vizier of Egypt for the Fatamids. Died.

1169 - 1171

Salah al-Din Yusuf Ibn Ayyub (Saladin)

General and vizier of Egypt for the Fatamids.

1171 - 1174

The caliph dies, ending Fatamid rule of Egypt and leaving the country in the control of Saladin, under the suzerainty of Mahmud Nur ad-Din of Damascus. The latter's death in 1174 allows Saladin to assert his full control over Egypt, becoming the first Ayyubid sultan.

Ayyubid Dynasty
AD 1174 - 1252

As the first Ayyubid sultan of Egypt, Saladin soon moved out of Egypt and occupied Damascus and other Syrian towns, although Egypt remained his base of operations. Then he defeated and drove the Crusaders from Jerusalem, and set up his sons and relatives in several subsidiary lines within Ayyubid territory, in Damascus, Aleppo, Hims, Hamat, Diyar Bakr, and Yemen. Most of these were ended by 1260 by the Mamelukes or fell to the Mamelukes after the Mongol conquest. The line in Hamat was a little more durable, only falling to the Mamelukes in 1332, and the line in Diyar Bakr, with some interruptions, survived until conquest by the White Sheep Turks in the later fifteenth century.

Although originally ruling from Egypt, Saladdin spent the last years of his life fighting in Syria and Palestine and was buried in Damascus, next to the Umayyad mosque. The Ayyubid family still survives in modern Lebanon and retains Saladin's sword.

1174 - 1193

Salah al-Din Yusuf Ibn Ayyub (Saladin)

Former vizier and now sultan. Also ruled Damascus (1183-1186).

1171

The kingdom of Dongola enters a sharp decline, due in part to increased Bedouin attacks after these tribespeople have been pushed south by the Ayyubids.

Saladin set about building the famous citadel in Cairo soon after taking power, though it would not be finished until after his death in 1207

1182 - 1183

Saladin leaves Egypt to fight the Crusaders in Syria, never to return to the seat of his authority. The following year he conquers Damascus and Aleppo from Sinjar.

1186

Damascus is ruled by an Ayyubid relative as a subsidiary state. Saladin takes Mosul in the same year.

1187

The Crusader kingdom of Jerusalem is defeated by Saladin at the Battle of Hattin. Although the other captured nobles are ransomed, all of the captured Knights Templars and Knights Hospitallers are executed. Thousands of Christian prisoners are marched the four hundred miles back to Cairo, where they are forced to work on extending the city's fortifications and building the Citadel. Saladin then besieges Jerusalem itself, before coming to peace terms with its defenders, and the city is evacuated by the crusader knights.

1193 - 1198

al Aziz Uthman (Imad ad Din)

Son.

1198 - 1200

al Mansur (Nasir ad Din)

1200

Al-Malik al-Adil I manages to acquire territory between his sultanate in Damascus and in Mesopotamia, before he also overthrows al-Mansur and rules in Egypt too.

1200 - 1218

al Adil I (Sayf ad Din / Safadin) / Abu Bakr

Brother of Saladin. Ruler of Ayyubid Damascus (1196-1201).

1202 - 1204

The Fourth Crusade witnesses the capture of Constantinople by Crusaders in the employ of Venice, causing the first break in the line of Eastern Roman (Byzantine) emperors.

1218 - 1238

al Kamil I (Nasir ad Din)

Son. Ruler of Ayyubid Damascus (1238).

1220

The Ayyubids conquer Sinjar.

1229

The Fifth Crusade sees Jerusalem ceded to the Christians at Acre. For allowing this to happen, al-Kamil is vilified by many Muslims, but it brings peace with the Crusaders.

1234 - 1240

Al-Kamil sends his son, the future as-Salih II, to rule Damascus, removing him from the succession in Egypt after suspecting him of conspiring against him with the Mamelukes. His uncle, as-Salih Ismail, soon expels him from Damascus, and he flees to the Jazira, where he becomes allied to forces from the former emirate of Khwarazm. When his brother, al-Adil II, succeeds in 1238, as-Salih II overthrows him.

1238 - 1240

al Adil II (Sayf ad Din)

Son. Ruler of Ayyubid Damascus (1238-1239). Overthrown.

1240 - 1249

as Salih II (Najm ad Din)

Brother. Ruler of Ayyubid Damascus (1239, 1245-1249). Murdered.

1244

Jerusalem is re-conquered by the Ayyubids.

1249 - 1250

al Muazzam (Turan-Shah Ghiyat ad Din)

Son. Ruler of Ayyubid Damascus (1249-1250).

1250

Shajar ad Durr

Widow of Najm ad Din. Seized the throne.

1250 - 1252

al Ashraf II (Muzaffar ad Din)

Nominally until 1254.

1250 - 1252

In 1250, Shajar ad Durr seizes the sultanate with the support of her Mameluke slave-soldiers, led by Aybak. Eighty days later, she marries Aybak in order to secure the full support of her subjects, before abdicating in her husband's favour, passing all control of the sultanate over to him. Al-Ashraf II serves as a figurehead for a short time, and the Abbasids still hold the title of caliph and hold court at Cairo, but they are weak and are soon to become puppets of the Mamelukes. The Ayyubids survive in Damascus, but only briefly.

Mameluke Sultans of Egypt (Bahri Dynasty)
AD 1252 - 1390

The sultanate of Egypt was effectively seized from the Ayyubids by the Mameluke slave-soldier Aybak. His marriage to Shajar ad Durr and her subsequent abdication gave him sole control over Egypt. The Abbasids still held the title of caliph and held court at Cairo, but were puppets of the Mamelukes, who were descended from Turkish tribes who invaded the Middle East in two major waves in the eleventh and twelfth centuries.

1250 - 1257

Aybak al Turkumani

First of the (usually) Turkish Bahris. Assassinated.

1254

Al Ashraf II, the last of the Ayyubid sultans, is removed from his position as figurehead, and Aybak takes full control.

1257 - 1259

Al Mansur Ali I

Son.

1259 - 1260

Qutuz al Muizzi

Vice-sultan (1253-1259). Assassinated.

1260 - 1277

Baybars I al Bunduqdari

A Kipchak Turk.

1260

The Bahris defeat the Mongols, recapturing Aleppo and Damascus at the same time.

1268

Baybars captures the Crusader city of Antioch and destroys it.

1271

Unable to take the greatest of the Crusader fortresses by force, Baybars uses negotiation with the Knights Hospitallers to recover the Krak de Chevaliers after 162 years of Christian occupation.

1277 - 1279

Al-Said Baraka / Berke Khan

Son

1279

Salamish / Suleymish / Solamish

Brother. Sent into exile at Constantinople for being a child ruler.

1279 - 1290

Qalawun al Alfi

Kipchak Turk and father-in-law to Baraka.

1289

Following a siege by Qalawun al Alfi, the Crusader county of Tripoli falls.

1290 - 1293

Al-Ashraf Khalîl

Son. Assassinated by Turks.

1291

Al-Ashraf Khalîl completes his father's work in taking the Crusader stronghold of Acre. Its fall signals the end of Outremer.

1293

Baydara al-Mansuri

Became new vice-sultan to Muhammad I.

1293 - 1294

Al-Nasir Muhammad I

Son of Qalawun al Alfi. Aged 9 at accession. Deposed.

1293 - 1294

Zayn-ad-Din Kitbugha

Regent and the true power in Egypt.

1294

Not content with being regent to the nine year-old sultan, Zayn-ad-Din Kitbugha counters an attempt to remove him from office by deposing the sultan and seizing the throne for himself.

1294 - 1296

Zayn-ad-Din Kitbugha Kitbugha

Former regent. Deposed by his vice-sultan.

1296 - 1299

Lachin / Lajin al Ashqar

Former vice-sultan.

1299 - 1309

Al-Nasir Muhammad I

Seized back the throne.

1309 - 1310

Baybars II al Jashnakir (Burji)

Sultanate imposed on him. Stepped down in favour of Muhammad.

1310 - 1341

Al-Nasir Muhammad I

Restored again.

1314

Now fully secure on his throne, Muhammad institutes sweeping changes and reforms in order to expel those who had conspired or sided against him and to wipe out corruption. In 1314 he abolishes the post of vice-sultan and increases aggression against the Dongola kingdom, forcing its collapse.

1341

Al-Mansur Abu Bakr

Son.

1341 - 1342

Al-Ashraf Kujuk / Kuchuk

Brother.

1342

Al-Nasir Ahmad I

Brother.

1342 - 1345

Al-Salih Ismail

Brother.

1345 - 1346

Al-Kamil Shaban I

Brother.

1346 - 1347

Al-Muzzafar Hajji I

Brother.

1347 - 1351

Al-Nasir Hasan

Brother.

1351 - 1354

Al-Salih Salih

Brother.

1354 - 1361

Al-Nasir al Hasan

1361 - 1363

Al-Salih Muhammad II

1363 - 1377

Al-Ashraf Shaban II

Grandson of Muhammad I.

1377 - 1382

Al-Mansur Ali II

Son.

1382

Al-Salih Hajji II

Brother.

1382

Al-Salih Hajji II is dethroned. Control of the sultanate is secured by Barquq, a Circassian general, or emir. However, he loses power to a briefly resurgent Hajji in 1389 and is expelled, only to return a year later.

1382 - 1388

Barquq al Yalburghawi

First of the (usually) Circassian Burjis.

1389 - 1390

Al-Salih Hajji II

Restored.

1390

Cairo is recaptured by Barquq and the Burji dynasty is born.

Mameluke Sultans of Egypt (Burji Dynasty)
AD 1390 - 1517

The Burjis were of Circassian descent, but once they had dethroned the ruling Bahri sultans and secured their own position, they endured a stormy relationship with power. The reignal lengths of each sultan were often short, plagued by behind-the-scenes politicking and power-plays. Barquq also made an enemy of the powerful ruler of Persia, Timur, which cost him a great deal of time an effort in needless warfare in Syria. In the end, their lack of unity cost them, because they were unable to match the increasingly powerful Ottomans in securing territory.

1390 - 1399

Barquq al Yalburghawi

Restored and secure on the throne as the founder of the dynasty.

1399 - 1405

Faraj

1405

Abd al Aziz

1405 - 1412

Faraj

1412

al Mustain

Assumed caliphate of Egypt 1406-1414.

1412 - 1421

Shaykh al Mahmudi (al Zahiri)

1421

Ahmad II

1421

Tatar

1421 - 1422

Muhammad III

1422 - 1438

Barsbay

1438

Yusuf

1438 - 1453

Chaqmaq / Jaqmaq

1453

Uthman

1453 - 1461

Inal al Alai al Zahiri

1461

Ahmad III

1461 - 1467

Khushqadam

1467

Yalbay

1467 - 1468

Timurbugha

1468 - 1496

Qayit Bay al Zahiri

1496 - 1498

Muhammad IV

1498 - 1500

Qansawh I

1500 - 1501

Janbulat

1501

Tuman Bay I

1501 - 1516

Qansawh II al Ghawri

1516 - 1517

Tuman Bay II

1517

Egypt is conquered by Ottoman empire under Selim I Yavuz. The line of Mamelukes continues until 1811.

Mameluke Subject Sultans of Egypt
AD 1517 - 1811

1798 - 1799

Republican France invades Egypt under the leadership of Napoleon Bonaparte, in the hopes of creating a corridor to Britain's possessions in India. His battles against the Mamelukes fatally weakens them.

1811

Pasha Muhammed Ali takes control of Egypt.