Analyzing the position of the Mamluks during the transfer of the Abbasid caliphate from Baghdad to Egypt

Subject Areas : Epistemological and methodological researcher of historical research

Seyed Mohammad Ahmadi Moghadam ¹ , Reza Keyani Neya ² , ghafar pourbakhtiar ³

1 - Department of History, Shoushtar Branch, Islamic Azad University , Shoushtar, Iran .
2 - Department of History, Shoushtar Branch, Islamic Azad University , Shoushtar, Iran .(Corresponding author)
3 - Department of History, Shoushtar Branch, Islamic Azad University , Shoushtar, Iran .

Received: 2024-12-05 Accepted : 2025-02-10 Published : 2025-03-20

Keywords: Mamluk, Caliphate, Baghdad, Egypt,

Abstract :

During the transition of the Abbasid Caliphate from Baghdad to Egypt, the role of the Mamluks as a military and administrative force was highly prominent. Initially, the Mamluks entered the governmental structure as military slaves. After receiving military and administrative training, they served as soldiers and government officials. This system of military slavery emerged during the Abbasid era, and due to their military capabilities and loyalty to their masters, the Mamluks quickly infiltrated the government structure. They were primarily recruited from Turkic and Caucasian regions and, with advancement in the power structure, attained higher positions within the government. Through their organized structure and exceptional military skills, they rose to command armies and even ascended to the emirate and sultanate. In Egypt, the Mamluks were not only a military force but also regarded as the main political and economic actors, playing a crucial role in strengthening and maintaining the governmental structure. The transfer of the caliphate to Egypt symbolized profound changes in the power structure, and the Mamluks played a significant role in reinforcing this structure. By establishing a central military system, they developed Egypt's economy and culture, contributing to the region’s prosperity. This article, by examining the extensive role of the Mamluks during the Abbasid Caliphate's transition, addresses their unique role in Islamic history.

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