'Killing and kinging : Altaic notions of kingship and the legitimation of al-Zāhir Baybars’ usurpation of the Mamluk sultanate, 1249-1260'
Journal: Leiden Repository (Leiden University)
Year: 2012

The Mamluks 1 were military slaves of Turkic origin who in 1250 usurped the throne of their master, al-Slih Ayyb (r.1240-1249), the Ayyubid sultan of Egypt.The Ayyubids had become dependent on mamlk military power, which allowed the army commanders, the mamlk emirs, to appropriate political power.In 1250, the emir Aybak al-Turkmn (r.1250-1257) was raised from their ranks to become the first Mamluk sultan.During the first decade of Mamluk rule, however, chaos and violence reigned supreme.Four sul