# Vizier (Fatimid Caliphate)

The vizier (Arabic: وزير, romanized: wazīr) was the senior minister of the Fatimid Caliphate for most of the Egyptian period of its existence. Originally it was held by civilian officials who acted as the chief civilian ministers of the caliphs, analogous to the original model established by the Abbasids. When a vizier was not appointed, an "intermediary" ( ‹See RfD› wāsiṭa) was designated instead. The enfeeblement of the caliph's power and the crisis of the Fatimid regime under Caliph al-Mustansir, however, led to the rise of military strongmen, who dominated the post from the 1070s until the caliphate's end. These "viziers of the sword" were also commanders-in-chief of the army who effectively sidelined the caliphs and ruled in their stead, often seizing power from their predecessors. The last vizier, Saladin, abolished the Fatimid Caliphate in 1171 (see Saladin in Egypt).

## History and powers

During the Ifriqiyan period of the Fatimid Caliphate (909–973), the title of "vizier", although current in the eastern Islamic world, was not used. It was adopted after the Fatimid conquest of Egypt, where the office had had a long tradition under the autonomous Tulunid and Ikhshidid dynasties. Although the last Ikhshidid vizier, Ja'far ibn al-Furat, continued to exercise many of his previous functions, the conqueror and viceroy of Egypt, Jawhar, refused to recognize his possession of the vizieral title. Likewise, when Caliph al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah (r. 953–975) arrived in Egypt, he preferred to avoid delegating his powers to a vizier, although he appointed Ya'qub ibn Killis, a former Ikhshidid official, as head of the administrative apparatus. It was only c. 979 that Caliph al-Aziz Billah (r. 975–996) gave the title of vizier to Ibn Killis, who continued as head of the administration until his death in 991.
After Ibn Killis, the caliphs could choose whether to appoint a vizier, or entrust affairs to an "intermediary" ( ‹See RfD› wāsiṭa) who mediated between the Caliph and his officials and subjects. In line with the Fatimids' general policy of toleration of Christians and Jews, several viziers were Christians or of Christian origin, beginning with Isa ibn Nasturus under al-Aziz. Jews, on the other hand, only appear to have held the office after converting to Islam, Ibn Killis being the most prominent example.
The early viziers served at the pleasure of the caliph who had appointed them, and exemplified what the 11th-century legal theorist al-Mawardi called ‹See RfD› wazīr al-tanfīdh ("vizier of execution"), effectively being, in the description of the Orientalist Marius Canard, "agents for the execution of the sovereign's will". Indeed, their careers were often very brief, being deposed, imprisoned, beaten, and frequently executed, by the caliph or by other court rivals. As a result, according to Canard, "broadly speaking, the main characteristic of the vizierate of the Fatimids is the insecurity of the viziers", with periods where the office changed hands in rapid succession. Under the weak al-Mustansir, five viziers held office between 1060 and 1062 alone.
This changed with the rise of the military strongmen to the position: Badr al-Jamali and his successors held full powers in the caliph's stead, and represented al-Mawardi's ‹See RfD› wazīr al-tafwīd, the "vizier with delegated powers". Due to the military background of the holders of the vizierate, they were also known as "viziers of the sword and pen" ( ‹See RfD› wazīr al-sayf wa'l-qalam), or simply "viziers of the sword" ( ‹See RfD› wazīr al-sayf). The "viziers of the sword", who dominated the last century of the Caliphate's existence, were at the same time chief ministers in charge of all civil administration, heads of the armies ( ‹See RfD› amīr al-juyūsh), responsible for all judicial matters as chief ‹See RfD› qāḍī, and even for all religious matters as head missionary ( ‹See RfD› dāʿī al-duʿāt). As the viziers' power grew to eclipse the caliphs', they even assumed the title of "king" ( ‹See RfD› al-malik) followed by an epithet.
From the early 12th century on, the position of ‹See RfD› ṣāḥib al-bāb or high chamberlain was created and came immediately after the vizier, taking over some of the latter's duties when the vizier was not a "man of the sword". Described as a "second vizierate", the office served as a springboard for the actual vizierate for Abu'l-Fath Yanis, Ridwan ibn Walakhshi and Dirgham.

## Residences

Ibn Killis established his official residence ( ‹See RfD› dār al-wazāra) in the southeastern part of Cairo, close to the Sa'ada Gate, a quarter which became known as ‹See RfD› al-wazīriyya after Ibn Killis. The building was not only the residence of the vizier, but also the seat of the fiscal bureaus ( ‹See RfD› dīwāns), and housed storage rooms for garments, the treasury, books, and drinks. Each of the latter was supervised by a comptroller ( ‹See RfD› nāẓir), and the ‹See RfD› dār al-wazāra itself also had its own superintendent ( ‹See RfD› zimām). The ‹See RfD› dār al-wazāra was an echo of the caliphal palaces, and included a small mosque for prayer and kitchens for the banquets organized by the vizier. According to the 15th-century historian al-Maqrizi, after Ibn Killis' death, his residence was not occupied again by a vizier until Abu Muhammad al-Yazuri in 1050. It was then that it became a true ‹See RfD› dār al-wazāra, being the official residence of the subsequent holders of the office until Badr al-Jamali.
Badr built a new residence to the north, in the quarter of ‹See RfD› Barjawān. This edifice then passed into the hands of his son and successor al-Afdal Shahanshah, and then to another of Badr's sons, al-Muzaffar Ja'far; from him it was later known ‹See RfD› dār al-Muẓaffar. Later converted to a guest-house, it was here that the deposed Fatimids were held by Saladin after the overthrow of the dynasty in 1171. Al-Afdal also built a new, and much larger and more luxurious ‹See RfD› dār al-wazāra, on the northeastern part of the city, near the Bab al-Nasr. Initially called ‹See RfD› dār al-Afḍaliyya, it was commonly known as the "House of the Domes" ( ‹See RfD› dār al-qibāb), and later, under al-Ma'mun al-Bata'ihi, as ‹See RfD› dār al-wazāra al-kubrā ("grand house of the vizierate"). This was the final residence of the Fatimid viziers until the end of the dynasty.

## List of viziers

| Start | End | Name | Notes | Caliph |
| 979 | 983 | Ya'qub ibn Killis | Jewish convert of Iraqi origin | al-Aziz Billah (975–996) |
| 983 | 983 | Jabr ibn al-Qasim | An Isma'ili official from the Maghreb, served as vizier for three months during Ibn Killis' disgrace and imprisonment. | al-Aziz Billah (975–996) |
| 983 | 990 | Ya'qub ibn Killis | Restored to office | al-Aziz Billah (975–996) |
| 990 | 991 | Abu'l-Hasan Ali ibn Umar al-Addas | Not vizier, but "guarantor" ( ‹See RfD› ḍāmin) of the state affairs after Ibn Killis' death. Dismissed and imprisoned due to mismanagement. | al-Aziz Billah (975–996) |
| 992 | 993 | Abu'l-Fadl Ja'far ibn al-Fadl ibn al-Furat | Sunni official of Iraqi origin, from a long line of Abbasid viziers; he had served as vizier under the last Ikhshidids and was retained after the conquest of Egypt. | al-Aziz Billah (975–996) |
| 993 | 996 | Isa ibn Nasturus ibn Surus | A Coptic Egyptian scribe, known for his efficiency in tax collection. Executed by Caliph al-Hakim in 1000. | al-Aziz Billah (975–996) |
| 996 | 997 | Muhammad al-Hasan ibn Abbar ibn Abi'l-Husayn | A Kutama nobleman, resigned after clashes between the Turkish and Maghrebi army factions. The first to receive an honorific title, ‹See RfD› amīn al-dawla ("trusted servant of the realm"). | al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (996–1021) |
| 997 | 999 | Barjawan | An Isma'ili eunuch slave from Sicily, designated as tutor of al-Hakim by al-Aziz, but coming to power only after the departure of Ibn Ammar. His great power led him to be killed on al-Hakim's orders. | al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (996–1021) |
| 999 | 1002 | al-Husayn ibn Jawhar | Son of Jawhar, the conqueror of Egypt. Co-vizier with Fahd ibn Ibrahim, bore the title "chief commander" ( ‹See RfD› qāʿid al-quwwād). | al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (996–1021) |
| 999 | 1002 | Abu'l-Ala Fahd ibn Ibrahim | A Christian scribe from Egypt. Co-vizier with al-Husayn ibn Jawhar, bore the title ‹See RfD› al-raʿīs ("the chief" or "the headsman"). Murdered by Caliph al-Hakim. | al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (996–1021) |
| 1002 | 1010 | position vacant | position vacant | al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (996–1021) |
| 1010 | 1012 | Zar'ah ibn Isa ibn Nasturus | Son of vizier Isa ibn Nasturus, bore the title of ‹See RfD› al-shāfi ("the healer"). | al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (996–1021) |
| 1012 | 1014 | al-Husayn ibn Tahir al-Wazzan | Scribe of Iranian origin. Not a vizier, but ‹See RfD› wāsiṭa ("intermediary") with the title of ‹See RfD› amīn al-umanāʾ ("chief secretary", lit. '"secretary of secretaries"'). Killed by Caliph al-Hakim in person. | al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (996–1021) |
| 1014 | 1014 | al-Hasan ibn Abi al-Sayyid and Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi al-Sayyid | Brothers, officials of unknown origin, held the post of ‹See RfD› wāsiṭa in tandem. Despite a reputation for honesty, both were killed by the Caliph after 62 days in office. | al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (996–1021) |
| 1014 | 1014 | Abu'l-Abbas al-Fadl ibn Ja'far ibn al-Fadl ibn al-Furat | Son of vizier Ja'far ibn al-Furat, in office as ‹See RfD› wāsiṭa for five days before being killed on the Caliph's orders. | al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (996–1021) |
| 1015 | 1018 | Abu'l-Hasan Ali ibn Ja'far ibn Falah | Son of the Kutama general Ja'far ibn Falah and close friend and favourite of al-Hakim. ALongside the vizierate he was governor of Alexandria, Tinnis, and Damietta, as well as police prefect ( ‹See RfD› ṣāḥib al-shurṭa) and inspector of the marketplaces ( ‹See RfD› ḥisbah). He was assassinated on the Caliph's orders while riding home. Received the honorifics of ‹See RfD› wāzir al-wuzarāʾ ("chief vizier", lit. '"vizier of viziers"'), ‹See RfD› dhū'l-riāsatayn ("the one of the two headships"), ‹See RfD› al-amīr al-muzaffar ("victorious commander"), and ‹See RfD› quṭb al-dawla ("axis of the realm"). | al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (996–1021) |
| 1018 | 1018 | Sa'id ibn Isa ibn Nasturus | Son of vizier Isa ibn Nasturus and brother of Zar'ah ibn Nasturus. He held extensive powers as "sharer of the caliphate" ( ‹See RfD› qāsim al-khilāfah), with the titles of ‹See RfD› al-amīn al-ẓahir ("the outer secretary"), ‹See RfD› sharaf al-mulk ("honour of the kingship"), ‹See RfD› tāj al-maʿālī ("crown of the finances"), and ‹See RfD› dhū'l-jādayn ("the one of the two hands"). Executed after five months in office. | al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (996–1021) |
| 1018 | 1019 | Abu'l-Fath al-Mas'ud ibn Tahir al-Wazzan | Brother of vizier al-Husayn ibn Tahir al-Wazzan. 1st tenure, as ‹See RfD› wāsiṭa rather than full vizier. | al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (996–1021) |
| 1020 | 1021 | Abu'l-Husayn Ammar ibn Muhammad | Isma'ili official, served as ‹See RfD› wāsiṭa with the titles of ‹See RfD› al-amīr al-khaṭīr ("the significant commander") and ‹See RfD› raʿīs al-ruʿasāʾ ("chief headsman", lit. '"head of heads"'). He was in office during al-Hakim's disappearance and supervised the accession of al-Zahir, but was executed a few days after completing seven months in office. | al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (996–1021) |
| 1020 | 1021 | Abu'l-Husayn Ammar ibn Muhammad | Isma'ili official, served as ‹See RfD› wāsiṭa with the titles of ‹See RfD› al-amīr al-khaṭīr ("the significant commander") and ‹See RfD› raʿīs al-ruʿasāʾ ("chief headsman", lit. '"head of heads"'). He was in office during al-Hakim's disappearance and supervised the accession of al-Zahir, but was executed a few days after completing seven months in office. | Al-Zahir li-i'zaz Din Allah (1021–1036) |
| 1022 | 1022 | Musa ibn al-Hasan | In office for nine months as ‹See RfD› wāsiṭa with the titles of ‹See RfD› yadd al-dawla ("hand of the realm") and ‹See RfD› abū'l-futūḥ ("father of victories"), before being deposed, imprisoned, and executed. | Al-Zahir li-i'zaz Din Allah (1021–1036) |
| 1023 | 1024 | Abu'l-Fath al-Mas'ud ibn Tahir al-Wazzan | Second tenure, as full vizier | Al-Zahir li-i'zaz Din Allah (1021–1036) |
| 1024 | 1027 | Abu Muhammad al-Hasan ibn Salih al-Ruzbari | A veteran official, served as governor of Ramla and Syria and head of the army bureau before being appointed vizier with the title of ‹See RfD› ʿamīd al-dawla wa naṣīḥuhā ("support and councillor of the realm"). Despite his advanced age, he was mistreated by the Caliph, who dismissed him and then restored him to office, only to dismiss him again. | Al-Zahir li-i'zaz Din Allah (1021–1036) |
| 1027 | 1045 | Abu'l-Qasim Ali ibn Ahmad al-Jarjara'i | Member of an Iraqi family which moved to Egypt and became an administrator. Complaints against him led Caliph al-Hakim to cut off his hands, but al-Zahir appointed him vizier. He was in office when al-Zahir died, and supervised the accession of al-Mustansir, serving as his vizier until his death. He bore the titles ‹See RfD› al-wazīr al-ajall ("the most illustrious vizier"), ‹See RfD› al-awḥad ("the unique"), and ‹See RfD› ṣafī amīr al-muʿminīn wa khāliṣatuh ("the true and chosen friend of the commander of the faithful"). | Al-Zahir li-i'zaz Din Allah (1021–1036) |
| 1027 | 1045 | Abu'l-Qasim Ali ibn Ahmad al-Jarjara'i | Member of an Iraqi family which moved to Egypt and became an administrator. Complaints against him led Caliph al-Hakim to cut off his hands, but al-Zahir appointed him vizier. He was in office when al-Zahir died, and supervised the accession of al-Mustansir, serving as his vizier until his death. He bore the titles ‹See RfD› al-wazīr al-ajall ("the most illustrious vizier"), ‹See RfD› al-awḥad ("the unique"), and ‹See RfD› ṣafī amīr al-muʿminīn wa khāliṣatuh ("the true and chosen friend of the commander of the faithful"). | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1045 | 1047 | Abu Mansur Sadaqah ibn Yusuf al-Falahi | A Jewish convert, he was a close friend and aide of al-Jarjara'i, who nominated him as his successor. Nevertheless, he was obliged to share his office with Abu Sa'd al-Tustari, the steward of the Caliph's mother. He managed to have his rival eliminated, but as himself soon after deposed and killed at the instigation of al-Muntasir's mother. He bore the titles ‹See RfD› al-wazīr al-ajall, ‹See RfD› tāj al-riyāsa ("crown of the leadership"), ‹See RfD› fakhr al-mulk ("glory of the kingship"), and ‹See RfD› muṣṭafā amīr al-muʿminīn ("the chosen one of the commander of the faithful"). | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1045 | 1047 | Abu Sa'd al-Tustari | The original owner of al-Muntasir's mother, he later became her chief steward. He was killed at the instigation of his co-vizier. | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1048 | 1049 | Abu'l-Barakat al-Husayn al-Jarjara'i | Brother of the vizier Ali ibn Ahmad al-Jarjara'i, he was unpopular as he sent many into exile or prison and confiscated their properties. He was imprisoned and then exiled to Syria at the Caliph's orders. He bore the honorifics ‹See RfD› sayyid al-wuzarāʾ ("lord of viziers"), ‹See RfD› ẓahīr al-aʿimmah ("helper of the imams"), ‹See RfD› samāʾ al-khulaṣāʾ ("sky of the sincere ones"), and ‹See RfD› fakhr al-ummah ("glory of the [Muslim] community"). | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1049 | 1050 | Abu'l-Fadl Sa'id ibn Masud | A career scribe, he was head of the bureau of Syria before being appointed as ‹See RfD› wāsiṭa, with the titles ‹See RfD› ʿamīd al-mulk ("support of the kingship") and ‹See RfD› zayn al-kufāt ("ornament of the capable ones"). | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1050 | 1058 | Abu Muhammad al-Hasan ibn ali ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Yazuri | Of lowly origin, he rose quickly to prominence as steward of al-Mustansir's mother, and was appointed vizier during a period of severe crisis. As a result, he was able to extract several concessions from al-Mustansir, who was eager to distance himself from governance: although he was a Sunni, al-Yazuri was named chief Isma'ili missionary ( ‹See RfD› dāʿī al-duʿāt). After subduing an Arab revolt, his name was included on the coins alongside the Caliph's. He was imprisoned and executed on the Caliph's orders after depleting the treasury, at a time when Egypt suffered from famine, pursuing his ambition of capturing Baghdad and finally replacing the Abbasid Caliphate with the Fatimids. He held the titles of ‹See RfD› al-wazīr al-ajall, ‹See RfD› al-awḥad, ‹See RfD› al-makīn ("the firm one"), ‹See RfD› sayyid al-wuzarāʾ, ‹See RfD› tāj al-aṣfiyāʾ ("crown of the pure ones"), ‹See RfD› qāḍī al-quḍāt ("chief judge", lit. '"qāḍī' of ‹See RfD› qāḍīs") and ‹See RfD› dāʿī al-duʿāt ("chief missionary", lit. '"dāʿī' of ‹See RfD› dāʿīs"), ‹See RfD› ʿalam al-majd ("world of glory") and ‹See RfD› khāliṣat amīr al-muʿminīn ("chosen one of the commander of the faithful"). | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1058 | 1058 | Abu'l-Faraj Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Babili | A mathematician and author who worked as scribe for al-Yazuri. He briefly succeeded him as vizier for the first of three tenures, lasting two months and 14 days. He bore the titles ‹See RfD› al-wazīr al-ajall, ‹See RfD› al-asʿad ("the auspicious"), ‹See RfD› al-makīn, ‹See RfD› al-ḥāfiz ("the protector"), ‹See RfD› al-amjad ("the glorious"), ‹See RfD› al-amīn ("the trustworthy one"), ‹See RfD› ʿamīd al-khilāfah ("support of the caliphate"), ‹See RfD› jalāl al-wuzarāʾ ("glory of the viziers"), ‹See RfD› tāj al-mamlaka ("crown of the kingdom"), ‹See RfD› wazīr al-imāama ("councillor of the imamate"), ‹See RfD› sharaf al-milla ("honour of the religion"), ‹See RfD› kafīl al-dīn ("patron of the Faith"), ‹See RfD› khalīl amīr al-muʿminīn wa khāliṣatuh ("the true and chosen beloved of the commander of the faithful"). | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1058 | 1060 | Abu'l-Faraj Muhammad ibn Ja'far al-Maghribi | An official under al-Yazuri and imprisoned by al-Babili, he was appointed to the vizierate after al-Babili's dismissal. He was the first to be re-employed after his dismissal two years later, being appointed head of the chancery ( ‹See RfD› dīwān al-inshāʾ). He bore the titles of ‹See RfD› al-wazīr al-ajall, ‹See RfD› al-kāmil ("the perfect one"), ‹See RfD› al-awḥad, and ‹See RfD› ṣafī amīr al-muʿminīn wa khāliṣatuh. | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1060 | 1060 | Abu'l-Faraj Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Babili | Second tenure as vizier, for four months and ten days. | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1061 | 1061 | Abdallah ibn Yahya ibn Mudabbir | Scion of a line of Abbasid viziers and a learned Sufi. His first tenure was of short duration. He bore the titles of ‹See RfD› al-wazīr al-ajall, ‹See RfD› al-ʿādil ("the just"), ‹See RfD› al-amīr ("the commander"), ‹See RfD› sharaf al-wuzarāʾ ("honour of the viziers"), ‹See RfD› sayyid al-ruʿasāʾ ("lord of the headsmen"), ‹See RfD› tāj al-aṣfiyā, ‹See RfD› ʿizz al-dīn ("glory of the Faith"), ‹See RfD› mughīth al-Muslimīn ("succourer of the Muslims"), and ‹See RfD› khalīl amīr al-muʿminīn ("beloved of the commander of the faithful"). | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1061 | 1062 | Abd al-Karim ibn Abd al-Hakim | The scion of a Syrian family of ‹See RfD› qāḍīs, his tenure lasted for five months, cut short by his death. He held the titles of ‹See RfD› al-wazīr al-ajall, ‹See RfD› fakhr al-wuzarāʾ ("glory of the viziers"), ‹See RfD› ʿamīd al-ruʿasāʾ ("dean of the headsmen"), ‹See RfD› qāḍī al-quḍāt wa dāʿī al-duʿāt, ‹See RfD› majd al-maʿālī ("glorious excellency"), ‹See RfD› kafīl al-dīn, and ‹See RfD› yamīn al-muʿminīn ("right hand of the commander of the faithful"). | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1062 | 1062 | Abu Ali Ahmad ibn Abd al-Hakim | A ‹See RfD› qāḍī and son of the vizier Abd al-Karim ibn Abd al-Hakim, becoming thus the first Fatimid vizier to succeed his father. Died after 17 days in office, probably of natural causes. Other than a reputation for piousness, his life is unknown. He held the titles of ‹See RfD› al-wazīr al-ajall, ‹See RfD› qāḍī al-quḍāt wa dāʿī al-duʿāt, ‹See RfD› thiqat al-Muslimīn ("the one trusted by the Muslims"), and ‹See RfD› khalīl amīr al-muʿminīn. | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1062 | 1062 | Abu Abdallah al-Husayn ibn Sadid | An official from Damascus, he held the office for six months before being dismissed and returning to Syria as its governor. He held the titles of ‹See RfD› al-wazīr al-sayyid al-ajall, ‹See RfD› al-kāmil, and ‹See RfD› al-awḥad. | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1062 | 1062 | Abu'l-Faraj Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Babili | Third tenure, for five months, until his death. | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1063 | 1063 | Abu Ahmad Ahmad ibn Abd al-Karim ibn Abd al-Hakim | Two tenures, for three and a half months in total, alternating with the office of ‹See RfD› qāḍī al-quḍāt. He had the titles of ‹See RfD› al-wazīr al-ajall, ‹See RfD› al-awḥad, ‹See RfD› sayyid al-wuzarāʾ, ‹See RfD› majd al-aṣfiyāʾ ("exaltation of the pure ones"), and ‹See RfD› qāḍī al-quḍāt wa dāʿī al-duʿāt. | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1063 | 1063 | Abdallah ibn Yahya ibn Mudabbir | Second and brief tenure, cut short by his death. | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1063 | 1063 | Abu Ghalib Abd al-Zahir ibn Fadl ibn al-Ajami | First tenure for three months. He bore the titles of ‹See RfD› al-wazīr al-ajall, ‹See RfD› al-awḥad, ‹See RfD› al-asʿad, ‹See RfD› tāj al-wuzarāʾ ("crown of the viziers"), ‹See RfD› al-amīn, ‹See RfD› al-makīn, ‹See RfD› sharaf al-kufāt ("honour of the capable ones"), ‹See RfD› dhū'l-mafākhir ("the prideful one"), and ‹See RfD› khalīl amīr al-muʿminīn. | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1063 | 1063 | al-Hasan ibn al-Qadi ibn Kudaynah | First of five tenures held between 1063 and 1073, along with holding the office of ‹See RfD› qāḍī al-quḍāt six times. He is remembered as a cruel and tyrannical man. He held the titles ‹See RfD› al-wazīr al-ajall, ‹See RfD› al-awḥad, ‹See RfD› jalāl al-Islām ("glory of Islam"), ‹See RfD› ẓāhir al-imām ("the external [representative] of the Imam"), ‹See RfD› qāḍī al-quḍāt wa dāʿī al-duʿāt, ‹See RfD› sharaf al-majd, and ‹See RfD› khalīl amīr al-muʿminīn. | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1064 | 1064 | Abu'l-Makarim al-Musharraf ibn As'ad al-Babili | First tenure of two months. He bore the titles of ‹See RfD› al-wazīr al-ajall, ‹See RfD› al-ʿādil, and ‹See RfD› khalīl amīr al-muʿminīn. | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1064 | 1064 | Abu Ali al-Hasan ibn Abi Sa'd Ibrahim ibn Sahl al-Tustari | From a wealthy merchant family, he was head of the treasury before becoming vizier, at the turn of AH 456/457. He resigned after only ten days. As a result, he only bore the titles ‹See RfD› al-ʿamīd and ‹See RfD› ʿalam al-kufāt ("world of the capable ones"). | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1064 | 1064 | Abu Ghalib Abd al-Zahir ibn Fadl ibn al-Ajami | Second tenure of 34 days. | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1065 | 1065 | Abu'l-Makarim al-Musharraf ibn As'ad | Second tenure for less than two months. | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1065 | 1065 | Abu'l-Qasim Hibat Allah ibn Muhammad al-Ra'yani | Two tenures of ten days each. He held the titles of ‹See RfD› al-wazīr al-ajall, ‹See RfD› sayyid al-wuzarāʾ, ‹See RfD› tāj al-aṣfiyāʾ, and ‹See RfD› dhukrat amīr al-muʿminīn ("treasured friend of the commander of the faithful"). | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1065 | 1065 | Abu'l-Hasan ali ibn al-Anbari | Deposed, and possibly killed, after less than a month in office. He held the titles of ‹See RfD› al-athīr ("the ethereal one") and ‹See RfD› kāfī al-kufāt ("the most capable one"). | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1065 | 1065 | Abu Ali al-Hasan ibn Sadid al-Dawla Dhu'l-Kafalatayn | Vizier for a few days. He left the office due to the lack of respect shown him by officials and the dire sttae of the realm, and went to Syria. He returned to Egypt only later, dying shortly after. He held the titles of ‹See RfD› al-wazīr al-ajall, ‹See RfD› tāj al-riyāsa, ‹See RfD› ʿalam al-dīn ("world of the Faith"), and ‹See RfD› sayyid al-sādāt ("the supreme lord", lit. '"lord of lords"'). | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1065 | 1065 | Abu Shuja Muhammad al-Ashraf | The son of Fakhr al-Mulk, a vizier under the Buyid sultan Baha al-Dawla, he was very wealthy and renowned for his integrity. His first tenure in December 1064 only lasted two days, and his second, in January–February 1065, about a month. In 1073 left for Syria, but was intercepted and executed by Badr al-Jamali. He bore the titles of ‹See RfD› al-ajall, ‹See RfD› al-muʿaẓẓam ("the exalted one"), and ‹See RfD› fakhr al-mulk. | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1066 | 1066 | Abu'l-Hasan Tahir ibn Wazir | A scribe in the chancery, he served as vizier for a few days before abandoning his post for his home city of Tripoli. He bore the titles ‹See RfD› al-ajall, ‹See RfD› al-wajīh ("the dignified"), ‹See RfD› sayyid al-kufāt ("lord of the capable ones"), ‹See RfD› nafīs al-dawla ("priceless [servant] of the realm"), and ‹See RfD› ẓahīr amīr al-muʿminīn ("helper of the commander of the faithful"). | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1066 | 1066 | Abu Abdallah Muhammad ibn Abi Hamid | Scion of a wealthy Egyptian family from Tinnis, he was vizier for one day, before being dismissed and executed by the Caliph. He held the titles of ‹See RfD› al-qadīr ("the mighty"), ‹See RfD› al-ʿādil, ‹See RfD› shams al-umam ("sun of the nations", ‹See RfD› sayyid ruʿasāʾ al-sayf wa'l-qalam ("lord of the headsmen of the sword and the pen"), ‹See RfD› tāj al-ʿulā ("the highest crown"), ‹See RfD› ʿamīd al-hudā ("support of guidance"), ‹See RfD› sharaf al-dīn ("honour of the Faith"), ‹See RfD› ghayyāth al-Islām wa'l-Muslimīn ("succorer of Islam and the Muslims"), ‹See RfD› ḥamīm amīr al-muʿminīn ("intimate [friend] of the commander of the faithful"). | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1066 | 1066 | Abu Sa'd Mansur ibn Zunbur | An Egyptian Christian, he was vizier for a few days before he fled the office when the army demanded to be paid, as the treasury was empty. He bore the titles of ‹See RfD› al-ajall, ‹See RfD› al-awḥad, ‹See RfD› al-makīn, ‹See RfD› al-sayyid, ‹See RfD› al-afḍal ("the best, the superior"), ‹See RfD› al-amīn, ‹See RfD› sharaf al-kufāt, ‹See RfD› ʿamīd al-khilāfah, ‹See RfD› muḥibb amīr al-muʿminīn ("lover of the commander of the faithful"). | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1066 | 1073 | The exact history of the viziers during this period is unclear as they alternated often and with extremely short tenures, so that many were never even recorded, while others, like Ibn Kudaynah, held the office multiple times. | The exact history of the viziers during this period is unclear as they alternated often and with extremely short tenures, so that many were never even recorded, while others, like Ibn Kudaynah, held the office multiple times. | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1072 | 1072 | Abu Ghalib Abd al-Zahir ibn Fadl ibn al-Ajami | Third and last tenure, amidst a collapsing regime and a famine so severe that cannibalism was reported. He was killed after a few days. | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1073 | 1073 | Abu'l-Ala Abd al-Ghani ibn Nasr ibn Sa'id al-Dayf | Ibn al-Sayrafi reports that he was a ‹See RfD› wāsiṭa and in office until the arrival of Badr al-Jamali, but other authors dispute this: Ibn Muyassar reports that Abd al-Ghani only was in office for a few days, and that Ibn Kudaynah was vizier when Badr al-Jamali came to Cairo. He held the titles of ‹See RfD› al-ṣādiq ("the honest"), ‹See RfD› al-muʿmīn ("the faithful"), ‹See RfD› makīn al-dawla wa amīnuha ("firm support and servant of the realm"). | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1073 | 1073 | al-Hasan ibn al-Qadi ibn Kudaynah | Fifth and final tenure, according to al-Maqrizi for about a year. He was executed by Badr al-Jamali in person. | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1074 | 1094 | Badr al-Jamali | Armenian ‹See RfD› ghulām and general, served until his death. He bore the titles ‹See RfD› al-sayyid al-ajall ("the most exalted lord"), ‹See RfD› amīr al-juyūsh ("commander of the armies"), ‹See RfD› sayf al-Islām ("sword of Islam"), and ‹See RfD› nāṣir al-imām ("protector of the Imam"). | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1094 | 1121 | al-Afdal Shahanshah | Son of Badr al-Jamali, he succeeded his father during the last year of his life, when Badr fell ill. After the death of al-Mustansir, he orchestrated the accession of al-Mustansir's younger son al-Musta'li over his older brother Nizar. Nizar was killed in the subsequent confrontation, leading to the split between the split of the Nizari and Musta'li branches of Isma'ilism. After al-Musta'li's death, he placed his son al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah on the throne. In foreign affairs, his tenure was dominated by his incessant campaigns against the Crusader states in the Levant. Al-Afdal remained the ‹See RfD› de facto ruler of Egypt until his assassination in 1121. He bore the titles ‹See RfD› al-sayyid al-ajall, ‹See RfD› al-afḍal, ‹See RfD› sayf al-imām ("sword of the Imam"), ‹See RfD› jalāl al-Islām, ‹See RfD› sharaf al-ānām ("honour of mankind"), ‹See RfD› nāṣir al-dīn ("protector of the Faith"), and ‹See RfD› khalīl amīr al-muʿminīn. | al-Mustansir Billah (1036–1094) |
| 1094 | 1121 | al-Afdal Shahanshah | Son of Badr al-Jamali, he succeeded his father during the last year of his life, when Badr fell ill. After the death of al-Mustansir, he orchestrated the accession of al-Mustansir's younger son al-Musta'li over his older brother Nizar. Nizar was killed in the subsequent confrontation, leading to the split between the split of the Nizari and Musta'li branches of Isma'ilism. After al-Musta'li's death, he placed his son al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah on the throne. In foreign affairs, his tenure was dominated by his incessant campaigns against the Crusader states in the Levant. Al-Afdal remained the ‹See RfD› de facto ruler of Egypt until his assassination in 1121. He bore the titles ‹See RfD› al-sayyid al-ajall, ‹See RfD› al-afḍal, ‹See RfD› sayf al-imām ("sword of the Imam"), ‹See RfD› jalāl al-Islām, ‹See RfD› sharaf al-ānām ("honour of mankind"), ‹See RfD› nāṣir al-dīn ("protector of the Faith"), and ‹See RfD› khalīl amīr al-muʿminīn. | al-Musta'li (1094–1101) |
| 1094 | 1121 | al-Afdal Shahanshah | Son of Badr al-Jamali, he succeeded his father during the last year of his life, when Badr fell ill. After the death of al-Mustansir, he orchestrated the accession of al-Mustansir's younger son al-Musta'li over his older brother Nizar. Nizar was killed in the subsequent confrontation, leading to the split between the split of the Nizari and Musta'li branches of Isma'ilism. After al-Musta'li's death, he placed his son al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah on the throne. In foreign affairs, his tenure was dominated by his incessant campaigns against the Crusader states in the Levant. Al-Afdal remained the ‹See RfD› de facto ruler of Egypt until his assassination in 1121. He bore the titles ‹See RfD› al-sayyid al-ajall, ‹See RfD› al-afḍal, ‹See RfD› sayf al-imām ("sword of the Imam"), ‹See RfD› jalāl al-Islām, ‹See RfD› sharaf al-ānām ("honour of mankind"), ‹See RfD› nāṣir al-dīn ("protector of the Faith"), and ‹See RfD› khalīl amīr al-muʿminīn. | Al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah (1101–1130) |
| 1121 | 1125 | Abu Abdallah al-Ma'mun al-Bata'ihi | Previously chief of staff for al-Afdal and author of several reforms, he may have been involved in the latter's assassination, along with Caliph al-Amir. As vizier, he gained a reputation for justice and generosity, and was a patron of learning; he undertook a census of Egypt, and commissioned a history of the vizierate. His downfall in 1125 was abrupt and remains a mystery, as the sources can only speculate on the reasons; likely al-Amir resented his extensive authority. Al-Bata'ihi was executed and crucified by the Caliph in 1128. He bore the titles ‹See RfD› al-sayyid al-ajall, ‹See RfD› tāj al-khilāfah ("crown of the caliphate"), ‹See RfD› ʿizz al-Islām ("glory of Islam"), ‹See RfD› fakhr al-ānām ("glory of mankind"), and ‹See RfD› niẓām al-dīn ("order of the Faith"). | Al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah (1101–1130) |
| 1125 | 1130 | position vacant | position vacant | Al-Amir bi-Ahkam Allah (1101–1130) |
| 1130 | 1130 | Hizar al-Mulk Hazarmard | A favourite of al-Amir, he was vizier for about two weeks following the death of al-Amir and the proclamation of Abu al-Majid (the future Caliph al-Hafiz li-Din Allah) as regent. He was deposed and executed when the army rose in revolt under Kutayfat. | Regency of Abd al-Majid |
| 1130 | 1131 | Abu Ali Ahmad ibn al-Afdal Shahanshah (Kutayfat) | The son of al-Afdal Shahanshah, he seized dictatorical powers after the murder of Caliph al-Amir. He kept Abd al-Majid as nominal regent, but he soon changed the official state doctrine to Twelver Imamism and ruled as the deputy ( ‹See RfD› nāʾib) and deputy ( ‹See RfD› khalīfa) of the Expected Imam, sidelining the Fatimids. He ruled for 13 months and 13 days before he was murdered in a coup organized by the disgruntled Fatimid elites. | Regency of Abd al-Majid |
| 1131 | 1132 | Abu'l-Fath Yanis | An Armenian Christian military slave, he played the leading role in the assassination of Kutayfat and was rewarded with the position of vizier. His growing power made him a threat to the Caliph al-Hafiz, who had him killed after little over nine months in office. | Regency of Abd al-Majid |
| 1131 | 1132 | Abu'l-Fath Yanis | An Armenian Christian military slave, he played the leading role in the assassination of Kutayfat and was rewarded with the position of vizier. His growing power made him a threat to the Caliph al-Hafiz, who had him killed after little over nine months in office. | al-Hafiz li-Din Allah (1132–1149) |
| 1132 | 1134 | position vacant | position vacant | al-Hafiz li-Din Allah (1132–1149) |
| 1134 | 1134 | Sulayman ibn al-Hafiz li-Din Allah | Son and designated successor of al-Hafiz, he died two months after receiving the powers of the vizierate. | al-Hafiz li-Din Allah (1132–1149) |
| 1134 | 1134 | Haydara ibn al-Hafiz li-Din Allah | A younger son of al-Hafiz, he was named designated successor and vizier after the death of Sulayman. | al-Hafiz li-Din Allah (1132–1149) |
| 1134 | 1135 | Hasan ibn al-Hafiz li-Din Allah | A younger son of al-Hafiz, he forced his father to name him vizier and heir-apparent on 19 July 1135. After he killed a number of senior commanders, the army demanded his execution. Al-Hafiz had him poisoned in March/April 1135. | al-Hafiz li-Din Allah (1132–1149) |
| 1135 | 1137 | Abu Muzaffar Bahram al-Armani | An Armenian Christian. The favour he showed to Christians, and especially the encouragement of Armenian immigration, led to an anti-Christian backlash among the Muslim population, and he was forced out of office in February 1137 by the Sunni Ridwan ibn Walakhshi. He bore the titles of ‹See RfD› tāj al-mulūk ("crown of the kingship") and ‹See RfD› sayf al-Islām. | al-Hafiz li-Din Allah (1132–1149) |
| 1137 | 1139 | Ridwan ibn Walakhshi | A Sunni Egyptian military commander and governor of Ascalon. He was the first vizier to claim the title of ‹See RfD› al-malik ("king"). His tenure was marked by the replacement of Christian officials by Muslims, and the imposition of restrictions on Christians and Jews. Ridwan also aimed to depose the Fatimids in favour of a Sunni regime headed by himself, but was thwarted by al-Hafiz, who raised the people of Cairo and the army against him and evicted him from the capital. Ridwan surrendered and was imprisoned in the palace, only to escape and lead another rebellion in 1148, during which he was murdered on the Caliph's instructions. | al-Hafiz li-Din Allah (1132–1149) |
| 1138 | 1149 | position vacant | position vacant | al-Hafiz li-Din Allah (1132–1149) |
| 1149 | 1149 | Najm al-Din Muhammad ibn Masal | A military commander from the Maghreb, he was "supervisor of affairs" ( ‹See RfD› nāẓir fi'l-umūr) since 1145, but became vizier only after the accession of al-Zafir, holding the office for two months before being deposed and killed by al-Adil ibn al-Sallar after trying to purge the army to restore discipline in its ranks. | al-Zafir bi-Amr Allah (1149–1154) |
| 1149 | 1153 | al-Adil ibn al-Sallar | He was governor of Alexandria when he deposed and replaced Ibn Masal. His tenure lasted three and a half years, during which he was scored significant successes against the Crusaders. He was murdered following a conspiracy by his own stepson, Abbas ibn Abi al-Futuh, and the latter's companion Usama ibn Munqidh. | al-Zafir bi-Amr Allah (1149–1154) |
| 1153 | 1154 | Abbas ibn Abi al-Futuh | Seized power after murdering his stepfather. He had Caliph Al-Zafir assassinated and raised al-Fa'iz bi-Nasr Allah to the throne, but was himself deposed soon after. | al-Zafir bi-Amr Allah (1149–1154) |
| 1153 | 1154 | Abbas ibn Abi al-Futuh | Seized power after murdering his stepfather. He had Caliph Al-Zafir assassinated and raised al-Fa'iz bi-Nasr Allah to the throne, but was himself deposed soon after. | al-Fa'iz bi-Nasr Allah (1154–1160) |
| 1154 | 1160 | Tala'i ibn Ruzzik | During his long tenure, he was the ‹See RfD› de facto ruler of Egypt. He was a patron of scholars and tried to bridle the army commanders, while engaging Egypt in continuous war against the Crusaders. | al-Fa'iz bi-Nasr Allah (1154–1160) |
| 1154 | 1160 | Tala'i ibn Ruzzik | During his long tenure, he was the ‹See RfD› de facto ruler of Egypt. He was a patron of scholars and tried to bridle the army commanders, while engaging Egypt in continuous war against the Crusaders. | al-Adid li-Din Allah |
| 1160 | 1162 | Ruzzik ibn Tala'i | Son of Tala'i ibn Ruzzik, he was of generous disposition, giving tax exemptions and lowering fees for court cases. | al-Adid li-Din Allah |
| 1162 | August 1163 | Shawar ibn Mujir al-Sa'di | Sunni Arab military officer, together with Dirgham he killed Ruzzik ibn Tala'i. He rose to the vizierate at a time when the Fatimid regime had virtually collapsed, and the caliph become a purely symbolic presence amidst the infighting of various military commanders. | al-Adid li-Din Allah |
| 31 August 1163 | May/June or July/August 1164 | Dirgham ibn Amir ibn Suqar al-Lukhami | Sunni military officer from Yemen, a distinguished warrior and poet, he rose to high offices under Tala'i and Ruzzik. He led the army in a revolt against Shawar, who was ousted and fled to Syria. Dirgham became vizier with the title ‹See RfD› al-malik al-manṣūr ("victorious king"), but was unable to secure broad backing for his regime. When Shawar returned with the aid of Shirkuh, he defeated Dirgham's forces, and numerous defections began. Dirgham was captured and killed while fleeing Cairo in May/June or July/August 1164. | al-Adid li-Din Allah |
| 1163 | 1168 | Shawar ibn Mujir al-Sa'di | Restored for a second tenure, he was unable to master the crisis resulting from the Crusader invasion and the military factionalism in the capital. As a result, he called in Shirkuh for aid. | al-Adid li-Din Allah |
| 1168 | 1169 | Asad al-Din Shirkuh | A Kurdish general of the Zengids, called in to assist Shawar and became vizier as a reward after repelling the Crusaders. He died in office after two months. | al-Adid li-Din Allah |
| 1169 | 1171 | Saladin | Nephew and successor of Shirkuh, he deposed the Fatimid Caliphate and founded his own Ayyubid dynasty instead. | al-Adid li-Din Allah |