Saif ad-Din Abu-Bakr

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Dominion of Bahri Mamluks ( red )
Dominion of Bahri Mamluks ( red )

Saif ad-Din Abu-Bakr (Arabic: سيف الدين أبو بكر, royal name: al-Malik al-Mansur Saif ad-Din Abu Bakr (Arabic: الملك المنصور سيف الدين أبو بكر)) (b. ca. 1321, Cairo - d.1341, Qus) was a Mamluk sultan of Egypt in 1341. (Not to be confused with his namesake the Ayyubid Sultan al-Malik al-Adil Saif ad-Din Abu Bakr)

Contents

[edit] Background

He was the son of Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad and grandson of Sultan al-Mansur Qalawun. The 13th Kipchak Turkic Sultan of Egypt and the first son of Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad to become a Sultan.[1] Before his death, Al-Nasir Muhammad recommended him to be his successor. He was nominated by the Emirs a sultan at the Citadel of Cairo [2] with agreement of his brother Emir Ahmad[3] who was in Al Karak and he carried the royal title of al-Mansur which his grandfather Qalawun had.

[edit] In power

al-Mansur Abu-Bakr appointed his father in law Emir Saif ad-Din Taqzdamr as a vice-Sultan and both Qusson al-Nasiri and Beshtik al-Nasiri [4] as the sultanate secretaries. He invited the Emirs and jurists to the citadel and together they restored the Caliph al-hakim be-amr-illah to his post.[5] A remarkable financal act of al-Mansur Abu-Bakr which rejoiced the population was his order to use silver coins beside gold coins.

[edit] Internal conflicts

Map of Egypt with location of Qus.
Map of Egypt with location of Qus.

Though Egypt did not face external challenges during the reign of al-Mansur Abu-Bakr, a major conflict developed inside the country which at the end brought the downfall of the Sultan himself. The conflict began with the request of Beshtik to become the deputy of the Sultan in Syria. According to Beshtik this was the wish of the late Sultan al-Nasir Muhammed. The request of Beshtik was fiercely opposed by the powerful Qusson who was one of the most prominent Emirs of al-Nasir Muhammed.[6] In response, Beshtik tried to attract the Mamluks and Emirs to his side by offering them gifts and money. Qoson convinced the Sultan that Beshtik, by attracting the nobles, was trying to gain control of Egypt and he should be arrested. Beshtik, his Mamluks and followers were arrested and imprisoned in Alexandria and their properties and fiefdoms were seized by the sultan and distributed among himself, Qusson and other nobles. Soon, Qusson who became the most powerful Emir in Egypt, started to defy the Sultan himself. He showed dissatisfaction about the behavior of Saif ad-Din Abu-Bakr who used to drink alcohol with his friends inside the citadel and invite singers and dancers during the night. Qusson sent Abu-Bakr's father in law Emir Saif ad-Din Taqzdamr to him with the request that he must refrain from his ill-mannered activities which became known to the commons as well. But the Sultan did not pay attention to Qusson and went on with his parties. Qusson called the Emirs and told them : " It is not proper for the Sultan of Egypt to make parties and invite lady singers and debauchees. Ever his father did such things ? " The words of Qusson to the Emirs reached the Sultan who was advised by his Emirs to arrest him. It was decided to arrest Qoson at the mosque after the friday prayer but Qusson, instead of going to the mosque, assembled the Emirs and Mamluks and went in the evening to the citadel where Saif ad-Din Abu-Bakr was drinking and partying with his friends, unconscious of what was happening outside. The citadel's officials informed the Sultan but it was to late to counter the rebellion. Many Emirs and Mamluks walked over to Qusson. Sultan al-Mansur Saif ad-Din Abu-Bakr was dethroned and replaced by his 7-years-old brother al-Ashraf Ala'a-ad-Din Kujuk after he ruled 2 months. Abu-Bakr did not resist and he was arrested with his Emirs and six brothers and all were sent to prison in Qus in upper Egypt. Saif ad-Din Abu-Bakr was murdered shortly in his jail by the command of Qusson who became the actual ruler Egypt.

Saif ad-Din Abu-Bakr was a young charming sultan of 20 years. He was known among the commons as being generous, friendly and ambitious. His arrest with his six brothers, sons of the admired Sultan Al-Nassir Muhammed, and his tragic death distressed the population enormously.

Regnal titles
Preceded by
Al-Nasir Muhammad		 Mamluk Sultan
1341		 Succeeded by
Kujuk

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Eight sons of Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad became Sultans. ( See Al-Nasir Muhammad).
  2. ^ Qalat al-Jabal قلعة الجبل Citadel of the Mountain ( the abode and court of the sultan in Cairo ). It was situated on the Muqattam Hill where the Mosque of Muhammed ali and remains of the Citadel of Saladin stand now.
  3. ^ Emir Ahmad was older than Saif ad-Din Abu-Bakr and thus had to give his approval. Ahmad became Sultan an-Nasir Shihab-ad-Din Ahmad in 1342.
  4. ^ al-Nasiri means emir of Sultan al-Nasir Muhammed.
  5. ^ after the Mongols sacked Baghdad and killed the Abbasid Caliph al-Musta'sim, Sultan al-Zahir Baibars installed an Abbasid Caliphate in Cairo which was rather a symbolic Caliphate. The Abbasid Caliph in Cairo had actually no authority or power, he was mostly only involved in the ceremonies of crowning the Sultans.
  6. ^ Qusson قوصون was the most prominent Emir during the reign of al-Nasir Muhammed. He came to Egypt from Turkic region with Khond, daughter of Uzbeg Khan , who married al-Nasir Muhammed. Qusson was not a Mamluk, though al-Nasir Muhammed paid money to his brother Susson in exchange for having Qusson at his service. First he worked as cup-bearer of the Sultan then he was promoted to the rank of an Emir and he married one of the daughters of al-Nasir Muhammed.

[edit] References

  • Abu al-Fida, The Concise History of Humanity
  • Al-Maqrizi, Al Selouk Leme'refatt Dewall al-Melouk, Dar al-kotob, 1997.
  • Idem in English: Bohn, Henry G., The Road to Knowledge of the Return of Kings, Chronicles of the Crusades, AMS Press, 1969.
  • Al-Maqrizi, al-Mawaiz wa al-'i'tibar bi dhikr al-khitat wa al-'athar,Matabat aladab,Cairo 1996, ISBN977-241-175X.
  • Idem in French: Bouriant, Urbain , Description topographique et historique de l'Egypte,Paris 1895
  • Ibn Taghri, al-Nujum al-Zahirah Fi Milook Misr wa al-Qahirah, al-Hay'ah al-Misreyah 1968
  • History of Egypt, 1382-1469 A.D. by Yusef. William Popper, translator Abu L-Mahasin ibn Taghri Birdi, University of California Press 1954
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