My latest post takes a look at the Mamlūks and their rise to power in Delhi and Egypt. This coin from the last of the Bahri Mamlūks during a brief 2nd reign. A rebellion against his regent turned sultan briefly re-installed Hajji II as sultan. More here: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/mamlūks The image of a cavalryman is from : Nihayat al-Su’l wa al-Umniya fi Ta‘allum ‘Amal al-Furusiyya. Manuscript, dated Hegira 768 / AD 1366, The Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, Museum Inventory Number: CBL Ar 5655. A compendium of military arts written by Muhammad ibn Isa ibn Isma‘il al-Hanafi al-Aqsari (d. AD 1348, Damascus), who dedicated it to the Mamlūk viceroy of Egypt, Ala al-Din Asanbay al-Abu Bakri. It became the most popular Mamlūk book on furusiyya (horsemanship, chivalry, and military tactics). The coin shown is: Mamluk AE fals, Hajji II, 2nd reign, Dimashq (Damascus, Syria), 791 AH (CE 1389–1390). Balog 532. Zeno 329062. In Egypt/Syria the Mamluk Sultanate endured for over two and a half centuries, characterized by two distinct dynasties: "Bahri" is derived from the Arabic word "Bahr" (meaning "sea"), referencing the elite guard stationed on Roda Island in the Nile River during the early Mamluk period. This geographic association became symbolic of the dynasty. The Bahri rulers emphasized ties to their Turkic heritage and often patronized art, architecture, and literature influenced by their Turkic roots. "Burji" comes from the Arabic word "Burj" (meaning "tower"), referencing the elite Circassian Mamluks who were garrisoned in the towers of the Cairo Citadel. These rulers were predominantly Circassians, recruited from the Caucasus region. Post your coins of the Slave Kings of Delhi or the Mamluk Sultanate, or anything else you find interesting or entertaining.
I was told this was 13th Century Moroccan. I don't know if this is from the same era/period or if it's a similar coin.
Nice, concise, interesting write-up @Sulla80! And as always your full content of this area of coinage on your blog is excellent! Below are 3 of mine which are each Mamluk bronze fals examples.
The date is on the reverse of this coin - a little hard to read but I think it is AH 1286 (AD 1868-1869). It is Moroccan, 4 Falus, see more here: https://en.ucoin.net/coin/morocco-4-falus-1863-1873/?tid=85229
Nice coin and write up @Sulla80 . I always enjoy your posts and forum. Here is my only representative of the Mamluks... Egypt Mamluk Qalaun 1279-1290 CE, 1268 AH, AR Dirham, 22mm 3.02g Dimeshq
Thank you. I do not know much about these coins. I remember studying the Mamluks so many years ago, and needed to get an interesting one.
In fact these Mamluks were the hard core of the army controlling Egypt back then. Most were children taken away from Christian families, sold as slaves, educated as Muslims and trained to become elite horsemen. In Egypt in the 1790s they formed a military aristocracy. Most of them were of Balkanic or Slav descent, there were Georgians and Armenians too. When Bonaparte invaded Egypt and Palestine, he had to fight them, and later recruited some of them in French service. He also recruited Egyptian Copts, Sudanese men who used to be servants in Cairo, Palestinian and Syrian Christians. When the French were expelled from Egypt by the Anglo-Turkish forces, many of these Oriental auxiliaries volunteered for being evacuated too with their families when they had one, and go to France. They were settled in Marseilles, and the ablest men were selected to create an elite light cavalry squadron of a few dozens. Napoleon called these cavalrymen "Mamluks", they has the same luxury clothes and weapons as the Egyptian ones and fought like them. He integrated them in the Consular, later Imperial Guard. The Mamluks Squadron was one of the very best troops in the whole army. Most if not all were Christians. One of Napoleon's Mamluks : Abdallah Hazbun, later known as "Abdalla d'Asbonne". Three portraits of him as a Mamluk officer (1800s), as a Red Lancer officer (1815), as a retired officer (1850s). He was born in Bethlehem (Palestinian Territories) in 1776, was studying in Cairo when he was drafted in French service in 1798. He fought in Egypt, Syria, followed the repatriated French and became a sous-lieutenant in the Corps des Mamelouks. He served in most of Napoleon's campaigns from 1805 to 1814. Wounded 8 times at Heliopolis, Eylau, Golymin, Dresden, Altenburg,Weimar, Hanau, Brienne. After Napoleon's first abdication the Mamluks were disbanded and Abdalla became a Chef d'Escadron in the Royal Chevau-Légers (AKA Red Lancers). He was not in Waterloo but went on half pay after the second abdication. He volunteered in 1830 for service in Algeria where he commanded a small garrison and was stationed as a liaison officer with the Emir Abd el-Kader. He was even wounded in combat for the 9th time. Pensioned off in 1837, he retired in Melun (his former garrison under Napoleon) where he died in 1859. Married twice, he had two children. He was a Free Mason since 1804 and was one of the founders of the first Masonic lodge in Algeria.
