Political crisis in Egypt during the reign of the sultan Faraj (1399–1412)

Abstract

In 1382 a Circassian amir Barquq (1382–1389; 1389/1390–1399) usurped power and was proclaimed sultan. He became the founder and the first ruler of the Circassian Mamluk Sultanate (1382–1517). Barquq’s son, al-Malik al-Nasir Faraj has succeeded to the throne at the age of eleven years. During his reign, the Sultanate passed through a long-running political crisis. Timur’s invasion, disgraceful retreat of Mamluk army from Damascus, insufficient flood of Nile in 1403 and the outbreak of plague in 1405 had large scale social and economic effects, that redoubled the political tension. Mamluk emirs were divided into several groups, creating various alignments. Amir ’Aytamush was the head of Barquqs’ companion’s-in-arms (al-qaranisa). He was defeated be the group of Faraj’s Mamluks in 1399. Faraj’s Mamluks had no recognized leader. The struggle between them caused a wave of revolts, which did not stop for five years. In 1404 a group of Faraj’s Mamluks protested against Faraj’s relatives, who gained growing influence on the sultan. Amirs related by marriage to the sultans family played an important role in political life of Circassian Sultanate. According to David Ayalon it was the period of rule by brothers-in-law and relatives. In 1405 during a conflict between Circasian and Greek Mamluks Faraj was displaced. He returned to the throne after two month and ruled for over then six years under constant pressure of opposition. In 1412 he has been executed. Faraj’s reign was the period of change from a power based on hereditary dynastic principle to new patterns of ruleship. Refs. 13.