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The Mamlukes were of varied origins, but many were Kipchak Turks. The Mongols took many Turkish prioners in their wars in Central Asia. Sone were sold as slaves. he word 'mamluke' means slave. Some were purchased by the Fatimite caliphs in Egypt (10th century) and Ayyubite sultans. Many Mamlukes were non-Muslim boy slaves who brought them up to be Sunni Muslim soldiers. (There are many similarities with Ottoman Janasaries.)
Their status was above that of ordinary slaves, who were not allowed to carry weapons. Many had military experience or were boys whose fathers were warriors. They received military training in Egypt and eventually became a caste of palace guards.
The rise of the Manluke began with Mamluk general Imad-ud-Din Zangi who conquered Edessa, one of the small Crusader states founded duruing the First Crusade (1144). Zangi was murdered by his own slaves soon after when they broke into his wine. Edessa was targeted during the Second Crusade. Zangi's son Nureddin not only successfully defend Edessa, but also took Damascus from its Muslim rulers. The big prize was Egypt.
Overtime freed Mamlukes rose to high rank in Egypt. Gradually the Egyptian sultans lost power to the Mamlukes. During the struggle with French Crusaders, the Egyptian Sultan As-Salih Ayyub died (1250). His young son Turanshah briefly replaced him. The Sultan's favorite wife Shajar Al-Durr managed to take control with Mamluk support, a rare occurance in the Arab world.
Pressure soon surfaced for a ale leaser. The Mamluk commander, Emir Eibel / Aybak married Shajarat. This would prove to be the foundation of Mamluke rule, but Emir Eibek was killed in his bath. A power struggle followed and vice-regent Qutuz emerged in cointrol. It was Qutuz thst formally founded the first Mamluk sultanate and the Bahri dynasty. The Manlukes soon faced a military challenge from the east. The Mongols destroyed the Persians and than the Caliphate, sacking Bagdad (1258). A Mongol force, but not the main army, was dispatched to seize Egypt. The Mamluks defeated the Mongols at the Battle of Ain Jalut in Syria (1260). This permitted the Mamluks not only to retain control of Egypt, but much of the Levant, including Lebanon. Ain Jalut was the first defeat of a Mongol force in the west. Sultan Eibek began 250 years of Mamluke rule. They ruled Egypt and an extensive empire, including the Levant and Asia Minor. There were two Mamluke dynasties. The Bahrites (1250-1382) were Turks and Mongols. The Burjites (1382-1517) were Circassins. The expanding Ottoman Empire seized control of Egypt (1517). Sulktan Selim I defeated the Nanlukes. After the conquest, the Mamlukes were not destroyed, but incorporated into the Ottoman emperial system. The Ottomons retained them as soldiers. The Ottomans appointed to high posts. The Mamlukes attacked Napoleon when he invaded Egypt (1798). A Mamluke rebellion against the Turks was put down by Napoleon (1798). Their power was permanetly destroyed by the then Ottoman viceroy Mohammed Ali (1811). He ordered the execution of te remaining Mamluks.
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