Shajar al-Durr (), also Shajarat al-Durr (), whose royal name was al-Malika ʿAṣmat ad-Dīn ʾUmm-Khalīl Shajar ad-Durr (; died 28 April 1257), was a ruler of Egypt of Turkic origin. She was the wife of As-Salih Ayyub, and later of Izz al-Din Aybak, the first sultan of the Mamluk Bahri dynasty. Prior to becoming Ayyub's wife, she was a child slave and Ayyub's concubine.
In political affairs, Shajar al-Durr played a crucial role after the death of her first husband during the Seventh Crusade against Egypt (1249–1250 AD). She became the sultana of Egypt on 2 May 1250, marking the end of the Ayyubid reign and the start of the Mamluk era.Some historians regard Shajar al-Durr as the first of the Mamluk sultans. – (Shayyal, p. 115/vol.2)Al-Maqrizi described Shajar al-Durr as the first of the Mamluk sultans of Turkic origin. " This woman, Shajar al-Durr, was the first of the Turkish Mamluk kings who ruled Egypt " – (Al-Maqrizi, p.459/ vol.1)Ibn Iyas regarded Shajar al-Durr as an Ayyubid. – (Ibn Iyas, p.89)According to J. D. Fage " it is difficult to decide whether this queen (Shajar al-Durr) was the last of the Ayyubids or the first of the Mamluks as she was connected with both the vanishing and the oncoming dynasty". Fage, p.37
Title
Several sources assert that Shajar al-Durr took the title of sultana ( ), the feminine form of sultan. However, in the historical sources (notably Ibn Wasil) and on Shajar al-Durr's only extant coin, she is named as sultan.
Early life
Background
Like many of the "slave-aristocracy" at the time (such as the mamluks), Shajar al-Durr was likely of TurkicDr. Yürekli, Tülay (2011), The Pursuit of History (International Periodical Research Series of Adnan Menderes University), Issue 6, Page 335, The Female Members of the Ayyubid Dynasty, Online reference: or Armenian origin,Al-Maqrizi, Ibn Taghri and Abu Al-Fida regarded Shajar al-Durr as Turkic. Al-Maqrizi and Abu Al-Fida, however, mentioned that some believed she was of Armenian origin. (Al-Maqrizi, p. 459/vol.1) – (Ibn Taghri, p. 102-273/vol.6)- (Abu Al-Fida, pp. 68-87/Year 655H) and described by historians as a beautiful, pious, and intelligent woman. She was purchased as a slave by As-Salih AyyubAl-Maqrizi, p.459/vol.1 in the Levant before he became a Sultan and accompanied him and Mamluk Rukn al-Din Baybars al-Salihi (not the Baibars who became a Sultan) to Al Karak during his detention there in 1239.Al-Maqrizi, p.419/vol.1(Abu Al-Fida, p.68-87/Year 655H ) ( Ibn Taghri, pp.102-273/vol.6 )Shayyal, p. 116/vol.2in 1239, before he became a Sultan, and during his conflict with his brother al-Malik al-Adil, as As-Salih Ayyub was captive in Nablus and detained in castle of Al Karak. He was accompanied by a Mamluk named Rukn al-Din Baybars and Shajar al-Durr and their son Khalil. (Al-Maqrizi, p.397-398/vol.1 ) Later when As-Salih Ayyub became a Sultan in 1240 she went with him to Egypt and gave birth to their son Khalil who was called al-Malik al-Mansour.Ibn Taghri, pp.102-273/vol.6( Al-Maqrizi's events of the year 638H ( 1240 C.E.) – p.405/vol.1. ) – ( Al-Maqrizi, p.404/vol.1 ) Some time after the birth, As-Salih Ayyub married her.as-Salih Ayyub, after the birth of his son Khalil, married Shajar al-Durr. (Al-Maqrizi, pp.397-398/vol.1/ note 1. )
In April 1249, As-Salih Ayyub, who was gravely sick in Syria, returned to Egypt and went to Ashmum-Tanah, near DamiettaAl-Maqrizi, p. 437/vol.1As-Salih Ayyub due to his serious disease was unable to ride a horse, he was carried to Egypt on a stretcher. (Shayyal, p.95/vol.2) – (Al-Maqrizi, p.437/vol.1) after he heard that King Louis IX of France had assembled a crusader army in Cyprus and was about to launch an attack against Egypt.It was believed that Frederick II, the King of Sicily informed As-Salih Ayyub about Louis's plan. (Shayyal, p.95/vol.2) In June 1249, the crusaders landed in the abandoned town of Damietta,The Egyptian garrison of Damietta led by emir Fakhr ad-Din left the town and went to Ashmum-Tanah and were followed by its population before the landing of the crusade troops. (Al-Maqrizi, pp.438-439/vol.1) – (Abu Al-Fida, pp. 66-87/ Year 647H) – Probably Fakhr ad-Din withdrew from Damietta because he thought the Sultan has died as he was not receiving messages from him for some time. (Shayyal, p.97/vol.2)Also the crusade chronicler Lord of Joinville mentioned that Damiette was abandoned: " The Saracens thrice sent word to the Sultan by carrier-pigeons that the King had landed, without getting any answer, for the Sultan was in his sickness; so they concluded that the Sultan must be dead, and abandoned Damietta. " and " The Turks made a blunder in leaving Damietta, without cutting the bridge of boats, which would have put us to great inconvenience." ( Lord of Joinville, parg. 72./Cha.VI/part II ) at the mouth of the river Nile. As-Salih Ayyub was carried on a stretcher to his palace in the better-protected town of Al Mansurah where he died on 22 November 1249 after ruling Egypt for nearly 10 years.(Al-Maqrizi, pp.439-441/vol.2) – (Abu Al-Fida, p.68-87/Year 647H) – (Shayyal, p.98/vol.2) Shajar al-Durr informed Emir Fakhr ad-Din ibn as-Shaikh (commander of all the Egyptian army) and Tawashi Jamal ad-Din Muhsin (the chief eunuch who controlled the palace) of the Sultan's death but as the country was under attack by the crusaders they decided to conceal his death.Al-Maqrizi, p.444/vol.1 The coffined body of the Sultan was transported in secret by boat to the castle on al-Rudah island in the Nile.(Al-Maqrizi, p.441/vol.1) – (Shayyal, p.98/vol.2)Castle of al-Rudah ( Qal'at al-Rudah ) was built by As-Salih Ayyub on the island of al-Rudah in Cairo. It was used as an abode for his Mamluks.(Al-Maqrizi, p.443/vol1). Later, Sultan Aybak buried As-Salih Ayyub in the tomb which was built by as-Salih before his death near his Madrasah in the district of Bain al-Qasrain in Cairo. (Al-Maqrizi, p. 441/vol.1) – See also Aybak . Although the deceased Sultan had not left any testimony concerning who should succeed him after his death,( Abu Al-Fida, p.68-87/Death of as-Salih Ayyub) Faris ad-Din Aktai was sent to Hasankeyf to call al-Muazzam Turanshah, the son of the deceased Sultan.Al-Maqrizi, p.445/vol.1Al-Muazzam Turanshah was the deputy of his Father ( the Sultan ) in Hasankeyf.(Ibn taghri, pp. 102-273/vol.6/year 646) The eyewitness observers who were alive and in Egypt at the time of the Sultan's death state that documents were forged by a servant who could copy the Sultan's handwriting. Emir Fakhr ad-Din began issuing decrees and giving Sultanic ordersAccording to Abu Al-Fida and Al-Maqrizi, Shajar al-Durr used also a servant named Sohail in faking the Sultanic documents. ( Abu Al-Fida, p.68-87/Year 647H) – ( Al-Maqrizi, p.444/vol.1) and this small circle of advisors succeeded in convincing the people and the other government officials that the Sultan was only ill rather than dead. Shajar al-Durr continued to have food prepared for the sultan and brought to his tent. High officials, the Sultan's Mamluks and soldiers were ordered – by the will of the "ill" Sultan – to swear an oath of loyalty to the Sultan, his heir TuranshahIbn taghri, pp. 102-273/vol.6As as-Salih Ayyub made no testimony concerning his successor, by this action, Shajar al-Durr made Turanshah an heir after the Sultan's death. and the AtabegCommander in chief. See also Atabeg. Fakhr ad-Din Yussuf.
Defeat of the Seventh Crusade
The news of the death of as-Salih Ayyub reached the crusaders in DamiettaShayyal/p.98/vol.2News of the death of the Sultan were leaking. Some people at the Egyptian camp knew about the death of as-Salih Ayyub. When the vice-Sultan Hossam Ad-Din doubted about a Sultanic sign made by the servant Sohail he was informed by some of his men at the camp that the Sultan was dead. People noticed that Emir Fakhr ad-Din was acting as a sovereign so they knew that the Sultan was dead but not dared to speak out. (Al-Maqrizi, pp.444-445/vol.1). According to Abu Al-Fida many people knew the Sultan was dead when messengers were sent to Hasankeyf to call Turanshah. ( Abu Al-Fida/pp.66-87/Death of as-Salih Ayyub.) and with the arrival of reinforcements led by Alphonse, Count of Poitou, the brother of King Louis IX, they decided to march on Cairo. A crusader force led by Louis IX's other brother Robert I of Artois crossed the canal of Ashmum (known today as Albahr Alsaghir) and attacked the Egyptian camp in Gideila, two miles (3 km) from Al Mansurah. Emir Fakhr ad-Din was killed during the sudden attack and the crusader force advanced toward the town of Al Mansurah. Shajar al-Durr agreed to Baibars's plan to defend Al Mansurah.Qasim, p. 18 The crusader force was trapped inside the town, Robert of Artois was killed and the crusader force was annihilatedAccording to Al-Maqrizi, about 1500 crusaders were killed. ( Al-Maqrizi, p.448/vol.1 )According to Matthew Paris, Only 2 Templars, 1 Hospitaller and one 'contemptible person' escaped. ( Matthew Paris, LOUIS IX`S CRUSADE.p.147 / Vol.5 ) by an Egyptian force and the townspeople, led by the men who were about to establish the state which would dominate the southern Mediterranean for decades: Baibars al-Bunduqdari, Izz al-Din Aybak, and Qalawun al-Alfi.They were led by their leader Faris Ad-Din Aktai. (Sadawi, p. 12)
In February 1250 the dead Sultan's son Al-Muazzam Turanshah arrived in Egypt and was enthroned at Al Salhiyahthe coronation judge Badr ad-Din al-Sinjari waited for Turanshah in Gaza where. From Gaza they went to Al Salhiyah where they were received by the Vice-sultan Hossam ad-Din. ( Al-Maqrizi, p. 449/vol.1 )Also 'As Salhiyah' in north Egypt, east of the Nile Delta. In Sharqia Governorate now . as he had no time to go to Cairo. With his arrival, Shajar al-Durr announced the death of as-Salih Ayyub. Turanshah went straight to Al MansurahAl-Maqrizi, pp. 449-450/vol.1 and on 6 April 1250 the crusaders were entirely defeated at the Battle of Fariskur and King Louis IX was captured.
Conflict with Turanshah
Once the Seventh Crusade was defeated and Louis IX was captured, troubles began between Turanshah on one side and Shajar al-Durr and the Mamluks on the other. Turanshah, knowing he would not have full sovereignty while Shajar al-Durr, the Mamluks and the old guards of his late father were around, detained a few officials and started to replace old officials, including the deputy Sultan,Turanshah replaced the Vice-Sultan Hossam ad-Din with Jamal ad-Din Aqush. ( Al-Maqrizi, p.457/vol.1) with his own followers who had come with him from Hasankeyf.Abu Al-Fida, pp. 66-87/ Year 648H) He then sent a message to Shajar al-Durr while she was in Jerusalem warning her and requesting her to hand over to him the wealth and jewels of his late father. The request and manners of Turanshah distressed Shajar al-Durr. When she complained to the Mamluks about Turanshah's threats and ungratefulness,Shajar al-Durr protected Egypt during the Seventh Crusade. She preserved the Ayyubid throne and made Turanshah a Sultan in his absence. the Mamluks, particularly their leader Faris ad-Din Aktai, were enraged.Faris ad-Din Aktai was already angry of Turanshah because he did not promote him to the rank of Emir as he promised him when they were in Hasankeyf. ( Al-Maqrizi, p. 457/vol.1) – ( Ibn Taghri, pp.102-273/vol.6 ) In addition, Turanshah used to drink alcohol and when drunk he abused the bondmaids of his father and threatened the Mamluks.Turanshah, when drunk, used to call the names of the Mamluks while cutting kindles with his sword and saying: " This is what I will do with the Bahriyya ". (Al-Maqrizi, p.457/vol.1) ( Ibn Taghri, pp.102-273/vol.6 ) Turanshah was assassinated by Baibars and a group of Mamluk soldiers at Fariskur on 2 May 1250. He was the last of the Ayyubid sultans.Al-Maqrizi, p. 458-459/ vol.1The Ayyubid child who was only 6-year-old Al-Ashraf Musa was a powerless cosultan.
Reign as Sultan
Rise to power