Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 7.djvu/781

757 MEMLOOK SULTANS.] EGYPT now undisputed master of Egypt. He was the first prince of the Dynasty of Burgee or Circassian Memlooks. As the preceding dynasty was founded by the Turkish Memlooks of Es-Salih Eiyoob, so this dynasty was composed of the Circassian slaves whom those kings from time to time bought with the view of strengthening their power. They were originally placed in garrison-towns, and hence their name Burgee, signifying &quot; of a tower or castle.&quot; It is worthy of remark that, while many of the sultans of both these dynasties held an insecure tenure of power, many of the former met with a violent death, but few of the latter. The reign of Barkook is memorable for his war with Teemoor, or Teemoor-leng, commonly called by us Tamerlane, who had extended his conquests towards his dominions, but found him not unprepared, for he had foreseen the threatened danger. In the year 795, Kara-Yoosuf, lord of El-Medeeyeh, and Ahmad Ibu-Uweys, sultan of Baghdad, iled to his court for succour. The inhabitants of Edessa had been put to the sword, and Aleppo was menaced with a similar cata strophe, when Barkook at the head of his army came to its relief. Ahmad was reinstated in Baghdad, as a vassal of Barkook; and soon after the Othmanlee Bayezeed, commonly called by us Bajazet, concluded a treaty with the sultan of Egypt. His designs against India diverted Teemoor from his projects in Syria, but Barkook con tinued vigilant and by every means sought to insure the safety of his kingdom. He died suddenly in 801, much beloved by his subjects and regarded by less powerful chiefs as their strongest bulwark against the Tatar moijarch. He was called &quot;Sheykh&quot; for his wisdom and learning, and combined with these qualities those of a skilful general and a good king. He was active, wary, and provident, and possessed the military talents of Beybars with out his severity. He seems to have been fond of riches and dis play, and he certainly left his treasury in a very flourishing condition, besides much wealth in stores, slaves, horses, and the like. His son, El-Mclik En-Xasir Abu-s-Sa adat Farag, fell a prey to intestine troubles and the inroads of the invader. He had over come a revolt of the governor of Syria, when Teemoor again threatened that province. Kara-Yoosuf and Ahmad sought refuge with the son of their former protector, and Farag s refusing to betray his guests gave occasion to the enemy to continue the war ; a battle was fought, Farag was defeated, Aleppo and Hims fell into the hands of the victor, and the Egyptian forces returned and were concentrated in Egypt. Intimidated, however, by the fall of his ally Bajazet, Farag sent an embassy to Teemoor with presents and oli ers of amity, and at length concluded a peace at the sacrifice of territory. Teemoor died in the year 807 (A.D. 1405), and Farag was preparing an expedition to recover his Syrian possessions, when he was surprised in his palace by an insurrection, headed by las brother, Abd-el- Azecz, and compelled to take to (light. The people believing that he had perished proclaimed EI-Marrsoor Abd-el- Azeez his successor. In the space of less than three months, however, he was deposed in favour of Farag, who thenceforth reigned at Damascus, until the caliph El-Musta een bi-llah, at the instigation of the emeer Sheykh El-Mahmoodee, who had raised an army, boldly declared himself sultan, &amp;gt;y an appeal to religion gained numbers to his side, instituted criminal proceedings against Farag on the plea of the exactions which he had been forced to levy for the conduct of the war against Teemoor, and accomplished his death. Farag was beheaded in the month of Safar in the year 815, and his corpse was left unburied. Abu-1-Mahasin gives him the character of an extravagant, cruel, and voluptuous king. El-Musta een bi-llah, with the title of El-Melik El- Adil Abu-1- Fadl, began his reign well ; but he had appointed El-Mahmoodee his vizir as a reward for his services, and this powerful and vigorous chief soon obliged him to abdicate and eventually exiled him to Alexandria, where he passed the remainder of his davs. El-Melik El-Mu-eiyad Abu-n-Nasr Sheykh El-Mahmoodee (origin ally a memlookof Barkook s) waged three successful wars in Syria, in the first of which he was guilty of a breach of faith in putting to death the governor of Damascus and part of the garrison of that city, after they had surrendered on promise of safety. He reigned peacefully in Egypt, and his name is recorded as that of a king who studied the happiness of his subjects and favoured the learned, who counted him among their number. But he was avaricious ; although one might judge the contrary from his beautiful mosque and the minarets over the Bab-Zuwcyleh in Cairo, held to be among the chief ornaments of the city. Three kings followed in rapid succession : El-Mudhaffar Ahmad, a son of El-Mu-eiyad, under two years of age at his accession, Edh- Dhahir Tatar, and his infant son, Es-Salih Mohammad, who was deposed by Barsabay Ed-Dukmakee. This Memlook assumed the title of El-Melik El-Ashraf, and worthily continued the prosperous n;ign of El-Mu-eiyad. In power and virtue he ranks second only to Barkook among all the kings of this dynasty. He is known in European history by his expedition in 827 (A.D. 1424) against John III., king of Cyprus, who became his vassal, and by the part he took, about seven years later, in the dissensions of the house of Savoy and the government of Cyprus. He ruled for seventeen years with great clemency, and died in 841. El- Azcez Yoosuf, his son, was deposed by El-Mansoor Aboo-Sa eed Jakmak El- Ala-ee, a good prince, and a patron of the learned. After a peaceful reign he abdicated at the age of about eighty years in favour of his son, El-Mansoor Abu-s-Sa adat Othmau, who was over thrown by the intrigues of the caliph El -Kami bi-amri-llah, and was succeeded by an aged Memlook, El-Ashraf-Abu-n-Nasr Eynal, followed by his son, El-Mu-eiyad Shiliab-ed-Deen Abu-1- Fet-h Ahmad. Edh-Dhahir Seyf-ed-Deen-Khoshkadam, a Greek by birth, superseded him, reigning himself for seven years, with equity and benignity, presenting a contrast to the cruelty and oppression of his appointed successor, Ed-Dhahir Aboo-Sa ced Bilbay El-Ala-ee, which caused the latter s fall and the elevation of the sultan Aboo-Sa eed Temerbeg Edh-Dhahiree, who, in his turn, was deposed to make room for El-Ashraf Kait Bey, a prince who deserves especial notice for his struggles with the Turks, whereby the conquest of Egypt by the Porte was deferred for a few years. After a period of quiet which followed his accession, he was alarmed by the victory gained by Mehemet II. over his ally the king of Persia, and posted a considerable force on the frontier of Syria. The successes of the conqueror of Constantinople made him desire to abdicate; but the emeers prayed him to defend his rights, and he consequently prepared for the war. The death of Mehemet, and the dissensions between Bajazet II. and Jem (or Zizim) temporarily relieved him of these apprehensions. The fall of Jem, however, and his arrival at the Egyptian court, implicated the Memlook sultan in the quarrel ; and on the final overthrow of this prince Kait Bey made sure of a war with the more fortunate Bajazet, and himself began aggressive measures, intercepted the Turkish caravan of pilgrims, and an ambassador from India who was on his way to Constantinople with presents, and took Tarsus and Adaneh. A remonstrance from Bajazet was answered by a successful attack on his Asiatic commander, Ala-ed-Dowleh. In the meantime Tarsus and Adaneh were recovered from him ; but the emeer El-Ezbekee, to whom was entrusted the conduct of all future wars, being despatched against these towns, retook them, defeated an army sent to chastise him, and annexed Karamania. Another force was speedily equipped, and took the field in 893 ; conditions of peace were refused, and considerable success attended the Turkish arms. El-Ezbekee was, therefore, again ordered to Syria ; a Turkish squadron conveying troops was dispersed, and at Tarsus he gave battle. The result was at first unfavourable to the Memlooks, whose commander, however, rallied them under cover of the night, and succeeded in surprising and totally defeat ing the Turks. Long negotiations followed this victory ; and at length Kait Bey, who was always most anxious for peace, ceded the disputed towns of Tarsus and Adaneh, and secured repose during the rest of his days. He died in 901, having designated El- Melik En-Nasir Abu-s-Sa adat Mohammad as his successor. This weak and barbarous king was put to death after four years, during which he was deposed, and Kansooh, surnamed Khamsameeyeh, and Edh-Dhahir Abu-n-Nasr Kansooh were successively installed. The first reigned but eleven days, and the latter abdicated after five months of great dilliculty and danger. On the death of En- Nasir, El-Ashraf Kansooh Janbalat was elevated to the throne, but six months sufficed to accomplish his fall, and he was/ortunate in preserving his life. The next sultan, El-Melik El- Adil Too- man Bey, was acknowledged both in Egypt and Syria. He, how ever, was overthrown and killed in a few months. The Memlooks now compelled Kansooh El-Ghooree to assume the dangerous dignity, with the title of El-Melik El-Ashraf. This prince very unwillingly yielded. His previous life shows him to have been both virtuous and learned ; and he proved himself to be an able ruler. After an unsuccessful expedition against the Portu guese in the East, he reigned in peace until the year 915, when Kurkood, the father of Selim I., the Turkish sultan, obtained his protection and assistance. Events similar to those which accompanied the end of Jem followed; and Selim availed himself of a pretext to declare war against Egypt. The first reverse which the Egyptians suffered occurred to an army commanded by ALi-ed- Dowleh, formerly defeated by Kait Bey, but now in the pay of El- Ghooree. The winter was passed by the latter in preparing ener getically for the inevitable struggle, and in the spring he advanced in person. Selim, on his part, pretended to march towards Persia ; but at the same time he sent to demand of El-Ghooree wherefore he opposed his passage and commanded in person on the frontier. El-Ghooree replied that his was merely an army of observation, and that he was desirous of mediating between Selim and Isma eel Shah. Selim, however, rapidly advanced, refused to listen to an attempt at negotiation, and was met by El-Ghooree on the plain of Marj-Dabik, near Aleppo. A long and sanguinary battle ensued, and victory declared for neither side, until Kheyr Bey, command ing the right wing, .and El-Ghazalee the left, of the Egyptian army, basely deserted to the enemy with their troops. The centre then gave way and fled in utter confusion, notwithstanding the efforts of the sultan to rally them. He was trampled to death by his routed cavalry, while (according to some) in the act of prayer.