In the Mamluk Sultanate, administrative offices were divided into three principal categories: arbab al-suyuf (men of the sword), arbab al-waza'if ad-diwaniya (holders of administrative office) and arbab al-waza'if al-diniya (holders of religious office).[1] The arbab al-suyuf were members of the military and the exclusive caste of mamluks in Mamluk society.[1] The arbab al-waza'if ad-diwaniya were civilians who held administrative office not directly connected to the military hierarchy, while the arbab al-waza'if ad-diniya were members of the Muslim clerical establishment.[1]
Military offices
editNa'ib al-saltana
editThe na'ib as-saltana (pl. nuwab as-saltana) of Egypt was the highest office in the sultanate other than the sultan himself during the period preceding the third reign of Sultan an-Nasir Muhammad (1310–1341).[1] The office was akin to that of a viceroy.[1] Towards the end of an-Nasir Muhammad's reign, he abolished the post, although it was later reconstituted under Sultan al-Ashraf Sha'ban with weaker powers.[2]
In the era preceding an-Nasir Muhammad's third reign, the na'ib as-saltana was entitled to sign, on behalf of the sultan, applications for iqta (fiefs) and to distribute minor iqta on his own tuition.[1] The holder of this office was also permitted to promote emirs and and appoint administrative posts other than the high offices wazir, qadi and katib as-sirr.[1] The na'ib as-saltana oversaw the military council and during imperial reviews of troops, he would ride his horse at the head of the army.[1] Following the abolition and restoration of the office, the na'ib as-saltana was able to distribute low income-producing fiefs without consulting the sultan, promote emirs to the ranks of amir ashara and amir arba'in in Syria and dismiss officeholders from administrative posts.[2]
The na'ib as-saltana in Egypt was called the na'ib al-kafil or as-sultan ath-thani (second sultan), while the na'ib of Damascus was called the kafil as-saltana, the na'ib of a major province was called the na'ib as-saltana ash-sharifa,[1] and the na'ib of a secondary province was called the na'ib al-fulana.[2]
Atabeg al-asakir
editThe atabeg al-asakir (also called atabeg al-jaysh or al-atabaki) was the commander in chief of the military.[2] An additional title for the atabeg al-asakir was amir kabir, a title first held by Emir Shaykhu.[3] This office superseded that of the na'ib as-saltana following the latter's abolition by an-Nasir Muhammad.[2] In the Burji period in particular, the atabeg al-asakir often succeeded the sultan.[2] In the period between the killing of al-Ashraf Sha'ban and the ascent of the Burji dynasty, the office was seized by a succession of low-ranking emirs who grew very powerful after assuming the post. Among these emirs, were Tashtamur al-Laffi, Qurtay at-Tazi, Ayanbak ad-Dubri, Qutluqtamur, Barquq (future sultan) and Baraka.[3]
Amir majlis
editThe amir majlis, which roughly translates as the "lord of the audience", was responsible for overseeing the physicians and oculists of the sultan.[3] He was third highest ranking emir during the Burji period, below that of the amir silah.[3] However, during the Bahri period, the amir majlis ranked above amir silah, but neither post held great importance during the Bahri period.[3]
Amir silah
editThe amir silah, which roughly translates as "grand master of the armor", was charged with carrying the weapons of the sultan during the latter's public appearances, overseeing the army's arsenal and the Royal Mamluks' silahdariyya. The officeholder was always an amir mi'a muqaddam alf.[4]
Wazir
editThe wazir, which is akin to a vizier, was an office of significant importance during the Bahri period, and was established in 1294 with Emir Sanjar al-Shuja'i.[5] The influence of individual wazirs fluctuated, with the most powerful among them being able to promote officers to amir ashara and amir arba'in, and distribute minor fiefs with sultanic approval.[5] The powers of the wazir were drastically rolled back during the reign of Sultan Barquq, who devolved much of the office's authority to other posts, namely the ustadar kabir, nizar al-khass and kitab as-sirr.[5] Afterward, the authority of the wazir was largely limited to overseeing the supply of meat to the military.[5] Meat sellers and butchers became the main holders of the office, particularly from the mid-15th century, and mamluks were seldom appointed to the post.[5]
References
editRanks
editAll officers of the Mamluk army were given the title of amir (pl. umara), while privates held the title of jundi (pl. ajnad).[6] Ajnad mostly referred to the free (non-mamluk) soldiers of the halqa regiments.[7] Depending on their ranks, emirs would be entitled to have varying numbers of horsemen in their private armies. The horsemen were not entirely mamluks and some came from the ranks of the wafidiya (free horsemen) and other non-mamluks.[7] Most non-mamluk horsemen were part of the halqa regiments, which were the third tier of the Mamluk army and largely composed of non-mamluks.[7] At numerous instances, horsemen from the halqa were able to enter the private armies of the emirs, which formed the second tier of the military.[7] The first tier were the Royal Mamluks, who were under the command of the sultan. Not until the late 14th century did the private armies of the emirs become almost exclusively composed of mamluks.[7]
The highest officer rank was amir mi'a muqaddam alf, which translates as "emir of one hundred, commander of one thousand".[6] As the title suggests, the amir mi'a muqaddam alf was entitled to have 100 mounted horsemen in his personal service and in times of war, was given command over 1,000 privates of the halqa.[6] The title is not mentioned often in its complete form in Mamluk-era sources, and is mostly shortened to muqaddam alf or amir muqaddam.[6] Its first appearance in sources is in 1281, during the sultanate of Baybars.
The second highest military ranks was amir arba'in, which translates as "emir of forty".
The third highest military rank was amir ashara (also called ahad al-ashrawat).[8] These officers were able to have ten horsemen in their service, and at different time periods during the sultanate, they were entitled to twenty horsemen.[8]
The lowest officer rank was amir khamsa, which translates as "emir of five".[8] They were entitled to have five horsemen in their service and were entitled to an iqta (fief) that produced an income half of that of the umara ashara.[8] The rank of amir khamsa was typically given to the son of a deceased, high-ranking emir out of respect, but the occurrence of such umara khamsa was rare in both Egypt and Syria throughout the sultanate's existence.[8] While in theory, they outranked privates, in practice they were equal to the particularly honored among the privates.[8]