Video: 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐭: Mamluks
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𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐭: Mamluks
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The Mamluks—warrior-slaves who rose to become the rulers of Egypt. Originally taken as young boys from the Caucasus and Central Asia, they were trained in the art of war and became elite cavalrymen, serving the Ayyubid sultans. But these formidable warriors would not remain servants for long. In 1250, they seized power, overthrowing their masters and establishing the Mamluk Sultanate, which ruled Egypt and the Levant for nearly three centuries.
Their greatest triumph came in 1260 at the Battle of Ain Jalut, where they became the first army to decisively defeat the unstoppable Mongol horde. Skilled in mounted combat and wielding curved swords with deadly precision, the Mamluks built one of the most powerful military forces of the medieval world. They perfected the use of hit-and-run cavalry tactics, allowing them to outmaneuver larger enemy forces. Their dominance was so complete that even the mighty Ottoman Empire retained Mamluks as administrators and soldiers after conquering Egypt in 1517. Beyond warfare, they also revitalized trade routes, strengthening Egypt’s economy and global influence.
They transformed Cairo into a thriving center of Islamic culture and trade, commissioning grand mosques and fortifications. Though their rule ended in the early 19th century, the Mamluks left an indelible mark on history—proving that even the enslaved could rise to command empires.
