mamluk

(noun)

An Arabic designation for slaves. While they were purchased, their status was above ordinary slaves, who were not allowed to carry weapons or perform certain tasks. They eventually formed a powerful military caste. 

Related Terms

Examples of mamluk in the following topics:

  • Post-Byzantine Egypt

    • Religious tolerance was set into place also to ensure the flow of money from all those who were non-Muslims in order to finance the caliphs' large army of mamluks (an Arabic designation for slaves) brought in from Circassia by Genoese merchants.
    • Over time, mamluks became a powerful military knightly caste, not only in Egypt.
    • An Egyptian Mamluk warrior in full armor and armed with lance, shield, sabre, and pistols; Georg Moritz Ebers (1837-1898), Picturesque Egypt, Vol.
    • In the Middle Ages, soon after the mamluks took up the practice of chivalry, or furusiyya in Arabic, they came to be known as knights (or faris in Arabic), though un-free until after their service.

  • The Southern Song Era

    • Möngke's death and the ensuing succession crisis prompted Hulagu Khan to pull the bulk of the Mongol forces out of the Middle East, where they were poised to fight the Egyptian Mamluks (who defeated the remaining Mongols at Ain Jalut).