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Medieval
Warfare in The History of Egypt One of the most important Mamluk historians is Yusuf abu al-Mahasin ibn Taghri Birdi (1409-1470). The son of an important Egyptian official, ibn Taghri Birdi wrote an account of Egypt’s history from the time of the Muslim conquest (641 AD) until the year 1469. The material up to the late-fourteenth century is mostly taken from other sources, but after 1389 this account is very useful and detailed. One historian comments that the author had “the kind of objectivity we associate with first-class journalism.” Because of his connections to important officials within the Egyptian government, he has very good access to sources and a good knowledge of the political maneuvering within a kingdom that often was filled with internal strife. Ibn Taghri Birdi concentrates on affairs within the Mamluk Sultanate, and includes excellent descriptions of warfare and military matters. The following excerpts deal with several different events: The Fall of Sultan al-Malik an-Nasir Faraj and the Siege of Damascus (1412) - coming soon Fighting against the Franks and Cyprus (1424-6) - coming soon Rebellion of Taghri Birmish, viceroy of Aleppo (1439) Attack on the Island of Rhodes (1444) - coming soon The Sultanate of al-Malik az-Zahir Yalbai (1467) - coming soon All sections are from History of Egypt, 1382-1469 AD, edited and translated by William Popper, University of California Publications in Semitic Philology, volumes 13-23 (1954-1960) |