Berkuk
Encyclopedia
Al-Malik Az-Zahir Sayf ad-Din Barquq ruled 1382–1389 and 1390 –1399, modern Balkar "Barquq" - Eng. "Go and Destroy" was the first sultan
of the Mamluk
Burji dynasty
.
).
, but none of them were strong enough to exert effective control. In fact, many of them were minors at the time of their accession, and would act as puppets for one or another competing Mamluk faction.
This happened in 1377, when the sultan al-Ashraf Sha`ban, who had ruled in his own stead since 1366, was overthrown and killed. The rebelling Mamluks replaced him on the throne with his seven-year-old son. When that puppet sultan died, he was replaced by the younger brother.
Barquq was a member of the faction behind the throne, serving in various powerful capacities in the court of the boy sultans. He consolidated his power until in November 1382 he was able to depose sultan al-Salih Hajji
and claim the sultanate for himself. He took the reign name al-Zahir, perhaps in imitation of the sultan al-Zahir Baybars
.
He sponsored the construction of the Madrasa-Khanqa of Sultan Barquq in the center of Cairo
. Completed in 1386, it was a pious foundation designed to serve as both a khanqah
and a madrasa
. It is one of the three dominant Islamic monuments clustered on the street Bayn al-Qasrayn in Fatimid Cairo. Although often called the Mausoleum of Barquq, only his daughter is buried there.
The central caravanserai
of the famous Cairo souk
Khan El-Khalili
was founded in the first year of his first reign, though it was founded by his emir
, Djaharks el-Khalili.
, and Yalbogha al-Nasiri, governor of Aleppo
(not to be confused with Yalbogha al-`Umari). After securing Syria they marched toward Cairo. Barquq attempted to escape, but was captured and sent to al-Karak. Meanwhile, the two governors restored Hajji to the throne, who now took the reign name al-Mansur. Fighting developed among the Mamluk factions in Cairo, and Barquq's supporters overcame the rebels. Barquq returned to Cairo in February 1390.
Berkuk became an enemy of Timur
after Timur's invasion of Baghdad
, and his intention to invade Syria. After 1393, he joined an alliance consisting of the Ottoman Empire, the Golden Horde and the principality of Siwas, but Timur was campaigning in Transcaucasia, Russia and India and did not attack.
Barquq died in June 1399 (Shawwal
801H in the Islamic Calendar
) and was buried in Cairo's Northern Cemetery. He was succeeded by his son Faraj, who became known as al-Nasir Faraj.
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
of the Mamluk
Mamluk
A Mamluk was a soldier of slave origin, who were predominantly Cumans/Kipchaks The "mamluk phenomenon", as David Ayalon dubbed the creation of the specific warrior...
Burji dynasty
Burji dynasty
The Burji dynasty المماليك البرجية ruled Egypt from 1382 until 1517. It proved especially turbulent, with short-lived sultans. Political power-plays often became important in designating a new sultan. During this time Mamluks fought Timur Lenk and conquered Cyprus. Constant bickering may have...
.
Early life
Barquq was from Circassia, and was acquired as a slave and became a mamluk in the household of Yalbogha al-`Umari in approximately 1363-64 (or 764 on the Islamic calendarIslamic calendar
The Hijri calendar , also known as the Muslim calendar or Islamic calendar , is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to date events in many Muslim countries , and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic...
).
Rise to power
Since 1341 the Mamluk empire had been ruled by the descendants of al-Nasir MuhammadAl-Nasir Muhammad
Al-Nasir Muhammad b. Cairo 1285, d...
, but none of them were strong enough to exert effective control. In fact, many of them were minors at the time of their accession, and would act as puppets for one or another competing Mamluk faction.
This happened in 1377, when the sultan al-Ashraf Sha`ban, who had ruled in his own stead since 1366, was overthrown and killed. The rebelling Mamluks replaced him on the throne with his seven-year-old son. When that puppet sultan died, he was replaced by the younger brother.
Barquq was a member of the faction behind the throne, serving in various powerful capacities in the court of the boy sultans. He consolidated his power until in November 1382 he was able to depose sultan al-Salih Hajji
Al-Salih Hajji
Al-Salih Hajji , also Haji II, was a Mamluk ruler, and the last ruler of the Bahri dynasty in 1382. He briefly ruled again in 1389, during the advent of the Burji dynasty...
and claim the sultanate for himself. He took the reign name al-Zahir, perhaps in imitation of the sultan al-Zahir Baybars
Baibars
Baibars or Baybars , nicknamed Abu l-Futuh , was a Mamluk Sultan of Egypt. He was one of the commanders of the forces which inflicted a devastating defeat on the Seventh Crusade of King Louis IX of France and he led the vanguard of the Egyptian army at the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260, which marked...
.
First reign (1382-1389)
Barquq placed many of his own family in positions of power to the detriment of fellow Mamluks, attempting to solidify his position.He sponsored the construction of the Madrasa-Khanqa of Sultan Barquq in the center of Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
. Completed in 1386, it was a pious foundation designed to serve as both a khanqah
Khanqah
A Khanqah, Khaniqah , ribat, zawiya, or tekke is a building designed specifically for gatherings of a Sufi brotherhood, or tariqa, and is a place for spiritual retreat and character reformation...
and a madrasa
Madrasah
Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...
. It is one of the three dominant Islamic monuments clustered on the street Bayn al-Qasrayn in Fatimid Cairo. Although often called the Mausoleum of Barquq, only his daughter is buried there.
The central caravanserai
Caravanserai
A caravanserai, or khan, also known as caravansary, caravansera, or caravansara in English was a roadside inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey...
of the famous Cairo souk
Souk
A souq is a commercial quarter in an Arab, Berber, and increasingly European city. The term is often used to designate the market in any Arabized or Muslim city, but in modern times it appears in Western cities too...
Khan El-Khalili
Khan el-Khalili
thumb|200px|An old chandeliers shop at Khan el-KhaliliKhan el-Khalili is a major souk in the Islamic district of Cairo. The bazaar district is one of Cairo's main attractions for tourists and Egyptians alike.-History:...
was founded in the first year of his first reign, though it was founded by his emir
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
, Djaharks el-Khalili.
Revolt
The year 1389 saw the revolt of two Mamluk governors from the northern end of the empire, Mintash, governor of MalatyaMalatya
Malatya ) is a city in southeastern Turkey and the capital of its eponymous province.-Overview:The city site has been occupied for thousands of years. The Assyrians called the city Meliddu. Following Roman expansion into the east, the city was renamed in Latin as Melitene...
, and Yalbogha al-Nasiri, governor of Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
(not to be confused with Yalbogha al-`Umari). After securing Syria they marched toward Cairo. Barquq attempted to escape, but was captured and sent to al-Karak. Meanwhile, the two governors restored Hajji to the throne, who now took the reign name al-Mansur. Fighting developed among the Mamluk factions in Cairo, and Barquq's supporters overcame the rebels. Barquq returned to Cairo in February 1390.
Second reign (1390-1399)
During Barquq's second reign he succeeded in replacing almost all governors and senior officials with members of his own household.Berkuk became an enemy of Timur
Timur
Timur , historically known as Tamerlane in English , was a 14th-century conqueror of West, South and Central Asia, and the founder of the Timurid dynasty in Central Asia, and great-great-grandfather of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Dynasty, which survived as the Mughal Empire in India until...
after Timur's invasion of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, and his intention to invade Syria. After 1393, he joined an alliance consisting of the Ottoman Empire, the Golden Horde and the principality of Siwas, but Timur was campaigning in Transcaucasia, Russia and India and did not attack.
Barquq died in June 1399 (Shawwal
Shawwal
Shawwāl is the tenth month of the lunar Islamic calendar. Shawwāl means to ‘lift or carry’; so named because she-camels normally would be carrying a fetus at this time of year.-Fasting during Shawwāl:...
801H in the Islamic Calendar
Islamic calendar
The Hijri calendar , also known as the Muslim calendar or Islamic calendar , is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to date events in many Muslim countries , and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic...
) and was buried in Cairo's Northern Cemetery. He was succeeded by his son Faraj, who became known as al-Nasir Faraj.