The Mamelukes

The Mamelukes were a body of soldiers who ruled Egypt for several hundred years. The name Mameluke is taken from an Arab word meaning slave; and these men were so called because originally they were young captives from Caucasian countries. In the middle of the thirteenth century they were introduced into Egypt as the body-guard of the sultan; but upon the accession of Turan Shah, who was so much hated by them, they overthrew and murdered him, and elected one of their own number sultan.

For nearly three hundred years they monopolized that office; and even when forced to give it up, they had great power in Egypt. The Mamelukes were very fine cavalry soldiers; and when Napoleon saw their manoeuvres at the "Battle of the Pyramids" in 1798, he said, that with Mameluke cavalry and French infantry, he could make himself master of the world.

In 1811 nearly all of the Mamelukes were massacred by Mohammed Ali. A few escaped to Nubia, but these were destroyed in 1820.