Historical Research – Mamluks
Preface
Since I decided on making my game idea based on the Islamic world during the Middle Ages I decided to do research on that region and time period. I especially targeted mediaeval Egypt as I was very curious about the history of the country during that region. Also due in part to the fact that when the Islamic world is used in media and stories it’s usually to do with the Arabian peninsula and the Levant region, thus I felt I would prefer to research a location that I have seen little representation of in relation to the middle ages. My own ties to Egypt of course also influenced this line of research.
This specific post is about the Mamluks of the Arab world, and more specifically, about the ones that were present in Egypt.
Mamluk Warriors
Mamluk warriors or Mamalik (plural) were slave warriors who were used throughout the Islamic world and predominantly in Egypt. The name Mamluk means owned and generally refers to slaves used in warfare. They were bought anywhere slaves could be acquired, usually from other kingdoms or countries mainly of Turkic origin, but as well as sub-saharan African and Eastern European (like Georgia). But also on occasion from the Islamic world (such as Egypt itself). They would be bought (or in some cases kidnapped) as children and would be handpicked as the strongest would be chosen to become warriors. They would be converted to Islam, given an education, and trained to be elite soldiers in their own regiment.
Mamluks were renowned for their superb combat abilities and tactics. They were known for their effective military strategies and discipline. For instance the discipline of Furusiyya, which was a series of military disciplines and ethics. Essentially an “Arab” equivalent of European chivalry. Its disciplines were predominantly about horsemanship with disciplines on horseback archery, the usage of lances, spears, and swords, and other tactics and formations. The Mamluks are noteworthy for stopping the invasion of the Mongols which was the first loss for the Mongols, who themselves were famously skilled warriors. The Mamluks were able to stop the invasion of the Levant region and halted the Mongolian expansion in the Middle East and Africa. As a result of their extensive combat experience and training the Mamluks gained more and more power in the region. Eventually they gained much power in Egypt and were able to establish their own dynasties, and the Mamluk sultanate lasted from 1250 to 1517 with two different dynasties spanning centuries until the Ottoman Empire took over.
Even after the Ottoman Empire took over Egypt, Mamluks retained some power as their own class and had some authority. They eventually were able to gain power over Egypt up until the invasion by the French military officer and emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, who defeated them due to superior strategy, with the Mamluk warriors still using mediaeval strategies whereas the French forces had learned modern strategies utilising predominantly guns. Even still, they were praised for their skills and strength by Bonaparte himself who was quoted as saying, “10,000 Mamluks could have easily fought and won against 50,000 Turks . . . I imagine what I could have done using a fistful of these warriors.” According to The Napoleon Series archive.
After the French were defeated by the Ottomans and the British, the Mamluks lost their power to Mohammad Ali, an Albanian Ottoman commander who seized Egypt. He considered the mamluks a threat so he invited them for a feast where he had many of them slaughtered. As a side note, I am told by my father that some of my ancestors were mamluks around this period who were originally from Georgia. They were apparently gifted land in Egypt where they settled and they ended up working with the new Mohammad Ali dynasty as far as I am aware. I do not have the precise timeline, but I found it to be interesting that they presumably fought for the new king and were given land by him, making them one of the few Mamluks who were exceptions to his slaughter.
Game Implications
In summary, Mamluks were powerful warriors who ruled over Egypt for some time, and even before then, were used extensively in warfare. Their skills and battle prowess should not be understated, I personally hold them in the same regard as a European knight or a Japanese samurai. I find them to be very interesting in regard to my game idea. I could see the protagonist being a mamluk or perhaps battling them as they could be a great way to introduce a challenging enemy to my game. The main character being a Mamluk could also be a viable way to justify their strengths and skills. The idea of a slave mercenary is intriguing to me and I think that concept would lend itself very well to my game premise.
Sources:
https://www.bahath.co/slave-warriors-muslim/tag/mamaluk
https://www.napoleon-series.org/military-info/organization/c_mameluks1.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furusiyya
https://www.bahath.co/slave-warriors-muslim
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamluk