Power Dynamics in Mamluk Society 1421-1468

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[...] Power dynamics after al-Mu'ayyad Shaykh: succession crises and political transformations (1421-1468) - Research project Research domain: Medieval History Theme: Conflict within the emirate elite in Mamluk society Title of the thesis: The relationship between the power dynamics after al-Mu'ayyad Shaykh between 1421 and 1468 and the conceptual framework of Mamluk society. Context: At the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, Syrian-Egyptian society was dominated by the emirs of the Mamluk sultanate who were constantly at odds with each other. [...]

[...] The chronological framework of this thesis therefore covers the period from 1421 to 1468, during the Egyptian Circassian Mamluk era (1382-1517). However, the peculiarity of the discordances within the emirate elite did not solely reside in their recurrence, as in addition to being omnipresent and diversified, they articulated the emirate society. Questions and problematics: Focusing the research on the conflictuality within the emirate elite during a very tumultuous period allows for the analysis and characterization of various situations of violence within the emirate elite. [...]

[...] On the one hand, an abundance of historical writings and on the other hand, more rare, original documents, also in the form of copies. The sources can be textual, iconographic It is essentially a matter of analyzing the sociopolitical and military dimension among the Mamelukes and linking it to the various conflict situations specific to the defined chronological framework. Two research perspectives will be employed. In the first instance, given the rarity of sources directly from the emiral elite, it will be necessary to use mainly works inspired by historical writings such as biographical dictionaries, treaties, annual chronicles, and others. [...]

[...] - ONIMUS, C., 'The Masters of the Game: Power and Political Violence at the Dawn of the Circassian Mamluk Sultanate', Editions de la Sorbonne, Paris, (2019) (generated on 11 January 2022). Available on the Internet : http://books.openedition.org/psorbonne/ ISBN: 9791035105440. DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/books.psorbonne.39477 . - ONIMUS, C., 'The Legitimation of Rebellion in the Mamluk Sultanate (13the-xvie centuries). Legal discourse and sociopolitical practice », Islamic Annals [Online], n°56, (2022). [...]

[...] From then on, the main hypothesis is that these conflicts are not exclusively ideological. A first sub-hypothesis related to the conflictual origin can be formulated. If the resolution can be made in particular by conciliation, various conflictual sources exist. This implies a second sub-hypothesis according to which the mode of resolution depends on the situation and the stakes. The socio-political norms influence the decision to erupt or not into rebellions. (Onimus, 2022) Object The object of this research project is to show how the conflicts within the Emirale elite, between 1421 and 1468, after the death of al-Mu'ayyad Shaykh, influence the socio-political dimension of the Mameluke society and its evolution in particular. [...]