Alternative History
Mamluk Sultanate
سلطنة المماليك
Sulṭanat Misr al-Mamālīk (Arabic)

Timeline: Principia Moderni II (Map Game)

OTL equivalent: Egypt, the Levant, western Saudi Arabia and Cyrenaica
Preceded by 1250-1470 Succeeded by
Ayyubids
Kingdom of Jerusalem
Province of Misr, Sham and Hijaz (part of the Hashemite Caliphate)
Flag Mamluks
Flag
Location Mamluks
The Mamluk Empire (brownish) in the Middle East
Capital Cairo
Largest city Alexandria
Other cities Mecca, Damascus, Jerusalem, Sur, Aleppo, Antioch, Medina
Language
  official
 
Arabic, Kipchak, Coptic, Syriac
  others Other Arabic, Tuareg, Nubian
Religion
  main
 
Islam
  others Christianity
Ethnic Groups
  main
 
Arab
  others Coptic, Syriac
Demonym Mamluk
Government Semi-Tribal Absolute Monarchy (as of 1453 AD)
Sheik/Sultan Al-Zahir
  dynasty: Bujri
Area 1,823,800 
Established 1250
Currency Dinar

The Mamluk Sultanate (Arabic: سلطنة المماليك, Sulṭanat Misr al-Mamālīk) was a nation located in northeastern Africa and the western Middle East.


History[]

History of the Mamluk Empire prior to 1450

The Mamluk Empire begun to change from its previous course with the Copt and Syriac populations begin to increase consistently. The Mamluk Empire also begun to open to the foreign world to a larger level, sending troops to the borders with Hafsid Tunisia and sending gifts to Funj and, later on, Alodia. Alodia later on agreed to become a Mamluk vassal, the first of its type.

A short, abortive occupation of Hafsid Tunisia occurred before the Mamluks withdrew their forces.

After a short period of inactivity (assigned by modern historians to the strong fights against everything turning into a bunch of squabbling tribes), the Mamluk Empire resurfaced when a pretender rose in Mecca, claiming to descend from Muhammad himself. As soon as the Hijaz was entirely taken, he crowned himself as Caliph and Defender of Islam, and adopted the name Marwan III. The Mamluk armies stood useless in Asia and by 1465, barely three years after his rise, only Egypt remained in the power of the tribal confederacy.


Government[]

The Mamluk Empire, as of 1465, is an absolute monarchy with a semi-tribal government in power. It is led by a Sultan (also sometimes called a Sheik), currently the Sultan Al-Zahir. Caliph Marwan III claims power, and his government, as of 1467 located in Mecca, is far more centralised and based on shari'a law.


Culture[]

Religion[]

The Mamluk's main religion is Sunni Islam, with a mild majority of the population practising it. Shi'ite Islam and both Coptic and Syriac Christianity are also very common. There's an important Jewish community although it is not as prominent.

Languages[]

The main language in the Mamluk Empire is Arabic and its different dialects. However, regionally, Coptic, dialects of Nubian and Syriac and Bedouin languages are prominent. These languages have undergone a very large resurgence in the last few years, and have now spread to several different regions (Syriac, for example, has spread into Aq Qoyunlu).

International Relations[]

MamlukRelationshipsPMII


Allies and Friendly States[]

Vassal States[]

  • Duchy of Alodia/Alwa

Allies[]

  • Marinid Morocco

except for Granada and the Bahmani, all these have sworn allegiance to the Hashemite Caliphate

States The Mamluks Seek Friendly Relations With[]

note: this list can also be summarised as "every Muslim nation with a civilised government"

  • Anatolian States and Ottoman vassals
  • Songhai and Mali (The Mamluks have heard of their practise of Islam and their insane wealth)
  • Central Asian States and Qoyunluu vassals


States Neutral, But Which the Mamluks Are Interested in Establishing Relationships With[]

note: this is the main place where Christian nations Mamluks are interested on go

  • Florentine Republic - Seen as a decent Christian nation due to the ideas of the Enlightenment
  • Teutonic Order - Seen as a state that can have similar interests to the Mamluks due to HRE threats