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38-411: Sultan an-Nasir Hasan 's mother died when he was still a child, and he was instead raised by a stepmother (named by Maqrizi as either Ardu or Tughay). Little is known about the mausoleum or Sultan Hasan's mother, as no original waqf documents for this building have survived. The building was instead identified indirectly with the help of the waqf document of the nearby Mosque of Nur al-Din , built by

76-466: A dome. In masonry the pendentives thus receive the weight of the dome, concentrating it at the four corners where it can be received by the piers beneath. Prior to the pendentive's development, builders used the device of corbelling or squinches in the corners of a room. Pendentives commonly occurred in Orthodox , Renaissance , and Baroque churches, with a drum with windows often inserted between

114-489: A major renovation of the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Pendentive In architecture , a pendentive is a constructional device permitting the placing of a circular dome over a square room or of an elliptical dome over a rectangular room. The pendentives, which are triangular segments of a sphere , taper to points at the bottom and spread at the top to establish the continuous circular or elliptical base needed for

152-670: The Black Death in Egypt , which peaked in October–December 1348 and ended in February 1349. In 1350, al-Nasir Hasan attempted to assert his executive power by assembling a council of the four qadis (chief judges), declaring to them that he had reached adulthood and thus no longer required the emirs' guardianship. He concurrently dismissed Manjak as wazir (vizier) and ustadar . However, al-Nasir Hasan's attempt to assert administrative authority

190-679: The Gur-e-Amir ) but predates the latter by half a century, most likely indicating that it originated here first in Cairo or that it was influenced by earlier Iranian domed structures which have since disappeared. Similar dome shapes appear at the Madrasa of Sarghitmish (also in Cairo), which was built around the same time, and possibly at the slightly earlier Khanqah of Amir Shaykhu . The original dome of Sultan Hasan's own massive mausoleum, also built during his reign,

228-471: The Ottoman governor Masih Pasha in 1575, which mentions a mausoleum belonging to Sultan Hasan's mother standing next to it. Additionally, the bold architectural forms of the structure and the fact that the domes are made of stone (rather than brick or wood), suggests that the building was issued from royal patronage. Based on this information, it is believed to have been built by Sultan Hasan during his reign around

266-445: The awlad al-nas into the sultanate's administrative hierarchy were the generally better treatment of Mamluk subjects by awlad al-nas and their better comprehension of administrative regulations. Al-Nasir Hasan's recruitment experiment with the awlad al-nas was ultimately unsuccessful and short-lived according to historian Peter Malcolm Holt . However, historian Ulrich Haarmann asserts that a'-Nasir Hasan's demise "in no way impeded

304-542: The 1350s. The name s ultaniyya means "sultanic" or "royal", and may have been a popular name given to the structure. The cemetery in which the mausoleum is located was originally a cemetery founded by the Bahri Mamluks in 1290, on land near the Citadel that was formerly used for military training exercises (next to this was also a Mamluk hippodrome which existed for centuries). The mausoleum and khanqah of Amir Qawsun , which

342-513: The authority of Shaykhu's partisans, who were led by Khalil ibn Qawsun. Those among Shaykhu's mamluk partisans who were not exiled, were imprisoned in Alexandria . Al-Nasir Hasan's political maneuvers left Sirghitmish as the most powerful emir in al-Nasir Hasan's court. In order to eliminate the potential of a coup by Sirghitmish, al-Nasir Hasan had him imprisoned in Alexandria in August 1358, and he

380-450: The complex as having no equal in the world, while Ibn Habib described it as superior in greatness to the Pyramids of Giza . Western travelers Pietro Della Valle and Jean Thevenot both described it as the finest mosque they had ever seen. The complex's construction was noted to be remarkable by the modern historian Oleg Grabar because in his opinion, the complex's patron, al-Nasir Hasan,

418-515: The complex began in 1357 and was worked on daily at the expense of 20,000 silver dirhams a day for the following three years. Construction continued following al-Nasir Hasan's death under the patronage of his senior aide, Bashir Agha al-Jamdar, who oversaw the complex's completion in 1363. The complex was described by al-Maqrizi as a sanctuary with no equals among the mosques and madrasas of Egypt, Syria, Iraq, North Africa or Yemen. Likewise, Mamluk historians Ibn Taghribirdi and Ibn Shahin describe

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456-608: The complex's site from the two palaces built by his father for his emirs Altunbugha al-Maridani and Yalbugha al-Yahyawi, demolishing both to make way for the complex. A double-mausoleum structure in Cairo's Southern Cemetery (the Qarafa or City of the Dead ), known as the Sultaniyya Mausoleum , is also attributed to Sultan Hassan and was dedicated to this mother. Starting in 1360, al-Nasir Hasan commenced other architectural projects in

494-517: The further strengthening of the position of the awlad al-nas in the military and the administration", but only under the Bahri regime, which ended in the last years of the 14th century. On 17 March 1361, Hasan was killed at age 27 by one of his own mamluks, Yalbugha al-Umari , who led a mamluk faction opposed to al-Nasir Hasan's policy of elevating the awlad al-nas to positions of authority. In Mamluk-era commentary regarding al-Nasir Hasan's death, it

532-421: The many provincial governorships of the sultanate's Syrian region, including the niyaba (provinces) of Aleppo and Safad . Among those who reached the rank of amir mi'a were two of al-Nasir Hasan's sons. Al-Nasir Hasan's stated purpose behind elevating the awlad al-nas was his strong trust in their reliability and his belief that they were less prone to rebellion than mamluks. Other reasons he integrated

570-405: The mausoleum chambers, the transition between the round domes and the square chamber is achieved through the use of pendentives carved in muqarnas forms. Each mausoleum chamber has its own simple stone mihrab. Nearby, presumably at the opposing end of the vanished courtyard, rises the mausoleum's minaret, which now appears to stand alone but originally would have been connected to the mausoleum by

608-427: The minaret to another location. The complex consists of two domed chambers, a prayer space between them, and a minaret that currently stands apart but was probably once attached to a wall that formed a courtyard or enclosure for the complex . The whole complex was likely originally intended to be used as a khanqah ( Sufi lodge) in addition to the mausoleums, much like the funerary complex of Qawsun nearby. Between

646-465: The nomination of al-Amjad Husayn, another of al-Nasir Muhammad's sons and the mamluks favorite for succession. Al-Nasir Hasan's role was ceremonial, with actual power being wielded by the following four Mamluk emirs: na'ib al-saltana (viceroy) Baybugha al-Qasimi , ustadar (chief of staff) and Baybugha's brother, Manjak al-Yusufi ( com ), and the emirs Shaykhu al-Nasiri and Taz al-Nasiri ( com ). Al-Nasir Hasan's first year as sultan coincided with

684-512: The outer walls of the complex. The minaret, with an octagonal shaft, is similar to the minarets of the Madrasa-Mosque of Sultan Hasan , but its surfaces are also covered with arabesque stone carvings, in addition to the usual muqarnas carvings under the balconies. An-Nasir Hasan Al-Nasir Badr ad-Din Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn Qalawun (1334/35–17 March 1361), better known as al-Nasir Hasan ,

722-485: The public. Al-Nasir Hasan was killed by one of his own mamluks, Yalbugha al-Umari , who headed a faction opposed to al-Nasir Hasan's elevation of the awlad al-nas . Throughout his second reign, al-Nasir Hasan commenced the Sultan Hasan Mosque-Madrasa complex in Cairo, as well as other architectural works, namely religious structures, in Cairo, Jerusalem , Gaza and Damascus . Al-Nasir Hasan's birth name

760-510: The senior emirs. He was reinstated three years later during a coup against his brother Sultan al-Salih Salih by emirs Shaykhu and Sirghitmish . During his second reign, al-Nasir Hasan maneuvered against the leading emirs, gradually purging them and their supporters from the administration through imprisonment, forced exile and execution. He replaced many mamluks (manumitted slave soldiers) with awlad al-nas (descendants of mamluks), who he found to be more reliable, competent and amiable with

798-469: The state and relying instead on the descendants of mamluks, known as awlad al-nas . He was the son of Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad (r. 1310–1341) and his Tatar wife, Kuda, who died while al-Nasir Hasan was an infant. He was raised by his mother-in-law Khawand Urdukin in the Cairo Citadel , the sultanate's administrative headquarters. In 1341, al-Nasir Muhammad died and a succession of his sons acceded to

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836-399: The stone surface. It's possible that this was meant to appear on the drum of the other dome too but that it was left unfinished. Both domes have an Arabic inscription running around the top edge of their drums. The two domes are also "double" domes; which is to say that they have an outer shell (visible from the exterior) and an inner shell which covers the mausoleum chamber under them. Inside

874-725: The sultanate, including the Qa'a al-Baysariyya tower at the Cairo Citadel, described by al-Maqrizi as a structure unique in Mamluk architecture. The Qa'a al-Baysariyya was a high, domed tower decorated with bejeweled gold bands. Other projects included a madrasa complex in Jerusalem in 1361, and sabil-kuttabs (public fountains attached to open galleries where the Qur'an was taught) in Jerusalem, Gaza , Damascus and other towns. Al-Nasir Hasan also commissioned

912-523: The throne, with real power often being held by the rival emirs of al-Nasir Muhammad's inner circle. Al-Nasir Hasan was married to Tulubiyya (d. 1363), a daughter of one of his father's emirs, Abdullah al-Nasiri. With her and possibly other wives or concubines, al-Nasir Hasan had eleven sons and six daughters. His sons were Ahmad (d. 1386), Qasim (d. 1358), Ibrahim (d. 1381), Ali, Iskandar, Sha'ban (d. 1421), Isma'il (d. 1397), Yahya (d. 1384), Musa, Yusuf and Muhammad. Of his six daughters, only Shaqra (d. 1389)

950-410: The two domes and tomb chambers is a large iwan (vaulted hall open to one side), with an inscription running along its walls. This iwan has a stone mihrab (niche symbolizing the direction of prayer) whose upper section is carved with muqarnas in a style similar to the lateral niches in the entrance portal of the Madrasa-Mosque of Sultan Hasan , possibly of Anatolian (Turkish) inspiration. This iwan

988-504: Was 'Qamari' (also spelled 'Qumari' ) in Cairo in 1334/35; he changed his given name to 'Hasan' upon his accession to the sultanate in 1347. According to historian Ulrich Haarmann, his revocation of his Turkish name and replacement with the Arabic 'Hasan' was meant to dissociate himself from the predominantly Turkish mamluks , a symbolic act in line with his policy of minimizing the role of mamluks in

1026-579: Was a generally weak leader for much of his reign and construction of the expensive complex occurred at a time of severe economic instability in the aftermath of the Black Plague in Cairo . Mamluk historian Ibn Iyas wrote that most of the funds for the complex derived from a huge treasure of gold found under the site, but Egyptian historian Howayda Al-Harithy contends that the funds likely came from mass appropriations of property by al-Nasir Hasan from plague victims who left no legal heirs. Al-Nasir Hasan chose

1064-528: Was also known to be highly skilled in Arabic and compared to his predecessors, he was a more cultured figure. Under Salih's three-year reign, Taz was the strongman of the sultanate until he was ousted in a coup by Shaykhu and Emir Sirghitmish al-Nasiri in 1355. In October of that year, al-Nasir Hasan was restored to the sultanate. Al-Nasir Hasan's second reign was marked by efforts to monopolize executive power by ridding his administration of its powerful and fractious emirs. His first major action in this regard

1102-460: Was built in 1335, also stands very close by and possessed a similar layout as the Sultaniyya. A part of the Sultaniyya complex, including its courtyard, has disappeared, and its current remains were restored in modern times. In 2023, the minaret of the complex was disassembled in order to make way for a new highway roundabout, amidst other demolitions in the area. The Egyptian government plans to move

1140-453: Was described as having a similar shape as well (though it no longer exists today as it was replaced with a different type of dome). However, none of these other contemporary domes had the same ribbed form with muqarnas and none of them were built in stone, making the Sultaniyya's domes unique. The two domes are very similar to each other but not quite identical. The drum of the northern dome is covered in square Kufic Arabic letters carved over

1178-589: Was later killed while incarcerated. Al-Nasir Hasan proceeded to purge Sirghitmish's mamluks from the military and administrative posts they occupied and replaced them with his own mamluks, as well as awlad al-nas . His promotion and installment of awlad al-nas to high ranks and senior offices was unprecedented in the sultanate's history. Ten of the twenty-four Mamluk generals holding the highest military rank of amir mi'a (emir of one hundred [mamluk cavalrymen]) were awlad al-nas . Awlad al-nas and non-mamluk eunuchs held numerous senior administrative posts, including

Sultaniyya Mausoleum - Misplaced Pages Continue

1216-563: Was named in the sources. She married Emir Baybugha al-Qasimi (also known as Aurus), one of the principal emirs of the sultanate during al-Nasir Hasan's reign. Following the death of al-Nasir Hasan's half-brother, al-Muzaffar Hajji , in a confrontation with Circassian mamluks in December 1347, al-Nasir Hasan acceded to the sultanate as 'al-Malik al-Nasir Hasan' at the age of 12, having been installed in power by senior Mamluk emirs. The emirs had appointed al-Nasir Hasan in haste, having rejected

1254-501: Was probably used for prayers and most likely faced a large courtyard which was adjoined to the mausoleum structure. The structure's most distinctive feature is its two stone domes. The domes are ribbed or fluted on the outside, have a pointed "bulbous" profile, and stand on high drums . The stone "ribs" end in a slim cornice of muqarnas above the edge of the drums. This form is very reminiscent of Timurid architecture in Samarkand (e.g.

1292-455: Was stated that "his murder ... came at the hands of his closest mamluks and confidants ... he had purchased and fostered them, given them riches and appointed them to the highest offices." According to historian Carl F. Petry, al-Nasir Hasan and Sultan al-Ashraf Sha'ban were "perhaps the exception" among al-Nasir Muhammad's largely powerless descendants who acceded to the throne because they wielded real power, and al-Nasir Hasan in particular

1330-497: Was stifled by Taz a few months later. In August 1351, Taz maneuvered to have al-Nasir Hasan replaced by his half-brother al-Salih Salih and put under house arrest in his mother-in-law Khawand's living quarters in the citadel's harem . Al-Nasir Hasan spent his confinement in leisure, studying Islamic theology , particularly the work of the Shafi'i scholar al-Bayhaqi , dala'il al-nubuwwah ("The Signs of Prophethood"). Al-Nasir Hasan

1368-460: Was the Mamluk sultan of Egypt, and the seventh son of al-Nasir Muhammad to hold office, reigning twice in 1347–1351 and 1354–1361. During his first reign, which he began at age 12, senior Mamluk emirs formerly belonging to al-Nasir Muhammad, dominated his administration, while al-Nasir Hasan played a ceremonial role. He was toppled in 1351 when he attempted to assert executive authority to the chagrin of

1406-628: Was the only descendant of al-Nasir Muhammad to have "had a significant impact on events" in the sultanate. The Mamluk historian al-Maqrizi lauded him as "one of the best kings of the Turks". In line with the favoritism he showed to Muslim scholars in his court, al-Nasir Hasan was responsible for the construction of a massive mosque- madrasa complex bearing his name, known today as the Sultan Hasan Mosque and Madrasa , in Rumaila, Cairo. Construction of

1444-412: Was to imprison Taz, but after the intervention of Shaykhu, who, along with Sirghitmish, wielded considerable influence Hasan's court, al-Nasir Hasan agreed to appoint Taz as na'ib of Aleppo instead. In effect, Taz was exiled from Cairo , but was spared incarceration. In November 1357, Shaykhu was killed, and following the latter's death, al-Nasir Hasan made moves, namely through forced exile, to hinder

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