Bahri

Bahri is a term used to refer to the Mamluk sultanate in Egypt that existed from 1250 to 1382. The term "Bahri" is derived from the Arabic word "bahar," meaning "sea." During this period, the Mamluks ruled Egypt and were of Turkish origin, taken as slaves from the Ottoman Empire or other parts of the Middle East.

The Bahri period began with the installation of Al-Muizz Aybak, a Mamluk slave-soldier, as the first Bahri sultan of Egypt in 1250. He overthrew the Ayyubid dynasty and established the Mamluk state. The Bahri sultans constructed various monuments, including mosques, madrasas (Islamic schools), and mausoleums, which demonstrated their wealth and power.

The Bahri period is notable for the Second Crusade and the Seventh Crusade, when European armies attempted to recapture the Holy Land from Muslim rule. The Mamluks also fought against the Mongols in the late 13th century, successfully defending their territories against the Mongol invasion.

The Bahri sultans implemented administrative reforms, including the creation of provincial governments and the establishment of the unpopular system of qulash, where freed slave-soldiers were paid in exchange for military service. Additionally, the Bahri period saw the translation of Arabic texts into Persian and the development of a unique Mamluk style of calligraphy.

In 1382, the Bahri Mamluk sultans were overthrown by the Circassian slave-soldiers, marking the beginning of the Burji Mamluk period in Egypt.