Al-Nasir Muhammad, Second Reign

Al-Nasir Muhammad survived his first ousting, when the pre-teen was replaced by his advisor Zayn-al-Din Kitbugha. Now a teenager, he was returned in 1299 to the position of Mamluk Sultan of Egypt with Sayf al-Din Salar, an Oirat Mongol, as vice-Sultan and Baibars al-Jashnakir as an advisor.

His youth and their political savvy meant, however, that he was still not in charge except in name. Salar and al-Jashnakir were members of dynasties that were rivals to the Burki Mamluks, to whom Al-Nasir Muhammad belonged. As the Burji Mamluks grew in power, conflicts arose between the groups. There were also external dangers.

Mahmud Ghazan of the Mongol Ilkhanate Levant in the Eastern Mediterranean. Al-Nasir led an army of 20,000 from Egypt to deal with the invasion. Meanwhile, back in Cairo, a conspiracy to bring Kitbugha back to power after killing Salar and al-Jashnakir. The attempt failed, but Salar and al-Jashnakir believed that al-Nasir was behind it.

Al-Nasir and Ghazan encountered each other at the Battle of Wadi al-Khazandar (illustrated), to the detriment of al-Nasir. Although Ghazan's army took heavier casualties than al-Nasir's, al-Nasir retreated in disarray, limping back to Egypt in parts. Al-Nasir actually made Kitbugha a governor and then sent Salar and al-Jashnakir with the army to eliminate Ghazan's army.

Salar and al-Jashnakir clearly had a lot of political power and popular support, and al-Nasir realized he would never have total control as sultan with them around. He tried to have them arrested in 1309, but the attempt failed. He figured his best option was to go to the Levant, make alliances there, and eventually return to Egypt. In his absence, Baibars al-Jashnakir made himself Sultan of Egypt with Salar as his vice-Sultan.

Baibars al-Jashnakir ruled less than one year, ultimately being forced by the people of Egypt to resign and bring back al-Nasir, who was now 24 years old. His third reign began 5 March 1310 and lasted three decades. This time he was better at dealing with rivals, and had the time to make changes to the kingdom. More on that next time.

Al-Nasir Muhammad, First Reign

The current structure referred to as the Tower of David was built by Al-Nasir Muhammad, a Mamluk sultan who lived from 1285 to 1341. He reigned as sultan of Egypt for three separate periods, once for one year, once for 10 years, and finally (after dealing with the hindrances of the first two reigns) for 31 years.

Al-Nasir was born in Cairo, the third son of Sultan Qalawun and a Mongol mother. He was raised in Mongolia, and he acted like a Mongol until he was 29. When he was five years old, his father died and the throne went to Al-Nasir's older brother, Al-Ashraf Khalil.

When Al-Ashraf died (assassinated) in 1293, Al-Nasir was made sultan, but he was only nine years old. His regent and vice-sultan was a man named Zayn-ad-Din Kitbugha, a Mongol in the army of Hulagu Khan. Al-Nasir's vizier, al-Shuja‘i, and Kitbugha did not get along, and their rivalry turned to outright civil war, with each attempting to arrest the other with the help of different sections of the military.

After Kitbugha prevailed, he assembled all the nobles and emirs and told them that Al-Nasir was too young to manage a kingdom that was so prone to civil strife, and they agreed to depose the young sultan and install Kitbugha, who ruled from December 1294 until 7 December 1296. He failed to address shortages of water and food, and gave too much favor to the non-Egyptian Oirats who were led by a son of Hulagu Khan.

Kitbugha fled the opposition, but eventually recognized their replacement, a man named Lajin, who had participated in the assassination of Al-Ashraf Khalil and had been Kitbugha's vice-sultan. Lajin ruled from December 1296 until 16 January 1299, when he was killed by the same emirs who had put him in power.

Al-Nasir, now 14 years old, was chosen to return as Sultan of Egypt, with Sayf al-Din Salar, an Oirat Mongol, as vice-Sultan and Baibars al-Jashnakir as advisor. This time, his reign was a little longer. Once again, however, the problem came from his closest advisors. We'll continue his story tomorrow.