Emblems of Power

The Arabic word mamluk means "owned." It is also the name of a dynasty of elite enslaved soldiers who overthrew the Ayyubids in 1250 and established their rule over Egypt, Syria, and the holy cities of Mecca and Medina until 1517. The Mamluks succeeded in defeating the Mongols and expelling the last Crusaders from the region. Although they were not the only elite enslaved soldiers in Islamic history, they were the longest-ruling dynasty of this kind. Mamluks were mainly Qipchak Turks from the steppes of Central Asia and Circassians from the Caucasus region. Captured, purchased, or acquired as gifts or tributes at a very young age, they were the personal property of the sultan and depended on him for their advancement. They were required to convert to Islam and received intensive military training before being manumitted by their masters. Many attained positions of great power in the Mamluk court.So, how did the Mamluks, a dynasty that ruled for over two hundred fifty years, use symbols to project power and visualize the meritocratic structure of their court?Blazons were usually enclosed in roundels or oval-shaped medallions and included such emblems as eagles, lions, goblets, polo sticks, swords, bows, and napkins. Those from the early Mamluk period were simple, featuring a single emblem, while many later examples were composites.