List of Mamluk titles and appellations explained

EnglishArabicNotes
Alama SultaniyaArabic: علامة سلطانيةThe mark or signature of the Sultan put on his decrees, letters and documents.
Al-Nafir al-AmArabic: النفير العامGeneral emergency declared during war
AmirArabic: أميرCommander
Amir AkhurArabic: أمير آخورsupervisor of the royal stable (from Persian Persian: آخور meaning stable)
Amir MajlisArabic: أمير مجلسGuard of Sultan's seat and bed
AtabekArabic: أتابكCommander in chief (literally "father-lord," originally meaning an appointed step-father for a non-Mamluk minor prince)
AstadarArabic: أستادارChief of the royal servants
Barid JawiArabic: بريد جوىAirmail (mail sent by carrier-pigeons, amplified by Sultan Baibars)
Bayt al-MalArabic: بيت المالtreasury
CheshmehArabic: ششمهA pool of water, or fountain (literally "eye"), from Persian Persian: [[wikt:چشمه|چشمه]]
DawadarArabic: دوادارHolder of Sultan's ink bottle (from Persian Persian: دوات‌دار meaning bearer of the ink bottle)
FondokArabic: فندقHotel (some famous hotels in Cairo during the Mamluk era were Dar al-Tofah, Fondok Bilal and Fondok al-Salih)
HajibArabic: حاجبDoorkeeper of sultan's court
IqtaArabic: إقطاعRevenue from land allotment
JamkiyaArabic: جامكيةSalary paid to a Mamluk
JashnakirArabic: جاشنكيرFood taster of the sultan (to assure his food and drink was not poisoned)
JomdarArabic: جمدارAn official at the department of the Sultan's clothing (from Persian Persian: جامه‌دار, meaning keeper of cloths)
Kafel al-mamalek al-sharifah al-islamiya al-amir al-amriArabic: كافل الممالك الشريفة الاسلامية الأمير الأمرىTitle of the Vice-sultan (Guardian of the Prince of Command [lit. Commander-in-command] of the Dignified Islamic Kingdoms)
KhanArabic: خانA store that specialized in selling a certain commodity
KhaskiyaArabic: خاصكيةCourtiers of the sultan and most trusted royal mamluks who functioned as the Sultan's bodyguards/ A privileged group around a prominent Amir (from Persian Persian: خاصگیان, meaning close associates)
KhastakhanehArabic: خاصتاخانةHospital (from Ottoman Turkish Turkish, Ottoman (1500-1928);: [[wikt:خسته‌خانه|خسته‌خانه]], from Persian)
KhondArabic: خندWife of the sultan
KhushdashiyaArabic: خشداشيةMamluks belonging to the same Amir or Sultan.
Mahkamat al-MazalimArabic: محكمة المظالمCourt of complaint. A court that heard cases of complaints of people against state officials. This court was headed by the sultan himself.
Mamalik KitabeyaArabic: مماليك كتابيةMamluks still attending training classes and who still live at the Tebaq (campus)
Mamalik SultaneyaArabic: مماليك سلطانيةMamluks of the sultan;to distinguish from the Mamluks of the Amirs (princes)
Modwarat al-SultanArabic: مدورة السلطانSultan's tent which he used during travel.
MohtasebArabic: محتسبController of markets, public works and local affairs.
MorqadarArabic: مرقدارWorks in the Royal Kitchen (from Persian Persian: مرغ‌دار meaning one responsible for the fowl)
MushrifArabic: مشرفSupervisor of the Royal Kitchen
Na'ib Al-SultanArabic: نائب السلطانVice-sultan
Qa'at al-insha'aArabic: قاعة الإنشاءChancery hall
Qadi al-QodaArabic: قاضى القضاةChief justice
Qalat al-JabalArabic: قلعة الجبلCitadel of the Mountain (the abode and court of the sultan in Cairo)
QaranisaArabic: قرانصةMamluks who moved to the service of a new Sultan or from the service of an Amir to a sultan.
QussadArabic: قصادSecret couriers and agents who kept the sultan informed
OstazArabic: أستاذBenefactor of Mamluks (the Sultan or the Emir) (from Persian استاد)
RankArabic: رنكAn emblem that distinguished the rank and position of a Mamluk (probably from Persian Persian: [[wikt:رنگ|رنگ]] meaning color)
SanjaqiArabic: سنجاقىA standard-bearer of the Sultan.
SharabkhanaArabic: شرابخانةStorehouse for drinks, medicines and glass-wares of the sultan. (from Persian Persian: شراب‌خانه meaning wine cellar)
SilihdarArabic: سلحدارArm-Bearer (from Arabic Arabic: سلاح + Persian Persian: دار, meaning arm-bearer)
TabalkhanaArabic: طبلخانهThe amir responsible for the Mamluk military band, from Persian Persian: طبل‌خانه
TashrifArabic: تشريفHead-covering worn by a Mamluk during the ceremony of inauguration to the position of Amir.
TawashiArabic: طواشىA Eunuch responsible for serving the wives of the sultan and supervising new Mamluks. Mamluk writers seem not to have consulted the eunuchs themselves about "their origins.[1]
TebaqArabic: طباقCampus of the Mamluks at the citadel of the mountain
TishtkhanaArabic: طشتخانةStorehouse used for the laundry of the sultan (from Persian Persian: تشت‌خانه, meaning tub room)
WaliArabic: والىviceroy
YuqArabic: يوقA large linen closet used in every mamluk home, which stored pillows and sheets. (Related to the present Crimean Tatar word Yuqa, "to sleep". In modern Turkish: Yüklük.)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Marmon. Shaun Elizabeth. Eunuchs and Sacred Boundaries in Islamic Society. Marmon. Assistant Professor of Religion Shaun. 1995. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-507101-6. 32. en.