Mamluk

Mamluks (also Mameluks, Mamelukes) (the Arabic word usually translates as "owned", singular: ????? plural: ??????) comprised slave soldiers used by the Muslim caliphs and the Ottoman Empire. On more than one occasion they seized power for themselves.

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The first Mamluks worked for Abbasid caliphs in 9th century Baghdad. The Abbasids recruited them from enslaved non-Muslim families captured in areas including modern Turkey, Eastern Europe, the steppes around modern Volgograd and the Caucasus. Using non-Muslims as soldiers helped partially overcome Islamic prohibitions on Muslims fighting each other. The rulers also desired troops with no link to the established power structure. The local warriors were often more loyal to their tribal sheiks, their families or nobles other than the sultan or caliph. If some commander conspired against the ruler, it was often not possible to deal with him without causing unrest among the nobility. The slave-troops were strangers of the lowest possible status who could not conspire against the ruler and who could easily be punished if they caused trouble.

Mamluk: Mamluks (also Mameluks, Mamelukes) (the Arabic word usually translates as "owned", singular: ????? plural: ??????) comprised slave soldiers used by the Muslim caliphs and the Ottoman Empire. On more than one occasion they seized power for themselves....

Arabic: redirect Arabic language...

Slave: The word slave has several meanings and usages:...