The following is a list of Mamluk sultans. The Mamluk Sultanate was founded in 1250 by mamluks of the Ayyubid sultan as-Salih Ayyub and it succeeded the Ayyubid state. It was based in Cairo and for much of its history, the territory of the sultanate spanned Egypt, Syria and parts of Anatolia, Upper Mesopotamia and the Hejaz. The sultanate ended with the advent of the Ottoman Empire in 1517.
The Mamluk period is generally divided into two periods, the Bahri and Burji periods. The Bahri sultans were predominantly of Turkic origins, while the Burji sultans were predominantly Circassians. While the first three Mamluk sultans, Aybak, his son al-Mansur Ali, and Qutuz, are generally considered part of the Bahri dynasty, they were not part of the Bahriyya Mamluk regiment and actually opposed their political interests.Northrup 1998, pp. 69–70. The first sultan to come from the Bahriyya's ranks was Baybars. The Burji mamluks usurped the throne in 1382 with the accession of Barquq. al-Musta'in Billah was also the Abbasid caliph and was installed by the mamluk emirs as a neutral figurehead ruler.
List of sultans
No. Coin Name Reign Ethnicity Notes - Shajar al-Durr 2 May 1250Al-Maqrizi, p.459/vo.1–30 July 1250Al-Maqrizi, p.463/vol.1(~3 months) Turkic or Armenian Concubine of as-Salih Ayyub; installed by Mamluks after Turanshah's assassination. Abdicated after being unrecognized by caliph al-Musta'sim. 1 al-Mu'izz Aybak 31 July 1250Northrup 1998, p. 69.–4 August 1250(~5 days) Turkmen Mamluk of as-Salih Ayyub; appointed atabeg by Shajar al-Durr. Married Shajar ad-Durr, who abdicated in his favor. Installed al-Ashraf Musa as nominal sultan while he held actual power.Interregnum by al-Ashraf Musa (1) al-Mu'izz Aybak 1254Humphreys, R. Stephen, From Saladin to the Mongols: The Ayyubids of Damascus 1193-1260, p.326–10 April 1257Northrup 1998, p. 70.(~3 years) Turkmen Deposed al-Ashraf Musa to assume the throne. Killed on the orders of Shajar al-Durr. 2 al-Mansur Ali I 15 April 1257–November 1259(~3 years) Turkmen Son of Aybak; installed by Mamluks as a child puppet. Deposed by Qutuz amidst threat of a Mongol invasion. 3 al-Muzaffar Qutuz November 1259–24 October 1260(~11 months) Khwarazmian Mamluk of Aybak;Northrup, ed. Petry 1998, p. 250. vice-sultan for Ali, whom he deposed.Northrup 1998, p. 71. Defeated Mongols at Ain Jalut (1260). Assassinated by Bahri Mamluks.Bahri Mamluks 4 al-Zahir Baybars I 24 October 1260–1 July 1277(~17 years) Kipchak Turk Bahri Mamluk of as-Salih Ayyub; succeeded Qutuz, whom he possibly assassinated. Reinstated Abbasid caliphate in Cairo, installing al-Mustansir II, then al-Hakim I. Conquered Principality of Antioch (1268). Allied with the Golden Horde against Ilkhanate. Died of illness or poisoning. 5 al-Sa'id Barakah 3 July 1277–August 1279(~2 years) Kipchak Turk Son and heir of Baybars. Deposed and exiled by alienated mamluks. 6 al-Adil Salamish August 1279–November 1279(~3 months) Kipchak Turk Son of Baybars; installed by Mamluks who deposed Barakah. Real power held by Qalawun, who eventually deposed and exiled him. 7 al-Mansur Qalawun November 1279–10 November 1290(~11 years) Kipchak Turk Bahri Mamluk of as-Salih Ayyub; father-in-law of Barakah; deposed Salamish. Conquest of County of Tripoli (1289). Began purchasing Circassian mamluks; origin of the Burji crops. 8 al-Ashraf Khalil 12 November 1290–12 December 1293(~3 years) Kipchak Turk Son and heir of Qalawun. Fall of Acre (1291); end of Crusader states. Assassinated by disgruntled Mamluks. 9 al-Nasir Muhammad 14 December 1293–December 1294(~1 year) Kipchak Turk Son of Qalawun; installed by Mamluks as a child puppet. Deposed and exiled by regent Kitbugha. 10 al-Adil Kitbugha December 1294–7 December 1296(~2 years) MongolNorthrup, ed. Petry 1998, p. 252. Mamluk of Qalawun; regent of young al-Nasir Muhammad, whom he overthrew. Overthrown by and submitted to Lajin. 11 al-Mansur Lajin 7 December 1296–16 January 1299(~2 years) Possibly Circassian Mamluk of Qalawun; vice-sultan to Kitbugha, whom he overthrew. Killed by rebel mamluks. (9) al-Nasir Muhammad 16 January 1299–March 1309(~10 years) Kipchak Turk Recalled and dominated by mamluks who killed Lajin. Wars against the Ilkhanate. Retreated to Levant to free himself from mamluks who dominated him. 12 al-Muzaffar Baybars II April 1309–5 March 1310(~11 months) Circassian Mamluk of Qalawun; dominated al-Nasir Muhammad; ruled after his retreat. Arrested and executed by al-Nasir Muhammad. (9) al-Nasir Muhammad 5 March 1310–6 June 1341(~31 years) Kipchak Turk Returned to Egypt, removed Baybars and assumed the throne. 13 al-Mansur Abu Bakr 8 June 1341–August 1341Drory 2006, p. 20.(~2 months) Kipchak Turk Son and heir of an-Nasir Muhammad;Bauden 2009, p. 63. de facto rule by mamluk emir Qawsun. Deposed and executed by Qawsun. 14 al-Ashraf Kujuk August 1341Levanoni 1995, p. 102.–21 January 1342Drory 2006, p. 24.(~5 months) Kipchak Turk Son of an-Nasir Muhammad; installed as child ruler by regent Qawsun. Removed when rebels overthrew Qawsun; killed on al-Salih Isma'il's orders. 15 al-Nasir Ahmad 21 January 1342–27 June 1342Drory 2006, p. 28.(~5 months) Kipchak Turk Eldest son of an-Nasir Muhammad; installed after Qawsun's overthrow; ruled from al-Karak. Deposed by Mamluk emirs; executed on al-Salih Isma'il's orders. 16 al-Salih Isma'il 27 June 1342–3 August 1345(~3 years) Kipchak Turk Son of an-Nasir Muhammad; installed by Mamluk emirs. Died of illness. 17 al-Kamil Sha'ban I 3 August 1345–18 September 1346(~1 year) Kipchak Turk Son of an-Nasir Muhammad; brother of al-Salih Isma'il, whom he succeeded. Overthrown and executed by revolting Mamluks. 18 al-Muzaffar Hajji I 18 September 1346–10 December 1347(~1 year) Kipchak Turk Son of an-Nasir Muhammad.; installed after overthrow of al-Kamil Sha'ban. Killed by revolting Circassian mamluks. 19 al-Nasir Hasan December 1347–21 August 1351(~4 years) Kipchak Turk Son of an-Nasir Muhammad; installed by Mamluk emirs as a child puppet. Black Death ravages Egypt (1348). Deposed and put under house arrest after attempting to assert his authority. 20 al-Salih Salih 21 August 1351–20 October 1354(~3 years) Kipchak Turk Son of an-Nasir Muhammad; installed by emirs who deposed al-Nasir Hasan. Deposed by Mamluk emirs. (19) al-Nasir Hasan 20 October 1354–16 March 1361(~6 years) Kipchak Turk Reinstalled by Mamluk emirs; killed by emir Yalbugha al-Umari. 21 al-Mansur Muhammad 17 March 1361–29 May 1363(~2 years) Kipchak Turk Son of Hajji; controlled by Yalbugha al-Umari, who eventually deposed him. 22 al-Ashraf Sha'ban II 29 May 1363–15 March 1377(~14 years) Kipchak Turk Cousin of al-Mansur Muhammad; grandson of al-Nasir MuhammadHolt, eds. Vermeulen and De Smet, p. 319. installed by Yalbugha al-Umari. Mamluk conquest of Armenian Cilicia (1375). Killed by emir Aynabak al-Yalbughawi. 23 al-Mansur Ali II 15 March 1377–19 May 1381(~4 years) Kipchak Turk Son of al-Ashraf Sha'ban; child puppet ruler under Barquq's regency. 24 al-Salih Hajji II 19 May 1381–26 November 1382(~2 years) Kipchak Turk Son of al-Ashraf Sha'ban; child puppet ruler under Barquq's regency. Overthrown by Barquq.Burji Mamluks 25 al-Zahir Barquq 26 November 1382–1 June 1389(~7 years) Circassian Mamluk of Yalbugha; regent for al-Mansur Ali, then al-Salih Hajji, whom he deposed. First Burji Sultan; overthrown and imprisoned by revolting mamluks.Bahri Mamluks (24) al-Salih Hajji II 1 June 1389–January 1390(~7 months) Kipchak Turk Temporarily restored after a rebellion against Barquq.Burji Mamluks (25) al-Zahir Barquq 21 January 1390–20 June 1399(~9 years) Circassian Restored after his supporters overcame rebels. 26 al-Nasir Faraj 20 June 1399–20 September 1405(~6 years) Circassian Son of Barquq. Timur's invasions of Syria (1400). Fled after plots of his overthrow by rebels surfaced. 27 al-Mansur Abd al-Aziz 20 September 1405–November 1405(~2 months) Circassian Son of Barquq. Installed after Faraj fled; removed after his return. (26) al-Nasir Faraj November 1405–23 May 1412(~7 years) Circassian Returned with the help of emir Saad al-Din ibn Ghurab. Defeated and killed by rebel mamluks.Abbasid Dynasty 28 al-Musta'in Billah 23 May 1412–6 November 1412(~6 months) Arab Abbasid caliph in Cairo; installed by rebel mamluks after Faraj's overthrow. Dominated by emir Shaykh Mahmudi, who forced him to abdicate.Burji Mamluks 29 al-Mu'ayyad Shaykh 6 November 1412–13 January 1421(~8 years) Circassian Mamluk of Barquq; overthrew Faraj and assumed power after al-Musta'in's abdication. 30 al-Muzaffar Ahmad 13 January 1421–29 August 1421(~7 months) Circassian Son of Shaykh; ascended as an infant. Dethroned and imprisoned by regent Tatar; died of plague. 31 al-Zahir Tatar 29 August 1421–30 November 1421(~3 months) Circassian Mamluk of Barquq;Garcin, ed. Petry 1998, p. 293. regent of al-Muzaffar Ahmad, whom he deposed. Died of a chronic illness. 32 al-Salih Muhammad 30 November 1421–1 April 1422(~4 months) Circassian Son and heir of Tatar; installed as a child. Deposed after Barsbay's consolidation of power. 33 al-Ashraf Barsbay 1 April 1422–7 June 1438(~16 years) Circassian Mamluk of Barquq; overcame rival factions and toppled al-Salih Muhammad. Mamluk conquest of Cyprus (1426). 34 al-Aziz Yusuf 7 June 1438–9 September 1438(~3 months) Circassian Son of Barsbay; removed and put under house arrest by his guardian Jaqmaq. 35 al-Zahir Jaqmaq 9 September 1438–1 February 1453(~14 years) Circassian Mamluk of Barquq; took power from Yusuf. 36 al-Mansur Uthman 1 February 1453–15 March 1453(~1 month) Circassian Son and heir of Jaqmaq; deposed and exiled in a revolt by Inal. 37 al-Ashraf Inal 15 March 1453–26 February 1461(~8 years) Circassian Mamluk of Barquq; took power from al-Mansur Uthman. Deposed caliph al-Qa'im after his involvement in a failed revolt. Abdicated in favor of his son during an illness; died soon after. 38 al-Mu'ayyad Ahmad 26 February 1461–28 June 1461(~4 months) Circassian Son of Inal; ascended after his father abdicated in his favor. Abdicated under pressure from mamluks. 39 al-Zahir Khushqadam 28 June 1461–9 October 1467(~6 years) Greek or TurkishNatho, Kadir I. (2010). Circassian History. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 978-1441523884 Mamluk of Shaykh; seized power amidst the turmoil after Ahmad's abdication. Died of dysentery. 40 al-Zahir Bilbay 9 October 1467–4 December 1467(~2 months) Circassian Mamluk of Shaykh;Levanoni, eds. Winter and Levanoni 2004, p. 82. crowned after Khushqadam's death. Deposed and imprisoned by Jaqmaq's mamluks; died of plague. 41 al-Zahir Timurbugha 4 December 1467–31 January 1468(~2 months) Greek Mamluk of Jaqmaq; ascended after Bilbay's removal. Dethroned and imprisoned in a palace coup; freed by Qaitbay, retired to Damietta. 42 al-Ashraf Qaitbay 31 January 1468–7 August 1496(~29 years) Circassian Mamluk of Barsbay;Garcin, ed. Petry 1998, p. 295. ascended after defeating rival factions. First Ottoman-Mamluk War (1485-1491). Died of natural causes. 43 al-Nasir Muhammad 7 August 1496–31 October 1498(~2 years) Circassian Son of Qaitbay; ascended after his death. Overthrown and killed by rebel mamluks. 44 al-Zahir Qansuh I 31 October 1498–30 June 1500(~2 years) Circassian Mamluk of Qaitbay; elected by rebel mamluks after al-Nasir Muhammad's overthrow. Removed and exiled by disgruntled mamluks; killed by Tumanbay I. 45 al-Ashraf Janbalat 30 June 1500–25 January 1501(~7 months) Circassian Mamluk of Qaitbay; Installed after Qansuh's removal; overthrown and executed by Tumanbay I. 46 al-Adil Tumanbay I 25 January 1501–20 April 1501(~3 months) Circassian Mamluk of Qaitbay;Garcin, ed. Petry 1998, p. 297. governor of Syria; elected and soon overthrown by mamluks. 47 al-Ashraf Qansuh II 20 April 1501–24 August 1516(~15 years) Circassian Mamluk of Qaitbay; installed by mamluks who overthrew Tumanbay I. Wars against Portuguese and Safavids. Second Ottoman-Mamluk war (1516).