Re: Peaceful Conquests
Turks were hired by Abbasids, Ummayads on the other hand had Berbers and Zangis with them, the famous Zangi history produced were Noor-ud-Din Zangi, the mentor of Salahuddin Ayoubi...
Now if you read arab history, it is evident that whom ever Arab enslaved, ruled them later.. be it Zangis, Kurds, Turks!!!
Arabs ki to kismat hi kharab thi..........:D
Re: Peaceful Conquests
Turks were hired by Abbasids, Ummayads on the other hand had Berbers and Zangis with them, the famous Zangi history produced were Noor-ud-Din Zangi, the mentor of Salahuddin Ayoubi...
Now if you read arab history, it is evident that whom ever Arab enslaved, ruled them later.. be it Zangis, Kurds, Turks!!!
Zangis belonged to which region and yes Noor-ud-Din is also famous for protecting Roza e Rasool (SAW)
Re: Peaceful Conquests
The history of the policy of enslaving Turks, Kurds, etc was interesting.
These Turks were slaves despite being Muslim. During the Abbasid era in particular, free Muslims were considered potential traitors as they tended to plot against the local ruler or even khalif. Muslim slaves were preferred as soldiers, as they had few legal rights except through their masters, so their best interest were tied to those of their masters.
Until the point where the slaves realised that they had the real power and could blackmail their masters.....
Re: Peaceful Conquests
Zangis belonged to which region and yes Noor-ud-Din is also famous for protecting Roza e Rasool (SAW)
I am not sure about their origins, some historians relate them to the some area called Zangi and some called them slaves brought from somewhere in Sudan and were originally called Zanji in arabic because of their dark color...
Re: Peaceful Conquests
Nice thread. Did not know any of this stuff. Learned a lot. Thanks
Re: Peaceful Conquests
I am not sure about their origins, some historians relate them to the some area called Zangi and some called them slaves brought from somewhere in Sudan and were originally called Zanji in arabic because of their dark color...
Zanji were originally Abbysinian and Arab half breeds but gradually the term was used for any black or half arab half black soldier class. Most of them ended up forming an elite group in Modern day Syria which was the heart of Ummayad empire.
The habbit of keeping slave soldiers was a very high risk system, the Arabs by the later medieval stages were largely settled communites, while the early Turks were no different to the Mongols and Huns of the Steppes and made better fighters becuase they had no home or hearth as such.
For a long time they served as slaves but it was only until they were exposed to Sufi saints and other theoligians that they learned it was right to stand up for Islam and not blindly follow orders from thier arab Masters.
In particular the Turkic slave soldiers often rebelled when they thought the Arabs were cheating them and Islam, especially during the crusades were many Arab leaders were quick to negotiate terms or even give up gained territory which obviously infuriated the soldiers who fought so hard to make such gains.
During the 5th and 6th Crusades against Egypt the Ayubid dynasty was in fact saved twice by Mamluk "slave" soldiers who held up the front line, and allowed the crusaders to be stalled and eventually pushed back... but when treaties were signed that let the Crusaders march away rather than hold them and try and cut them off in enemy territory the Mamluks took up arms.
Also against the Mongols most Arabs were quick to surrender or flee and it was only the Mamluks who had the same skill levels and stiff backbone to stand up to the invaders. Ain Jalut was an interesting battle becuase the Mongols and Turks were very simmilar forces but the Mamluk Turks had the advantage of better terrain and horses and they were just as good horse archers as the mongols.
Re: Peaceful Conquests
Zanji were originally Abbysinian and Arab half breeds but gradually the term was used for any black or half arab half black soldier class. Most of them ended up forming an elite group in Modern day Syria which was the heart of Ummayad empire.
The habbit of keeping slave soldiers was a very high risk system, the Arabs by the later medieval stages were largely settled communites, while the early Turks were no different to the Mongols and Huns of the Steppes and made better fighters becuase they had no home or hearth as such.
For a long time they served as slaves but it was only until they were exposed to Sufi saints and other theoligians that they learned it was right to stand up for Islam and not blindly follow orders from thier arab Masters.
In particular the Turkic slave soldiers often rebelled when they thought the Arabs were cheating them and Islam, especially during the crusades were many Arab leaders were quick to negotiate terms or even give up gained territory which obviously infuriated the soldiers who fought so hard to make such gains.
During the 5th and 6th Crusades against Egypt the Ayubid dynasty was in fact saved twice by Mamluk "slave" soldiers who held up the front line, and allowed the crusaders to be stalled and eventually pushed back... but when treaties were signed that let the Crusaders march away rather than hold them and try and cut them off in enemy territory the Mamluks took up arms.
Also against the Mongols most Arabs were quick to surrender or flee and it was only the Mamluks who had the same skill levels and stiff backbone to stand up to the invaders. Ain Jalut was an interesting battle becuase the Mongols and Turks were very simmilar forces but the Mamluk Turks had the advantage of better terrain and horses and they were just as good horse archers as the mongols.
That is true,
Arabs only ruled under Ummayads, after them, even Abbasid were in power because of Turks,
and Mamlooks, hats of to them, no one was so tough as they were, they fought on two fronts, just like the Muslim soldiers of Qroon-e-Ulla, who took own both Iran and Rome at same time and defeated them... like them Mamlooks, took both the Crusaders and the Mongols by their horns and defeated them!
Whenever Mamlooks are to be discussed, the battle of Ain-e-Jaloot has to be mentioned, as this is was 1st defeat for Mongols who never saw or heard or tasted humiliation in their conquests, specially against the Muslim world, the historian also tells us that the Arab leaders of Egypt were ready to giveup and surrender when they were attacked by Mongols but it was mamlooks who took the responsibility and change the course of history because after that, it was the first time when muslims learned that Mongols can be defeated...