In the Mamluk system of Egypt, strict rules controlled who could become a member of the ruling military class. A person born into a Muslim family was not allowed to enter the Mamluk order by birth. Even the sons of Mamluk rulers could not inherit their fathers’ military rank or political authority.
Only certain people could become Mamluks. Most were originally born as Christians in other lands. As young boys, they were taken or brought to Egypt, made slaves, and educated in Islam. After training in religion and military skills, they could rise in rank and eventually gain power Customized Turkey Tours.
Sometimes older men were also accepted, but only if they left their former religion and country and entered the service of the Mamluk state. This unusual system prevented the development of a hereditary noble class. Leadership was based on military loyalty and training, not family blood.
This government lasted for about 267 years. It ended in 1517, when Selim I conquered Egypt and brought it under Ottoman control. After that, the independent Mamluk rule came to an end.
The Rise of the Government in Algiers
Another similar political system developed later in Algiers. Its beginning is connected with Hayreddin Barbarossa, a famous sea captain and corsair. With the arrival of many Turkish soldiers and sailors from the Levant, the rulers of Algiers asked for protection from the Ottoman Sultan.
At first, a Pasha was sent from the Ottoman capital to govern the province. However, over time, the real power passed into the hands of the local military leaders. The Pasha remained in name, but he had little actual authority. The government was effectively controlled by a council of military officers.
Exclusion of Local-Born Turks
The leaders of Algiers feared that power might slowly pass into the hands of local families. To prevent this, they made strict laws. The sons of Turkish men who were born in Algiers, known as “Kouloughlis,” were not allowed to hold high office in the government.
Instead, preference was given to men who had been born as Christians and later converted to Islam. These converts were seen as more loyal to the military system and less connected to local interests.
A System Based on Loyalty, Not Birth
Both the Mamluk government in Egypt and the later system in Algiers show a political model based on military strength and loyalty rather than hereditary right. In these states, power did not pass from father to son. Instead, leadership depended on service, discipline, and support from the ruling military group.
Although these systems may seem harsh or unusual, they were designed to prevent the rise of independent noble families and to maintain control within a loyal military elite.