Muslims ruled Egypt for approximately 876 years, from 641 CE to 1517 CE.
Egypt was conquered by the Rashidun Caliphate in 641 CE, marking the end of Byzantine rule and the beginning of a long period of Islamic governance. During this time, Egypt was governed by various Islamic caliphates and dynasties.
Here's a breakdown:
- Rashidun Caliphate (641-661 CE): Initial conquest and integration into the Islamic world.
- Umayyad Caliphate (661-750 CE): Egypt became a province of the expanding Umayyad empire, with its capital in Damascus.
- Abbasid Caliphate (750-969 CE): The Abbasids, based in Baghdad, took control, though their grip weakened over time. Local dynasties began to emerge.
- Tulunid Dynasty (868-905 CE): The first independent dynasty in Islamic Egypt, established by Ahmad ibn Tulun.
- Ikhshidid Dynasty (935-969 CE): Another autonomous dynasty preceding the Fatimids.
- Fatimid Caliphate (969-1171 CE): A Shia Ismaili caliphate that conquered Egypt and established Cairo as its capital. This period saw a flourishing of culture and trade.
- Ayyubid Dynasty (1171-1250 CE): Founded by Saladin (Salah al-Din), who overthrew the Fatimids and restored Sunni Islam.
- Mamluk Sultanate (1250-1517 CE): Composed of two dynasties: the Bahri Mamluks (Turkic) and the Burji Mamluks (Circassian). The Mamluks were slave soldiers who rose to power and ruled Egypt until the Ottoman conquest in 1517.
In 1517, the Ottoman Empire conquered Egypt, ending Mamluk rule and integrating Egypt into the Ottoman realm. This marked the end of nearly nine centuries of continuous Muslim governance.
