via headstuff
Although not everyone learned about Shajar Al Durr in school, we’re confident that almost everyone knows a thing or two about this historical figure. Not only is her story fascinating with a lot of unpredictable twists and turns, but she has also died a rather bizarre yet brutal death.
With her being one of the most important women in Egyptian history and one of Egypt’s few female rulers, it was only natural that we discuss Shajar Al Durr today.
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The Story of Shajar Al Durr
If you know anything about Shajar Al Durr, then it’s probably the fact that she ruled Egypt as a female sultan. Let us rephrase: She led the country as its first and only female sultan, holding the most political power until the beginning of the Ottoman era.
With Shajar Al Durr being one of the Mamlukes, it’s hard to determine her true origins, though many sources stated that she was of Turkish-Armenian descent. As a young girl, Shajar Al Durr was sold to Salih Ayub (AKA Al Malek El Saleh), the then-sultan’s oldest son. Soon enough, Shajar Al Durr became the prince’s favourite companion and gave him a child, after which he married her and freed her from slavery.
Once Salih Ayub ascended to the throne, he moved his family to Cairo in order to properly rule the country, which he did for nine years. However, when he died, Shajar Al Durr decided to conceal his passing and used the opportunity to rule the country discretely.
Quite the story, right? Well, it sadly came to a quick end as Shajar Al Durr’s reign ended only eighty days after it began. Why? Because the sultana married the famed army officer, Ezz Eldin Aibak, who immediately became the sultan.
However, the couple did not have a happy union, as Aibak took power away from Shajar Al Durr. Being unhappy with the development, she started to conceal important country matters from her husband. Eventually, Aibak proclaimed his desire to marry a neighbouring country’s princess to secure an alliance with Egypt.
That didn’t fly well with Shajar Al Durr, who ordered her servants to kill Aibak. Following that, soldiers (led by the famous Qutuz) imprisoned her in the citadel.
via muslimheritage
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Why is Oum Ali involved in this story?
So, how does Shajar Al Durr’s story relate to Oum Ali? Well, that was Ezz Eldin Aibak’s first wife’s nickname, as her son’s name was Al Mansour Ali.
To take revenge on Shajar Al Durr for her actions and the murder of Aibak, Oum Ali and her son ordered their servants to strip and beat Shajar Al Durr to the death with wooden clogs. After that, they had the servants throw her lifeless corpse outside the citadel’s gates.
Mother and son then decided to celebrate! So, Oum Ali ordered her cooks to prepare a dessert to distribute among the Egyptian masses—and this dessert is now called Oum Ali, after Aibak’s first wife. What a story, right?!
