Duties of vizier during the Mamlūk period 648-923 AH 1250-1517 AD

Abstract EN

The duties of viziers are classified into essential and additional duties.

As for the essential duties which were variable and diverse during the period of Mamlūk sulṭāns.

The vizier had to attend the coronation of the sulṭān.

The advice and opinion in management of the sultanate is one of the vizier's duties.

Viziers also maintained the sultanate and was choosing employees and presenting them to the sulṭān.

Among duties of vizier, he wrote letters to sulṭān issued to princes and sulṭāns and showing letters to sulṭān issued to princes and sulṭāns and showing letters sent to sulṭān and replying them.

Vizier also played role in country stability and ending chaos by celebrating the sulṭān to his position and maintaining his kingdom.

The vizier was to supervise onto the resources of the state in its various forms of customs, taxes, as well as other resources that he used to supervise the salary payments for employers, soldiers and their expenses.

As for the additional duties, the vizier used to undertake seditions and revolutions whether inside or outside the state and calming down disputes.

The vizier went with the sulṭān during hunting trips and had to attend the formal celebrations of sulṭān.

The viziers of the Mamlūk period paid great attention to the religious establishments and premises that were represented in mosques; where they constructed some mosques by the orders of their sulṭāns whereas some of the viziers established some mosques in their names to live eternally in their memory.

Moreover, the viziers performed a vital role during the plague represented in the rinsing house of the dead that had stood as a great role during the spreading of plague.

The vizier used to hold the duties of the vizierate besides to an additional senior state job such as: al-Ustādārīyah (treasury house), private treasury and al-Dawādārīyah.

Actually, both jobs were shared in some duties as vizierate was abolished several times in the Mamūk period and that is why the viziers practiced much of the duties of theUstādārīyah.