Mamlūk Ranks : Motives of usage and their visual impact

Abstract EN

Ranks are one of the most characteristic patterns of art, architecture, and history of the Mamlūks.

Their use was overall the Mamlūk State in Egypt and Syria (1250‒1517), on almost all kinds of coins, art and architecture.

Mamlūk ranks mirrored the core of the Mamlūk culture; their origin and life contextual.

Furthermore ranks came as a new advertising approach, colorful, and symbolized visual tool, with a relatively high advantage compared to the traditional method at that time i.

e.

the inscriptions.

The subject of this paper is based on a new view of the reasons beyond inventing and using the ranks by the Mamlūks.

It examines in details its historical context and its extraordinary functional use considering the primary sources and literature.

This paper also suggests the visual impact as a new factor in studying the Mamlūk ranks.

It also discusses the cross-cultural context between the Islamic ranks and Byzantine and European heraldry.