Slave Soldiers and Islam_ The Genesis of a Military System - Daniel Pipes

202

Appendix 2

thehabitsofcivilisation,withtheiryouthfulstrength

unshat-

teredbyexcessofluxury.

Theslavemerchants

bring

themto

Egypt

inbatchafterbatch,likesand

grouseflocking

to

watering

places.

The rulers have them

paraded

and

bid

against

one

anotherto
pay

the

highest

pricesforthem.

The

purpose

oftheir

purchase

isnottoenslavethembutto

intensify

theirzealand

solidarity

and

strengthen

their

prowess

"Thentherulers

lodge

theminthe

royal

chambers,

and

give

themacareful
upbringing,including

the

study

of

theKoranand

other
subjects

ofinstruction,

until

they

become

proficient

in

these
things.

Then

they

trainthemintheuseofthebow

and

sword,in
riding

inthe

hippodromes,

in

fighting

withthe

lance,

until
they

become

tough

andseasoned

soldiersandthese

things

becomesecondnature

tothem.Whentherulersareconvinced

that
they

are

prepared

todefendthemandtodieforthem,

they

multiply

their

pay

and

augment

their fiefsand

impose

upon

them the duties of
perfecting

themselves in the use ofthe

weapons

andin

horsemanship,

aswellasof

increasing

thenum-

berofmenoftheirownraces
(in

therulers’

service)

forthesame

purpose.

Then

theyappoint

themto

high

officesofstate,

and

evensultansarechosenfromthemwhodirecttheaffairs

ofthe

Muslims,ashadbeenordainedbythe

Providenceof

Almighty

Godand
out

ofHisbenevolencetoHiscreatures. Thusone

group(ofMamelukes)

followsanother,and

generation

succeeds

generation

andIslam

rejoices

inthewealthwhichit

acquires

(by

meansof
them)

andthe

boughs

ofthe

kingdom

are

luxuriant

withthefreshnessandverdure ofyouth."

Source:
Clbar,

5:371-72.Translated

by

D.

Ayalon,

in"TheGreatYfisaof

Chingiz

Khan.AReexamination,"

partC1,

StudiaIslamica 36 (1972):118-20.