For a mamluk soldier, one of the highest virtues was furusiyyah. This complicated term literally means “horsemanship”, but by the Mamluk period encapsulated a range of skills and codes of behavior including the use of weapons, falconry, veterinary knowledge, and the proper organization and conduct of aristocratic mujahidin. Often compared to the European concept of Chivalry, furusiyyah was the structuring principle of Mamluk political and military identity as well as a defining element of their recreation and socialization. This presentation explores the playing field as a critical nexus of legitimization, relationship building, and martial preparation for the Mamluk military elite.
Presented by the War in Society and Culture Program; co-sponsored by the Department of History