Muhammad bin Tughj
Encyclopedia
Muhammad bin Tughj Al-Ikhshid (محمد بن طغج الإخشيد in Arabic) (882–946) (also transliterated Mohamed Ben Taghj and many other ways) (in Turkish
, Muhammet bin Toğaç) was the founder of the Ikhshidid dynasty
of Egypt
, ruling the country from 935 until his death.
Being a Turkic
Mameluke
he was appointed governor
of Egypt in 935, and was given the title of Ikhshid in 937, the name he gave to his dynasty, hence the last term in his name. This title allowed him to rule somewhat independently of the Caliphate
.
Bin Tughj purchased Abu al-Misk Kafur
as a slave
in 923 and, recognising the slave's potential, made him a tutor to his children and a military officer. Eventually, al-Misk gained so much power that he succeeded bin Tughj.
On his coins he is usually cited as Muhammad al-Ikhshid.
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
, Muhammet bin Toğaç) was the founder of the Ikhshidid dynasty
Ikhshidid dynasty
The Ikhshidid dynasty of Egypt ruled from 935 to 969. The dynasty carried the Arabic title "Wali" reflecting their position as governors on behalf of the Abbasids, the first governor was Muhammad bin Tughj Al-Ikhshid, a Turkic slave soldier, who was installed by the Abbasid Caliph and gave him and...
of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, ruling the country from 935 until his death.
Being a Turkic
Turkic peoples
The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
Mameluke
Mameluke
Mameluke was an American Thoroughbred race horse. Bred and raced by Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, he was out of the mare, Schwester, and was sired by the 1936 Epsom Derby winner, Mahmoud who became the Leading sire in North America in 1946 and the Leading broodmare sire in North America in...
he was appointed governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Egypt in 935, and was given the title of Ikhshid in 937, the name he gave to his dynasty, hence the last term in his name. This title allowed him to rule somewhat independently of the Caliphate
Caliphate
The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
.
Bin Tughj purchased Abu al-Misk Kafur
Abu al-Misk Kafur
Abu al-Misk Kafur , also called al-Laithi, al-Suri, al-Labi was a dominant personality of Ikhshidid Egypt and Syria. Originally a black slave from Ethiopia, he was promoted as vizier of Egypt, becoming its de facto ruler...
as a slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
in 923 and, recognising the slave's potential, made him a tutor to his children and a military officer. Eventually, al-Misk gained so much power that he succeeded bin Tughj.
On his coins he is usually cited as Muhammad al-Ikhshid.