"Hisn Kayfa in Islamic History from the Islamic Conquest to the End of the Second Mamluk Sultanate" A Historical and Civilizational Study (17–923 AH / 638–1517 CE)

Document Type : Original Article

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Lecturer in the History Department, Faculty of Arts, Cairo University

Abstract

• Summary: Hisn Kayfa, located on the banks of the Tigris River, is one of the most significant Islamic historical sites that witnessed the succession of major political powers during the medieval period. The site was first opened to Islam during the caliphate of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (may Allah be pleased with him), as part of the early Islamic conquests in Iraq, and it retained strategic importance for centuries.
• Under the Umayyads, Hisn Kayfa became part of the frontier defense system (thughūr), and the Abbasids maintained its role in securing trade routes and regional connections. In the 7th century AH / 13th century CE, the site entered a more complex phase, becoming a center of three-way conflict between the Ayyubids, the Mongols, and the Mamluks.
• While the Ayyubids controlled Hisn Kayfa for a time, the Mongols extended their influence over the area after the fall of Baghdad in 656 AH / 1258 CE. The city came under Mongol allegiance and political submission, like many local principalities that accepted their authority to avoid destruction. The Mamluk state, especially under Sultan al-Ẓāhir Baybars, attempted to reassert its authority over the eastern frontiers, making Hisn Kayfa part of the indirect confrontation between the two powers.
• Despite its military and political character, Hisn Kayfa was also a thriving cultural center, known for architectural activity and intellectual life, particularly during the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods. It stands as a testament to the dynamic interplay between power, identity, and civilization

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