1. Invasion of Jawhar al-Siqili and founding of the city of Cairo (358 AD / 969 AD)
In Sha'ban 358 CE (July 969 CE), the Fatimid commander Jawhar al-Siqilli arrived at the head of a large Fatimid army of one hundred thousand fighters sent by the caliph al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah:
- An era of security for the inhabitants of Egypt: The notables of Fustat received Jawhar in Giza and presented them with a famous security document that guaranteed freedom of worship, the receipt of funds and the abolition of unjustified taxes.
- Laying the foundations of Cairo: On the night of his arrival, Jawhar camped north of Fustat and the military and laid the foundations of a new city in an area of approximately 340 hectares, surrounded by a mud wall.
- Royal Planning: Cairo was divided into neighborhoods and palaces (the Great Eastern Palace and the Small Western Palace), with a large space in the middle known as Bayn al-Qasrain (present-day Al-Muizz Street).
2. The founding of the Al-Azhar Mosque and the transition of Al-Muizz to the Religion of God (970–973 AD)
In Jumada al-Awwal 359 AD. (April 970 AD), Jawhar al-Siqilli laid the foundation stone of the Al-Azhar Mosque, its construction was completed, and the first Friday prayer was held there on 7 Ramadan, 361 AD. (June 972 AD):
- Origin of the name: “Al-Azhar” is named after Lady Fatima Al-Zahra, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.
- Mosque and University: Al-Azhar has been transformed since the era of Minister Yacoub bin Killis into an academic university, where seminars are held and regular salaries and donations are paid to students and scholars.
- The transition of Caliph Al-Mu'izz: In 362 AD. (973 AD), Al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah entered Cairo in a ceremonial procession, carrying with him the remains of his fathers and the treasures of the caliphate, making Egypt the official seat of the Fatimid caliphate.
3. The Golden Age: world trade, the house of wisdom and the architecture of the ruler
The first centuries of Fatimid rule saw unprecedented economic and cultural prosperity:
- East-West Trade Monopoly: The ports of Aydhab, Al-Tur and Alexandria became arteries for the trade of Indian and Chinese spices and silks bound for Europe, and Egypt enjoyed huge financial surpluses.
- Dar al-Hikmah (Dar al-Ilm 1005 AD): Caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah founded Dar al-Hikmah as an academy for astronomical research and translation, and prominent scholars worked there, including the distinguished optician al-Hasan ibn al-Haytham.
- Al-Aqmar Mosque (1125 AD): The most magnificent examples of stone facades carved with the "Muqarnas" system and brilliant decorations on Al-Mu'izz Street.
4. Al-Shaddah Al-Mustansiriya and the Ministry of Badr Al-Jamali (1065-1094 AD)
The reign of Caliph Al-Mustansir Billah lasted about sixty years (1036-1094 AD) and witnessed a terrible economic and humanitarian catastrophe known as the Mustansiriya Emergency (1065-1072 AD):
The Nile dried up for seven years straight, Sudanese and Turkish soldiers fought, famine spread until a loaf of bread was sold for fifty dinars and the caliph was forced to sell the treasures of his palace and his books.
In 1073 AD, Al-Mustansir summoned the Armenian governor of Akka, Badr al-Din al-Jamali, who invaded Egypt, eliminated the rebellious princes, repaired the canals and redistributed agricultural lands, and prosperity reigned. He also rebuilt the walls of Cairo with dressed limestone and built the remaining main gates: Bab al-Futuh and Bab al-Nasr in the north and Bab Zuwaila in the south.
5. The fall of the Fatimid State and the rise of Saladin Al-Ayyubi (1171 AD)
In the 12th century AD, the Fatimid Caliphate weakened and the ministers took control of power (the era of the Grand Minister). The two ministers, Shawar and Dhurgham, faced difficulties. Shawar sought help from the king of Damascus, Nur al-Din Mahmoud Zengi, while Dhurgham sought help from Ammuri I, the crusader king in Jerusalem.
Nur al-Din Mahmoud sent military campaigns led by the commander Asad al-Din Shirkuh and his young nephew Saladin al-Ayyubi. Shirkuh and Saladin managed to repel the crusaders and kill Shawar, and Saladin took over as the last Fatimid caliph "Al-Adid li-Din Allah" in 1169 AD. With the death of Al-Adid in 567 CE (September 1171 CE), Saladin ended the Fatimid Caliphate and turned to the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad to establish the Ayyubid state in Egypt.
Historical, geopolitical context and civilizational development.
The study of this era and its turning points is an essential basis for understanding the political, social and cultural changes that Egypt has experienced throughout its long history. Historical records and documents preserved in the National Library and National Archives, as well as records of academic excavations, demonstrated how the state was able to manage its strategic resources at the time, dispatch mining and trading expeditions and secure regional borders, contributing to unprecedented prosperity in the arts, sciences and architecture.
This era was marked by a notable development in administrative and religious thought, since the inscriptions and diplomatic correspondence exchanged reflected a complex network of international relations and regional alliances. Internal stability also contributed to the support of important architectural projects and the establishment of civil and religious institutions, evidence of which remains to this day and embodies a unique combination of authentic Egyptian heritage and the influences of neighboring civilizations.
Importance of contemporary heritage and the role of academic research
Specialized international universities and research centers, in collaboration with Egyptian researchers, continue to reread the inscriptions and study the collections using spectroscopy and 3D digital modeling techniques. These technologies make it possible to reveal details about the phases of construction, reuse and development in successive eras that are invisible to the naked eye, enriching the historical encyclopedia with documented information that refutes old and inaccurate hypotheses.
Practical recommendations for exploring the milestones associated with this era.
To complete the comprehensive cultural panorama, Ultra Egypt Travel consultants recommend combining visits to field monuments with viewing archaeological collections in major museums (such as the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization), as viewing works of art, everyday objects and original manuscripts provides a complete and deep understanding of the spirit of that era and its achievements.
Academic and official sources and references.
This encyclopedic content has been prepared and verified based on the latest archaeological records and field reports from official organizations and accredited international references:
- K. A. S. Creswell (K.A.C. Creswell): The Muslim Architecture of Egypt (2 vols.), Oxford University Press.
- D. Doris Behrens-Abouseif: Islamic Architecture in Cairo: An Introduction, Islamic Architecture in Mamluk and Ottoman Cairo.
- Taqi al-Din al-Maqrizi (Al-Maqrizi): Sermons and Reflections Mentioning Plans and Implications (Plans of al-Maqrizi), published by the National Library and Archives, Cairo.
- World Heritage Center - UNESCO: Record of registration of historic Cairo and decisions on the preservation of the archaeological urban fabric, Paris.
- Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities: Records of the project for the development of historic Cairo and the restoration of the walls, gates and mosques of the Fatimid and Mamluk periods.
Are you planning a detailed expedition into the history and civilization of Egypt?
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