Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Barquq
| Mosque-Madrassa-Khanqah of Az-Zaher Barquq مسجد ومدرسة وخانقاه الظاهر برقوق | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Basic information | |
| Location | Muizz Street, Islamic Cairo, Cairo, Egypt |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Region | Africa |
| Status | Active |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Mosque |
| Architectural style |
Mamluk architecture Islamic |
| Completed |
1386 CE (788 AH) |
Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Barquq or Mosque-Madrassa-Khanqah of Az-Zaher Barquq (Arabic: مسجد ومدرسة وخانقاه الظاهر برقوق) is a religious complex in Islamic Cairo, the historic medieval district of Cairo, Egypt. It was commissioned by Sultan al-Zahir Barquq as a school for religious education in the four Islamic schools of thought, composed of a mosque, madrassa, mausoleum and khanqah. The complex was constructed in 1384-1386 CE (786 to 788 AH), with the dome added last. It was the first architectural facility built during the time of the Circassian (Burji) dynasty of Mamluk Sultanate. There is a mansion named Zakat Khan at the same location, which construction was supervised by Emir Jarkas Al Khalili, the prince of Akhor.
The complex is situated in the traditional area of Muizz Street.[1][2] Along with the Complex of Sultan Qalawun and the Madrasa of al-Nasir Muhammad, with which it is contiguous, it forms one of the greatest arrangements of Mamluk monumental architecture in Cairo, in the section of al-Mu'izz street known as Bayn al-Qasrayn.
Patron and historical context
Al-Zahir Barquq is notable as the first "Burji" Mamluk sultan of Cairo. Like all mamluks of the time, he was a slave purchased by another mamluk, and was raised to be part of Cairo's military and ruling elite. He was of Circassian origin and was purchased by Yalbugha al-Umari, a Mamluk emir who ruled Cairo on behalf of Sultan Sha'ban. Under Yalbugha, Barquq gained considerable influence in the state, and he subsequently became a key player in the period of chaos and internal conflict following the violent deaths of first Yalbugha and then Sultan Sha'ban. Eventually, Barquq gained enough support to depose Sultan Hajj, a son of Sha'ban who was still a child, and take the throne for himself in 1382.[3]:158 Following his ascension, he mainly recruited Mamluks of Circassian origin to his regime, and it was this group which dominated the Sultanate until its eventual fall to the Ottomans. Since they lived and trained mostly in Cairo's Citadel, they were referred to as the "Burji" Mamluks, meaning Mamluks "of the tower".
Despite the regime change, Barquq's construction shows architectural and artistic continuity with preceding Mamluk buildings. His complex shows important similarities in form and layout with the earlier and much larger religious complex of Sultan Hassan, though the components have been shifted around to suit the different setting.[4]:193 Barquq built his complex in one of Cairo's most prestigious locations, Bayn al-Qasrayn, named after the previous Fatimid royal palaces which occupied the site (and which were progressively replaced by religious buildings and mausoleums of Ayyubid and Mamluk sultans). His building is right next to the Madrassa of Al-Nasir Muhammad and the funerary complex of Sultan Qalawun (both important Mamluk sultans of the past), forming a long continuous line of imposing religious complexes along this street in the heart of Cairo.
Construction and supervision
The construction of Barquq's madrasa and funerary complex began in December 1384 (Rajab 786 in the Islamic calendar) and finished, according to the inscription on its facade, in April 1386 (Rabi' I 788). Since the site was in the busy heart of Cairo, some existing structures, including a khan or caravanserai, had to be demolished before construction.[5]:225 Although Mamluk monuments were often built with the help of forced labour (with either prisoners of war or by corvée), Barquq's construction was reported to have used only paid workers.[5]:44-45, 225
Barquq appointed his emir Jarkas al-Khalili as supervisor of the works, while the architect or master builder (titled as mu'allim in Arabic) was Ahmad al-Tuluni.[5]:225 Ahmad al-Tuluni, from a family of carpenters and stonecutters, is notable as one of the few master builders of this period to reach great success and recognition, with Barquq marrying two of his female relatives. He had enough means to eventually build a mausoleum for himself in Cairo's Southern Cemetery.[5]:44 Jarkas al-Khalili, the sultan's master of the stables, is also notable for building the original Khan al-Khalili, which gave its name to the famous bazaar still there today in Cairo.
Description
Like most Mamluk foundations, Barquq's religious complex served several functions at a time. The foundation deed states that the complex includes a Friday mosque, a madrasa that taught the four Sunni madhhabs for 125 students, and a khanqah (a monastery-type institution for Sufis) for 60 Sufis.[5]:225 The building also includes a mausoleum whose dome is visible from the street. Barquq had the remains of his father moved and buried in the mausoleum of his complex when it was completed. Barquq himself, however, later wished to be buried in a new mausoleum in the Northern Cemetery of Cairo, a task completed by his son Faraj.[5]:225
The complex can be divided into two sections. The first section includes the hallway, qibla wall and the mausoleum. The second section includes the main entrance. The qibla wall is contained in rectangular shaped cabin with the mihrab in the middle, rising to the top of the façade, crowned with four pillars. On top of the façade has four windows. The lower part of the window is rectangular shaped and topped with a marble frame, filled with iron sheets. The upper part of the window is filled with stucco stained with colored glass.
The complex has a sahn (open-courtyard) surrounded by four iwans. Each iwan is dedicated to the each of maddhabs, and contains madrasa which situated around the sahn and the burial place.
References
- ↑
- ↑ المسالك::وصف جامع السلطان برقوق".www.almasalik.com.
- ↑ Clot, André. 2009. L'Égypte des Mamelouks: L'empire des esclaves 1250-1517. Paris: Éditions Perrin.
- ↑ Williams, Caroline. 2008 (6th ed.). Islamic Monuments in Cairo: The Practical Guide. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Behrens-Abouseif, Doris. 2007. Cairo of the Mamluks: A History of Architecture and its Culture. Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press.
