Mamluk Office Titles and Terminology
The following terms originally come from either Turkish or Ottoman Language (it is developed form of Turkish) that is composed of Turkish, Arabic, and Persian words and grammar structures. The "English" column indicates its written form in English.
| English | Arabic | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alama Sultaniya | علامة سلطانية | The mark or signature of the Sultan put on his decrees, letters and documents. |
| Al-Nafir al-Am | النفير العام | General emergency declared during war |
| Amir | أمير | Prince |
| Amir Akhur | أمير آخور | supervisor of the royal stable (from Persian آخور meaning stable) |
| Amir Majlis | أمير مجلس | Guard of Sultan's seat and bed |
| Atabek | أتابك | Commander in chief (literally "father-lord," originally meaning an appointed step-father for a non-Mamluk minor prince) |
| Astadar | أستادار | Chief of the royal servants |
| Barid Jawi | بريد جوى | Airmail (mail sent by carrier-pigeons, amplified by Sultan Baibars) |
| Bayt al-Mal | بيت المال | treasury |
| Cheshmeh | ششمه | A pool of water, or fountain (literally "eye") |
| Dawadar | دوادار | Holder of Sultan's ink bottle (from Persian دواتدار meaning bearer of the ink bottle) |
| Fondok | فندق | Hotel (some famous hotels in Cairo during the Mamluk era were Dar al-Tofah, Fondok Bilal and Fondok al-Salih) |
| Hajib | حاجب | Doorkeeper of sultan's court |
| Iqta | إقطاع | Revenue from land allotment |
| Jamkiya | جامكية | Salary paid to a Mamluk |
| Jashnakir | جاشنكير | Food taster of the sultan (to assure food was not poisoned) |
| Jomdar | جمدار | An official at the department of the Sultan's clothing (from Persian جامهدار meaning keeper of cloths) |
| Kafel al-mamalek al-sharifah al-islamiya al-amir al-amri | كافل الممالك الشريفة الاسلاميةالاميرالأمرى | Title of the Vice-sultan (Guardian of the Prince of Command of the Dignified Islamic Kingdoms) |
| Khan | خان | A store that specialized in selling a certain commodity |
| Khaskiya | خاصكية | Courtiers of the sultan and most trusted royal mamluks who functioned as the Sultan's bodyguards/ A privileged group around a prominent Amir (from Arabi/Persian خاصگیان meaning close associates) |
| Khastakhaneh | خاصتاخانة | Hospital (in modern Turkish: Hastane. In modern Crimean Tatar: Hastahane) |
| Khond | خند | Wife of the sultan |
| Khushdashiya | خشداشية | Mamluks belonging to the same Amir or Sultan. |
| Mahkamat al-Mazalim | محكمة المظالم | Court of complaint. A court that heard cases of complaints of people against state officials. This court was headed by the sultan himself. |
| Mamalik Kitabeya | مماليك كتابية | Mamluks still attending training classes and who still live at the Tebaq (campus) |
| Mamalik Sultaneya | مماليك سلطانيه | Mamluks of the sultan;to distinguish from the Mamluks of the Amirs (princes) |
| Modwarat al-Sultan | مدورة السلطان | Sultan's tent which he used during travel. |
| Mohtaseb | محتسب | Controller of markets, public works and local affairs. |
| Morqadar | مرقدار | Works in the Royal Kitchen (from Persian مرغدار meaning one responsible for the fowl) |
| Mushrif | مشرف | Supervisor of the Royal Kitchen |
| Na'ib Al-Sultan | نائب السلطان | Vice-sultan |
| Qa'at al-insha'a | قاعة الإنشاء | Chancery hall |
| Qadi al-Qoda | قاضى القضاة | Chief justice |
| Qalat al-Jabal | قلعة الجبل | Citadel of the Mountain (the abode and court of the sultan in Cairo) |
| Qaranisa | قرانصة | Mamluks who moved to the service of a new Sultan or from the service of an Amir to a sultan. |
| Qussad | قصاد | Secret couriers and agents who kept the sultan informed |
| Ostaz | أستاذ | Benefactor of Mamluks (the Sultan or the Emir) (from Persian استاد) |
| Rank | رنك | An emblem that distinguished the rank and position of a Mamluk (probably from Persian رنگ meaning color) |
| Sanjaqi | سنجاقى | A standard-bearer of the Sultan. |
| Sharabkhana | شرابخانة | Storehouse for drinks, medicines and glass-wares of the sultan. (from Persian شرابخانه meaning wine cellar) |
| Silihdar | سلحدار | Arm-Bearer (from Arabic/Persian سلاحدار meaning arm-bearer) |
| Tabalkhana | طبلخانه | The amir responsible for the Mamluk military band |
| Tashrif | تشريف | Head-covering worn by a Mamluk during the ceremony of inauguration to the position of Amir. |
| Tawashi | طواشى | A Eunuch responsible for serving the wives of the sultan and supervising new Mamluks. |
| Tebaq | طباق | Campus of the Mamluks at the citadel of the mountain |
| Tishtkhana | طشتخانة | Storehouse used for the laundry of the sultan (from Persian طشتخانه meaning tub room) |
| Wali | والى | viceroy |
| Yuq | يوق | A large linen closet used in every mamluk home, which stored pillows and sheets. (Related to the present Crimean Tatar word Yuqa, "to sleep". In modern Turkish: Yüklük.) |
Read more about this topic: Mamluk
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