Book: Siyar A'lam An-Nubala by Ad-Dhahabi - سير أعلام النبلاء ـ الإمام الذهبي

Governance and Sects in the Levant during the Mamluk Era

In each district (niyābah) of the Levant, there were four judges representing the four schools of Islamic jurisprudence, just as had been the practice in Egypt since the days of al-Zahir Baybars. Additionally, there were various positions within each district, some pertaining to military affairs and others to civil administration, with a third category dedicated to religious roles.

Despite the substantial authority and influence wielded by the deputies of the Levantine districts, they remained under the watchful eye of the Mamluk Sultanate in Cairo. The Sultanate of the Mamluks retained its role as the dominant power overseeing Egypt and the Levant, exercising comprehensive supervision over the vast Mamluk state.

Ethnic and Religious Factions during the Mamluk Era

The Levant at the time of the Mamluk Sultans was home to several ethnic factions, including Kurds, Turkmen, and Armenians. Additionally, there existed a variety of religious and sectarian factions in the region.

Among these were the Kesrwanis, the inhabitants of Mount Keserwan, composed of Nusayris, Alawites, and Metawalis, who often opposed the Mamluks during the conflict between the Mamluks and Crusaders in the Levant. Another group was the Tanukhians, Druze tribes spread across various parts of Lebanon, whose loyalties fluctuated between the Crusaders and the Muslims, and between the Mamluks on one side and the Mamluks' adversaries, the Ayyubids and the Tatars, on the other. The Shihabi Druze were among those who successfully participated in combatting the Crusaders and later the Tatars during their incursions into the Levant.

Another notable faction was the Ismailis, also known as the Batiniyya, who played a famous role in the history of the Levant during the Crusades. They did not shy away from assassinating significant Islamic and Crusader figures. The Mamluks disfavored the Batiniyya due to their doctrinal deviations and their questionable stance between the Crusaders and Muslims. Therefore, Sultan al-Zahir Baybars imposed heavy taxes on gifts customarily sent by the Crusaders to the leader of the Batiniyya, to undermine Ismaili customs and deter those satisfied with their gestures. The Ismailis were also subjected to paying jizya (taxes) to Sultan al-Zahir Baybars, a burden they resented and petitioned to have reduced. The relationship between the Sultan and the Ismaili faction was strained, until Sultan al-Zahir eventually seized their strongholds.