Featured Image above: Mausoleum of As-Salih Ayyub, built by Shajar al-Durr
The “Good Sultana” Takes Command
Shajar al-Durr, now firmly seated upon the throne, wasted no time in displaying her astute diplomatic prowess. Her first act as Sultan was to enter into negotiations with Queen Margaret of Provence, wife of the French King Louis IX, who had accompanied him on the crusade, seeking to secure a triumphant end to the war. In this remarkable diplomatic enterprise, two queens—one Muslim and one Christian—sought common ground to establish a new era of peace. Through their efforts, it was agreed that Damietta would be returned to Egypt, the crusading army would leave, and a substantial ransom would be paid for the release of Louis IX.
In the wake of Shajar al-Durr’s diplomatic triumph, the coffers of the kingdom swelled with the substantial ransom paid for Louis IX. She issued coins in her name and began construction on her husband’s tomb and other architectural projects.
Resistance to Female Rule
Unfortunately, not everyone supported the idea of a female sultan. When the news of Turanshah’s death and the crowning of Shajar al-Durr as the new Sultana reached Syria, the Emirs there absolutely refused to bow before her. In Damascus, the Emirs handed over the city to an-Nasir Yusuf, the Ayyubid Emir of Aleppo.
Meanwhile, in Baghdad, the heart of the Abbasid Caliphate, the news of Shajar al-Durr’s ascent to power in Egypt was met with resolute resistance. The Abbasid Caliph al-Musta’sim refused to acknowledge her authority, casting a shadow of doubt over the legitimacy of her rule. During the Ayyubid era, the recognition of the Abbasid Caliph was the foundation upon which a Sultan’s legitimacy rested, and the absence of such recognition posed a significant setback for the Mamluks in Egypt.
A Marriage of Political Expediency
Faced with mounting challenges and in search of a resolution, the Mamluks made a pivotal decision. They decided that Shajar al-Durr would marry Izz al-Din Aybak and hand over the throne to him. While Aybak would be the figurehead, the true authority would remain Shajar al-Durr.
In a short time, Aybak wanted more than the minor role he was forced to play, and there were frequent arguments with Shajar about the treasure al-Salih had left behind. He felt she was keeping it from him to restrain his power. To please Shajar al-Durr, Aybak had to divorce his first wife. To please the Caliph and secure his recognition, Aybak announced that he was merely a representative of the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad. To please the Emirs of Syria, he pretended to be the Sultan instead of Shajar. A frustrated man!
Greed Leads to Betrayal and Murder
By 1257, disputes and suspicion had become part of the relations between Aybak and his wife, Shajar al-Durr. Aybak, fearing the growing power of those Mamluks loyal to Shajar al-Durr, had their leader, Faris ad-Din Aktai, murdered. Fearing for their own lives, Rukn al-Din Baybars al-Salihi and many Mamluks fled Egypt. (Baybars would go on to be Sultan of Egypt later). Aybak also decided to take another bride, the daughter of the Emir of Mosul, Badr al-Din Lulu’, in a bid to increase his power. When Shajar heard this, she had Aybak move out of their chambers to the pavilion, and it was there that he was later found murdered in his bath. He had ruled Egypt with Shajar for seven years.
A Mother’s Terrible Revenge
Many believe that Shajar al-Durr had Aybak assassinated to retain control, but she maintained that he died suddenly. Aybak’s Mamluks did not believe her and under torture, some of her servants admitted the murder before being executed. Shajar was implicated in the murder and arrested. Aybak’s mamluks wanted to kill her, but her allies among the other mamluks protected her, and she was taken to the Red Tower. They installed the 15-year-old son of Aybak, named al-Mansur Ali, as the new Sultan. Ali handed Shajar al-Durr to his mother for judgment and punishment.
The Brutal End of a Queen
Aybak’s former wife exacted a terrible revenge: on 28 April 1257, Shajar al-Durr was beaten to death with wooden shoes by the serving maids of al-Mansur Ali and his mother, then her body was dragged to the top of the citadel and thrown over the ramparts, naked from the waist up. Her body lay in the moat for three days, until one night a man dragged her out for the cloth around her waist, which was made of silk and adorned with pearls. It is not known who gathered up her remains, but it is said they were taken to the mausoleum she had constructed for herself.
Legacy: The Tree of Pearls
The remains of Shajar al-Durr are buried in her mausoleum in Al Khalifa Street in Cairo—the same street that now bears her name and led to the discovery of her remarkable story.
From slave girl to Sultana, from political prisoner to ruler of Egypt, Shajar al-Durr’s life was a testament to resilience, intelligence, and the precarious nature of power in medieval Islam. Her story, nearly forgotten for centuries, reminds us that women have always shaped history, even when history has tried to forget them.
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Last updated on 21/12/2025 by Marie Vaughan