Page 170 - Arabian Studies (I)

154 Arabian Studies 1

trooper (jimdi halqah)40 which case seems to have been an
exception. In 861/1457 the Amir of the Egyptian pilgrimage was the
son of the reigning sultan.4 1 When the Sultans Baybars (667/1269),
Al-Niisir Muhammad (712/1313, 719/1319,’732/1332) and Qa’itbay
(884/1480) performed the pilgrimage, the Egyptian and Syrian
caravans were conducted each by its Amir al-Hajj and not by any of
these sultans.
Before his appointment, the Amir al-Hajj had usually occupied a
distinguished office in the government of Cairo or Damascus, and
when he brought the caravan back from the Holy Cities he resumed
his own former post. For example in 719/1319 the Egyptian Amir
al-Hajj was the amir of the council chamber {Amir majlis) in the
court of Cairo.4 2 In 846/1443 he was the grand chamberlain {Hajib
al-hujjab).4 3 In 735/1335 the Syrian Amir al-Hajj was Hajib in the
government of the province of Damascus,44 and in 889/1484 he was
the viceroy of the citadel {NcVib al-QaVah) of Damascus.4 s Through­
out this period the Amir al-Hajj seldom held office as such for more
than two or three successive years, and in most cases a new amir was
appointed annually for the Egyptian and for the Syrian caravan.
The Egyptian Amir al-Hajj was always invested by the sultan
himself, while the Syrian was as a rule appointed by the viceroy
{Na’ib) of Damascus. Sometimes, however, the latter also received his
appointment from the sultan, as happened in 845/1442, 899/1494,
910/1505 and 916/1511,4 6 or was appointed in Cairo, as in
854/1450 and 909/1504, and sent to Damascus to lead the Syrian
pilgrimage. 4 7
Though QalqashandT in one place records a decree (marsiim)
issued during Mamluk times for the appointment of W\z Amir of the
pilgrim caravan of Aleppo,4 8 he states in another place that the
emirs of the pilgrim caravans, who had been accustomed during
Fatimid times to receiving decrees for their appointment, no longer
1 received such decrees under the Mamluks.4 9
The ceremony for the appointment of the Amir al-Hajj took place
usually during Rajab, RabT4 al-Awwal or RabT al-Akhir. During the
period of the BahrT Mamluks this ceremony often took place around
the middle of Rajab, on the day of the procession of the Egyptian
I
and Syrian Mahmils at Cairo and Damascus respectively.50 Later,
during the period of the BuijT Mamluks, though various other dates
are given, the same appointment ceremony was held either in RabT4
al-Awwal or RabT* al-Akhir. 5 1 Upon his appointment the Amir
al-Hajj usually received a robe of honour {khiV ah). 5 2 According to
AI-JazTrT, the ceremony for the appointment of the Egyptian Amir
al-Hajj during this latter period took place in the following manner.
On the eve of the birthday of the Prophet, the 12th of RabT4

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