Abu al-Mahasin ibn Taghribirdi

Author: Hani Hamza

This book delves into the biography of Jamal al-Din Abu al-Mahasin ibn Taghribirdi, the most important historian of Egypt during the Mamluk era (1250 – 1517 AD), specifically during the 9th century AH / 15th century AD, where he was one of the most prominent figures of the Mamluk historical school. Despite his great academic standing, Ibn Taghribirdi does not enjoy the same presence in general Egyptian consciousness as historians like Al-Maqrizi, whose name has been immortalized in streets and schools and associated with the old and new plans of Cairo, or Ibn Iyas, who documented the moments of the fall of the Mamluk state, or Al-Jabarti, whose name became synonymous with the word "historian" in popular memory. As for Ibn Taghribirdi, his presence outside academic circles has been limited to a street and a square bearing his name in an unspecified form: "Jamal al-Din Abu al-Mahasin" without mentioning his proper name or title, so many do not realize who this man is. This book aims to provide a comprehensive and simplified picture for the non-specialized reader about this great historian, in one of the most brilliant periods of Egyptian Islamic history. The presentation is not limited to his historical works, his methodology, and his view of the reality around him, but also includes details of his personal life: his family, possessions, wealth, hobbies, social and political relationships, and lifestyle, in an attempt to understand how these aspects were reflected in his view of history. This work arose from a long personal passion for this historian and a desire to restore credibility to a marginalized figure, despite his pivotal role in recording the history of a highly vibrant era. It is an open invitation to reread history not only through facts but also through its protagonists.