Fatimid Caliphate

Author's name: De Lacy O'Leary

The story of a rule that began with development and ended with bloodshed.
In Egypt, where the glory of the Fatimids was intertwined with the Nile's bounty, and where domes and minarets rose high, power meant no security for anyone, not even for the vizier or the caliph himself. Chapters of history are recounted only with a sense of wonder: where the features of glory intertwine with the specters of terror.
How did the rule of the Fatimids begin, and how were they an extension of one of the most secretive movements in the world? How many caliphs ruled Egypt and the Levant? Were they of one mind, or did their policies and visions differ?
Why did the position of minister turn into a deadly trap? What prompted Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah to ban molokhia and scaleless fish, and to close the doors on women? And how did women enter the circle of influence from behind the scenes and at the heart of decision-making?
In this work, De Lacy O'Leary relied on Arabic and Persian sources to complete the missing piece in the puzzle of history from a Western perspective, and to offer a different reading of one of the most exciting periods in the history of Egypt.