Amir Alin Aq Palace: A Mamluk Palace in Cairo
Site at a Glance
- Country
- Egypt
- Primary era
- Medieval
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Mamluk
- Site type
- Domestic
- Remains
- Elite Residence
On this page4 sections
History
Bahri-period foundation
Amir Alin Aq Palace, also known as Amir Khayrbak Palace, is a Mamluk palace in Darb al-Ahmar, Cairo, Egypt. Built in 1293 during the early Bahri period, it belongs to Egyptian Mamluk architecture. The Bahri Mamluks were an early military ruling dynasty in Egypt. Alin Aq was an amir, a high-ranking military or administrative official, and a cupbearer, a court official who served drinks, to Sultan al-Ashraf Khalil ibn Qalawun.
Khayrbak and the Ottoman conquest
In the 16th century, the palace became the residence of Amir Khayrbak. In 1503, he established a mosque adjoining it. Khayrbak became Egypt’s first Ottoman governor and played a significant part in the Ottoman conquest of Egypt and the end of Mamluk rule. On 24 August 1516, at the Battle of Marj Dabiq, a conflict between Ottoman and Mamluk forces, he betrayed the army of Sultan al-Ghuri.
The palace is identified as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Islamic Cairo.
Remains
The palace is now in ruins, and only its portal survives. Its reception hall was a particularly notable feature of the building.
