ABSTRACT
The death of al-Salih Ayyub opened a period of political change during which, in little over a decade, the Ayyubids lost power first in Egypt, then in Syria, and the territories which had been dispersed among various members of the clan were united under a single ruler, the Mamluk sultan. The immediate consequence of al-SaliH Ayyub's death was a military and political crisis. Before St Louis left Egypt, a dramatic political change had occurred. The killing of al-Mu'azzam Turan Shah was followed by an event which is almost unique in Islamic history the election of a woman as ruler. Shajar al-Durr came to the throne at an unpropitious moment. Shajar al-Durr thereupon abdicated, and Aybeg was enthroned with the title of al-Malik al-Mu'izz at the end of Rabi II 648/July 1250. Al-Mansur Ali, aged fifteen years, played the same role that al-Ashraf Musa had played earlier that of a shadow-sultan around whom the Mamluk magnates fought for power.
