Egypt
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The Splendour and Magic of the Sultans
Region: Cairo and Nile Delta
ITINERARY I: The Seat of the Sultanate (The Citadel and its Surroundings)
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Description |
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When Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi had his Citadel built, his desire was for it to be both a defensive fortress and the seat of the Sultanate. His initial lack of trust in Cairenes led him to have the Citadel located at a distance from the city. Architectural innovations were introduced, however, mainly ideas gathered during Salah al-Din al-Ayyub's time spent in Aleppo and on campaigns carried out in and Palestine against the Crusaders. The Citadel was sited in an ideal defensive position, overlooking the city of Cairo to the north and Fustat to the south, the desert and rocky hills bordering to the north and east. Later, Sultan al-Kamil Ibn al-'Adil al-Ayyubi would have the royal palaces built and it was then that he had the seat of power established in the Citadel to which he brought his family and government. Around the Citadel, numerous religious buildings were erected, among them the Madrasas of Sultan Hassan, Gawhar al-Lala and Qanibay al-Rammah. |