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Deeds of sultans and princes

Inscribed 2005

What is it

Four hundred deeds, on paper and parchment scrolls, of the princes and sultans who ruled Egypt for more than 500 years from the Fatimid era in the 10th century to the end of the Mameluke dynasty in 1517.

Why was it inscribed

The deeds in the collection are considered a main source for the history of Egypt and for its relations with other countries with which it had trading, cultural, religious and educational links in the period from AD 970 to 1517.

Where is it

National Library and Archives of Egypt, Cairo, Egypt

The collection is composed of title deeds which record transactions related to selling, buying, endowing and proving ownership of property. As a consequence, they allow an insight into the geography of the region and town plans in the late-medieval and early-modern period through various descriptions of streets, shops, mosques, churches, schools and libraries.

The documents also allow a picture to emerge of society and its levels, divisions and classes; different occupations and their requirements; the types of contemporary industry and the methods of appointing employees, together with wages and living conditions; trade between Egypt and other countries; military organization, ranks and their titles; building industry terms and the prices of land and real estate.

The information in the deeds falls into several categories. Those dealing with historic and architectural monuments contain information on Islamic mosques, Coptic Christian churches, monasteries and graveyards and Roman churches, buildings and walls still extant. Other buildings mentioned in the deeds include schools, hospitals, baths and public fountains; and military monuments such as forts, towers, castles and fences. The deeds are a rich source of detail of Ottoman architecture and ornamental inscription in their depictions of buildings and building materials. Detailed descriptions of contemporary coinage, including weight, shape and value also feature.

Aspects of the deeds that deal with economic matters include endowments, sales, exchanges and gifts. Commonly used weights and measures are recorded as are trade transactions, employees’ wages, the prices of various items including land and buildings and the amount of tribute or poll tax that Muslim rulers demanded from their non-Muslim subjects. The language and terminology in the documents also allow Islamic scholars to determine which of the four schools of thought within Islam was prominent at a particular time.

The deeds are written in dotless Arabic on both sides of the paper, in various calligraphic styles. They are written in characteristic legal terminology, recording in detail the subject of the deed, the eligibility of those involved, all witnesses, monies due and the date. The longest of the deeds is 40 metres in length and its width ranges from 34 to 45 centimetres.