The Beneficences and the Gifts of the Bahri Mamluk Sultans (648-784/1250-1382)

his study aims to handle the beneficences of Bahri Mamluk Sultans to statesmans, scholars, the common people and also the gifts of sultans to the rulers of other countries and the ambassadors. The beneficences and the gifts of sultans and their backgrounds are explained. The effects of the states economical situation to the beneficences and the gifts are also investigated. This study aims to contribute to the social studies about The Mamluk State. It consists of introduction and three chapters. In the introduction, the establisment and the history of the Mamluk State, the definition and the historical frame of the consepts are briefly explained. In the first chapter the benefience of the sultans to the statesmans, in the second chapter the benefience that are given to the scholars and the common people and in the third chapter the gifts towards the other rulers and ambassadors are analyzed. In conclusion, it has been seen that the benefience and gifts of the sultans differs by the people that are given. While the statesmans and scholars are given hilats and valuable gifts; the common people recieved money and goods. The concubines and the musicians mostly recieved money, goods, jewels and valuable fabrics. The rulers of other countries mostly recieved valuable gifts while their ambassadors are given hilats and hosted gladly. The reasons behind the beneficence and the gifts of sultans are also investigated. And it has been found that the sultans gave away gifts and beneficence to the statesman and the scholars in these situations: When sultan enthrones, when an emir or a scholar is appointed or forgiven after past crimes or visits sultan, when sultan or someone close to him is cured, due to the value thats been given to the scholars, during a celebration or due to victory. The common people recieved them when sultan came back from hajj, war or travel, or during a celebration.