Circassian Mamluks period Kerek (1250-1382)

In the 12th century, after the domination of the Great Seljuk State in the Syrian Iraq region, vassal states were established in this region. The struggle of these states against each other caused the dissolution of the Turkish-Islamic union understanding that was established during the Great Seljuk period. The Crusaders took advantage of this situation and built the Kerek Castle in 1142. As a result of the efforts to regain the Turkısh-Islamic Union during the period of the Zangids, action was taken against the Crusaders. The first target of this approach was Kerek, which was established on the line of Damascus-Mecca, the pilgrimage and trade route. The Crusader-Zangid struggle, which took place over Kerek, entered a new stage and turned into the competition of the two political leaders. Kerek has become a center where the Ayyubid-Zangid struggle was experienced. This competition on Kerek played an active role in the establishment of the Ayyubid State. Kerek was taken from the Crusaders after long sieges during the Ayyubid period and turned into a center of fame. It was one of the centers of the struggle between Ayyubid rulers during this period. Circassian Mamluks, one of the mamluks of the Ayyubid State, founded the Mamluk Turkish State in 1250. Circassian Mamluks continued the administrative management approach of the Ayyubid State. Kerek, which is in the sixth position in the provincial organization structure of the Mamluk Turkish State, has become a strategically important place because it is close to Cairo compared to other events and is a center of accommodation on the pilgrimage and trade routes. With this structure, it has had political and administrative effects on the history of the Mamluk Turkish State. In the Mamluk Turkish State, where every strong and influential mamluk could be sultan, the Circassian Mamlukes used the fortified Kerek Castle as a base in their struggle to become sultans. In addition, sultans who waived the throne during the Circassian Mamluk period took refuge in Kerek. For his reason, Kerek has become a center where criminal sultans and new sultans clash. Another point that made Kerek important during the Circassian Mamluk period is that the state center was moved from Cairo to Kerek. For he first time in the Circassian Mamluk period, he fought for a long time over Kerek to become two brothers sultans. It was also a place where the effects of this struggle took place during the times when the Circassian Mamluks and Burjian Mamluks fought to dominate the state administration. Key Words: Kerek, Niyâbet, Mamluk, Castle