Shajara al-Durr (r. 1250) was the founder of the Mamluk Dynasty in Egypt, and she was the first and only woman to sit on the Islamic Egyptian throne. She held the title of sultana for only 80 days but left a lasting mark through architectural monuments, which bear her symbol: a tree lined with mother of pearl and inlaid with gold.
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Timeline
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1239Shajara al-Durr lives in the harem of the caliph of Baghdad.
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1247Shajara al-Durr follows al-Salih into exile. Once free, al-Salih, marries her.
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Jun 1249The army of the Seventh Crusade lands in Egypt.
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1250Death of al-Salih. Shajara al-Durr rules on her own before marrying Izz-al-Din Aybak.
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5 Apr 1250The army of the Seventh Crusade is defeated at Mansourah. Louis IX is captured.
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6 May 1250Louis IX, leader of the Seventh Crusade, is released by his captors, the Ayyubid Dynasty.
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1257Aybak is assassinated, possibly on Shajara al-Durr's orders.
