Shajarat al-Durr bint ʿAbdullah

She became famous under the name of Halil's mother (Umm Halil). She was Turkish. She was one of the favorites of Malik Ṣāliḥ Najm al-Dīn Ayyūb. This lady gave birth to his son Halil. She was very beautiful in appearance. However, Halil died at a young age. Shajarat al-Durr never left Malik Ṣāliḥ Najm al-Dīn's side during campaigns and expeditions. Malik Ṣāliḥ loved her very much. After Malik Ṣāliḥ's son Muʿaẓẓam Turānshāh was killed, Shajarat al-Durr ascended the throne of Egypt. Khutbas were read in her name, coins were minted bearing her image. Firmans were signed by her. This situation lasted three months. Then Muʿizz came to power. A few years after gaining control over Egypt, Muʿizz married Shajarat al-Durr. Later, when he wished to marry the daughter of Badr al-Dīn Luʾluʾ, the ruler of Mosul, Shajarat al-Durr became jealous of Muʿizz. She conspired against him and eventually killed him. Indeed, we have recounted this matter on previous pages as well. The slaves of the slain Muʿizz united against Shajarat al-Durr. They killed her and threw her body into a garbage dump. Her corpse remained there for three days. Afterwards, it was transferred to her tomb near the grave of Sayyida Nafisa. She possessed a strong personality. When she realized she was surrounded, she destroyed many precious jewels and pearls she owned by crushing them in a mortar, thus wasting them. These did not benefit her nor anyone else. While she was on the throne, her vizier was Ṣāḥib Bahāʾ al-Dīn ʿAlī b. Muḥammad b. Sulaymān. This vizier was known as Ibn Ḥannā. This was his first office.