User:Huldra/Al-Taziyya

Al-Taziyya is a Mamluk building in East Jerusalem.

Location
It is located on north side of Tariq Bab al-Silsila, immediately to the east of the Al-Kilaniyya.

Founder
Sayf al-Din Taz was a mamluk belonging to the Sultan An-Nasir Muhammad, for whom he served as a cupbearer. By 748/1347-48 he was one of 6 ruling amirs under his son, Al-Muzaffar Hajji.

After the killing of Al-Muzaffar Hajji in 1347, Taz continued to have an influential position under the start of the  reigns of An-Nasir Hasan and As-Salih Salih.

In 1351, when An-Nasir Hasan was overthrown, and replaced with his half brother As-Salih Salih, Taz was instrumental in freeing the Mamluk brothers Baybugha and Sayf al-Din Manjak (com). Together with Manjak, (with Manjak initially in charge) he started building a palace in Cairo,  which became known as  Amir Taz Palace. It was completed in Jumada II 754/July 1353.

By 1354, relations between Taz and the other Mamluk strong−man Shaykhu had soured. Shaykhu, together with Sirghitmish deposed As-Salih Salih and returned his brother An-Nasir Hasan to the throne. An-Nasir Hasan imprisoned Taz, but Shaykhu intervened, and in Shawwal 755/October 1354 had him  removed from Cairo, and sent into exile as the Governor of  Aleppo.

In 759/1358 he was arrested, blinded and imprisoned in Alexandria.

After the downfall of An-Nasir Hasan (in Jumada I 762/March 1361), he was released, and granted his wish to reside in Jerusalem. He died 19 months later in Damascus, and was buried there, in the Cemetery of the Sufis.

History
According to Mujir al-Din, "The Taziyya Madrasa in David Street near the Gate of the Chain is an endowed foundation of the Amir Taz, who died in the year 763 [1362]."

There is an inscription above the street window, which says: "In the name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate. This is the mausoleum of the servant of God Almighty, his most noble Excellency, Sayf al-Din Taz. He died (may God have mercy on him) in the year seven hundred and sixty-three [1362]."

As a young man, Sayf al-Din Taz served as cupbearer to An-Nasir Muhammad, hence the cup on his inscription.


 * note 19 Khirbat al-Minya,