Soldiers of fortune;: The story of the Mamlukes

For 250 years the Mamlukes ruled the most powerful empire in the Middle East. Military mercenaries from the steppes of Central Asia, they were the finest cavalry in the world, and they bequeathed to us some of the world's most striking architecture. In their decline, their power was destroyed by inflation and internal political crises. Includes 33 maps, 6 genealogical tables, 5 b&w illustrations, an appendix, bibliography and an index.