Abu al-Misk Kafur

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Abu al-Misk Kafur (905–968) was a former Ethiopian slave who ruled Egypt from 946 to 968.

Muhammad bin Tughj, the founder of the Ikhshidid dynasty of Egypt, bought Abu al-Misk Kafur as a slave in 923. He is recorded as having a dark complexion and being a eunuch. Recognizing the slave's intelligence and talent, bin Tughj freed him, appointed him to be a tutor for his children, and then appointed him to be a military officer. He led campaigns against Syria and Hejaz, and became the de-facto ruler of Egypt in 946. (Since al-Misk was the guardian of bin Tughj's sons, al-Misk ruled in their stead upon the death of their father.) He died in Cairo and was probably buried in Jerusalem. Though subsequent historians portray him as a just and moderate ruler, he owes a great deal of his fame to the scathing satirical poems directed against him by Al-Mutanabbi, the most famous Arab poet.