Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mamluk fi Mukhtasar Sirat man Wali Misr min al-Muluk

Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mamluk fi Mukhtasar Sirat man Wali Misr min al-Muluk (The Promenade of the Sovereign and the Mamluk on the Abridged Biography of the Kings Who Governed Egypt) is a concise historical chronicle of Egypt composed by the Mamluk-era historian al-Abbasi al-Safadi (al-Hasan ibn Abi Muhammad Abd Allah al-Hashimi al-Safadi, d. shortly after 717 AH / 1317 CE) Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mam…. The work surveys the history of Egypt and its successive rulers from the era of the Pharaohs and biblical prophets through the early Mamluk Sultanate up to 717 AH (1317 CE) Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mam….

Authorship and Context

The author's identity is established within the text itself under the annals of 694 AH (1295 CE), where he records that the vizier Ibn al-Khalili directed him—naming himself as "al-Hasan ibn Abi Muhammad al-Safadi, compiler of this history"—to travel to Faqus to inspect royal crown lands during a severe drought and famine Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mam…+1. Incidental remarks in his writings suggest that he served in the administration of the vizierate and had associations as a companion to Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad Mujaz Dairat al-Maarif al….

Contents and Structure

The work lacks a formal authorial preface; in its principal surviving witness, it opens directly after the basmala with an introductory statement that it is a historical record discussing Egypt, its virtues, the origin of its name, and what it was called in antiquity Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mam…. The chronicle covers:

• The etymology and virtues of Egypt before and after the Great Flood, citing references to Egypt in the Quran and hadith traditions enjoining good treatment of the Copts Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mam….
• The geographic characteristics, natural resources, oases, and wells of Egypt Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mam….
• Pre-Deluge rulers of Egypt, followed by accounts of its kings during the times of the prophets Noah, Joseph, and Moses Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mam….
• Egypt's land taxation (kharaj), treaties between the Byzantine and Sasanian Empires over the country, and its ancient hidden treasures Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mam….
• The birth of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his diplomatic letter to al-Muqawqis, and Amr ibn al-As's early pre-Islamic visits to Egypt followed by the Muslim conquest of its inland and coastal territories Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mam….
• A chronological survey of Islamic governors, dynasties, and rulers up to the early eighth century AH, incorporating historical accounts regarding Egypt, the Levant, Asia Minor, the Hijaz, and Yemen Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mam…+1.

Manuscripts and Publication

The text has survived in three known manuscript copies:

1. British Museum MS 23662: The most complete manuscript copy, which contains unique entries including the account of the flood in Baalbek Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mam….
2. Bibliothèque nationale de France MS 1706: Preserved under the full title Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mamluk fi Mukhtasar Sirat man Wali Misr min al-Muluk Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mam….
3. Bibliothèque nationale de France MS 1931/22: A shorter or divergent copy cataloged under the title Fada'il Misr Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mam…+1.

The text was edited based on the British Museum manuscript by Umar Abd al-Salam Tadmuri and published by al-Maktaba al-Asriyya Nuzhat al-Malik wa al-Mam…+1.