Al-Ashraf Qansuh al-Ghawri
Al- Ashraf Qansuh ( II ) al - Ghuri (Arabic الأشرف قانصوه الغوري, DMG al -Ashraf al - Qansuh Guri, also al - Ghauri, * 1441, † 1516 in Marj Dabiq north of Aleppo ) from the Burj Dynasty was from 1501 to 1516 Sultan of Egypt's Mamluk Empire.
After several changes in power since the death of Sultan Qait - Bays (1468-1496) took over 1501 al - Ashraf Qansuh ( II ) al - Ghuri the government. Reach him first the pacification of the country and the reassertion of state authority. Also, he expanded the army of the Mamluks and placed increasingly mercenaries into his service.
The resulting rising military costs were financed by increased taxes on inheritances, among other things, and religious foundations, and by drastically raising tariffs and devaluations. However, this led to the further impoverishment of the population. However, the financial revenue enabled an extensive construction activity. So dikes and canals were built along the Nile as well as mosques and madrasahs. In addition, the Citadel of Cairo and Alexandria, and was expanded rosette strongly fortified. Al- Ghuris rule was marked by a very magnificent court and for the promoting of the poet.
However, the decline of the empire was particularly noticeable in. After the discovery of the sea route from Europe to India by the Portuguese customs revenue from increased appreciably. To turn off the Portuguese competition, joined al - Ghuri with the rulers of southern Arabia and Gujarat formed an alliance and built a fleet in the Red Sea. This move, although some successes against the Portuguese fleet, but it was defeated in 1509 by the Portuguese under Francisco de Almeida in the naval Battle of Diu with the help of their artillery. The Mediterranean Fleet of the Mamluks in 1507 suffered a defeat against the Portuguese and St. John. With these defeats the trade monopoly of the Mamluks was broken across the India trade, even if the leading trade on Egypt still had a large scale.
When al - Ghuri allied with Shah Ismail I of Persia against the Ottomans, it came in 1516 to the outbreak of war with northern neighbor. The Mamluks were inferior to the Ottomans clear, since only a portion of the emirs al - Ghuri supported with troops for the campaign in Syria. In addition, the predecessor al - Ghuris had the equipment of troops neglected firearms.
Thus, the Mamluks under al - Ghuri were defeated on August 24, 1516 at the Battle of Marj Dabiq (north of Aleppo ) by the Ottomans, by the use of their artillery, devastating. To defeat also led to the betrayal of the Syrian Mamluks. Al- Ghuri had died of a stroke during the battle. Last Sultan of the Mamluks was Tuman bay II ( 1516-1517 ).