Royal Mamluk protection

Inscribed (front panels)

On the order of the most honorable authority, the high, the lordly, the amir, the Saifi (i.e. Saif al-Din) … the viceroy, the associated with al-Malik al-Ashraf, may (Allah) glorify his victories

Inscribed (back panels)

[While Allah] encompasses them from behind. No. It is a glorious Recitation, preserved on a table. (Qur’an 85:20-22) 

This imposing body armor was made for the Mamluk sultan al-Ashraf Inal (r. AH 857-65/1453–61 CE), but the titles given indicate that it was produced before he ascended to the highest office. It is only one of three surviving pieces of armor made for Mamluk rulers, the other two having been created for the later sultan Qaitbay (r. AH 872-901/1468–96 CE). It is of exceptionally high quality, befitting the rank of its esteemed patron.

This coat exemplifies the combination of chain mail and plate armor that emerged by the 9th century AH/15th century CE, creating a single unit that offered both flexibility and protection. Its impressive size indicates that Inal was unusually tall, standing just under two meters. Evidence of localized wear on some plates suggests that the coat may have been worn on horseback and that Inal was right-handed. The decoration on the plates is particularly exquisite, employing a technique rarely seen in Mamluk metalwork, where silver and gold were hammered onto a slightly roughened surface. This method creates a shimmering effect that contrasts beautifully with the coat’s robust steel construction.

Like other Mamluks, Inal was originally purchased as a slave and sold to Sultan al-Zahir Barquq (r. AH 783–801/1382–99 CE, with interruptions), who provided him with an education in both Islam and warfare. Inal rose through the ranks to serve as governor of several provinces, and due to his military successes, he ultimately became Commander-in-Chief of the Armies. The absence of references to this highest position in the titles inscribed on the coat indicates that it was made before his appointment in AH 839/1446 CE. However, since the titles describe him as viceroy, the coat must have been produced after he began his first governorship in AH 831/1428 CE. The signs of wear on the front panels suggest that this coat may have been worn during one of Inal’s numerous military campaigns.