Fatimid Era
(969 A.D. - 1171 A.D.)

The Fatimid dynasty was founded in Morocco in 296 A.H by Ubayd Allah Ibn Al-Hasan, familiarly known by the appellation Al-Mahdi Billah, who traced his ancestry back to Al-Hussein Ibn Ali Ibn Abi Talib. The state was named Al-Fatimiyah because of the family's descent from Fatima Al-Zahraa, daughter of Prophet Mohammed PBUH and wife of Ali Ibn Abi Talib, and was ruled by Al-Mahdi's descendants: Al-Qaim Bi-amrillah Ibn Al-Mahdi, Al-Mansur Billah Ibn Al-Qaim Bi-amrillah and Al-Muezz Ledin Illah Ibn Al-Mansur. In 358 A.H, Al-Muezz sent his leader Jawhar Al-Siqilli to conquer Egypt. Upon the successful conquest, Egypt was annexed to the Fatimid state; moreover, Al-Siqilli founded the city of Cairo and built Al-Azhar mosque. Shortly after, Caliph Al-Muezz took up residence in Egypt and declared Cairo the capital of his state. From that day onwards, Cairo became the center of power of the new Fatimid dynasty after having been a mere province of the Abbasid state. Egypt, during that era, was ruled by a succession of ten rulers divided into two epochs, the first a period of great power, the second a period of weakness.

During the first, it was ruled by the following caliphs: Al-Aziz Billah Ibn Al-Muezz, Al-Hakim Bi?amrillah Ibn Al-Aziz and Al-Zhahir Li-I'zaz Dinillah Ibn Al-Hakim. Following them came the weak caliphs: Al-Mustansir Billah Ibn Al-Dhahir ? under whose rule the state witnessed high inflation, disorders and famines. Such was his reign that it became known in history books as the "great calamity" (al-shidda al-'udhma). These conditions lasted until Al-Mustansir appointed a military commander, Badr Al-Jamali, as vizier; Al-Jamali established a firm grip over the state and soon other viziers followed his example, taking virtual control of the state. Upon the death of Al-Jamali, his son, Al-Afdal, assumed power over one caliph after another, starting with Al-Mustansir, on to Al-Musta'li Billah Ibn Al-Mustansir, then Al-Aamir Bi?ahkamillah. As he came of age, Al-Aamir assassinated Al-Afdal and appointed Ibn Al-Bata?ehy his vizier, then assassinated Ibn Al-Bata?ehy and ruled without any vizier until he himself was assassinated and succeeded by his cousin Al-Hafizh Ledinillah. Over Al-Hafizh, his vizier, Ahmed Ibn Al-Afdal, took control; he was then followed by Caliph Al-Dhafir Bi?amrillah over whom vizier Ali Ibn Al-Salar, known as Al-'Adil (the just) had control; Al-'Adil was later assassinated by Abbas Ibn Tamim who assumed the post as vizier.

Vizier Abbas assassinated Al-Dhafir and appointed his younger son, Al-Fa?ez Bi-nasrillah, as caliph and then as was now customary assumed power. Al-Fa?ez's aunt sent to Tala'i Ibn Ruzzik, a district governor in upper Egypt, begging him to free the state from Abbas's tyranny. Tala'i lead his forces to Cairo causing Abbas to flee; accordingly, Abbas was ousted and then murdered. Tala'i appointed himself vizier under Caliph Al-Fa?ez in the month of Safar of 549 A.H/ April 1154 A.D. and became so despotic that he styled himself with such royal addresses, as "Al-Malik Al-Salih Tala'i" (good king Tala'i). Signs of his power over Al-Fa?ez included forcing the Caliph to sell him a piece of land, so he could use it as a waqf to generate proceeds to fund his personal charity interests. The National Archives of Egypt holds the original bill of sale. The bill is considered the oldest document held by NAE and is numbered 1 in its collection of Deeds of Sultans and Princes. These deeds contain information on real estate sold and the parties to the transaction; they bear seals and signatures of the judge before whom registration of the estate was made.

The Fatimid era came to its close when disputes rose among viziers during the dynasty of Caliph Al-Adid Ledinillah, successor of Al-Fa?ez. Shawar and Durgham disputed viziership, and Durgham was driven to seek the help of the Crusader forces in Bayt Al-Muqaddas (Jerusalem), while Shawar sought the help of Nur Al-Din Mahmoud, Sultan of the Zanjid state in Mosul. The latterlsent his commander Asad Ad-Din Shirkuh and his nephew Salah Al-Din Al-Ayyubi to Egypt. The dispute was put to an end as both viziers were killed, the last Fatimid caliph ? Al-Adid ? was dethroned, and Salah Al-Din assumed power in Egypt.