The Sultan, The Tyrant, and the Hero: Changing Medieval Perceptions of al-Zahir Baybars

Key Points

• The aim is to examine how perceptions of Al-Zahir Baybars evolved during the medieval period in the context of the Mamluk Sultanate.
• Reviewed historical texts and narratives from the medieval period.
• Analyzed varying perspectives on Baybars as a leader, a tyrant, and a hero.
• Identified shifts in the portrayal of Baybars from a tyrant to a revered leader.
• Highlighted the influence of cultural and political contexts on these changing perceptions.