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Ibn Khallikan: Wafayat al-A'yan
(The death of the Notables) (d1282) from Irbil Iraq
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Taken from: Ibn Khallikan's Biographical Dictionary By Ibn Khallikan
Also called Khalliqan
His book is a Arabic biographical dictionary.
Full name: Shams Ad-din Abu Al-'abbas Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Khallikan
Ibn Khallkan wrote on Kafur the Black ruler of Egypt. Because it is unknown if Kafur was originally from East Africa we do not study him exhaustively. Only this short mention is given.
Ibn-Khallikan tells of a certain very wealthy noble named Tabataba who was in the habit of sending gifts of sweetmeats to his friends. Kafur was especially favored; to him he would dispatch two vases of the choicest delicacies every other day, together with a cake that was folded up in a napkin and carefully sealed.
An enemy of the nobleman wrote to Kafur telling him that while the gift of the sweetmeats was proper, the cake was intended as a thrust at Kafur's post. Hearing of this and fearing a plot to ruin him, Tabataba galloped to Kafur's palace to assure Kafur that the cake had been baked by his own daughter as a tribute of purely religious motive and not out of a feeling of superiority.
"If, however," continued the nobleman, "Your Majesty wishes it discontinued, I shall do so."
"By no means," replied Kafur. "From this time on, I shall eat no other." Calling his chamberlain, Kafur made him fetch a magnificent necklace, which was sent off by a slave to Tabataba's daughter.
Kafur Al-Ikhshidi
Abu 'l-Misk (the father-of musk) Kafur (camphor) was the son of Abd Allah and bore the surname of al-Ikhshidi (enfranchised slave of al-Ikhschid). We have already mentioned some circumstances respecting him in the life of Fatik. He had been possessed as a slave by a native of Old Cairo, but, in the year 312 (AD924-925), he was sold in that city by his master mahmud Ibn Wahb Ibn Abbas Bakr Muhammad Ibn Toghj al-Ikhshid, a person whose life we intend to give. He then rose into such favour with al-Ikhschid that the latter appointed him atabek (guardian) of his two sons. When al-Ikhschid died, (AD946) his eldest son, Abu �l-Kasim Anjur (praised), obtained the government of Egypt and Syria from the Khalif ar-Radi, who issued a written instrument to that effect. Kafur continued to administer the state with great ability till the death of Anujur. This event took place on Saturday, the 8th-some say the seventh-of Zu l-Kaada, AH 319 (Dec. AD 960); his body was transported to Jerusalem and interred near that of his father, he was born at Damascus on Thursday, the 9th of Zu l-Hija, AH 319 (Dec, AD934). His brother Abu l-Hassan Ali succeeded to the throne; in this prince�s reign the Greeks took Aleppo, Missisa, Tarsus, and all that territory, whilst Kafur continued to act as his faithful guardian and the deputy of his power. Ali died on the 11th of Muharram, AH 355 (Jan AD966); he was born at old Cairo on Tuesday, the 25th of Safar, AH 326 (January AD938). From this epoch, Kafur assumed the uncontrolled government of the empire, and when advised to proclaim the son of Abu l-Hassan Ali, he answered that so young a boy was not fit to reign. He then rode out escorted by spearmen, and exhibited the pelisses of investiture which has been sent to him from Irak; he published also a document conferring on him an honorary title, and at length, on Tuesday, the 10th of Safar, AH 355 (Feb AD966), he rode out wearing these pelisses. Abu l-Fadl Jaafar Ibnb al-Furat served him in the capacity of vizier. Kafur loved the society of virtuous men, and treated them with marked honour. He was a negro of a deep black colour, with a smooth shining skin. It has been delivered down that al-Ikhschid purchased him for eighteen pieces of gold.
(Here then follows a list of anecdotes which I will not repeat)
The anecdotes told of Kafur are very numberous: having obtained possession of the sovereign authority after a series of occurrences too long to relate, he continued to hold it till his death. This event took place at Old Cairo, on Tuesday, the 20th of the first Jumada, AH 356 (May AD967); but some say that he died on Wednesday, and others place his death in the year 355 or 357; this last date is given by al-Kudai in his work, the Khitat, and al-Farghani indicates the same date in his History. Kafur was interested in the lesser Karafa, and his tomb is a well known object in that cemetery. His reign did not continue long, as may be perceived, since it commenced on the death of Ali Ibn al-Ikhschid. His dominion extended not only over Egypt, but Syria also, and public prayers were offered up for him from the pulpits of Mekka, Hijaz, Egypt, and the cities of Syria, including Damascus, Aleppo, Antioch, Tarsus, and al-Missisa. According to al-Farghani, in his History, he died at the age of 65 years. Kafur ruled with justness and mildness; on his death, contestations arose respecting the choice of a successor, but it was at length unanimously decided that the son of Abu l-Hassan Ali Ibn al-Ikhshid should be raised to the throne. Kafur reigned two years, two months, and twenty three days. On Friday, the 23rd of the first Jumada, AH357 (April AD 968), public prayers were offered up for Abu l-Fawaris Ahmad Ibn Ali Ibn al-Ikhshid.