Who was Al-Nasir Faraj ibn Barquq?
Faraj ibn Barquq became sultan at a young age after his father's death and ruled during a turbulent period of Mamluk history. Even so, his name is linked to one of the largest funerary complexes in Cairo, built in the eastern Mamluk cemetery between the late 8th and early 9th centuries AH.
The complex included a mosque for prayer, a khanqah for Sufis, a madrasa, a family burial place and two sabils (public water fountains), and is known for its two domes and two minarets, which make a strong image on the skyline of the eastern cemeteries.
How did they shape Cairo?
The Faraj complex shows how the Mamluk cemetery changed from a burial ground into an urban area with religious, educational and public-service institutions. It is not an isolated tomb but a large institution, built in an area that later became an open-air museum of Mamluk funerary architecture.
The domes also preserved the memory of Barquq's family and carried its legacy beyond al-Muizz Street.
Monuments linked to Al-Nasir Faraj ibn Barquq
Where to see their legacy today
Make the complex a main stop on a tour of the Mamluk cemetery together with Qaitbay and Barsbay; the differences in scale and domes show how funerary architecture developed through the 15th century.