Murad-Beg Al Mohammad

Murad-Beg Al Mohammad ( 1750-1801), Mameluke ruler of Egypt. Slave traffickers kidnapped him in Georgia and sold him into slavery. After getting free of bondage, he gradually moved up the social ladder and reached the position of Amir (Commander). In 1773 he participated in the battle at Salikhia against Ali Bey Al-Qabir. After Al-Qabir was killed in the said battle, Murad-Beg married Al-Qabir’s widow of Georgian origin, beautiful NafisaKhanum, the most celebrated woman of Egypt. In 1775-77, 1778-86 and 1791-98, together with Ibrahim Bey (Sinjikashvili) he ruled Egypt. He was one of the key figures in liberating Egypt from foreign invaders, particularly during the 1798-1801 war against Napoleon. In 1798, in the battle near Cairo (so called Battle at the Pyramids), along with Ibrahim Bey, he confronted the French army. After he suffered a defeat, he escaped to the Upper Egypt, where he died of plague.

Murad-Beg Al Mohammad was buried at the mosque of Sheikh al-Ariff. His grave was lost.