Sitt al-Mulk

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Sitt al-Mulk (* 970; † 1023), Ruler of the Fatimids (1021-1023), was the elder sister of Al-Hakim.

After the death of her father Ali az-Aziz (975-996) she tried with the help of a cousin to force her brother from the throne, but was arrested by the Eunuch Barjuwan. However, she wielded considerable influence over al-Hakim as an advisor, as evidenced by the very generous apanages that came her way.

After the assumption of power and the elimination of her rivals, she abolished the use of Sharia law that Al-Hakim had promulgated in his reign. She also severely persecuted the Druze religion, eliminating it entirely from Egypt, and restricting it to the mountains of Lebanon. She worked to reduce tensions with the Byzantine Empire over the possession of Aleppo, but before negotiations could be completed she died on the 5th February 1023 at the age of 52.

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