Ridwan al-'Ilj, Abd al-Malik's chamberlain

Summary

Chamberlain of Sultan Abd al-Malik ¹.

The concealment

Only he and Ahmad al-Mansur knew of his master's death at Wadi al-Makhazin; he kept telling the troops, 'the sultan orders so-and-so to that spot, so-and-so to hold the banner, so-and-so forward, so-and-so back' — until victory was complete ¹.

Battle of Wadi al-Makhazin (986/1578)

The Battle of the Three Kings at al-Qasr al-Kabir, Monday 30 Jumada II 986/4 August 1578. Morocco's sultan Abd al-Malik al-Mu'tasim — Ottoman-backed — met King Sebastian of Portugal, who had massed tens of thousands of Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and German troops to restore his deposed ally Muhammad al-Mutawakkil. Abd al-Malik cut the enemy from his fleet and blew the river's only bridge; he died of illness minutes into the battle, his chamberlain Ridwan and brother Ahmad al-Mansur concealing it until victory was complete in four hours and a third. All three kings perished — Sebastian slain, al-Mutawakkil drowned, Abd al-Malik on the field — and Ahmad al-Mansur was acclaimed on the spot; the Sa'di star rose until Europe's embassies 'kept morning and evening at her palace gates'.

Ridwan al-'Ilj, Abd al-Malik's chamberlain

At a glance

Summary

The concealment

Connections

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Battle of Wadi al-Makhazin (986/1578)