著者

菊池 忠純

出版者

東洋文庫

雑誌

東洋学報 = The Toyo Gakuho (ISSN:03869067)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.64, no.1・2, pp.131-176, 1983-01

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Past research has not adequately treated the office of muḥtasib, market inspector, in Cairo during the Mamluk Dynasty. In this article, I attempt to consider the subject by analyzing the life histories of the various muḥtasibs both before and after their occupation of that position. I divided the Mamluk Dynasty into the following four periods in accordance with the distinctive features of the muḥtasibs.First period (750/1250-789/1387); The muḥtasibs were appointed from among the ulamāʼ and the ones with an extensive knowledge of law. Although sometimes the powerful amīrs intervened in the appointments and dismissals of muḥtasib which hampered them in the execution of their duties, generally speaking, they fulfilled their function by acting as intermediaries between the rulers and the common people. Second period (789/1387-816/1413); During this period bribes, barṭīl or badhl, were greatly used to take the rank of muḥtasib, and the appointments and dismissals of muḥtasib were repeated frequently. During these 27 years, 81 persons, the number of which was counted 45% of the total number of the muḥtasibs, occupied this office. Most of them were appointed from among the people who attended the Sultans, the powerful amīrs and the civilians. Third period, Reigns of Sulṭān al-Muʼayyad Shaykh and Ṭaṭar; Muḥtasibs were mostly appointed from among the persons who attended the Sultan and were also acquainted with a knowledge of law. The Sultan, using these muḥtasibs, attempted to stabilize the common people’s standard of living. But also in this period the muḥtasibs began to be appointed from among the military class. The reform of the office of muḥtasib was initiated by amīr Ṭaṭar, who paid their salaries from the office of poll-tax. But this policy was abandoned after amīr Ṭaṭar’s death. Fourth period (824/1421- 923/1517); Most of the muḥtasibs were appointed from among the military class—particularly the amīrs of ten and the chief guards. In accordance with the Sultans’ orders, most of them participated in the market speculation. This eventually led to the disorder of the market system in Cairo.