An Archaeological, Historical and Iconographical Study of a Sword Attributed to the Ayyubid Sulṭān Al-Malik al-Ṣāliḥ Najm al-Dīn Ayyūb (637-647 AH/ 1239-1249 AD)

Al-Ṣāliḥ Najm al-Dīn Ayyūb, the last Ayyūbid Sulṭān, greatly suffered from a conflict over power. His money was confiscated, he was arrested, and many forces from within the Ayyūbid dynasty and others conspired against him. However, he reached the rule of Egypt and became the supreme ruler of the entire Ayyūbid dynasty. Hence, it is important to link the events and culture of the Ayyūbid era with contemporary architecture, numismatics, and other applied arts. Archaeology clearly reflects this culture, which helps interpret the remaining archaeology accurately within its contemporary historical and cultural context. This paper studies the sword of Sulṭān al-Ṣāliḥ Najm al-Dunyā wa al-Dīn Ayyūb (637-647 AH. / 1240-1249 AD.), preserved in the collection of Sir Mohammed Khalil Ibrahim (UAE), as a rare Islamic artifact. It is the only internationally known sword of Sulṭān al-Ṣāliḥ Najm al-Dunyā wa al-Dīn Ayyūb. Additionally, it is important in terms of its Arabic-Islamic decorations and inscriptions as an important informational announcement reflecting contemporary historical events.