Universal History Annotation << Back Social Status of the Mamluks: from Slaves to the Elite of Society Schiller D.A. This paper analyzes the unique phenomenon of the Mamluks, a military class formed from slaves who managed to reach the highest levels of power in the Islamic world, primarily in Egypt. The study focuses on the evolution of the Mamluk principle: from the status of slaves who had no civil rights to the establishment of a political, military and cultural elite of society. The paper takes into account their conditions, mechanisms for recruiting systems, military training, internal features, career paths and factors that ensured the organizations their exceptional position in history. Particular attention is paid to the reasons for the rise and subsequent decline, as well as the historical legacy of the Mamluk era. The analysis is based on historical and documentary sources, as well as on fi ction, including the story "Mamluk" by Kondraty Tatarshvili. The study is of interest to historians, orientalists and anyone who studies the processes of social mobility and the formation of elites in pre-capitalist societies. Keywords: Mamluks, military class, social mobility, Islamic world, slavery, sultanate, military elite, fursiya, political power, Middle East. DOI: 10.25791/vseist.01.2026.1244 Pp. 50-53.