Little is known about the early life of Shajar al-Durr except that she was of either Turkish or Armenian descent. At a young age, she was purchased as a slave by As-Salih Ayyub, who would go on to become Sultan of Egypt in 1240. She gave birth to their son, Khalil later that year. As-Salih Ayyub passed away in 1249 but his death was not announced until the following year, as Shajar al-Durr attempted to consolidate power and support for her succession to her husband’s throne. She was not installed as the new monarch until later in 1250 after her Mamluk allies assassinated Turanshah, her late husband’s son who initially took over the throne upon the death of his father. Upon her ascent to the throne she took on a number of titles, including Malikat al-Muslimin, or Queen of the Muslims. Her name was mentioned in Friday prayers and coins were minted with her titles and spread throughout the sultanate. As news spread about Shajar al-Durr’s ascent to the throne, areas of the kingdom, including Syria and Baghdad, refused to recognize her as the legitimate heir to the throne and threatened rebellion against Cairo. In an effort to appease them and maintain peace throughout the kingdom, a new Sultan was installed, Izz al-Din Aybak, who married Shajar al-Durr after she abdicated the throne. Their marriage though, was marked by suspicion, as Shajar al-Durr continued to conduct state affairs, many which she kept secret from Aybak. Seven years after their marriage, she ordered him to be killed, and had the servants murder him while he was bathing. The servants eventually admitted to the killing and Shajar al-Durr was arrested by her husband’s allies, brought to the Red Tower, where she was eventually beaten to death. She rests in a tomb not far from the Mosque of Tulun in Cairo. Egypt.