'Egyptian soldiers') was the army of the Tulunid dynasty, which ruled Egypt and much of the Levant as vassal rulers of the Abbasid Caliphate, but de facto autonomous, from 868 to 905.
Ahmad Ibn Tulun was keen to form the first independent army in Egypt in the Middle Ages, strengthen it, and provide it with equipment.
He created a naval fleet to protect the shores of his country, maintain the path of maritime communication, and establish forts.
The army embarked on military campaigns until Egypt's territory expanded and they reached the Levant to consolidate their influence and protect their northern borders.
[3] Ahmad Ibn Tulun exaggerated in enlarging the size of his army and strengthening it, motivated by the conspiracies, intrigues, and temptations that were being hatched against him in the capital of the Abbasid state, so its number reached one hundred thousand fighters, as previously mentioned.
He dressed its members in silk caps and brocade gilets, designed belts for them, and adorned them with decorated swords that they placed on their shoulders.
[7] The status of the army rose as a result of this increased attention, and its soldiers and commanders became a stronger influence than they were in the days of Ahmad Ibn Tulun.
Its leaders gained control of the estates, and its sects played a major role in the state's foreign policy, especially in the wars of the Levant and the defense of the emirate.
Khumarawayh also took an interest in the naval fleet, and it played an important role in the wars that the Tulunid prince fought in the Levant by supporting land campaigns.
[7] The new Egyptian army fought many battles in which it won glorious victories, the most important of which were the Levantine border (al-Thughur al-Shamia) wars against the Byzantines, the sack of Byzantine Thessaloncia, the Battle of Tawahin against the Abbasids, and the war of Mahammad ibn Ali al-Khalanji to restore the Egyptian Tulunid state.
To demonstrate this, the author discusses, in extensive detail, the human structure of this army, its military organizations, the arts of mobilization and fighting as it was relied upon, and finally its weapons and supplies.
Ahmad Ibn Tulun was allowed to gain independence in Egypt from the Abbasid state, which was preoccupied with suppressing strife and revolutions and the weakening influence of its caliphs.
[8] Hence, the author says that the personality of Ibn Tulun had a great impact on his wise leadership of the Egyptian army, especially given his military and religious upbringing in Tarsus.
[8] Ahmad Ibn Tulun's army was 100,000 individuals, divided into 70,000 Egyptians, 25,000 Mamluks (24,000 Turkic and 1,000 blacks), and 7,000 Arab mercenaries.
Also, this element lost its military advantage since al-Mu'tasim deprived it of giving, so the Arabs were forced to migrate to the countryside and work in agriculture.
[10] After the death of Ahmad bin Tulun, Khumarawayh sought to develop the military power of his emirate, increasing the number of army personnel by introducing new elements into its ranks.
[13] He explained that the Abbasid state did not hesitate to request the assistance of the Egyptian fleet in the Tulunid era, in order to defend its borders neighboring the Byzantine state, and with the increase in the strength and splendor of the Egyptian fleet in that era, the Byzantine Emperor began trying to become friendly with Ibn Tulun and ask for his appeasement.
[13] al-Hagana, al-Nafatoun (molotov throwers), al-Manjaniqioun (catapult), al-Tabababon (tankers), al-Ayaron, al-Kashafa (scouts), doctors, nurses, engineers.