anastasiasromanovs:Sitt al-Mulk was the fifth daughter of Caliph Nizar al-Aziz Billah, the fifth rul

anastasiasromanovs:Sitt al-Mulk was the fifth daughter of Caliph Nizar al-Aziz Billah, the fifth ruler of the Fatimid Empire. She was described to be beautiful, intelligent, and to be loved by her father. As her mother was a Byzantine Christian, she supported her father’s appointing of Christians in his court, specifically her half-brothers from her mother, and shared her father’s religious tolerance. When her father died, she tried to get her brother Al-Hakim removed from the throne, but was caught in the process and arrested. It was said their relationship was rough for she was against his politics and he accused her of having many lovers amongst his army.  In 1021 her brother was said to have disappeared on a walk, and few days later was officially declared dead. It is said that Sitt al-Mulk had him killed. She then managed to have her nephew installed as Caliph, and due to his young age, she appointed ministers who were only loyal to her, and established herself as regent of the empire.  From 1021 until her death in 1023, she was the official regent of her nephew Ali az-Zahir. As Caliph, a title held by a man exercised the title and power that it held. She though never had a khutba called in her name so was never officially Caliph, but still held the rights. She met with ministers and viziers behind a screen, and began to revoke many policies her brother put in place. She began to persecute people who were Druze, removing it from Egypt and had it restricted to the mountains of Lebanon, due to the fact many of the Druze supported her brother Al-Hakim.  She lastly worked to reduce tensions with the Byzantine Empire over Aleppo, but died before it could be resolved. She was said to be popular amongst the people, and was said to have “showed exceptional ability, especially in legal matters, and she who made herself loved by the people”. Her place of burial is unknown.  -- source link

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