The Fatimid Caliphate: A Brief History

Author: De Lacy Oler Publication date: 2026 Book classification: History Publisher: Al-Warraq Publishing and Distribution Format: Paperback Book summary: "A story of a rule that began with construction and ended with blood. In Egypt, where the glory of the Fatimids was linked to the Nile's abundance, and domes and minarets rose high, authority did not mean safety for anyone, neither for the minister nor even for the caliph himself. Chapters of history are only narrated with astonishment: where features of glory intersect with shades of horror. How did the Fatimid rule begin, and how were they an extension of one of the world's most secretive movements? How many caliphs ruled Egypt and the Levant? Were they united in heart or did their policies diverge and their visions differ? Why did the position of minister turn into a deadly trap? What drove Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah to ban molokhia and shell-less fish, and to close doors on women? And how did women enter the circle of influence from behind the curtain and at the heart of decision-making? De Lacy Oler relied in this work on Arabic and Persian sources, to complete the missing piece in the puzzle of history from a Western perspective, and to offer a different reading of one of the most exciting periods in Egypt's history."