In the year 868 Ahmed ibn Τύΐύη, the son of a Turkish slave, who had been appointed viceroy of Egypt by the Caliph el M'otazz Billah, rebelled against his master's authority, and assumed the style and title of Sultan, or independent sovereign. The kingdom remained in his family about thirty years, when it was retaken by Mobammed ibn Suleiman, general of the Caliph el Moktadhi Billah, and the authority of the Abbassides was again established in Egypt. This state of things, however, continued but for a short time, and in 936 the government of Egypt was again usurped by a Turk named Ikhshid, who, after some opposition from the troops of the Er Badhi Billah (the last of the caliphs who enjoyed the authority or deserved the name), obtained undisputed possession of Syria. He was nominally succeeded by his sons, but the government remained in the hands of his black slave, Kafdr, who ultimately contrived to seat himself upon the throne. At his death the kingdom passed to 'Ali el Ikshid, a nephew of the founder of the family ; but, after a short reign of one year, he was deposed (A.D. 970) by Jauher, the general of El Mo'èzz li din Allah, fourth of the Fatemite caliphs. This dynasty (the Fatemite, or Ismâïli) was the most formidable of all who had resisted the authority of the caliphs of Baghdad; for it was not as the insurgent possessors of a province that they asserted their independence, but, as legitimate heirs, they disputed their master's title to the caliphate itself. The family traced its origin to Mohammed, through Fatimah, wife of 'Ali ibn Abi Tâleb, and daughter of the prophet ; and on the strength of this illustrious pedigree, they claimed, to be the true successors of the prophet, and rightful heirs to the supreme authority. Their pretensions were combated with great obstinacy by the Abbasside princes, but there seems good reason for believing that their claims were well-grounded. The founder of the house