A Sociological Analysis of the Robes of Honor Bestowment During the Fatimid Era

The Fatimid era (909–1171 AD) was the flourishing period of the granting robe of honors tradition from 10th to 12th Century AD. The Egyptian textile industry allowed the Fatimids to grant the robes of honor for consolidating their political power by showing their glorious court. This study is a Sociological analysis of the relationship between social classes and the robes of honor. The study is based on a descriptive-analytical approach in the framework for theorizing and analyzing the data. The Fatimids had an ideology on the robes of honor that helped them strengthen their relationship with the various social classes. The Fatimid granted them on various occasions: the appointment of officials, ceremonies, and awards, which had different characteristics depending on the social class. A robe of honor was a sign of social status; hence, it could reflect the social situation in the Fatimid era.