After the fall of the Tulunide state on the hands of the Abbaside, leader Mohamed Ben Soliman Al-Kateb in 905AD, Egypt became an Abbaside affiliate. At that time, the Abbaside state was passing through a critical period of unrest and instability.

Therefore, the caliphs decided that through the continuous change of the governors of Egypt, they will be able to control the country. During the thirty years between the fall of the Tulunide state and the Ekshed's power-taking, eleven rulers governed Egypt.

El-Ekhsheid's real name is Abu Bakr Mohamed Ben Tagh and he was one of the leaders of the Abbaside army who faced Fatimide invasion. The Abbaside caliph “Al-Mutaki” made him governor of Egypt and gave him the title “Eksheid” mening viceroy.

Eksheid and his sons ruled Egypt till 969AD when the last ruler was an eleven-year boy and so the country was infested with chaos. The Fatimides took the chance and sent an army which succeeded in controlling Egypt.

The governors of Egypt in the Ekshedite period are as follows:
- Abu Bakr Mohamed Ben Tagh (935–946AD)
- Abu Al-Kasim Anougor Ben El-Eksheid (946–961AD)
- Abu Al-Hassan Ali Ben El-Eksheid (961-966AD)
- Abu Al-Misk Kaphor (servant of El-Ekhsheid) (966-968AD)
- Abu Al-Fawares Ahmed Ben Ali Ben El-Eksheid (968-969AD)

Gawhar El-Sakali led the army of the Fatimide caliph Al-Muezz and occupied Cairo in 969 AD.