Caliph Mustazhir — Sultan Barkyaruk — His wars with Tutush,
his uncle, and his brother Mohammed — Death of Barkyaruk — Accession of
Mohammed to the Sultanate— Discord among the vassals — The progress of the
Crusaders — Death of Sultan Mohammed — Death of the Caliph Mustazhir —
Accession of the Caliph Mustarshid — Sultan Sanjar, Sultan of the East — Sultan
Mahmud, of Irak and Syria — Rise of Imad ud-din Zangi (Sanguin) — Death of
Mahmud — Accession of Sultan Masud — Assassination of Mustarshid — Election of Rashid
as Caliph — Deposed by Masud — Accession of Muktafi as Caliph — War of Zangi
with the Crusaders— His victories — The death of Zangi — The accession of Nur
ud-din Mahmud — His successes against the Crusaders — Death of Muktafi and
accession of Caliph Mustanjid — The dispatch of Shirkuh to Egypt — Annexation
of Eg}'pt — Rise of Saladin — Death of Mustanjid — Accession of Caliph Mustazii
— Death of Nur ud-din Mahmud.
Whether it was by design
or by accident, Christendom could not have chosen a better opportunity to hurl
itself on Asia. Feudalism sapped the foundations of the mighty empire of the
Seljukids. Alp Arslan had bestowed Asia Minor on his cousin Sulaiman; Malik
Shah gave Syria to his brother Tutush, Both these princes acknowledged the
suzerainty of the Sultan. But besides these two kingdoms, Mesopotamia, Syria,
and Palestine were parcelled among a number of vassal lords, whose sole duty to
the suzerain was to render him military service. So long as the genius of Nizam
ul-Mulk and the grand personality of Malik Shah pervaded the empire, the chiefs
and princes rendered a willing homage to the sovereign. The moment they ceased
to breathe, dissensions sprang on all sides; and peace and concord gave place
to war and strife. First there was a struggle between Turkhan Khatun, on behalf
of her son Mahmud, and Barkyaruk. Mahmud died shortly after, and Barkyaruk was
thereupon acknowledged the over-lord of the Seljuks, and was invested by the
Caliph Muktadi with the title of Sultan. Then followed a struggle between
Barkyaruk and his uncle Tutush, who also aimed at supreme power. The defeat and
death of Tutush did not bring peace to the distracted empire, for Barkyardk
became involved in a war with his brother Mohammed, which lasted several years.
The stream of fugitives
fleeing from the Crusaders poured into Bagdad. It was the month of Ramazan, the
season of fasting. The tale of horror told by the hapless few who had escaped
slaughter or slavery plunged the city into sorrow. The fast was forgotten; the
people assembled in the cathedral mosque and wept. The Caliph Mustazhir b'lllah
hurried off three eminent men of his court to Barkyaruk and Mohammed, who were
encamped at Holwan, to entreat them to settle their quarrels and march against
the common enemy. The appeal proved fruitless, for the brothers were soon again
at each other's throat in consequence of the assassination of Barkyaruk's
vizier. The historian pathetically adds, "the
discord among the Sultans enabled the Franks to establish themselves in
the countries of Islam."
On Barkyaruk's death in
498 a.h. (1104 a.c), Mohammed succeeded to the Sultanate, which he held for
fourteen years. He is described as valiant, virtuous, hammed, just, and
generous, and his charity to the orphan and indigent have been praised by the
poets of the time. The celebrated philosopher and mystic Imam Abu Hamid al-
Ghazzali was a contemporary of Sultan Mohammed, by whom he was held in high
esteem. One of the Sultan's daughters, named Fatima, was married to the Caliph
Muktadi. She is said to have been a woman of education and considerable
political talent. She resided in the Dargah-i-Khatun, "the
Hall of the Princess."
The political condition
of the empire was unfavourable to any united action against the common foe. The
various chiefs who held the appanages of Syria and Mesopotamia were divided by
mutual jealousies. The prince of Aleppo (Rizwan, the son of Tutush) was a
traitor; whilst the others, though willing enough to obey the Sultan, were more
devoted to the advancement of their personal ambitions than to the furtherance
of the national cause. The utter disorganisation of the Fatimide Caliphate, to
which the Syrian sea-board and Palestine belonged at this period, rendered the
assistance of the towns attacked by the enemy difficult or impossible.
The Fatimide Caliph
(Mustaali) was wholly incompetent, while his Commander-in-Chief, who held the
reins of government, instead of organising the military resources of the
empire, and taking vigorous action, dallied in Cairo, or spent his time in
intrigues against his rivals. First Once or twice at the instance of the Sultan
Mohammed the chiefs sunk their differences and joined hands to oppose the
invaders. At the beginning of 1113 a.c, Baldwin, the King of Jerusalem, raided
into the seigniory of Damascus. Unable to oppose him single-handed, Toghtakin,
the Lord of Damascus, invoked the assistance of Moudud of Mosul. In July 1113
the combined forces of the Lords of Mosul, Damascus, Sinjar, and Maridin
marched into Palestine. In a battle near Tiberias, the Franks were routed with
terrible loss, and a large number of them were, drowned in the lake and in the
Jordan. In June 1119 they were again defeated at a place called al-Balat by
ilgazi, the Lord of Maridin. Even the Egyptians won some successes on the
sea-coast. But the Crusaders had the whole of Europe at their back; the
reinforcements which poured in for them from all parts of Christendom, the
assassination of Moudud, who was stabbed by a nihilist after the battle of
Tiberias, and the division of the chiefs, all helped them to recover their
ground.
The Crusaders went on
thus extending their power, capturing city after city, devastating the country,
slaughtering the inhabitants or reducing them to slavery. Sultan Mohammed died
in 511 a.h., and was followed to the grave the year after by the Caliph
Mustazhir. This Caliph had occupied the pontifical throne for twenty-five
years, and was succeeded by his son, Abu Manstur al-Fazl, under the title of al-Mustarshid b'Illah.
The death of Sultan
Mohammed was not without effect on the fortunes of the Moslems and Christians.
He was succeeded in the over-lordship by his brother Sanjar, the last hero of a
heroic race, and in the succession of his private dominions by his son Mahmud.
Under Sultan Mahmud arose the first champion of Islam, who not only withstood
the shock of the Franks, but drove them inch by inch from their possessions.
Imad ud-din Zangi, the Sanguin of the Christian writers, was the son of one of
the principal chiefs of Sultan Malik Shah, named Ak- Sunkar (Kasim ud-Dowla),
who played an important part in the history of the troublous times that
followed the death of his great master. Ak-Sunkar was an able soldier and a
wise administrator. Perfect justice reigned throughout his seigniory, the
markets were moderate, the roads absolutely safe, and order prevailed in all
parts. His policy of making a district pay for a misdeed occurring within its
boundaries is not unknown in modern times.
Ak-Sunkar had died
leaving his son Zangi, a lad of fourteen, to succeed him in the seigniory, but
his vassals and retainers rallied round the youth and upheld him in his
position, and he himself showed early the signs of an indomitable will, great
energy of character, and administrative and military capacity of a high order.
In 516 a.h., Zangi obtained from Sultan Mahmud the city of Wasit as an
appanage, and the post of Commissary (Shahna) at Bussorah. Four years later the
government of Mosul and Upper Mesopotamia was conferred on him, with the title of
Atabek ("Prince Tutor"), and he was confirmed in Zangi this dignity
by the letters patent of the Caliph. Imad ud-Din Zangi became the founder of
the long line of the Atabeks of Mosul. Ibn ul-Athir describes most graphically
the state of weakness among the Mussulmans at this epoch, and the strength of
the Polytheists. "Their
army was numerous, their violence and depredations increased every day, and
they committed every enormity without any fear of punishment. Their territories
extended from Maridin in Upper Mesopotamia to the city of Aarish on the borders
of Egypt; Harran and Rakka were subjected to the greatest humiliations; their
devastations were carried to the very gates of Nisibin; they cut all the roads
to Damascus save the desert route past Rahba; they levied tribute on towns
without number, and blackmailed Aleppo to the half of its revenue, even to the
profits of the mill that stands by the Garden Gate. They spared no one, neither
those who believed in the unity of God nor those who denied it."
Zangi set himself
vigorously to the task of improving the government and organising his army; and
before long he was able to take the field in sufficient force to drive the
Franks out of Mesopotamia. The conquest of Membij (ancient Bambace) and Bizaa
or Buzaa made him undisputed ruler of the vast principality of Mosul. In 1128
A.C, on the invitation of the people of Aleppo, who suffered terribly from the
depredations of the Crusaders he took possession of their city. Hamah followed
the example of Aleppo. The following year zangi routed the Crusaders under the
walls of al-Asarib, and captured the castle after a stout resistance. A short
truce between Joscelin, the Count of Edessa, "the
greatest demon of them all,"- enabled Zangi to take part in the
inevitable civil war which broke out on the death of Sultan Sultan Mahmud.
Mahmud was succeeded by
his brother Masud, but the succession was disputed by another brother named
Seljuk Shah. After a short struggle, they made up their quarrel and marched
against their uncle Sanjar, but were defeated at Damarj. Sanjar treated the
rebels with kindness and confirmed them in their possessions. War then broke
out between the Caliph Mustarshid and Masud. Mustarshid was taken prisoner, and
whilst in Masud's camp was assassinated by the emissaries of the nihilists.
Mustarshid was succeeded by his son, Abu Jaafar Mansur, under the title of Rashid b'Illah. Rashid,
however, did not occupy the pontifical throne beyond a few months. Differences
between him and Sultan Masud compelled him to leave Bagdad for Mosul. Masud
thereupon assembled the jurists and Kazis, and after reciting Rashid's breach
of faith, induced them to depose him. Upon Rashid's deposition, Abu Abdullah
son of Mustazhir, was elected Caliph under the title of al-Muktafi li’amr Illah. As the
power of the Seljuk sovereigns declined, Muktafi's influence proportionately
increased in Irak and Chaldaea, and in the end he succeeded in recovering his
temporal authority in the home provinces.
Atabek Zangi did not long
concern himself with the troubles in the East. His great work lay in Syria. The
Crusaders were again in a ferment; they had received large reinforcements from
Europe, and had been joined by a Greek contingent under the personal command of
the Emperor John Comnenus, They captured Buzaa, put to the sword all the male
inhabitants, and carried into captivity the women and children. They then
marched upon Shaizar (Caesarea), a day's journey from Hamah. The castle of
Shaizar, the birthplace of Osama, (Ameer Almuwayyid ud-Dowla), one of
the heroes of the early Crusades, was almost impregnable. Built on a rock, it
could be approached only by a horse-path cut in the side of the mountains. This
narrow road first spanned the dashing Orontes, then tunnelled through the rock,
and finally ran across a deep ditch over a wooden bridge. The bridge once cut,
nobody could approach the castle. Since the beginning of the fifth century of
the Hegira, this place had belonged to the Banu Munkiz (Munkidh), of the Arab
tribe of Kinana, and they were the hereditary lords of the fortress and the
surrounding district. Its strong situation, in close proximity to Hamah as well
as the crusading centres, made it important to both the Franks and the
Saracens. No sooner, therefore, did Zangi receive the appeal of Abu Asakir
Sultan, who was at that time the Lord of Shaizar, than he hastened to the
relief of the place. On the approach of the Atabek, the Franks and Greeks
raised the siege and retreated, the Greeks returning to their country. Zangi
lost no time in pursuing his advantage. The fortress of Arka, situated in the
territories of the Count of Tripoli, was carried by assault and rased to the
ground. Baalbek was captured and placed under the command of Najm ud-din Ayub,
the father of the celebrated Saladin. So long, however, as the principality of
Damascus was held by an independent chief, it was impossible for the Atabek to
drive the Franks out of Syria.
In 534 A.H. he routed the
Franks in the neighbourhood of Barin (Mont- Ferrand), which fell into his
hands. It was one of the strongest fortresses held by the Crusaders, and formed
the centre of their marauding excursions into the countries between Hamah and
Aleppo. His greatest conquest, however, was achieved in the year 539 a.h., when
he captured Edessa (Roha), which belonged to Joscelin II, "their hero and demon." "It was in truth the conquest
of conquests" says Ibn
Athir. "Roha was regarded
by the Christians as one of the noblest of cities, for it formed one of their
bishoprics, the most eminent of which was that of Jerusalem; after Jerusalem
came in order Antioch, Rome, Constantinople, and Roha. It was in effect the eye
of Mesopotamia. Its possession had enabled them to reduce the surrounding
districts, and they possessed strong fortresses along the line of march." On his approach he offered the
inhabitants safety of life and property, but they rejected his terms with
indignation. The city was carried by assault. He had thought of inflicting a
terrible punishment in revenge for all that had taken place in Jerusalem and at
Antioch, but his humanity overbore his anger. Save and except the fighting men
and the monks and priests, who were found exciting the Frankish soldiery, none
were killed. The men, women, and children who had fallen into the hands of the
victors were set at liberty, and their goods and chattels were restored to them
out of free grace.
Leaving a strong
garrison, the Atabek pursued his victorious course. He reduced in succession
Seruj, al- Bira, and the other castles held by the Crusaders. Whilst engaged in
the siege of Kalat-Jabir, Imad ud-din was murdered in his sleep by some of his
own Mamlukes, who were instigated to the foul deed by his enemies. Thus perished one of the greatest
heroes of the age!
Generous, and wise, the
Atabek Zangi was a father to his people. When he assumed the government of
Mesopotamia, considerable portion of that province, as well as of Syria, was
lying uncultivated; the peasantry and citizens were ruined; and owing to the depredations
of the Franks, commerce had ceased. Zangi devoted immense pains to revive
agriculture and to restore the country to prosperity; the tillers of the soil
flocked back to their lands; the ruined cities were rebuilt and re-embellished;
disorders and brigandage were repressed with severity, and as the Frankish
marauders and cut-throats were driven back towards the littoral, commerce
resumed life. He was scrupulously guardful of women's safety, and any insult or
outrage to them brought down the severest punishment. His charity was lavish.
Every Friday he gave away "openly " a hundred dinars in alms; on
other days he distributed large sums in secret by the hands of a confidential
servant. He was a faithful friend and considerate master; in camp, a strict disciplinarian. "His administration — in the
abundance of its resources, in the prompt dispatch of business, in its numerous
personnel — compared with that of the Sultan." He was a friend of the learned, and
his vizier Jamal ud-din, surnamed al-Jawwad ("the Bountiful"),
supported him as zealously in the patronage of learning as in the government of
the kingdom. Jamal ud-din held the office of Inspector-General (Mushrif) of the
principality and President of the Council of State. It was Zangi who said of
himself that he loved the back of a saddle better than a silken bed, the din of
battle better than the most enchanting music, the clash of arms more than the
blandishments of a sweetheart.
The great Atabek left
four sons, Saif ud-din Ghazi the eldest, who succeeded to the principality of
Mosul; Nur ud-din Mahmud, on whom devolved the "heritage of
championship," with the
principality of Aleppo for his appanage; Kutb ud-din Moudud and Nusrat ud-din
Ameer Miran. Both Saif ud-din and Nur ud-din were trained in their father's
camp. But the latter was not merely a soldier; he was a jurist and a scholar as
well, and a liberal patron of arts and learning. He founded colleges and
hospitals in every part of his kingdom, and was the munificent patron of
scholars and savants, who flocked to his court. He was the first to establish a
regular High Court of Justice, called the Dar
ul-aadl. "The true
praise of kings," says
Gibbon, with his usual acumen, "is
after their death and from the mouth of their enemies." William, Bishop of Tyre, whilst
calling him the greatest persecutor of the Christian name and faith, is forced
to admit that he was "a
just ruler, energetic, prudent, and religious, according to the traditions of
his people." The
prosperity of his people was the sole object and aim of his life, and his
subjects adored him for his justice, his clemency, and his moderation.
Soon after Nur ud-din's
accession to the throne of Aleppo, the Christians of Edessa, assisted by a
large body of Franks under Joscelin, treacherously rose against the garrison,
and massacred the soldiers and Moslem inhabitants in the city. Nur ud-din
swooped down upon the devoted town, which this time felt the full weight of a
justly indignant sovereign. The soldiers of Joscelin, and the traitors who had
assisted him, were put to the sword. The Armenians, who were the chief
promoters of treasonable communications with the Crusaders, were expelled, and
the walls were pulled down.
The double fall of Edessa
created a great commotion in Europe, and St. Bernard of Clairvaux preached a
fresh crusade against Islam. In 1147 a.c. Conrad III., Emperor of Germany, and
Louis VII. undertook this "Holy War" to support "the failing fortunes of the
Latins." Contemporaneous
history records that they led over 900,000 men under their united banners for
the help of their brethren in Syria and Palestine. Louis VII. was accompanied
by his wife, Eleanor of Guienne, who afterwards married Henry II of England,
and her example attracted a number of women to join the ill-fated expedition. A
considerable troop of women, armed with spears and shields, rode among the
Germans. Nor were the French behind in this mixture of sexes, which naturally
led to much depravity of morals.
The fate of the two
armies is well known. Both sovereigns suffered disastrous defeats on their
march towards Syria; a large portion of Conrad's army was annihilated in the
neighbourhood of Laodicea, whilst the forces of Louis, whose route lay along
the sea-coast, were overwhelmed and destroyed en
route by the Seljuks on the
heights of the Cadmus, now called Baba-Dagh. When Louis arrived in the
principality of Antioch, which was held by Raymond of Poictiers, an uncle of
Eleanor, he had lost three-fourths of his army. The voluptuous city contained
at this time within its walls the Countess of Toulouse, the Countess of Blois,
Sybille of Flanders, Maurille, countess of Roussy, Talcquery, duchess of
Bouillon, and many other ladies celebrated for their birth or their beauty. But
the queen of them all was Eleanor of Guienne. In Antioch the warriors of the
Cross abandoned themselves to unbridled, whilst the fetes of Raymond degenerated into orgies,
and Queen of Eleanor scandalised everybody by her freedom of manners. After the
Crusaders had sufficiently refreshed themselves in Antioch, their united forces
marched upon Damascus, which they held in leaguer for several months; but the
approach of Saif ud-din Ghazi and Nur ud-din Mahmud to the relief of the city,
compelled them to raise the siege and hurriedly to retreat towards Palestine.
Conrad and Louis then left for Europe, and thus ended the Second Crusade.
Nur ud-din Mahmud now
commenced his career of conquest against the Franks. He captured the castle of
al-Aareima, one of their strongest fortresses on the borders of Syria, and a
few months later inflicted on them a heavy defeat at Zaghra, in the
neighbourhood of Antioch. In a battle under the walls of Anneb (ancient Nepa),
the proud Raymond of Poictiers, prince of Antioch, was killed, and his troops
routed with great slaughter. He left a young son named Bohemond (called by the
Arabs, Beemend), under the guardianship of his wife. This lady did not,
however, remain long, a widow, but the fate of her second husband was almost as
disastrous as that of Raymond, for he fell into Nur ud-Din's hands in a
skirmish, in which the Franks were again discomfited.
In 544 A.H. he reduced
the important fortress of Apameas (Afamieh), about a day's journey from Hamah.
Two years later Nur ud-din suffered a defeat at the hands of Joscelin II. This
reverse was soon compensated by the capture of Joscelin, who was regarded by
the Saracens as a splendid success; "for," says Ibn ul-Athir, "Joscelin was one of
the most bigoted demons among the Franks, and surpassed all others in his
hatred against the Moslems. Whenever the Franks undertook any expedition they
confided the command to him, as they appreciated his bravery, his prudence, his
animosity against Islam, and the hardness of his heart against its
professors." The capture
of this redoubtable foe facilitated the task of Nur ud-din, and he rapidly
reduced a number of cities and fortresses belonging to the Crusaders, such as
Tell-Basher, Ain-Tab, Nahr ul-jazz, Burj ur-Rassas, etc.
Another battle at Duluk,
which was equally disastrous to the Franks, led to the subjugation of the
greater part of the principality of Antioch. Sultan Masud died in 547 a.h.
(1152-53 a.c), and was succeeded on the throne by Malik Shah, a son of his
brother. He was the last of his family who was recognised as a Sultan.
But so long as Damascus
was held by an independent prince, whose fidelity was by no means certain, Nur
ud- din, like his father, experienced great difficulties in his operations
against the Crusaders. These, on their side, emboldened by the successiul capture
or Ascalon on the sea-coast, resumed their design of conquering the capital of
Syria. In this crisis, the inhabitants of of Damascus appealed to Nur ud-din,
who immediately responded to their call. The prince- of that city received for
his appanage the city of Emessa, and the son of the great Zangi was installed
as the sovereign of Damascus, amidst the acclamation of the citizens.
This peaceful but
important conquest obtained for him from the Caliph the title of al-Malik
al-AAdil ("the Just King"), which he fully deserved. There was a
short peace between Nur ud-din and the Crusaders, which enabled him to repair
the havoc caused by the earthquake that about this time afflicted Syria and
ruined so many monuments of antiquity.
The Caliph Muktafi died
in the year 1160, and was succeeded in the pontificate by his son Abu'l
Muzzaffar Yusuf, under the title of al-Mustanjid b'Illah.
Six years later Nur
ud-din sent the memorable expedition to Egypt, which bore such important
results for both Franks and Saracens. The Fatimide dynasty was tottering to its
fall. The last Caliph of this race, al- Aazid li'din Illah, was a confirmed
valetudinarian(chronic patient), and all the power of the state rested in the
hands of his minister, Shawer as-Saadi. Ousted from office by a cabal, Shawer
betook himself to the Prince of Damascus, and sought his assistance, promising
in return the support of the Egyptian troops against the Crusaders, cession of
certain territories, and a large subsidy. After some hesitation, Nur ud-din
acceded to his prayer, and sent him back to Egypt with an escort under the
command of Asad ud-din Shirkuh ("the Lion of the Mountain"), the
uncle of the famous Saladin. No sooner did the traitor recover his power, than,
joining hands with the Franks, he called upon Shirkuh to evacuate Egypt. The
small force under Shirkuh's command offered a stout resistance to the allies at
Bilbais or Bilbis (ancient Pelusium), but in the end was forced to evacuate the
place with all the honours of war.
In the Ramazan of 559
a.h., Nur ud-din was attacked united armies of the Franks and Greeks. The
battle, which took place under the walls of Harim, was one of the severest of
the Crusades; the Franks suffered a terrible defeat, and most of their
chieftains, such as Bohemond, Prince of Antioch, Raymond of Tripoli, Josceiin
III., and the Greek general, Duke of Calamar, were taken prisoners. As the fruit
of this splendid victory, Nur ud-din captured Harim, Paneas, al-Monetara
(al-Munaitira), etc.
In 562 a.h. Shirkuh again
entered Egypt, and again Shawer called in the Franks to his assistance. Amaury,
occupied the throne of Jerusalem, hoping to
obtain possession of the
country on his own account, hurried off an army to the help of Shawer. The
marches and counter-marches of Shirkuh, and his final victory at Babain, over
the allies, "show," says Michaud, "millitary capacity of the
highest order." " Never has history," remarks Ibn ul-Athir
enthusiastically, "recorded
a more extraordinary event than the rout of the Egyptain forces and the Franks
of the littoral, by only a thousand cavaliers." After this brilliant success, Shirkuh
captured Alexandria and installed himself there. Subsequently a peace was
concluded between the Egyptians and the Franks on one side, and the lieutenant
of Nur ud-din on the other, by which Amaury agreed to withdraw his troops from
Egypt, and to refrain from all interference in its affairs; Shirkuh, to
evacuate Alexandria on payment of 50,000 pieces of gold, and to return to
Syria. But the Franks, by a secret convention with Shawer, obtained the right
of keeping a resident at Cairo, of occupying some of the cities by their
troops, and receiving an annual subsidy of 100,000 pieces of gold. This was in
direct breach of the terms of peace with Shirkuh. At last, the conduct of the
Crusaders who occupied Cairo and other places became so overbearing, and their
tyranny so great, that al-Aazid himself appealed for help to Nur ud-din. In
response, Nur ud-din again sent Shirkuh to Egypt with a sufficiently large
force to make head against the Franks. On Shirkuh's approach the Crusaders
hurriedly left the country with all their spoil. On the 8th of January, 1169
a.c, Shirkuh re-entered Cairo, and was welcomed by the people and the Fatimide
Caliph as the saviour of Egypt. Shawer was put to death by his enraged
sovereign, and Shirkuh was appointed in his place as prime minister and
commander-in-chief. Shirkuh, dying two months after, was succeeded in the
office by his famous nephew, Salah ud-din Yusuf (the Saladin), with the title
of al- Malik un-Nasir. Whilst purporting to hold the vizierate of al-Aazid,
Saladin regarded himself in reality the lieutenant of Nur ud-din, who always
addressed him as al-Ameer,
Isphah Salar (Ameer,
General-ui-Chief).
Saladin won all hearts by
his liberality and justice. Al-Aazid was dying, and during his mortal illness,
Saladin, who was a strict Hanafi, quietly restored in Egypt the spiritual
authority of the Abbasside Caliph. In the year 1170 a.c, the Caliph
al-Mustanjid died, and was succeeded by his son, Abu Mohammed Hassan, under the
title of al-Mustazii bi’amr Illah.
Mustanjid is described by
Ibn ul-Athir as the best of Caliphs in his conduct towards his subjects. He
ruled them with justice and treated them with generosity; abolished all
oppressive and illegal imposts within his territories, and maintained order and
peace with firmness.
In 565 a.h.(1170 A.C.)
died Kutb ud-din Moudud, the third son of Zangi, and was succeeded in the
Atabekship by Saif ud-din Ghazi II. Under Saif ud-din Ghazi II the affairs of
Mosul fell into disorder. Nur ud-din hastened to his nephew's dominions,
re-organised the state, and replaced Saif ud-din on the throne of Mosul,
keeping the control of the army in his own hands.
In the Moharram 567 a.h.
died the last of the Fatimides, and Egypt was restored to the spiritual control
of the Caliphs of Bagdad. From this time Saladin became the virtual master of
Egypt, ruling until the death of Nur ud-din Mahmud as his viceroy and
lieutenant, and afterwards as an independent sovereign. He was then about
thirty-five years of age. His father, Najm ud-din Ayub, son of Shadi, was, like
his brother Shirkuh, a trusted officer of Zangi, as well as of Nur ud-din
Mahmud. Saladin himself held various offices under this monarch before he
proceeded to Egypt with his uncle. He is described by his biographer as a
chivalrous, just, generous, and high-minded sovereign; most tender-hearted,
pious in his life, never indulging in anything reprehensible or unseemly, and
devoted to the promotion of his people's welfare.
In 569 a.h. he sent, with
the sanction of his suzerain, his brother Turan Shah to reduce Yemen, which was
successfully accomplished. And the death of Nur ud-din soon after, enabled
Saladin to consolidate his independent authority over the whole of Egypt, part
of Nubia, and Hijaz and Yemen. Nur ud-din left an only son, named Ismail
(al-Malik us-Saleh), barely eleven years of age at the time.
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