Muslim Political and religious division

• What did Shi'ah Fatimids believe

  • The authority and power came from the Prophet Muhammad
  • They claimed they were direct ascendants of 'Ali' and that any Fatimid could rule through his authority
  • Caliph was a symbolic role; Vizier did the day-to-day running of the government
• What land did the Shi'ah Fatimids have?

  • By 969, they controlled Egypt
  • By 1060s, they also controlled much of Palestine and Syria
  • However, by 1095, they could only keep territories such as: Tyre, Sidon and Acre
• What did Sunni Seljuks believe

  • A government should be run adhering to a Sunna - the customs of a prophet and Shari'a
  • Their ruler was a caliph, with sultans below
  • These Turks held land in: Iran, Iraq, Anatolia and Palestine
• What were weaknesses in 1095?

  • 1092 = Malik Shah's adviser - Nizam al-Mulk - was murdered. Malik Shah died a month later, causing a succession crisis
  • 1094 = Egyptian Vizier - Badr al-Jamali - died. The Fatimid Caliph al-Mustansir died later, causing a succession crisis
• What problems did Malik Shah's death cause to Seljuk control?

  • Malik Shah left Aleppo to his nephew - Ridwan - he was not favoured by Aleppans
  • The Atabeg of Mosul threatened Ridwan as he wanted to extend his authority over Northern Syria
  • Ridwan's brother, Dudaq and the emir of Antioch joined together to oppose Ridwan
  • Malik Shah's brother was killed in the fighting that followed
• Why was the Nicaea's location vital to both Muslims and ChristianS

  • Kilij Arsan was surrounded by many enemies: Byzantines to the west; Danishmed Turks to the north and greater Seljuks to the East and West
  • Nicaea was Kilij Arsan's captial city and also allowed access to the old military road in Asia Minor
• Siege of Nicaea - 1097

  • 7500 knights and 5000 infantry began to besiege Nicaea
  • Kilij only arrived on May 16th when the siege was in full force
  • May 21st, he fled south and abandoned his garrison
  • The Crusaders finally managed to force the garrison to surrendeur on the 18th of June 1097
  • The Crusaders were heavily aided by the Byzantine fleet managing to block the garrison from receiving supplies
• Reasons for Kilij's failure at Nicaea 1097

  • He had arrived late after being in conflict the the Danishmend Turks over Matalya. This allowed Crusaders time to: discuss strategies; secure supplies and launch offensive
  • He had lost his capital city, his family and most of his money
  • His troops were also heavily tired and outnumbered
• What was Kilij's plan to attack the Crusaders?

  • Kilij would find the crusader's when they were in small contingents, then allow his mounted archers to surprise attack them
  • He also united with the Danishmend Turks, and together had a force of around 6000
• Battle of Dorylaeum 1097

  • 1 July 1097 = Bohemond's forces who are meeting at the rendevouz at Dorylaeum are attacked by Turkish forces
  • Held their formation and ground for 5 hours of attack until Godfrey's contigent arrived
  • Kilij knew he stood no chance, so he fled
  • Inflicted heavy losses on the crusader's - 4000 dead
• Signifiance of Dorylaeum 1097

  • Byzantine reoccupation = The Byzantines had previously controlled most of Western Asia Minor, Anatolia and Nicaea. They could not reoccupy
  • Diminished Turkish threat = 3000 Muslims were killed, and this was fortunate for the Crusaders who were tired and could only march 5-10 miles a day
  • Education = The Crusaders learnt a lesson on how the Turks used feigned retreats and how powerful the mounted archers were. Also highlighted invincibility of more than 1 contingent together
• What were the early attempts to defeat the crusaders at Antioch?

  • In December 1097, the King of Damascus - Dudaq - led a relief force to help the city garrison, and attacked the crusaders on December 31st, but failed to achieve victory
  • In February 1098, Ridwan of Aleppo led 12000 troops to fight against the only small 700 knights. Despite their numerical superiority, Bohemond's skilled leadership prevailed and Ridwan's troops fled to Harim
• Kerbogha's final attempt on Antioch 1098

  • Kerbogha rallied 35000 troops - from Damascus and Mardin, arriving at Antioch in June
  • Despite the numerical advantage, once again Bohemond's strategy meant the crusaders won on June 28th 1098
• Reasons for Kerbogha's defeat at Antioch in 1098

  • Time Wasting = Spent 3 unsuccessful weeks in Edessa trying to recapture it from Baldwin. This time allowed the crusaders to enter Antioch
  • Division in his armies = By gathering forces all across the Seljuk Empire, he did not command them their their absolute loyalty
  • Seljuk Fatimid division = In February 1098, the Fatimids had proposed peace with the crusaders, meaning there would be no support for Kerbogha
• Why was the Crusader's journey to Jerusalem so easy?

  • Firsty, the crusaders came under very little opposition from the Muslims. The Arabs, Turks and Egyptians failed to decrease the crusader strength
  • Secondly, were the divisions, as the rulers of Aleppo and Damascus were more interested in fighting each other
  • Thirdly, the Seljuk division was exacerbated by the fact that it lacked control over Syria and Palestine. Lots of Shi'ah Muslims were ruled by Sunni Seljuks meaning they did not want to fight for the Seljuks
• Muslims failure to defend Jerusalem

  • The Fatimids had very little time to refortify Jerusalem
  • The siege engines that were used to take the city by the Fatimids had been discovered by the Franks
  • Did not have enough troops to defend Franks attack on 2 sides
  • They were duped by the Crusaders, as they faked to attack on one side, and the next morning attack on a different side, unopposed
• The Rise of Zengi

  • He was the Governor of Mosul and presented himself as the leader of a jihad
  • He managed to carve out a large principality in Syria through personality and force between 1127 and 1146
• Limits to Zengi's power

  • Damascene Turks = Under the rule of powerful atabeg Munin al-Din Unur who had an alliance secured with the Franks in 1140
  • Seljuk Turks of Anatolia = A block to the spread of his influence to the north-west of his territories
  • Franks = Threatened by Christians towards Tripoli eg Count Bertrand of Tripoli's unsuccessful attack mid 1130s
  • Byzantines = April 1138, Byzantine emperor John Commenus attack Shaizar, almost capturing it
• Why did Zengi attack Edessa

  • An alliance formed between the Artuqids of Diyr Bakr and Joscelin II of Edessa threatened Zengi
  • In late 1144, Joscelin was aiding a request from the Artuqids, meaning Edessa was vulnerable
• Why was Zengi's popularity falling before the capture of Edessa

  • His reputation had been strained from attacking fellow Muslims instead of Christians
  • In 1139, he seized Ba'albek from a fellow Muslim leader and slaughtered all the prisoners
  • Zengi's cities in Aleppo and Shaizar had also been vulnerable since the 1120s
• The Seizure of Edessa

  • November 1144, Zengi began to lay siege to Edessa
  • He had soldiers dig tunnels under the Northern part of the city and siege towers built
  • On December 23rd, he had the wooden props of the tunnels set on fire
  • The city was entered on December 24th and captured 2 days later, with 15000 Edessans killed
• Effect of the seizure of Edessa

  • Zengi had restored his reputation as a leader of a Jihad
  • He immediately captured Suruc in January 1145 and attacked Birecik in March 1145
  • Zengi was murdered by one of his Frankish slaves in 1146
• What were Nur ad-Din's goals

  • After inheriting Syria, he wanted to unite Syria under one Muslim leader and reduce the threat from the Franks on his western border
  • He would have to secure Damascus, Homs and Ba'albek whilst removing threat from Edessa and Antioch
• How did Nur tackle the Antiochene threat?

  • In 1146, he formed a alliance with the Seljuk Sultan of Rum, immediately capturing Hab and Kefer Lata, securing access to Aleppo
  • In June 1149, they won a crucial battle at the Battle of Inab along with a Damascene force
  • Following the battle, he negotiated a deal with the Franks and by the summer of 1150, successfully extended his border westwards
• How did Nur tackle the Eddessan threat?

  • In November 1146, the Edessan population tried to take back control of their city from Islamic rule
  • Nur arrived with his troops and took back control, around 30,000 were killed - ensured there would be no further uprisings
  • With the sultan or Rum, they began capturing the fortress towns of Edessa, with the last one, Turbessel being captured in 1151
• The unification of Syria under one ruler

  • In 1149, Nur's brother had died, meaning Mosul was open to claiming; despite desire, he settled for Homs
  • With the ruler of Damscus also dead in 1149, he tried to convince the inhabitants of Damascus, but to no avail as it was part of the Burid Dynasty
  • When he tried to take it in 1151, the Damascenes turned to Franks, as part of their treaty
  • It was not until 1154, when the Damascene ruler was deposed, that Nur could take it after an intensified blockade
• How did Nur's power grow from 1154

  • 1156 = Negotiated a treaty with the Franks which saw the revenues of Harenc shared
  • 1157 = Repelled an attack on Shaizar by the Franks
  • 1164 = Defeated the Franks at Artah, captured Bohemond III of Antioch and Raymond III of Tripoli
• What limits of power did Nur have after 1154?

  • 1159 = When Aleppo was threatened by invasion by Byzatine Emperor, Manuel Comenus, he agreed against the Sultan of Rum
  • 1163 = Defeated by the Franks at al-Buqay
• The issue of Egypt

  • Egypt would provide Nur enough resources and troops to attack the Franks, while surrounding them from the south and east; however, it was still in the control of the Fatimid caliph
  • The Franks had also launched 5 attacks in Egypt during the 1160s, on Cairo and Alexandria
  • 1167 = A truce signed between the Egyptian vizier and Franks offered them 400,000 dinars for them to stay in Egypt until Nur was defeated
• The Egyptian campaign: Saladin's rise

  • Saladin's record began as the nephew of Shirkuh in 1167, where he remained defending Alexandria
  • Despite agreeing to leave Alexandria in August 1167, in November 1168, the Franks attack Bilbeis; Saladin and Shirkuh were tasked to defend Cairo
  • When Almaric departed in January 1170, Shirkuh and Saladin stayed in Cairo, and Shirkuh began to place himself as vizier
  • Shawar died on January 18th, following on by Shirkuh's death in March 1169, allowing Saladin to rise
• The rift between Saladin and Nur

  • Despite seeming as a great victory for Nur, Saladin began to act autonomously
  • He placed family in power, with his brother immediately joining him and his father becoming Egypt's treasurer. This made him feel more secure eg. defeated a Frankish Byzantine attack in October 1169
• How did Saladin fail to act in accordance with Nur's wishes

  • September 1171 = Both prepared to attack the Franks; Saladin would take Shaubak and Nur would take Kerak. Saladin succeeded but then retreated before Nur reached him
  • 1173 = Saladin attacked the castles at Montreal and Kerak, and abandoned Nur before his arrival; instead consolidating land around Egypt
  • 1173 = When Nur asked for a financial audit to strengthen his position, Saladin in return sent extravagant gifts
• The Death of Nur ad-Din

  • Nur died on May 15th 1174, splitting up his territories in Egypt, Syria and Northern Iraq
  • Egypt = Saladin still maintained control
  • Syria = Inherited by Nur's son al-Salih and Damascenes formed alliance with Franks
  • Mosul = Inherited by Nur's nephew Said ad-Din
• How did Saladin secure Damascus

  • October 28th 1174, Saladin entered Damascus peacefully and unopposed, with no opposition from the Franks
  • Strengthened his position through the marriage to Nur's widow in Damascus in late 1176
• How did Saladin secure Aleppo

  • Late 1174 = Begins campaign to take Aleppo with Egyptian and Damascene forces
  • January 1175 = Has to abandon the siege of Aleppo
  • March 1175 = Captures Homs and Ba'albek
  • 1181 = Ruler of Aleppo, al-Salih dies
  • June 1183 = Surrender of Aleppo's lord Zengi II to Saladin
• How did Saladin secure Mosul in 1185

  • He used the same approach when attacking Aleppo, seizing the territory around it
  • Conquered the areas in the south and North surrounding Mosul
  • The Mosul King, Izz al-Din did not want to be drawn into battle and agreed the overlordship of Saladin in February 1186
• How did Saladin tackle the Frankish threat

  • From 1170 - 1183, Saladin partook in successful offensives against the Franks
  • He acquired control of Gaza, Aila and Buria
• Examples of Saladin's setbacks against the Franks

  • 1177 = Defeated by Franks at Montgisard when trying to secure Ascalon, losing 1000 men
  • 1182 = Unsuccessfully captured coastal town of Beirut
  • 1183 = Despite plundering Galilee, could not draw Franks out for battle
  • 1183 = Saladin besieged castle of Kerak with Artuqids, but withdrew in September 1184
• Saladin's attack on Tiberias

  • He had his son al-Afdal lead a force of 7000 into Galilee, where they defeated a force of 130 knights at Cresson
  • May 1187 = Saladin gathered 30,000 men and 12000 calvary
  • June 1187 = Guy assembled 20,000, including 1200 mounted knights
  • July 2nd = Guy began a march to Tiberias when he heard the news of Tiberias being captured
• Battle of Hattin

  • Descending on July 3rd, he passed through the village of Turan - their last supply of water
  • Camped outside Meskenah, Muslims troops would attack during the night
  • On July 4th, Guy knew for his troops to fight they needed water, so he set his sights for the Horns of Hattin but Saladin stood in his way
  • After a lengthy fight and Raymond III of Tripoli's escape, Guy and Reynald of Chatillon were captured, along with the True Cross from the First Crusade