CRUSADE SERIES 6

Nur Al Din Zengi:

Nur Al Din Zengi was one of the two sons of Imad Al Din Zengi. After the death of Imad Al Din Zengi, Nur Al Din Zengi became the ruler of Aleppo.

Nur Al Din Abu Al Qasim Mahmud Ibn Imad Al Din Zengi was born in 11th feb 1118 AD. After becoming the ruler of Aleppo, Nur Al Din Zengi became a furious fighter against Crusaders.

As soon as he rose over his throne he made a successful lightning attack over the principality of Antioch. When the first crusaders captured Antioch in 1098 AD they killed more than 10000 innocent muslim children, women, men and elderly people. So Zengi went to recapture it. After this successful attack, Zengi turned towards Edessa.

Joscelin II made an attempt to capture Edessa which was snatched from christians by Imad Al Din Zengi in 1144 AD. This attempt was destroyed by Nur Al Din Zengi. This issue triggered Roman Christians to led a second war over muslims again which was later called as Second Crusade.

Second Crusade:

When christians failed to recapture Edessa from muslims, the members of Cistercian organization proclaimed a second war over muslims among all christians. Eugene III who was the pope of catholics at that period also proclaimed a second war over muslims.

As a result of these proclamations an army of 9,00,000 christian soldiers was gathered to march against muslims under the governance of King Louis VII of France and Duke Conrad III of Germany in 1148 AD.

As the help of God was with muslims, this christian army was brutally destroyed by Nur Al Din Zengi which made an end to the second crusaders. After the second Crusade Nur Al Din Zengi moved forward and captured even many territories of Crusaders.

Salahudin Ayubi:

Egypt was ruled by Fatimids. These fatimids were so much divided in politically that a party of them seeked help from Nur Al Din Zengi while another party seeked help from crusaders. Nur Al Din Zengi agreed to help Shawar to capture Egypt. As a result of this Shawar succeeded in capturing Egypt. But after this success Shawar betrayed Nur Al Din zengi. So Nur Al Din Zengi sent an army under the leadership of Shirkuh.

Shirkuh defeated Shawar and became the minister of Egypt under the approval Zengi. After the death of Shirkuh in 1169 AD, Salahudin Yousuff was appointed as the minister of Egypt.

Legacy of Nur Al Din Zengi:

Nur Al Din Zengi was a pious muslim. Eventhough he was a dreadful enemy of crusaders – he respected the rights of local native eastern orthodox christians. He was very just and wise.

During his regime he built more than 40 madarasas. Nur Al Din Zengi was awarded a diploma in hadith narration by his professors. He built many hospitals in the name of Bimaristans in his cities. He also built caravanserails on roads for travellers and pilgrims. He loved justice so much that he held court several times in a week to grant justice for people.

After his death in 15th may 1174 AD, Salahudin Ayubi took his role and began his stive against crusaders.