Ayyubid dynasty
Syria, 1171–1250. Draft, not yet reviewed
The Ayyubid dynasty, also known as the Ayyubid Sultanate, was a Sunni Muslim dynasty of Kurdish origin that founded the medieval Sultanate of Egypt, which was established by Saladin in 1171, following his abolition of the Fatimid Caliphate. Saladin rapidly expanded the new sultanate beyond Egypt to encompass most of Syria, in addition to Hejaz, Yemen, northern Nubia, Tripolitania and Upper Mesopotamia. Most of the Crusader states fell to Saladin after his victory at the Battle of Hattin in 1187, but the Crusaders reconquered the Syrian coastlands in the 1190s. In 1260, the Mongols sacked Aleppo and conquered the Ayyubids' remaining territories soon after.
Seat of power: Damascus
Rulers
Saladin
Sultan of Egypt, 1169–1193
He was the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty and the first sultan of both Egypt and Syria. At the height of his power, the Ayyubid realm spanned Egypt, Syria, Upper Mesopotamia, the Hejaz, Yemen, and Nubia.
Portrait of Saladin: Classical Numismatic Group (CNG), CC BY-SA 2.5, file
._AH_564-589_(1169-1193_CE)_%C3%86_Dirham_(30.1mm,_13.28_g,_6h)._Without_mint-name._Dated_AH_586_(AD_1190-91)._Sultan_sitting_facing,_cross-legged,_on_high-backed_throne_(obverse).jpg){kind=link}
Al-Aziz Uthman
Sultan of Egypt, 1193–1198
He was the second Ayyubid Sultan of Egypt and the second son of Saladin. Despite Al-Aziz having specifically inherited suzerainty over the whole Ayyubid empire, soon he had to face revolts by the Zengid emirs of Mosul and by the Artuqids in southern Iraq.
Portrait of Al-Aziz Uthman: Francesco Bini, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Al-Mansur Nasir al-Din Muhammad
Sultan of Egypt, 1198–1200
He was the third Ayyubid Sultan of Egypt, reigning in 1198-1200. Al-Mansur succeeded his father al-Aziz Uthman on the latter's death in 1198, at the age of twelve.
Portrait of Al-Mansur Nasir al-Din Muhammad: rac56 (uploader on Zeno.ru), Attribution, file
.jpg){kind=link}
Al-Adil I
Sultan of Egypt, 1200–1217
He was the fourth Sultan of Egypt and Syria, and brother of Saladin. A gifted and effective administrator and organizer, Al-Adil provided crucial military and civilian support for the great campaigns of Saladin.
Portrait of Al-Adil I: CNG, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
.jpg){kind=link}
Al-Kamil
Sultan of Egypt, 1218–1238
During his tenure as sultan, the Ayyubids defeated the Fifth Crusade. As a result of the Sixth Crusade, he ceded West Jerusalem to the Christians and is known to have met with Saint Francis.
Portrait of Al-Kamil: Benozzo Gozzoli (1420–1497), Public domain, file
_-_WGA10241.jpg){kind=link}
Al-Adil II
Sultan of Egypt, 1238–1240
When his father al-Kamil, nephew of Saladin, died in 1238, al-Adil II followed him somewhat unprepared. When the country plunged into anarchy, his exiled half-brother, as-Salih Ayyub, seized the opportunity and deposed him.
Portrait of Al-Adil II: M medhat. (uploader on Zeno.ru), Attribution, file
As-Salih Najm al-din Ayyub
Sultan of Egypt, 1240–1249
He was the Ayyubid ruler of Egypt from 1240 to 1249. In 1234 his father sent him to rule Damascus. He restored the unity of the Ayyubid realm by subduing most of Syria, except Aleppo, by 1247.
Portrait of As-Salih Najm al-din Ayyub: 1555 artist, Bukhara, Public domain, file
,_Prince_of_Damascus_and_great-nephew_of_Saladin,_conversing_with_Dervishes_he_has_met_at_the_Mosque._(The_Pleasure_Garden,_by_Sadi_of_Shiraz._Bokhara,_1555._Bib._Nat.,_Paris.).jpg){kind=link}
Al-Muazzam Turanshah
Sultan of Egypt, 1249–1250
A member of the Ayyubid Dynasty, he became Sultan of Egypt for a brief period in 1249-50. He was soon overthrown by his Mamluk generals, who had repelled a Crusader invasion of the Nile Delta.
Portrait of Al-Muazzam Turanshah: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
.jpg){kind=link}
Culture
- This period was also marked by an Ayyubid process of vigorously strengthening Sunni Muslim dominance in the region by constructing numerous madrasas (Islamic schools of law) in their major cities.
- Arabic culture and language formed the main component of their identity instead of their Kurdish heritage.
- Under the Ayyubids, Egypt, which had previously been a formally Shi'a caliphate, became the dominant Sunni political and military force, and the economic and cultural centre of the region.
Picture
The Citadel of Aleppo is a large medieval fortified palace in the centre of the old city of Aleppo, and most of its present construction is thought to originate from the Ayyubid period.
Image: Memorino, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.