Middle East Kingdoms

The Zangid Atabegs of Mosul, Aleppo, & Damascus
AD 1127 - 1262

The Zangid Atabegs were Turkic governors in northern Syria, administering the region on behalf of the Seljuq sultan, Mahmud II. Once the territory of Crusader Edessa to the east of the Euphrates had been re-conquered, the Atabegs under Zangi I were appointed to govern Syria from Aleppo.

One of the more notable men to enter Zangi's service was Najm ad-Din Ayyub, a prominent Kurdish noble who had just become a father to Salah al-Din Yusuf Ibn Ayyub, more popularly known as Saladin. Najim moved his family to Aleppo around the time of Saladin's birth, and it was there that the future founder of the Ayyubid dynasty served under Ismail Nur ad Din.

1127 - 1146

Zangi I (Imad ad Din) / Zengi

Appointed by Seljuq Sultan Mahmud II, Atabeg of Mosul.

1144

The Zangids capture the County of Edessa from the Crusaders.

1146

Aleppo & Damascus are ruled independently from Mosul. The state breaks up into small rival principalities and Edessa is recaptured by the Crusaders for two months following Zangi's death.

Mosul (& Jazira)

1146 - 1149

Ghazi I (Sayf ad Din)

1149 - 1170

Mawdud (Qutb ad Din)

1170 - 1180

Ghazi II (Sayf ad Din)

1180 - 1193

Masud I (Izz ad Din)

1180 - 1208

Sanjar Shah (Muizz ad Din)

Ruled Jazira.

1186

From his base in Damascus, the Ayyubid sultan, Saladin takes Mosul in the same year.

1193 - 1211

Arslan Shah I (Nur ad Din)

Ruled Mosul.

1208 - 1241

Mahmud (Muizz ad Din)

Ruled Jazira.

1211 - 1218

Masud II (Izz ad Din)

Ruled Mosul.

1218 - 1219

Arslan Shah II (Nur ad Din)

Ruled Mosul.

1219 - 1234

Mahmud (Nasir ad Din)

Ruled Mosul.

1234 - 1259

Lu'lu (Badr ad Din)

Ruled Mosul & Lu'luid.

1234 - 1240

Sultan al-Kamil of Egypt sends his son, the future as-Salih II, to rule Damascus, removing him from the succession in Egypt after suspecting him of conspiring against him with the Mamelukes. His uncle, as-Salih Ismail, soon expels him from Damascus, and he flees to the Jazira, where he becomes allied to forces from the former emirate of Khwarazm.

1259 - 1262

Ismail (Rukn ad Din)

Ruled Lu'luid.

1241 - 1250

Masud al-Malik al-Zahir

Ruled Jazira.

1250

Jazira is conquered by the Ayyubids and then the Lu'luids.

1254 - 1262

Mongol dominion is established in 1254. The area is fully conquered in 1262.

Aleppo & Damascus

1147 - 1174

Mahmud Nur ad-Din

1154

The Second Crusade captures Damascus, leaving Mahmud with Aleppo.

1169

The formal career of Salah al-Din Yusuf Ibn Ayyub (or Saladin), begins when he serves on the staff of his uncle, Asad ad-Din Shirkuh, an important military commander under Mahmud. They are involved in a race with the Crusader kingdom of Jerusalem to conquer Fatamid Egypt. On 2 January 1169, the Crusaders retreat from their siege of the walls of Cairo and evacuate the region, allowing Shirkuh to take control as vizier (prime minister).

1171 - 1174

The caliph dies, ending Fatamid rule of Egypt and leaving the country in the control of Saladin, under the suzerainty of Mahmud Nur ad-Din. The latter's death in 1174 allows Saladin to assert his full control over Egypt, becoming the first Ayyubid sultan. He also takes overall control of Damascus.

1174 - 1181

Ismail Nur al-Din

Son of Zangi I. Vassal of Saladin?

1181 - 1183

Aleppo & Damascus are ruled by Sinjar. In 1183, Saladin conquers Aleppo, taking both cities out of Sinjar's control with the creation of an Ayyubid subsidiary dynasty in Damascus.

Sinjar

1171 - 1197

Zangi II Imad ad Din

Also ruled Damascus & Aleppo (1181-1183).

1181 - 1183

Aleppo and Damascus are absorbed into Sinjar in 1181. They are conquered by Saladin in 1183.

1183 - 1186

al Adil I (Sayf ad Din / Safadin) / Abu Bakr

Brother of Saladin & governor. Later sultan of Damascus (1196).

1197 - 1219

Muhammad Qutb ad Din

Ruled Sinjar alone.

1219 - 1220

Shahanshah Imad ad Din

1219 - 1220

Mahmud Jalal ad Din

1219 - 1220

Umar Fath ad Din

1220

Sinjar is conquered by the Ayyubids.