In 1179, turmoil prevailed in the Egyptian capital of Cairo. Egyptian forces surrounded the palace of Prime Minister Saladin Ayubi. The people had also joined the rebels. The archers on the buildings around were also shooting arrows at the palace. Saladin Ayubi was besieged in his palace. It seemed the angry soldiers would kill him in one or two hours. How did Saladin Ayubi deal
with this crisis? What happened that Nur ad-Din Zengi's sons were terming Saladin a tyrant? What happened to the Fatimid
and Zengi kingdoms? I am Faisal Warraich and in Dekho, Suno, Jano's series... ...the Crusades and Ayyubi's sixth episode,... ...will show you all that. When Saladin Ayubi became the Prime Minister of Egypt in 1169... ...he faced two major challenges. The major challenge was to end
the court intrigues... ...and the second challenge was to maintain loyalty to Nur ad-Din Zengi. You have learned in the previous video... ...that Egypt was conquered
by Saladin's uncle Shirkuh. Shirkuh was the commander
of Nur ad-Din Zengi... ...and he had given him money and the army to get control over Egypt. Now Shirkuh was no more... ..but his nephew Saladin was in principle subject to Nur ad-Din Zengi. So now he had to be loyal to both of them. And he was the Prime Minister of Egypt... ...meaning he had to continue
to obey Nur ad-Din Zengi... ...and also prove good to his kingdom as the minister of the Fatimid Caliphate. That is, was sailing in two boats... ...and keeping balance in them
was a very difficult task. Soon after taking over Saladin Ayubi focused on the first major challenge. That is, dealing with the court intrigues. The Fatimid courtiers thought they can get control over the young minister. But when they saw that this minister was a man of his own will... ...they started plotting. The caretaker of the Fatimid Haram was called Motman-e-Khilafat. An Abyssinian eunuch held this position. He started inciting the Fatimid army against the new minister. He also wrote letters to the crusader king Amalric in Jerusalem... ...asking him to invade Egypt and rid them of this Zengi minister. Saladin Ayubi was aware of
this man's intrigues. He had established an excellent intelligence system in Cairo. This system got hold of a letter
from the eunuch. Saladin Ayubi also knew that... ...a rebellion was also brewing against him in the Fatimid army. Given this situation, Saladin Ayubi immediately... ...wrote to Nur ad-Din Zengi... ...and requested that his elder brother Turan Shah... ...and father, Ayub, along with some relatives, be sent to Egypt. Nur ad-Din sent all these
relatives to Egypt. Saladin also had a Syrian army with him. His uncle Shirkuh had brought this army with him when he invaded Egypt. After Egypt was won, many of the soldiers returned to Syria but some were left. Saladin appointed Turan Shah
his commander. In addition, new Syrian and Kurdish soldiers were also recruited... ...to increase the number of their loyalists. After these preparations,
Saladin took a crucial step. On his orders, Turan Shah arrested Khwaja Motman-e-Khilafah and killed him. As soon as the news of this murder spread in Cairo... ...a mutiny took place in
the Egyptian army. The Egyptian army mostly consisted of Sudanese and Armenians. The rebellion was started by
the Sudanese soldiers. Thousands of soldiers gathered in the main square of the city... ...near the Prime Minister's palace... ...which had the palaces of other
courtiers around. The palace of Khalifa Al-Azad was
also nearby. Armenian archers were on the roofs of all these palaces... and they were still silent
spectators in this battle. They were neither helping Saladin Ayubi nor the Sudanese soldiers. When the Sudanese troops gathered in front of the minister's palace... ...a large number of civilians
also joined them. These people wanted to remove Saladin from the office... ...considering him an alien in Egypt. Their joining strengthened the
Sudanese army greatly. According to some, their number
was up to 50,000. However, Saladin Ayubi also sent his loyal troops to fight them. Under the command of Turan Shah, they clashed with the Sudanese forces. And fighting broke out outside the palace. For two or three days, the bloodletting continued in this narrow place... ...but no one could get an edge. But after a few days, suddenly
the tables turned. Armenian archers on the roofs and walls started to shoot arrows at Saladin's army. When Saladin Ayubi saw this situation,
he immediately... ...sent a stern message to
the Fatimid Caliph al-Azad. He said if shooting did not stop all palaces shooters were on will be set on fire. Caliph al-Azad had lost control over the Sudanese troops... ...but the Armenian archers on the rooftops were still his loyal. He immediately withdrew the Armenian troops from the battle. When the arrows stopped, Saladin forces began to get the upper hand in the battle. The Sudanese forces retreated and got trapped in the narrow streets of the city. Then suddenly they got terrible news. According to historian
Rashid Akhtar Nadwi... on the orders of Saladin, the residential areas of Sudanese were set on fire. Families of Sudanese also lived
in this area. The Sudanese ran to save their
families from the fire... ...and in the process lost their lives at the hand of the Ayyubid forces. However, some soldiers asked for peace and were given protection. Saladin Ayubi succeeded in his first test. He foiled the biggest coup
against his ministry. Soon after, in October 1169, the Crusader ruler of Jerusalem, Amalric, invaded Egypt. He besieged the city of Damietta
near the river Nile. However, Saladin Ayubi, with the military help of Nur ad-Din... ...forced the Crusaders to retreat
from Damietta. After that, Amalric never
dared invade Egypt. The end of the Sudanese rebellion
and the defeat of Amalric... ...established awe of the Saladin Ayubi's rule in Egypt. Conspiracies against him stopped. He began to rule peacefully. Muslim and non-Muslim historians alike agree that... Saladin's reign was
a period of prosperity for Egypt. Al-Fustat area of Cairo which the past minister Shawar had destroyed... ...was restored by Saladin. He abolished taxes on merchants,
artists and industrialists. The Zakat system was launched. Apart from it, converted many buildings of the Fatimid government... ... into hospitals, markets and educational institutions. He also strengthened the Egyptian army. During the reign of Saladin, Egypt made great economic progress. Trade increased. Traders from many European countries also came and settled in Cairo. Many Jews also left Asia and Europe and settled in Egypt. The internal challenge facing Saladin in Egypt was over. But now he faced another challenge. It was a challenge to show loyalty
to Nur ad-Din Zengi. Saladin was the minister
of the Fatimids. But... ...Nur ad-Din was his actual boss. ...Because he was the one who
sent the Ayyubid to Egypt. Now his real master was
making a demand... ...which was not immediately possible for Saladin Ayyubi to fulfil. What was this demand? That the Zengi Empire and the Fatimid Caliphate differed in faith. The Fatimid Caliphs thought they were spiritual leaders of the Islamic world. But for Nur ad-Din, the Abbasid Caliphate of Baghdad was the true spiritual leader. When Saladin Ayubi became
the minister of Egypt... ...this religious difference came
to the fore. Nur ad-Din Zengi repeatedly
wrote to Salah al-Din... ...to immediately end
the Fatimid Caliphate. In Syria and Iraq, efforts to this end also started at the public level. Many from Syria came to Egypt and campaigned to end the Fatimid Caliphate. A person from Mosul reached Cairo and... ...read a sermon in the name of the Abbasid Caliph in a mosque. In the past, sermon in mosques was read in the name of the Caliph. So in Egypt, it was the name of
the Fatimid Caliph. But due to Nur ad-Din Zengi, the situation had begun to change in Egypt. And efforts were underway to name
the Abbasid Caliph. But Saladin Ayubi did not go
with this change. It was not possible for him to follow
Nur ad-Din's orders immediately. He knew a majority in Egypt considered the Fatimid Caliph as their leader. If an attempt is made to abolish the caliphate, there may be a public uprising. Saladin Ayubi had also become a friend of the Fatimid Caliph al-Azad. He didn't want to stab his friend
in the back. That is why he constantly dilly-dallied to end the Fatimid caliphate. Nur ad-Din Zengi grew in
anger over this attitude. He several times ordered Saladin to appear in his court. But Saladin Ayubi thought if they
both met... ...he will be the loser. It might cost him his life or
at least the rule. So, he would not go to meet him taking the excuse of his political difficulties in Egypt. His behaviour made the relationship
even worse. Meanwhile, it also happened once or twice that Saladin Ayubi... ...went to Syria and Jordan in connection with military campaigns. As soon as Nur ad-Din knew of Saladin's arrival, he would go to meet him. But when Saladin heard about his arrival... ...he would return to Egypt
under some pretext. Thus Nur ad-Din Zengi and Saladin Ayubi never came face to face. When Nur ad-Din saw Saladin was neither attending to his calls... ...nor ending the Fatimid Caliphate... ...he became very enraged. He planned to attack Egypt. When Saladin Ayubi got this information, he called his close people for advice. Saladin's father Najmuddin Ayyub was also present in this meeting. Some nobles suggested confronting
Nur ad-Din if he attacked Egypt. But on this occasion, his father Najmuddin Ayyub stepped forward... ...and scolded everyone severely. He questioned his son... ...'is any other than me love you more and wish you well?' Saladin answered, 'nay.' On this, Najmuddin said, "listen, we cannot dare... ...not to fall at the Sultan's feet
after seeing him." 'If he would also order us to behead you... ...we will comply with this order.' 'If the Sultan wants to depose you... ...why take pains of military action for it? For it, only writing is enough. After saying this, Ayyub ended
the meeting. When everyone left, Ayyub explained to his son that you are still inexperienced. You should not speak out your
heart before everyone. If Nur ad-Din learns it, he will make a special purpose of eliminating you. At that time no one around you
will support you. Rather, the same people will catch and hand you over to Nur ad-Din. What I said before them, they would also convey to Nur ad-Din. Therefore, write a letter to Nur ad-Din... ...stating, why your majesty, needs to take pains of deposing me. Send a lowly servant. He will put a rope around my neck and present me before you. Saladin obeyed his father's order... ...and wrote the same letter to Nur ad-Din. Meanwhile, the Sultan had learned about the meeting from the rest of the nobles... ....that Najmuddin had supported him. Therefore, he was satisfied and gave up the intention to attack Egypt. Rather, he wrote a letter to Saladin
to show confidence in him. Momentarily a fight between Nur ad-Din and Saladin Ayubi was averted. But Saladin was sure of a clash with Nur ad-Din Zengi anytime in future. So he sent his brother Turan Shah
to conquer Yemen. Why sent? Some historians claim that
Saladin Ayubi believed... ...that if Nur ad-Din somehow
conquered Egypt... ...Saladin would move to Yemen
with his family. Yemen was far away from Zengi Empire and Egypt... ...and it was not easy for Nur ad-Din to pursue them there. Turan Shah captured many coastal areas of Yemen, including the city of Aden. Thus, Saladin Ayubi got a place... ...which could provide him shelter
when the time came. In order to turn Nur ad-Din Zengi's heart towards him... ...he also initiated the end of
the Fatimid Caliphate. It happened that Fatimid Caliph Al-Azad fell seriously ill at the age of 20 years... ...and was often semi-conscious. He was unable to mobilize the people in favour of the caliphate. His health was failing him. Saladin put the name of the Abbasid caliph in sermons without informing him. When someone asked him to also inform the Fatimi Caliph about this... ...Saladin Ayubi refused. He said Al-Azad would know it himself on getting recovered. If he is not recovering and going to die... ...then I would not like to trouble him with this utterance at his last moment. Al-Azad died without knowing he was the last of the Fatimid Caliphate. The Fatimid Caliphate ended after him. Al-Azad had no successor. Thus the matter was settled
without any bloodshed. The Fatimid Caliphate established
in 909, ended in 1171. That is, after 262 years, the Fatimid Caliphate came to an end. Now Saladin Ayubi became the first
and the last ruler of Egypt. Generally, people call him
Sultan Saladin Ayubi. But... ...according to historian Amin Maaloof, he himself never took this title. That is, he did not call himself 'Sultan'. Books say it seems he called himself Amir Saladin Ayubi instead of Sultan. But 'Sultan' was permanently prefixed to his name after his death. Two years after the end of
the Fatimid Caliphate, in 1173... ...Saladin Ayubi's father Najmuddin Ayyub fell seriously ill. Then Saladin Ayubi was out of Egypt
on a military campaign. Nur ad-Din Zengi was also
coming to meet him. But as soon as Saladin Ayubi came to know about his father's illness... ...he returned to Egypt without
meeting Nur ad-Din. After some time his father died. Nur ad-Din, who had not yet attacked Egypt in view of Ayub, changed his mind. According to Arab Historian
Amin Maalouf... ...he began preparations to take away Egypt from Saladin Ayubi. He also accused Saladin... ...of showing reluctance to wage jihad against the Crusaders. Nur ad-Din started preparations
for war on a large scale. He had also called an army from
Mosul to help him. But in the meantime, Nature helped Saladin Ayubi... ...and Nur ad-Din Zangi fell ill
and died in Damascus. On May 15, 1174, it was announced... ...that Nur ad-Din Mahmud, Sufi king and mujahid who united Muslim Syria... ...and prepared the Arab world for a decisive war against the Crusaders... ...had died. That night all the mosques of Damascus were filled with people... and they prayed for him. Not all historians endorse Nur ad-Din's preparations for an attack on Egypt. Historian Abd al-Rahman Azzam writes... ...that in 1173 Nur ad-Din audited
the treasury of Egypt... ...so that he could collect tribute
from there. Saladin Ayubi did not object to it... ...and allowed the audit. As per historians, Nur ad-Din and Saladin Ayubi's relations had no problems... ...and there was no fault at all that
could lead to war. Yes, the situation was different
after Nur ad-Din died. Now Saladin thought he had better
take control of the Zangi Empire... ...as he was the most powerful in the region, so better rule to escape the chaos. The biggest weakness of
the Zengi Empire was... ...that it did not have a powerful successor to Nur ad-Din. On the throne of Nur ad-Din, his son Al-Salih Ismail was installed when he... ...was merely 11 years of age. The management of the government was in the hands of his courtiers. These courtiers were allegedly
involved in palatial intrigues. Rebellions also broke out in
the Zengi Empire. Some powerful of the Zengi family also began to exercise their free will. This information was also
reaching Saladin Ayubi. He wrote a harsh letter to the nobles
of Nur ad-Din. He wrote, "If Nur ad-Din had more confidence in any of you than me,... ...he would have taken the government of Egypt from me and given to you... ...or had willed it to you. ...Since I was not present at the time
of his death... ...so he could not make me
the guardian of his son. Death did not give him the time for it. If I come to Damascus and take you
to a task that you will never forget." Then no reply was written by the Zengi Empire to Saladin Ayubi... ...which stated, 'Sir you are the same who was going to fight Nur ad-Din.' So we can say that... ... the tale about Nur ad-Din Zengi and Saladin fight in the last moment... ... has little truth. But it was clear Saladin Ayubi wanted control over al-Salih and to end Amirs. This letter turned
Zengi's courtiers against Saladin. To the extent that they did not even like to take Saladin's name... ...but called him unfaithful, arrogant and like names in their conversation. Once they also conveyed to Saladin that, "Yusuf, you have crossed all the limits. You were merely an employee
of Nur ad-Din... ...and now you want his power? And don't forget, it were us who gave you the rise when you were nobody... ...and now we can again push you back to that obscurity.” Despite this strong message,
the courtiers knew... ...that they could not contend with Saladin Ayubi. Because Saladin was the ruler
of a wealthy region. With Egyptian wealth, he was able to build an army stronger than the Zengi Empire. Compared to him, the Zangis neither had such a powerful army... ...nor a commander like Saladin. So it happened after sending some threatening letters, Saladin Ayubi... ...regularly ran his horses
towards Damascus. A few months after Nur ad-Din's death... ...in October, Saladin reached Damascus from Cairo with only 700 horsemen. It was a small force but as soon as this news reached the court of Damascus... ... a panic was created. People presumed Ayubi has come
along with heavy force. All the courtiers and the Zangi family took young ruler al-Salih to Aleppo. After that Saladin Ayubi occupied Damascus without any resistance. Meanwhile, more forces from Egypt also arrived to help Saladin. Then he advanced from Damascus towards Homs and Hama. The people of these cities fought Saladin. But the Ayyubid force defeated them and took control of the cities. In whatever city Saladin went to, he said... ...that he was doing so in the name of
Nur ad-Din and his successor, Al-Salih. He gave the impression that by control over the entire empire... ... he actually wanted to enthrone Al Salih. He also said that control over all
the territories aimed... ...to save them from Crusader attacks as Nur ad-Din's courtiers were not able to. People believed his words. In many cities, people surrendered after they heard these words. We cannot say for sure, what
Saladin Ayubi intended? Whether he wanted to rule himself keeping al-Salih Zengi in his control... ...or indeed he intended to make
Nur ad-Din's successor the actual ruler. It may be he concealed his real purpose as per his father's advice. But apparently, Amir Ayubi's point of view was in favour of Al-Salih... ...and a number of people believed it. Saladin named Al-Salih as Sultan in Damascus and Cairo's mosque sermons. Apart from it the coins in
Egypt and Syria... also bore the name of Al-Salih. Ayubi himself wrote letters to Al-Salih assuring him of his loyalty. At one point, Saladin Ayubi captured a fort called Azaz near Aleppo. Without Azaz, the defence of Aleppo
was particularly difficult. The people of Aleppo sent the young daughter of Nur ad-Din Zengi to Saladin. This girl asked Saladin to return
them Azaz. Saladin Ayubi gave gifts to
Nur ad-Din's daughter... ...and also returned the fort of Azaz. In other words, Saladin Ayubi
gave every impression... ...that Al-Salih was the real Zengi ruler. And Saladin Ayubi was doing military operations to protect him. Within a few months, Saladin Ayubi had control of the nearby areas of Aleppo. In December 1174, Saladin Ayubi besieged Aleppo as well. Standing outside the city, he announced... ...that his act aims to protect Al-Salih from his adverse advisers. It seemed that the end of the Zengi Empire was near. But at this point, the young Al-Salih came into the field and the game changed. One day Al-Salih Zangi left the palace on request by anyone or on his own... ...and made an impassioned speech before the people. He said, "You will well remember what favours my father has done to you. I am now an orphan, you are
all my guardians. This tyrant Saladin Ayubi has come to take away the kingdom from me. This oppressor does not fear Allah, nor fear of His creatures and their reaction." The people of Aleppo were deeply moved by this speech. They refused to surrender to
Saladin Ayubi... ...and put up a fierce resistance. When Saladin Ayubi saw this strong resistance, he understood that... ...the city would not be conquered
without bloodshed. This situation was against his strategy. He wanted to take control of the empire without much bloodshed... ...so that the people would not resent him. He ended the siege of Aleppo. Over the next seven years... ...he besieged Aleppo several times... ...but every time he retreated due to resistance of the citizens. To get rid of this problem, it was necessary that... ...a commander of Al-Salih or he himself would defeat Saladin in Egypt. But the Zengi Empire did not
have a commander... ...who could fight a decisive battle with Amir Ayubi and win. So his courtiers played a trick... ...that even a cautious person like Ayubi, could not imagine. What manoeuvre this was? This is Masyaf fort. During Ayubi's rule, Al-Hashishan, a group of assassins, had headquartered this fort. They were called Fidayeen
(suicide attackers). This group was spread over many
Muslim countries. Its assassins had killed countless Muslims particularly... ....religious scholars and political figures. The stronghold of this group was
the fort of Alamut in Iran. But it also had an offshoot in Syria. Masyaf Fort was the centre of this branch. Rashid ad-Din Sinan was
the head of the Fort. He was called the Old Man of the Mountain because his fort was on a hill. The Zengi family paid heavily to Sinan... ...to get him ready to assassinate
Saladin Ayubi. So many assassins went after Saladin. They were dangerous killers who were very difficult to avoid. These people were like suicide bombers... ...and they were trained as assassins. The first attack on Saladin Ayubi
took place in 1175. Even at that time, he had
besieged Aleppo. A few assassins entered Saladin's camp. As they reached close to his tent, suddenly a courtier recognized them and... ...he shouted to the guards. The guards came running and
surrounded the assassins. But the assassins were also not
going to give up. They fought fiercely and kept trying
to reach Saladin Ayubi. The soldiers encircled Saladin Ayubi... ...and continued to fight the assassins. Suddenly, an assassin broke through and reached right before Saladin Ayubi. But before he could strike, a soldier cut him off with a sword. All other assassins were also killed. No one surrendered. This life attempt disturbed
Saladin Ayubi so much... ...that he soon ended the siege of Aleppo. A year after, the second murder attack took place on May 22, 1176. At that time, Saladin was on a military action near Aleppo. Four assassins entered his camp. An assassin came near him... ...and stabbed him hard in the face
with a knife. A Saladin Ayubi's face was injured
and started to bleed. Meanwhile, his guards finished off
the assassin. After that, the remaining three murderers were also killed. Saladin Ayubi was taken to his tent
in an injured state. After that, the entire military camp
was searched. The strangers were arrested. People unknown to Saladin personally were also turned out of the camp... ...and security was tightened. In the second attack, Saladin Ayubi
had a narrow escape. He was furious and decided to teach the assassins a terrible lesson. He ended the military campaign
in Aleppo... ...and headed for the fort of
the assassins, Masyaf. In August 1176, the Ayyubid army besieged Masyaf. But after some time, suddenly,
the siege was lifted. No one knows todate why Sultan Ayubi retreated from this place. However, many anecdotes
go in this regard. One says, assassin's head, Sinan wrote to Saladin through his grandfather. The letter carried the threat... ...that his entire family will be killed. It implied that killers will also be unleashed on them. Saladin Ayubi might have lifted the siege due to this threat. A legend goes that Rashid ad-Din Sinan and his two companions... ...were not in the fort when
the siege began. Both had hidden on a hill near the fort, avoiding sight. After a few days, Saladin came to know these three people hid there. He sent an army contingent
to arrest them. But when his soldiers reached
that hill... ...a mysterious force allegedly
tied their hands and feet. Thus they could not move forward. On this occasion, Sinan came in front of these soldiers... ...and said, "Give my message to Saladin... ...that I want to meet him in private." The soldiers, frightened by
the unseen force... ...ran back and told Saladin
the whole story. Saladin was upset over it. He refused to meet Sinan... ...and became concerned about
his safety. On his orders, ashes was scattered
around the royal tent... ...so that footprints could be traced out if anyone reached there secretly. That way it was easy to trace
that person out. Torches were lit around the tent and soldiers were deployed. Suddenly at night, Saladin
woke up nervous. He saw the lamps of the tent
were blown out. It is pitch dark and someone is
rushing out of the tent. As per a document of the assassins, Saladin thought it was Sinan himself... ...who was leaving. Saladin got up and called the soldiers. When the lamps were lit again
in the tent, everyone saw... ...a poisoned cake and, some say, a knife lay on the bed. A piece of paper was also there
which read... ...that you are within our reach. That means 'we can kill you
whenever we want.' Saladin asked his guards why
did you not stop that person. But they swore they did not see anything. Then everyone came out and checked. There were footprints on the ashes outside the tent... ...which at a distance ended
on the stony ground. Who came? No one could know it. The next day, Saladin Ayubi ended the siege and returned to Damascus. This anecdote itself reveals... ... a little truth and exaggeration
in the story. Because the story in which the unseen forces show colours is fiction... ...and not at all a historical event. Modern historians do not accept it. Apart from this, there is
another anecdote... that Sinan himself urged for peace
and the siege was ended. However, no one knows the real reason for Saladin's retreat from Masyaf Fort. However, it is a fact that after
the end of the siege... ...the assassins did not attack
Saladin Ayubi. It goes that Saladin also made Sinan his friend. And his assassins joined the Ayubi army and fought the Crusaders. It is the reason, this analysis seems historically more accurate... ...that the siege was lifted
under a peace agreement. Saladin Ayubi escaped the assassins... ....but his conflict with the Zengi regime in Aleppo lasted several years. During that time, he also made a peace agreement with the Zengis... ...under which the Zengi Empire was divided into two. The areas Saladin Ayubi had occupied... ...continued in his control, that is, the Ayyubid Empire was set up there. In the rest of the areas, the rule of the Zengis was recognized. That, from Egypt to nearby Damascus and Aleppo, it was the Ayyubid Empire. The areas from Aleppo to Mosul remained under the Zengi control. After this agreement, Saladin also ended the so-called subordination of the Zengis. He declared himself an independent ruler. Then Al-Salih's name on the coins and sermons was replaced with his name. Then it was a tradition that
every Muslim ruler... ...from the Abbasid Caliph of Baghdad, would get a letter... ... a certificate, meaning endorsement... ...and a precious robe called
Khilaat, as gifts. It was a formality that meant... that the Muslim Caliph of the time has certified the legitimacy of your rule. It did not make any difference except legitimising both the caliph and the rulers. Saladin also got certification and khilaat from the Abbasid Caliphate... ...which meant he has been recognized officially in rule. With Ayubi's recognition, the Zengis and the Ayyubids patch-up also began to end. After some time, both sides started attacking each other. The Zengi courtiers wanted Al-Salih to take Saladin Ayubi to task when grew up. In the year 1181, Al-Salih was
18 years of age. Now he could command a large army to take back his kingdom. But even on this occasion too... ....one of the innumerable possibilities shrouded in time... ...again went in favour of the Ayubi family. Young Al-Salih suddenly fell seriously ill. Some say that he was poisoned... ...but it was not clear who did it? It goes that at his last moment, physicians asked him to drink alcohol for his life. Al-Salih called in a religious scholar... ...so that he could explain the legitimacy of taking alcohol in illness. So a scholar was called. He gave a fatwa to allow him to drink alcohol as a remedy for the cure. Al-Salih listened to the scholar and gave a surprising answer. He said when God has decided
to kill me... ...will He change the decision
seeing me drinking? 'I don't want to meet my Creator with... ...something forbidden in my stomach.' So he did not drink alcohol
and died in that condition. 18 months after that in June 1183, Saladin Ayubi also occupied Aleppo. After Damascus and Aleppo's capture, the Zangi dynasty became limited to Mosul... ....where some members of
the dynasty still ruled. Although Saladin Ayubi attacked Mosul several times... ...but he failed to capture it. Later he made peace with
the rulers of Mosul. The Zengi rulers provided military support to Saladin in future. The Zengi dynasty ruled Mosul until 1250. However, Saladin Ayubi excepting Fatimid Empire and Mosul... ...had now become the ruler of the whole Zengi Empire. In just 10 years from 1171 to 1181... ...he ended two major empires and established a new Ayyubid Empire. But they all were petty challenges
for Saladin Ayubi. The real test of his life was yet to begin. And this was, to take back Jerusalem
from the Crusaders. But for it, Saladin Ayubi needed
to use his full power. Saladin realized it when the Crusaders defeated him in a battle. What was the story of this war? How did Saladin Ayubi save Madinah
from the Crusade? You will also see the story of the decisive battle of Al-Hatin... ...but in the next episode of 'The Crusades and Ayyubi.' Saladin's decision to take control of the Zengi Empire was right or wrong... ...do tell us through your comments. The Crusades are an important chapter in Islamic and Christian history. To understand these battles, you need to know them from the beginning. How Pope Benedict started
the Crusades from Europe? This whole story from the start,
you can see in this playlist. See here how the Taliban fought
the US in Afghanistan. And see our podcasts here.
