Nur Addin Zengi: Saladin S Mentor. ( Part 1)

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All of great people have a mentor. And, one of them, Saladin ( Shalahuddin Al-Ayyubi) has a great mentor, his great mentor is Nur Addin Zengi, Islamic Hero in Second Crusade, how role of Nur Addin Zengi in Second Crusade? Lets read this article until end and before this, please subscribe my blog for more information about Islamic History.

Nur Addin is second son from Imad Ad-Din Zengi, founder of Zengid Dynasty, after his father s die, Nur Addin lead Territories Of Aleppo and his older brother, Sayf Ad Din, lead Territories Of Mosul, for know about Imad Ad-Din Zengi s biography and his role, please read this article bellow:

Imad Ad Din Zengi: The Forgotten Hero. - ACITYA HISTORY

According Imam Dhahabi, Nur Addin born at Syawwal, 511 H,  Imam Dhahabi dont mentioned about his childhood and his teenager age, only tell, he became a Ruler Of Aleppo, after die of his father, Imad Ad Din Zengi.

Imad Ad Din s attack to Edessa that became factor Muslim can seize Edessa from Crusader at 1144 AD, make Pope Eugenius III( die 1153 AD) planned a New Crusade for defeat Zengid Dynasty. At 1146 Ad, Pope s messenger, Santo Bernard, provocate the people of Europe to join the New Crusade againt Zengid Dynasty. King Of France, Louis VII and King Of German, Conrad III, responsed this call by bring their army to Near East for New Crusade. Imam Dhahabi record, Crusaders came to Jerusalem that ruled by Crusader Goverment and they went to Damascus with 60.000 infantry and 10.000 cavalry, before attack Damascus, they was attacked by Turkish Army at Asia Minor when they step to Jerusalem,  and many Crusaders die at this battle. This war named by Second Crusade.

According Imam Ibn Kathir, Crusaders from France numbered 70.000 army and from German, so many, until dont known the numbers.

Before Second Crusade, Nur Addin faced Joscelin II who want seize Edessa back to Crusaders Power, Joscelin attack Edessa at 1146 AD with little army, but defetaed by Nur Addin s cavalry.

Back to Second Crusade, Mayor Of Damascus, Muin Addin Unnur,  prepared city wall and his army, battle broke againt Crusader at Damascus, Muslims Army at Damascus do little attack for many time to Crusaders, they attack Crusader s camp at Damascus.  At this battle, Damascene s scholar,  according Imam Dhahabi, 200 Muslims die as martyr in this battle. Saifudin Ghazi, Nur Addin s brother, went to Damascus, with 20.000 army , followed with Nur Addin Zengi, They defeat Crusader at Damascus, and Crusader retreat to a territories near of Constantinople.

In 1149 AD, Nur Addin faced Crusader from Kingdom Of Antiokhia, who helped by Assasin, Crusader from Antioch lead by Raymond Of Poitiers, and Assasin lead by Ali Ibn Wafa.  At 29 June 1149 AD, Nur Addin faced Crusader and  Assasins Army at Innab, Raymond and Ali die at this battle, and Crusaders defeated, Nur Addin seize fortress of Artah and Harenc near Antioch. Nur Addin cannot take Antioch from hand of Crusaders because the wall of city is too strong.

In 1150 AD, Nur Addin captured Joscelin Of Edessa and imprisontment him at Aleppo, Syria.  Before this, Nur Addin take goverment of Mesopotamia because his brother, Ghazi die because stomachace, now, Nur Addin became one ruler from Syria and Mesopotamia.

At 1153 AD, Crusader seize Ascalon from hand of Fathimid Dynasty Of Egypt. King Of Jerusalem, Baldwin III, appointed his brother, Amaury, to became Mayor Of Ascalon. Ruler Of Damascus, Mujir Addin, held alliance with Crusader At Jerusalem, because he fear with Nur Addin s influence at Syria. Hear it, Nur Addin moved and besieged Damascus with his army, at 25 April 1154 AD, Damascus fall to hand of Nur Addin.

Nur Addin moved his capital from Aleppo to Damascus, and erase tax that applied by Mujir Addin.

One of value from  Nur Addin s Goverment is he lead with fair, all of citizens same in the eye of law, he also received critics from his people, one day, one of cleric, named Abu Uthman Al-Muntakhab, criticized Nur Addin in his lecture, because tax and tribute that applied by Nur Addin, Nur Addin doesnt captured Abu Uthman because his critics, he evaluated his policy and explained to his people, the tax only taked for battle s cost againts Crusaders. Next, he erase the tax and tribute, his policy push economy forward at Syria. Nur Addin built many fortress, roads, pool, schools, and orphanage.

From Nur Addin Goverment, we can take the lesson, good leader is they who ready received a critics and care to his people, not good leader, if he doesnt care to his people and doesnt received critics from his people, in the next article, we will next a story about Nur Addin Zengi, and how he prepared Saladin to became Al Aqsa s liberator.

Refrences:

Alatas, Alwi: Nuruddin Zanki Dan Perang Salib, Penerbit Zikrul, 2012 M.

Al-Asyqar, DR.Sulaiman: Siyar Alam An-Nubala : Mutiara Kisah Pilihan Orang-Orang Cemerlang Dalam Sejarah Islam. Pustaka Al-Kautsar, 2019 M.

Katsir, Ibnu: Al-Bidayah Wa an-Nihayah. Penerbit Insan Kamil, 2018 M.