Ayyubid dynasty

A branch of the Ayyubid dynasty ruled Hisn Kayfa until the early 16th century. The total population of the Ayyubid territories is unknown. This population figure only includes Egypt, Syria, northern Iraq, Palestine, and Transjordan. Other Ayyubid territories, including Yemen, the Hejaz, Nubia, and eastern Libya are not included. The Ayyubids ( Kurdish :ایوبیان) were a Sunni Muslim dynasty of Kurdish origin , centered in Cairo and Damascus that ruled much of the Middle East during the 12th and 13th centuries CE. The Ayyubid family, under the brothers Ayyub and Shirkuh , originally served as soldiers for the Zengids until they gradually gained independence from them under Saladin , Ayyub's son. In 1171, Saladin proclaimed himself sultan of Egypt after dissolving the Fatimid Caliphate upon the death of al-Adid . The Ayyubids spent the next decade launching conquests throughout the region and by 1183, the Ayyubid state included Egypt, Syria , northern Mesopotamia , the Hejaz , Yemen , and the North African coast up to the borders of modern-day Tunisia . Most of the Kingdom of Jerusalem , consisting of Palestine and Transjordan fell to the Ayyubids after their victory at the Battle of Hattin in 1187. However, the Crusaders regained control of Palestine's coastline in the 1190s. After the death of Saladin, his sons contested control over the empire, but Saladin's brother al-Adil eventually established himself as sultan in 1200. In the 1230s, the Ayyubid rulers of Syria attempted to assert their independence from Egypt and remained divided until Egyptian sultan as-Salih Ayyub restored Ayyubid unity by taking over most of Syria, excluding Aleppo , by 1247. By then, local Muslim dynasties had driven out the Ayyubids from Yemen, the Hejaz, and parts of Mesopotamia. After repelling a Crusader invasion of the Nile Delta , as-Salih Ayyub's Mamluk generals overthrew al-Mu'azzam Turanshah who succeeded Ayyub after his death in 1250. This effectively ended Ayyubid power in Egypt and a number of attempts by the rulers of Syria, led by an-Nasir Yusuf of Aleppo, to recover it failed. In 1260, the Mongols sacked Aleppo and wrested control of what remained of the Ayyubid territories soon after. The Mamluks, who forced out the Mongols after the destruction of the Ayyubid dynasty, maintained the Ayyubid principality of Hama until deposing its last ruler in 1341. During their relatively short-lived tenure, the Ayyubids ushered in an era of economic prosperity in the lands they ruled and the facilities and patronage provided by the Ayyubids led to a resurgence in intellectual activity in the Islamic world . This period was also marked by an Ayyubid process of vigorously strengthening Sunni Muslim dominance in the region by constructing numerous madrasas (meaning schools) in their major cities.

A branch of the Ayyubid dynasty ruled Hisn Kayfa until the early 16th century. The total population of the Ayyubid territories is unknown. This population figure only includes Egypt, Syria, northern Iraq, Palestine and Transjordan. Other Ayyubid territories, including Yemen, the Hejaz, Nubia and eastern Libya are not included. Ancient Egypt Greco-Roman Egypt Medieval Egypt Early modern Egypt Late Modern Egypt Egypt portal v t e The Ayyubid dynasty ( Dûgela Eyûbiyan ; al-Ayyūbīyūn ; ) was a Muslim dynasty of Kurdish origin, founded by Saladin and centered in Egypt . The dynasty ruled much of the Middle East during the 12th and 13th centuries CE. Saladin had been the vizier of Fatimid Egypt before he brought an end to Fatimid rule in 1171. In 1174, he proclaimed himself Sultan following the death of the Ayyubids' former master, Zengid sultan Nur al-Din . The Ayyubids spent the next decade launching conquests throughout the region and by 1183, the territories under their control included Egypt, Syria , northern Mesopotamia , Hejaz , Yemen , and the North African coast up to the borders of modern-day Tunisia . Most of the Kingdom of Jerusalem fell to Saladin after his victory at the Battle of Hattin in 1187. However, the Crusaders regained control of Palestine 's coastline in the 1190s. After the death of Saladin, his sons contested control over the sultanate, but Saladin's brother al-Adil eventually established himself as Sultan in 1200. In the 1230s, the Ayyubid rulers of Syria attempted to assert their independence from Egypt and remained divided until the Sultan as-Salih Ayyub restored Ayyubid unity by taking over most of Syria, except Aleppo , by 1247. By then, local Muslim dynasties had driven out the Ayyubids from Yemen, the Hejaz, and parts of Mesopotamia. After his death in 1249, as-Salih Ayyub was succeeded in Egypt by al-Mu'azzam Turanshah . However, the latter was soon overthrown by the Mamluk generals who had successfully repelled a Crusader invasion of the Nile Delta . This effectively ended Ayyubid power in Egypt and a number of attempts by the rulers of Syria, led by an-Nasir Yusuf of Aleppo, to recover it failed. In 1260, the Mongols sacked Aleppo and wrested control of what remained of the Ayyubid territories soon after. The Mamluks, who forced out the Mongols after the destruction of the Ayyubid dynasty, maintained the Ayyubid principality of Hama until deposing its last ruler in 1341. During their relatively short tenure, the Ayyubids ushered in an era of economic prosperity in the lands they ruled and the facilities and patronage provided by the Ayyubids led to a resurgence in intellectual activity in the Islamic world . This period was also marked by an Ayyubid process of vigorously strengthening Sunni Muslim dominance in the region by constructing numerous madrasas (schools of Islamic law) in their major cities. Journal of world-systems research . 12 (2): 219– 229 .

Kurdish Muslim dynasty, founded by Saladin and centered in Egypt A branch of the Ayyubid dynasty ruled Hisn Kayfa until the early 16th century. The total population of the Ayyubid territories is unknown. This population figure only includes Egypt, Syria , Upper Mesopotamia , Palestine and Transjordan . Other Ayyubid territories, including coastal areas of Yemen, the Hejaz , Nubia and Cyrenaica are not included. The Ayyubid dynasty ( al-Ayyūbīyūn )( Kurdish :دەوڵەتی ئەییووبی Dewlata Eyûbî) was a Sunni Muslim Kurdish Dynasty founded by Saladin and centred in Egypt , ruling over the Levant , Hijaz , Nubia and parts of the Maghreb as a caliphate . The dynasty ruled large parts of the Middle East during the 12th and 13th centuries. Saladin had risen to vizier of Fatimid Egypt in 1169, before abolishing the Fatimid Caliphate in 1171. Three years later, he was proclaimed sultan following the death of his former master, the Zengid ruler Nur al-Din and established himself as the first Custodian of the two holy mosques . Most of the Crusader states including the Kingdom of Jerusalem fell to Saladin after his victory at the Battle of Hattin in 1187. However, the Crusaders regained control of Palestine 's coastline in the 1190s. After Saladin's death in 1193, his sons contested control of the sultanate, but Saladin's brother al-Adil ultimately became the paramount sultan in 1200. All of the later Ayyubid sultans of Egypt were his descendants. In the 1230s, the emirs of Syria attempted to assert their independence from Egypt and the Ayyubid realm remained divided until Sultan as-Salih Ayyub restored its unity by conquering most of Syria, except Aleppo , by 1247. By then, local Muslim dynasties had driven out the Ayyubids from Yemen, the Hejaz and parts of Mesopotamia. After his death in 1249, as-Salih Ayyub was succeeded in Egypt by al-Mu'azzam Turanshah . However, the latter was soon overthrown by his Mamluk generals who had repelled a Crusader invasion of the Nile Delta . This effectively ended Ayyubid power in Egypt; attempts by the emirs of Syria, led by an-Nasir Yusuf of Aleppo, to wrest back Egypt failed. In 1260, the Mongols sacked Aleppo and conquered the Ayyubids' remaining territories soon after. The Mamluks, who expelled the Mongols, maintained the Ayyubid principality of Hama until deposing its last ruler in 1341. During their relatively short tenure, the Ayyubids ushered in an era of economic prosperity in the lands they ruled, and the facilities and patronage provided by the Ayyubids led to a resurgence in intellectual activity in the Islamic world . 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.

Sultans in Egypt from 1174 to 1341 A branch of the Ayyubid dynasty ruled Hisn Kayfa until the early 16th century. The total population of the Ayyubid territories is unknown. This population figure only includes Egypt, Syria , Upper Mesopotamia , Palestine and Transjordan . Other Ayyubid territories, including coastal areas of Yemen, the Hejaz , Nubia and Cyrenaica are not included. The Ayyubid dynasty ( al-Ayyūbīyūn ; ), also known as the Ayyubid Sultanate , was the founding dynasty of the medieval Sultanate of Egypt established by Saladin in 1171, following his abolition of the Fatimid Caliphate of Egypt . A Sunni Muslim of Kurdish origin, Saladin had originally served Nur ad-Din of Syria , leading Nur ad-Din's army in battle against the Crusaders in Fatimid Egypt , where he was made Vizier . Following Nur ad-Din's death, Saladin was proclaimed as the first Sultan of Egypt by the Abbasid Caliphate , and rapidly expanded the new sultanate beyond the frontiers of Egypt to encompass most of the Levant (including the former territories of Nur ad-Din), in addition to Hijaz , Yemen , northern Nubia , Tarabulus , Cyrenaica , southern Anatolia , and northern Iraq , the homeland of his Kurdish family. By virtue of his sultanate including Hijaz, the location of the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina, he was the first ruler to be hailed as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques , a title that would be held by all subsequent Sultans of Egypt until the Ottoman conquest of 1517. Saladin's military campaigns in the first decade of his rule, aimed at uniting the various Arab and Muslim states in the region against the Crusaders , set the general borders and sphere of influence of the Sultanate of Egypt for the almost three and a half centuries of its existence. Most of the Crusader states , including the Kingdom of Jerusalem , fell to Saladin after his victory at the Battle of Hattin in 1187. However, the Crusaders reconquered the coast of Palestine in the 1190s. After Saladin's death in 1193, his sons contested control of the sultanate, but Saladin's brother al-Adil ultimately became the Sultan in 1200. All of the later Ayyubid Sultans of Egypt were his descendants. In the 1230s, the emirs of Syria attempted to assert their independence from Egypt and the Ayyubid realm remained divided until Sultan as-Salih Ayyub restored its unity by subduing most of Syria, except Aleppo , by 1247. By then, local Muslim dynasties had driven out the Ayyubids from Yemen, the Hijaz, and parts of Mesopotamia. After his death in 1249, as-Salih Ayyub was succeeded in Egypt by his son al-Mu'azzam Turanshah . However, the latter was soon overthrown by his Mamluk generals who had repelled a Crusader invasion of the Nile Delta . This effectively ended Ayyubid power in Egypt. Attempts by the emirs of Syria, led by an-Nasir Yusuf of Aleppo, to wrest back Egypt failed. In 1260, the Mongols sacked Aleppo and conquered the Ayyubids' remaining territories soon after. The Mamluks, who expelled the Mongols, maintained the Ayyubid principality of Hama until deposing its last ruler in 1341. Despite their relatively short tenure, the Ayyubid dynasty had a transformative effect on the region, particularly Egypt. 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, a status that it would retain until it was conquered by the Ottomans in 1517. Throughout the sultanate, Ayyubid rule ushered in an era of economic prosperity, and the facilities and patronage provided by the Ayyubids led to a resurgence in intellectual activity in the Islamic world . 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. Even after being toppled by the Mamluks, the sultanate built by Saladin and the Ayyubids would continue in Egypt, the Levant and the Hijaz for another 267 years.

Sultanate in Egypt and Levant from 1174 to 1341 A branch of the Ayyubid dynasty ruled Hasankeyf until the early 16th century. The total population of the Ayyubid territories is unknown. This population figure only includes Egypt, Syria , Upper Mesopotamia , Palestine , and Transjordan . Other Ayyubid territories, including coastal areas of Yemen, the Hejaz , Nubia and Cyrenaica are not included. The Ayyubid dynasty ( Arabic : الأيوبيون , romanized : al-Ayyūbīyūn ), also known as the Ayyubid Sultanate , was the founding dynasty of the medieval Sultanate of Egypt established by Saladin in 1171, following his abolition of the Fatimid Caliphate of Egypt . A Sunni Muslim of Kurdish origin, Saladin had originally served the Zengid ruler Nur al-Din , leading the latter's army against the Crusaders in Fatimid Egypt , where he was made vizier . Following Nur al-Din's death, Saladin was proclaimed as the first Sultan of Egypt by the Abbasid Caliphate , and rapidly expanded the new sultanate beyond Egypt to encompass most of Syria , in addition to Hijaz , Yemen , northern Nubia , Tripolitania and Upper Mesopotamia . Saladin's military campaigns set the general borders and sphere of influence of the sultanate of Egypt for the almost 350 years of its existence. 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. After Saladin's death in 1193, his sons contested control of the sultanate, but Saladin's brother al-Adil ultimately became sultan in 1200. All of the later Ayyubid sultans of Egypt were his descendants. In the 1230s, the emirs of Syria attempted to assert their independence from Egypt and the Ayyubid realm remained divided until Sultan as-Salih Ayyub restored its unity by subduing most of Syria, except Aleppo , by 1247. By then, local Muslim dynasties had driven out the Ayyubids from Yemen, the Hejaz, and parts of Mesopotamia. After his death in 1249, as-Salih Ayyub was succeeded in Egypt by his son al-Mu'azzam Turanshah . However, the latter was soon overthrown by his Mamluk generals who had repelled a Crusader invasion of the Nile Delta . This effectively ended Ayyubid power in Egypt. Attempts by the emirs of Syria, led by an-Nasir Yusuf of Aleppo, to wrest back Egypt failed. In 1260, the Mongols sacked Aleppo and conquered the Ayyubids' remaining territories soon after. The Mamluks, who expelled the Mongols, maintained the Ayyubid principality of Hama until deposing its last ruler in 1341. Despite their relatively short tenure, the Ayyubid dynasty had a transformative effect on the region, particularly Egypt. 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, a status that it would retain until it was conquered by the Ottomans in 1517. Throughout the sultanate, Ayyubid rule ushered in an era of economic prosperity, and the facilities and patronage provided by the Ayyubids led to a resurgence in intellectual activity in the Islamic world . 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.