Leaders of Islam

Question 1

When was Zengi made governor of Mosul?

Answer 1

1127

Question 2

How did Zengi take control of Aleppo?

Answer 2

He married Ridwan’s daughter and won the blessing of the people

Question 3

Who was the first Muslim leader to realise the words of jihad?

Answer 3

Zengi

Question 4

What would Zengi do on arriving in a city?

Answer 4

He would sleep in a tent outside the walls instead of finding a luxurious palace

Question 5

What was considered the start of the Islamic counter-crusade?

Answer 5

Il Ghazi’s victory at the Battle of the Field of Blood on 28th June 1119

Question 6

Who did Zengi make treaties with and why?

Answer 6

Joscelin, to have a free hand to fight against his Muslim rivals in the area

Question 7

How did Zengi take control of Aleppo?

Answer 7

He married Ridwan’s daughter and became ruler after Ridwan’s death in 1113

Question 8

Why did Zengi turn away from Damascus as a viable target?

Answer 8

The alliance between Unur and Jerusalem made the attack too difficult

Question 9

Why was capturing Edessa a viable plan for Zengi?

Answer 9

It was the first crusader state and acted as a buffer for the other states, absorbing Muslim raids. An attack would leave Edessa vulnerable

Question 10

How is it thought Zengi died?

Answer 10

After a night of drinking Zengi threatened a servant, who was scared of punishment in the morning, so killed his master to avoid punishment

Question 11

Who was Nureddin’s brother and where did he inherit?

Answer 11

Saphadin; Mosul

Question 12

What benefits would Nureddin gain if he captured Damascus?

Answer 12

The agricultural lands could feed his men, the taxes raised from the trade through Damascus would pay them, and he needed the people of Damascus to meet his men’s needs

Question 13

Why did the crusaders withdraw their siege of Damascus?

Answer 13

The alliance between Unur and Nureddin

Question 14

When was the Battle of Inab, who fought and who won?

Answer 14

June 1149; Nureddin and Raymond of Poitiers; Nureddin

Question 15

What put an end to the Mosul-Aleppo-Damascus alliance?

Answer 15

Unur (August 1149) and Saphadin’s (November 1149) deaths and the new ruler of Damascus, Abaq, seeking an alliance with the Franks

Question 16

Who was in charge of Mosul after Saphadin’s death in 1149?

Answer 16

Qutbeddin

Question 17

How did Nureddin take control of Damascus?

Answer 17

He blockaded Damascus, starving it and making Abaq unpopular, before entering with gifts of food

Question 18

In what year did Nureddin become ill and there was a series of earthquakes?

Answer 18

1157

Question 19

When did Nureddin make a treaty with Manuel and what did the treaty involve?

Answer 19

1157; Manuel would help Nureddin against the Seljuk Turks in Anatolia, and putting an end to the Byzantine-Frankish raids into his territory

Question 20

What happened in 1149 that made Egypt vulnerable?

Answer 20

The adult caliph died, leaving child-caliphs to rule

Question 21

What weakened the position of Egypt in 1153?

Answer 21

The Franks captured Ascalon

Question 22

When did Shawar become vizier of Egypt?

Answer 22

December 1162

Question 23

Who did Nureddin send to Egypt?

Answer 23

Shirkuh, his general

Question 24

When did the Frankish and Muslim armies meet during the conflict over Egypt?

Answer 24

1164 and 1167

Question 25

Where did Shirkuh leave Saladin in charge while he attacked Cairo?

Answer 25

Alexandria

Question 26

Why did Shirkuh take control of Egypt?

Answer 26

Amalric’s forces retreated because they risked being trapped between Nureddin and Shawar’s forces

Question 27

How did Saladin take control of Egypt?

Answer 27

He played his rivals against each other, making himself seem a reasonable middle-ground after the death of Shirkuh

Question 28

Why did Saladin find himself short of men when he became vizier of Egypt?

Answer 28

He was seen as an upstart and many members of Nureddin’s army did not like him, so they returned to Damascus

Question 29

When did the Franks and Byzantines launch an attack on Saladin, who was emperor and what happened?

Answer 29

1169; Manuel; the attack failed due to supplies running low and was called off

Question 30

When did Nureddin die?

Answer 30

May 1174

Question 31

Why were the Franks unable to exploit the death of Nureddin?

Answer 31

A few months later, Amalric died and the new king was only 13

Question 32

Name three methods Nureddin used to promote his message

Answer 32

Financing religious houses, educational establishments, hospices, hospitals and retreats, organised public readings in mosques and schools and publishing poems and books

Question 33

What financial change did Nureddin make that made him more popular?

Answer 33

He abolished or reduced many taxes in his realms

Question 34

When was the Battle of Montgisard and who was involved?

Answer 34

1177; Reynald de Chatillon and Saladin (lost due to being unprepared)

Question 35

When did Saladin attack and destroy the castle at Jacob’s Ford?

Answer 35

August 1179

Question 36

When did Shirkuh die?

Answer 36

February 1169

Question 37

What strategies allowed Saladin to consolidate his position as vizier of Egypt?

Answer 37

• His political tactics: Being close with the caliph, using placatory Friday Prayers etc.
• His military strength/ability: Dealing with Nubian uprisings and purges and securing the route to Mecca

Question 38

When were plans for a joint attack between Saladin and Nureddin planned and why did they not go ahead?

Answer 38

1171 and 1173; Saladin made excuses and withdrew each time

Question 39

How did Saladin capture Damascus?

Answer 39

He spread discourse among the leaders of Aleppo and Damascus and shamed the leaders of Damascus for turning to the Franks instead of their Muslim neighbours

Question 40

When did Saladin capture Damascus and who did he appoint as governor of Damascus?

Answer 40

28th October 1174; his brother Tughtigan

Question 41

By 1175 where did Saladin control?

Answer 41

From Hamah in the North of Syria to Egypt in the South

Question 42

When did Saladin capture Aleppo?

Answer 42

July 1175

Question 43

Which city was the last in the quadrilateral of power to fall to Saladin?

Answer 43

Mosul

Question 44

When did Saladin capture Jerusalem?

Answer 44

October 1187