Part 82

Here we see the unique military genius of Noor ad-Deen. Amalric I had received the troubling news from Syria that his kingdom was being subjected to pressure by Noor ad-Deen Mahmood, and he preferred to go back and defend it. At the same time he realized that his campaign was doomed to failure because of Asad ad-Deen Shirkuh's fortifications in Bilbeis. Asad ad-Deen Shirkuh was also in a difficult situation, because his food supplies had started to run out, in addition to the fact that the combined Crusader-Fatimid forces were superior in numbers and the military situation was not in his favour. Hence he agreed to enter into negations to leave Egypt.573 The two men did indeed reach an agreement to leave Egypt in Dhul-Hijj ah/October. The Muslim and Crusader armies travelled along parallel routes across the Sinai Peninsula, after leaving Shawar in control of running affairs. Shirkuh was the last to leave the country and catch up with his troops.574 Shawar was the real winner of this conflict, which ended in his favour. He got rid of both the Syrian Muslim and Crusader armies at the same time as he got ride of Dirgham, and over the next two years he became the man in control in the country.575 After his return from Egypt, Asad ad-Deen Shirkuh put himself at the disposal of Noor ad-Deen Mahmood, and Egypt became the focal point of Asad ad-Deen Shirkuh's thinking and talk in his meetings with others. He never stopped exchanging ideas about it with his friends who would keep him up to date with its news. During this period, Noor ad-Deen Mahmood sent him on a mission to Baghdad, where he made the most of his being in the capital of the caliphate to stir up the enthusiasm of the caliph alMustanjid Billah, as he started to tell him all about Egypt and what he himself had seen there. The caliph was moved by what he heard and encouraged him to return there.576 In spite of the fact that Asad ad-Deen Shirkuh's campaign did not achieve its aims in Egypt, the final outcome was that Noor ad-Deen Mahmood's power in Syria was reinforced and his status in the Muslim world was raised. He became the major local power in the region, whilst the area under Crusader control receded to the coast and they began to despair.577 Whatever the case, both Shirkuh and Amalric I left Egypt, and each of them found out about its deteriorating political and economic situation, in addition to finding out about the abundant wealth and huge human resources that it enjoyed, which would tip the balance in favour of the one who took control of it. Shawar took the opportunity presented by the departure of both to go back to his original attitude, oppressing and killing and confiscating the people's wealth, to such an extent that the Fatimid caliph al-'Adid had no authority at all. When the situation got completely out of hand, al-'Adid wrote to Noor ad-Deen Mahmood seeking his help to get rid of Shawar.578 Noor ad-Deen's second campaign Noor ad-Deen Mahmood prepared the necessary forces and sent them to Egypt in Rabee4 al-Awwal 562 AH/January 1167 CE, under the leadership of Asad ad-Deen Shirkuh, who was accompanied by his nephew Salah adDeen. He also sent a number of emirs with him,579 and the number of these troops was two thousand horsemen.580 Noor ad-Deen accompanied them to the edge of his land, for fear of Crusader interception.581 The troops in this campaign followed a route that was surrounded with danger. The Crusaders in their path who were lying in wait in Kerak and ash-Shawbak could ambush them and wreak havoc when they were far away from their own territory, and the Bedouin were pursuing them to transmit information about them to the Crusaders. They had to change course occasionally to hide themselves. Nature also slowed their progress. A heavy sandstorm struck them, killing some of their men and destroying some of their provisions. Despite that, they reached Egypt. Shawar had enough time to seek help again from Amalric I, as he was certain, from his reading of events, that if Asad adDeen Shirkuh came to Egypt this time, he would stay and would not leave. Therefore he did not hesitate to contact the King of Jerusalem and negotiate with him, explaining to him the danger that Noor ad-Deen Mahmood would pose to the Kingdom of Jerusalem if he succeeded in taking possession of Egypt. Amalric I welcomed Shawar's invitation in hopes of taking control of Egypt and pushing away Noor ad-Deen Mahmood and his army from it so that they would not be able to surround his kingdom which would otherwise end up in the middle of Noor ad-Deen Mahmood's possessions.582 But before the preparations were complete, news came that Asad ad-Deen Shirkuh was crossing the Sinai desert. Amalric I could do no more than send whatever troops he could find to slow down his progress, but this arrangement came too late.583 Although Asad ad-Deen Shirkuh's army was hit by a sand storm that halted their progress and almost wiped them out, he arrived safely at the channel of Suez in Rabee' II/ early February.