Al-Kamil

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Al-Kamil

Role / Field:

Ayyubid Sultan of Egypt, known for defeating the Fifth Crusade.

Born:

1180

Died:

1238-03-06

Century / Era:

1180s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Foundations

Al-Malik al-Kamil Nasir ad-Din Muhammad (Arabic: الملك الكامل ناصر الدين محمد; c. 1177 – 6 March 1238), titled Abu al-Maʽali (Arabic: أبي المعالي), was an Egyptian ruler and the fourth Ayyubid sultan of Egypt. During his tenure as sultan, the Ayyubids defeated the Fifth Crusade. He was known to the Latin/Frankish crusaders as Meledin, a name by which he is usually referred to in older Western sources and often but less frequently continues to be.

Key Developments & Impact

As a result of the Sixth Crusade, he ceded West Jerusalem to the Christians and is known to have met with Saint Francis. Al-Kamil was the son of the Kurdish sultan al-Adil ("Saphadin"), a brother of Saladin. Al-Kamil's father was laying siege to the city of Mardin (in modern-day Turkey) in 1199 when he was called away urgently to deal with a security threat in Damascus. Al-Adil left al-Kamil to command the forces around Mardin continuing the siege. Taking advantage of the Sultan's absence, the combined forces of Mosul, Sinjar and Jazirat ibn Umar appeared at Mardin when it was on the point of surrender, and drew Al-Kamil into battle.

Enduring Legacy

Although he was badly defeated and retreated to Mayyafariqin, dissent...

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1177: 1177 Milestone — 1177 – 6 March 1238), titled Abu al-Maʽali (Arabic: أبي المعالي), was an Egyptian ruler and the fourth Ayyubid sultan of Egypt.
2. 1180: Birth of Al-Kamil — Ayyubid Sultan of Egypt, known for defeating the Fifth Crusade.
3. 1199: 1199 Milestone — Al-Kamil's father was laying siege to the city of Mardin (in modern-day Turkey) in 1199 when he was called away urgently to deal with a security threat in Damascus.
4. 1238 (1238-03-06): Passing & Historical Legacy — Al-Kamil passed away on 1238-03-06, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Al-Kamil

True or False: “Did Al-Kamil personally lead the forces that defeated the Fifth Crusade?”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The Wikipedia summary explicitly states that during his tenure as sultan, the Ayyubids defeated the Fifth Crusade, and he was the ruling figure.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• 1180 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1180
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Frequently Asked Questions about Al-Kamil