Ayyubid dynasty

Quick Facts: Who was Ayyubid dynasty?

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Ayyubid dynasty

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Sunni Muslim dynasty that founded the Sultanate of Egypt, ruling from 1171 to 1341.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Ayyubid dynasty (Arabic: الأيوبيون, romanized: al-Ayyūbīyūn), also known as the Ayyubid Sultanate, was a Sunni Muslim dynasty of Kurdish origin that founded the medieval Sultanate of Egypt, which was established by Saladin in 1171, following his abolition of the Fatimid Caliphate. 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 the death of his Zengid suzerain Nur al-Din in 1174, 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 Hejaz, 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.

Career & Major Achievements

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.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

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.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1171: 1171 Milestone — The Ayyubid dynasty (Arabic: الأيوبيون, romanized: al-Ayyūbīyūn), also known as the Ayyubid Sultanate, was a Sunni Muslim dynasty of Kurdish origin that founded the medieval Sultanate of Egypt, which was established by Saladin in 1171, following his abolition of the Fatimid Caliphate.
2. 1174: 1174 Milestone — Following the death of his Zengid suzerain Nur al-Din in 1174, 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 Hejaz, Yemen, northern Nubia, Tripolitania and Upper Mesopotamia.
3. 1187: 1187 Milestone — 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.
4. 1193: 1193 Milestone — After Saladin's death in 1193, his sons contested control of the sultanate, but Saladin's brother al-Adil ultimately became sultan in 1200.
5. 1247: 1247 Milestone — 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.
6. 1249: 1249 Milestone — After his death in 1249, as-Salih Ayyub was succeeded in Egypt by his son al-Mu'azzam Turanshah.
7. 1260: 1260 Milestone — In 1260, the Mongols sacked Aleppo and conquered the Ayyubids' remaining territories soon after.
8. 1341: 1341 Milestone — The Mamluks, who expelled the Mongols, maintained the Ayyubid principality of Hama until deposing its last ruler in 1341.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Ayyubid dynasty

True or False: “The Ayyubid dynasty's primary political and cultural identity shifted from its Kurdish origins toward a strong Arabized character during its rule.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): While originating from the Kurdish Rawadiya tribe, later Ayyubid rulers became significantly 'Arabized,' with Arabic culture forming the main component of their identity.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Gediminas — Historical peer (Died in 1341) (1341): Founder of Vilnius and Grand Duke of Lithuania, establishing a vast empire.
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• Lu Jiuyuan — Historical peer (Died in 1193) (1193): Founding father of the School of the Universal Mind, a major Neo-Confucian philosopher.
• Minamoto no Noriyori — Historical peer (Died in 1193) (1193): Samurai lord of the late Heian/early Kamakura period, key figure in the Genpei War.
• Albertus Magnus — Historical peer (Born in 1200) (1200): A towering figure of medieval philosophy, science, and theology.
• Dōgen — Historical peer (Born in 1200) (1200): Founder of the Sōtō school of Zen in Japan, known for zazen practice.
• Rashid al-Din Hamadani — Historical peer (Born in 1247) (1247): Statesman, historian, and physician of the Ilkhanate period.

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