Nur Ed-Din Mahmud
or MALEK AL-ADEL, emir and Sultan of Syria; born in Damascus, Turkey, in 1117. His father, Omad ed-Din Zenghi, originally governor of Mosul and Diarbekir under the Seljuk sultans, had established his independence, and extended his authority ity over northern Syria. Nur ed-Din Mahmud succeeded him in 1145, and changed the seat of government from Mosul to Aleppo. From this time onward his life was one long duel with the Christians-the Crusaders, Hospitallers, Templars, and Knights of the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem. The most notable incidents in this contest may be briefly summarized. Count Joscelin, in an attempt to recover his capital, Edessa, was signally defeated. This gave occasion to were, however, foiled by Nur ed-Din before Damascus, and, defeated in a number of conflicts, abandoned their enterprise. The emir next conquered Tripolis and Antioch, and before 1151 all the Christian strongholds in Syria were in Nur ed-Din's hands. He next took possession of Damascus in 1153. In 1157 the Christian orders suffered a severe defeat near Paneas, but in 1159 regained some lost territories. Nur ed-Din soon won back what had been taken from him, and turned his attention to Egypt. In 1168 his brother, Asad al-Din Shirkoh, overran Egypt, but, dying soon afterward, was succeeded by his nephew, the celebrated Saladin, who completed the conquest of the country, and restored the Sunnite faith. This won for Nur edsecond Crusade. Crusaders NUREMBERG Din the gratitude of the Caliph of Bagdad, who created him Sultan of Syria and Egypt. Nur ed-Din, however, grew jealous of his able young lieutenant, and was preparing to march into Egypt in person, when he died in Damascus in May, 1173.