Crusades through Arab Eyes Crusades themselves controversial n

Crusades through Arab Eyes “Crusades” themselves controversial: n military missions of Christian ‘zeal’? n western imperialism in Muslim East? n ‘war’ for purposes of looting and plunder

Crusades through Arab Eyes Took place between late 11 th and 13 th Centuries: said to have begun with call to arms of Pope Urban II in 1095 [see Discussion Reading] n but arguably part of larger attempt of Christians to reclaim land, power over Muslim states that included Europe itself [see Add’l Reading “Views”] n

Crusades through Arab Eyes Following latter perspective: crusades began with European Christians [‘Franks’] ongoing efforts to retake Sicily and Spain n n succeeded in retaking Emirate of Sicily in 1071 n efforts in Iberia from mid-11 th through 13 th c.

Crusades through Arab Eyes Video: “The Crusades, an Arab Perspective”: Pt. 2 ‘Revival’ begins with the so-called ‘First Crusade’ and the taking of Jerusalem (massacre), establishment of Crusader States (“Latin Kingdoms”) n focus is on the ‘revival’ of the Muslim world in face of the Crusade(s) n

Route of the First Crusade through Byzantine Empire into Syria

Crusades through Arab Eyes Issues to address: what did the Crusades reveal about the nature of the eastern Islamic world at this time? n where do we see the ‘legacies’ of earlier factions of Islam and their internal conflicts? n in what ways does the ‘revival’ change this Muslim world? n

Crusades through Arab Eyes Issues to address: what do we learn about the nature of the crusades? n how does this version of them compare with our Readings for this week? n [Refer to Discussion and Additional Readings; will return to on Friday]

Crusades through Arab Eyes Video: reveals much about divisions within, weaknesses of Eastern Muslim world 11 th-12 th C. 1. initial refusal of Caliph in Baghdad to come to assistance of Jerusalem 2. Emir in Aleppo saw his interests more aligned with Christian Crusaders than with Muslim military ‘assistance’ that turned up at his gate (Mawloud) 3. The ‘Assassins’: Shia mercenaries

Crusades through Arab Eyes 1. Lack of support from Baghdad: n ‘immorality’: video suggests that lifestyles of those living in the luxury of Baghdad have lost sight of true meaning Islam (which those in Levant still appreciate) n Words put into mouth of ‘scholar’ who has to trick Caliph into seeing him are those of Abu l. Muzaffar al-Abiwardi [ Discussion Rdg, Ibn al-Athier]

Crusades through Arab Eyes Loss of Islamic Values: “Sons of Islam, behind you are battles in which heads rolled at your feet. Dare you slumber in the blessed shade of safety, where life is as soft as an orchard flower? How can the eye sleep between the lids at a time of disasters that would waken any sleeper? While your Syrian brothers can only sleep on the backs of their chargers, or in vultures' bellies! Must the foreigners feed on our ignominy, while you trail behind you the train of a pleasant life, like men whose world is at peace? When blood has been spilt, when sweet girls must for shame hide their lovely faces in their hands!. . .

Crusades through Arab Eyes “This is war, and he who lies in the tomb at Medina seems to raise his voice and cry: "O sons of Hashim! I see my people slow to raise the lance against the enemy: I see the Faith resting on feeble pillars. For fear of death the Muslims are evading the fire of battle, refusing to believe that death will surely strike them. " Must the Arab champions then suffer with resignation, while the gallant Persians shut their eyes to their dishonor?

Crusades through Arab Eyes Lack of support from Baghdad: Political Issues n Video immediately reveals impotence of Caliphate vis-à-vis ‘Turkish Overlords’ n Shifting of power in Asia: ‘Arabs’ retained symbolic power – Turks attained real authority n Became ‘king makers’ (see earlier lecture)

Crusades through Arab Eyes Significance: subtle over time but in crises… apparent n Turkish interests principally political, military -tied to Central Asia not the Levant: looking ‘east’ (to China) not ‘west’ n Comes to forefront when ‘problems’ concern (or seem only to concern) Syria, North Africa

Crusades through Arab Eyes 2. Interests aligned with Crusaders: economic n Aleppo, central commercial centre, saw interests as being better served alliance with Christians (video ‘welcomed them’) n Turned Muslim support (Mawloud) away n Revealed something of ‘intra-Muslim’ conflicts

Crusades through Arab Eyes n Mawloud ‘called upon’ to intervene between Damascus and Jerusalem (on the part of the former) n Does so successfully but is then assassinated by… n “the Assassins”

Crusades through Arab Eyes 3. Hashashun : the Assassins n Shia sect acting as mercenaries with ‘religious’ justification n (video) “they were as dangerous to Islam as the Crusades” n Responsible for many killings: most important may have been Mawloud

Crusades through Arab Eyes New Political factor: the Seljuks [see last lecture] n source of ‘revival’ – “warrior kings” (video) Mawloud, followed by Imad ad-Din Zengi and his son Nur ad-Din n

Crusades through Arab Eyes Imad ad-Din Zengi (1085 -1146): Turkish: brought up by Governor of Mosul, became atabeg (Turkish word for governor) of Mosul 1127, Aleppo 1128 – united the cities n n invested as ‘ruler’ by Seljuk Sultan

Crusades through Arab Eyes Played politics in both Seljuk and Levant: successful combination war (sieges), intimidation, treaties (alliances) and marriage: took control of much of Syria – failed to take Damascus n still: said to be “the key to opening the door of the al-Aqsa Mosque” – Jerusalem [video] n

Crusades through Arab Eyes 1144: turned to weak Crusader State – Edessa Latin leaders divided: Edessa in conflict with Principality of Antioch, Tripoli not interested, Jerusalem dealing with recent death of King – no one to come to rescue n like Muslims: leaders focused on building local power bases “lesser knights (from Europe) styled themselves after Kings” (video) n

Crusades through Arab Eyes Conquest of Edessa: [see doc. description, Add’l Rdg] important moment for ‘revival’: Muslim forces could and did defeat Crusaders n n ad-Din Zengi assassinated shortly after (1146) Succeeded (in Aleppo) by son Nur ad-Din: “was to excel his father” (video) n

Crusades through Arab Eyes

Crusades through Arab Eyes Conquest of Edessa: provoked ‘Second Crusade’ new crusaders saw ‘settlers’ as having been coopted by the Muslims: first ‘target’ was Damascus n Damascus: in turn saw Crusaders as trouble makers – if they allied with them, Crusaders would later leave, and they would be ‘at mercy’ of Muslim neighbours n

Crusades through Arab Eyes Damascus turned to Nur ad-Din: shows nature of Christian Crusader settlements in Syria – ‘evolution’: goals no longer the same as European Crusaders n formed political, commercial alliances with neighbouring Muslim states: worried BOTH Crusaders from Europe AND Muslim fuqaha [see n “Views of the Crusades”, add’l rdgs. Especially al-Sulami]

Crusades through Arab Eyes Nur ad-Din established powerful state in north: centre of culture, learning (video) – ‘Andalusia of Levant’ n (compared to ‘brutal’ father in video) “wanted to be liked by his people n

Crusades through Arab Eyes Egypt: “old man lying on the banks of the Nile” Fatimid (Shia) Egypt: strategic, wealthy coveted by (Sunni) Muslims and Christians n Jerusalem: control would allow it to take on Nur ad-Din n n Nur ad-Din could ‘squeeze out’ Jerusalem

Crusades through Arab Eyes Death of Caliph: succession battle ensued each ‘contender’ chose one of these rivals to support them: led to five-year war n n. Nur ad-Din successful: his General (Shirkur) appointed Vizier (Prime Minister) of state n Shirkur’s nephew became next Vizier

Crusades through Arab Eyes (Nephew) Saleh ad-Din of Ayubbi family: “Saladin” n became known as ‘King’ of Egypt [Discussion Docs] united with Baghdad: began expansion from Egypt into Levant 1174 – preached ‘jihad’ n very much epitome of ‘leader’ called for by al. Sulami: first ‘revive’ Islam – then retake Jerusalem n

Crusades through Arab Eyes on Jerusalem: n 1187: three month siege of Jerusalem [Discussion Doc. ] resulted in fall of Crusader Jerusalem (had been held for 89 years) n n “Muslim triumph” for region

Crusades through Arab Eyes “Key to opening the Al-Aqsa mosque”: proved to be Saladin (not Zengi) gave rise to unified Islamic State – centered in Egypt n Ayyubid Dynasty (Egypt and Syria): ruled 1169 1250 n

Crusades through Arab Eyes Ayyubid Dynasty After Saladin’s Death 1193

Crusades through Arab Eyes Re-conquest of Jerusalem: provoked ‘Third Crusade’ led by famous ‘Richard the Lion Hearted’ (featured in films etc) n story of Saladin’s use of ‘Scorched Earth’ tactic, forced Christians to settle for treating allowing pilgrims access to Jerusalem n

Crusades through Arab Eyes Saladin’s Death: 1193 n occasion for ‘Fourth Crusade’: failed miserably notion of ‘Crusade’ largely lost even among soldiers: “sack of Constantinople” [Discussion Docs. ] n

Crusades through Arab Eyes Meaning of ‘Crusader Era’ for Islamic World? n simply another story of conquest, state building? n or. . . ‘revival’ of Islam itself? Video: speaks of ‘revival’ but focuses on politics, emergence of ‘warrior kings’ n

Crusades through Arab Eyes Reading (Chevedden) “Views of the Crusades” offers different interpretation: draws on Islamic scholarship (specifically al. Sulami) to argue that Crusades forced a rethinking of Islam itself: articulating notion of ‘internal jihad’ – cleansing of the ‘self’, here meaning community then turning to ‘external jihad’, ‘liberating’ lands from Christians and rebuilding Muslim society n [for further Discussion on Friday – see Question #3]