The Career of Imad Al-Din Zengi (1085-1146)
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POWER AND LEGITIMACY IN THE MEDIEVAL MUSLIM WORLD: THE CAREER OF IMAD AL-DIN ZENGI (1085-1146) by Nicholas D. Belotto A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of The Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida December 2014 Copyright 2014 by Nicholas D. Belotto ii POWER AND LEGITIMACY IN THE MEDIEVAL MUSLIM WORLD: THE CAREER OF IMAD AL-DIN ZENGI (1085-1146) List of Figures…………………………………………………………………………….v I. Introduction………………………........……………………………………………......1 II: Political Arena of the Saljuqs.…….…………………………………………………..21 II: Political Relationships………………………………………………………..….........57 III: Religious and Ideological Manipulation.……………………………………...……..96 IV: Conclusion………………………………………………………………………….125 Appendices……………………………………………………………………………..135 Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………140 iv FIGURES Figure 1. Map of the Abbasid Empire, eighth-twelfth century………………………...130 Figure 2. Map of the Extent of the Saljuq Empire, late twelfth century……………….131 Figure 3. Map of the Crusader States by 1109…………………………………………132 Figure 4. Map of the Zengid State by 1144…………………………………………….133 Figure 4. Timeline of Events…………………………………………………………...134 v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author wishes to express his sincere thanks to a number of people who assisted in the development of this project, whether they held direct influence or provided much needed encouragement. Kate Dahlstrand provided a strong example of what it took to succeed at this level and aided my transition into the program. Matt Salcito and Mike Makosiej provided academic insight and extensive debates, which freed the mind and provided hours of entertainment away from work. David Joy and Hallie Kamen provided strong friendships throughout my involvement in this project and gave me with the opportunities to step away from my work, which benefited every piece of my research and writing. Mike Bourgault, TJ Bowman and Matt Dietz always provided laughter and entertainment. Their friendships are immeasurable. The faculty and staff at Florida Atlantic University made the entire process more enjoyable. Zella Linn was always available to answer questions, always had a smile on her face and an unmatched desire to assist, wherever necessary. Dr. Kollander showed interest in my project and assisted me, not only as a mentoring professor, but also in making sure all of the nuts and bolts to this degree were in the correct places. Dr. Breslow and Dr. Lowe provided numerous ideas and recommendations while also giving countless words of encouragement throughout this process. Dr. Hanne shifted my interests in history from a western interpretation of the Crusades to an Islamic vantage point. This shift has been nothing but beneficial to my interests and I could not thank him enough for not only pointing me in the direction of this research but for also vi every piece of assistance and help throughout this process. I will always cherish the discussions, laughter and assistance from these professors, as they molded me into the historian I am today. My mother provided nothing but assistance and encouragement throughout this process. She consistently read through drafts of my work, even if she did not recognize the many names and places mentioned throughout. With the passing of my father, she has been a foundation for my growth academically and as a person. I cannot thank her enough for all of the hard work she has done for my brothers and I. My brothers, Jeremy and Jon, gave their support to me throughout this process. My extended family, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, and cousins always provided encouraging assistance and entertained my desire to discuss my work. I know if he were here, my father would be proud of this accomplishment and this thought has given me strength to continue even when the obstacles abounded. My loving girlfriend did nothing but support me. There are not enough words to express my appreciation for her and her assistance as well as her undying support for me throughout this program. All I can say is thank you, Zu. vii ABSTRACT Author: Nicholas D. Belotto Title: Power and Legitimacy in the Medieval Muslim World: The Career of Imad al-Din Zengi (1085-1146) Institution: Florida Atlantic University Thesis Advisor: Dr. Eric Hanne Degree: Master of History Year: 2014 While known for his accomplishments surrounding the Fall of Edessa in 1144, the career of Imad al-Din Zengi receives little coverage in the modern Historiography on the Crusades. Even though the careers of other famous Muslim warriors during the Crusading period tend to overshadow his accomplishments, Zengi had a remarkable career which provided him the opportunities to advance his own agenda within the larger Saljuq political structure. This structure allowed Zengi the opportunity to establish power within the Levant (modern day Syria, Iraq). Zengi succeeded in further stabilizing his own military position through manipulation of both political relationships and religious practices, specifically the calling for and waging of jihad, both of which allowed him to build toward developing his own independence from the Saljuq sultanate. viii INTRODUCTION The concept of power and authority is important to the overall historiography of the Crusading period. The study of the Crusades has provided an effective glimpse into the minds of the Crusaders themselves, but in order to understand the Crusades in a holistic view, it is necessary to discuss the socio-political makeup of the Islamic world during this period. Understanding the way both power and authority functioned within the Muslim lands allows historians the opportunity to further the study of the Crusades and break from the Crusader perspective in order to develop a more complete understanding of the era.1 The First Crusade began in 489/10962, a year after Pope Urban II gave his famous speech at the Council of Clermont. Urban envisioned this crusade as an armed pilgrimage, with the intent of taking back the city of Jerusalem from the Muslims, establishing safe routes for later pilgrimages, and pushing the boundaries of western Christianity further to the east. The First Crusade lasted three years, ending with the taking of Jerusalem in 492/1099. By 502/1109, the Crusading forces, led by members of the French nobility, had established four “Latin States” in Edessa, Antioch, Jerusalem and Tripoli. These states grew in power and expanded their control of the area for half a 1The concepts of power and authority differ throughout this period. While different, however, they are both crucial to the success of a ruler or figure of authority. Power refers to the physical ability to force others to act under your jurisdiction, while authority is the right given to a ruler to force others to do one’s bidding. Jacques Maritain, Man and the State, (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1951), 126. 2Dates from here on will consist of both the Islamic calendar and the Gregorian calendar. (e.g., 541/1144) 1 century in light of the Muslim forces failure to take back any of the established Crusader outposts. During the following half century, these Crusader states grew in power and expanded their territories. The Muslim inability to retake the Crusader-conquered territories changed, however, in 539/1144 when Imad al-Din Zengi (d. 541/1146) they took back the city of Edessa from the Crusaders. The fall of Edessa gave rise to more bloodshed and fighting between Franks and Muslims in the Second Crusade (539- 543/1145-1149), which also led to the unification of Muslim forces under Nur al-Din (d. 570/1174), and his jihad against the crusaders.3 The strengthening of Muslim lands under Nur al-Din continued through the reign of his successor Salah al-Din (d. 589/1193)4, whose retaking of Jerusalem sparked the call for the Third Crusade (583- 587/1188-1192).5 While Nur al-Din and Salah al-Din (Saladin) experienced success against the crusading forces, their achievements overshadow the accomplishments of other figures, whose actions deserve mention for a greater understanding of the Crusades, especially from a Muslim perspective. The coverage of Imad al-Din Zengi b. Aqsunqur (477-541/1085-1146)6, the Muslim warrior responsible for the retaking of Edessa, 3 Jonathan Phillips and Martin Hoch. “Introduction: The Second Crusade in History and Research,” in The Second Crusade: Scope and Consequences, ed. Jonathan Phillips and Martin Hoch (Manchester, NY: Manchester University Press, 2001), 3. The Second Crusade began in 1147, when Conrad III of Germany and Louis VII of France embarked on the journey, not to Jerusalem, but to Damascus. The Second Crusade was not successful and the two men returned to their respective homes following their unsuccessful siege of Damascus. Carole Hillenbrand, The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives (Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers 1999), 22-3. For Information on Nur al-Din, see Encyclopedia of Islam, 2nd ed., s.v. “Nur al-Din Mahmud b. Zanki,” 127-33. 4Encyclopedia of Islam, 2nd ed., s.v. “Salah al-Din,” 910-15. The Encyclopedia of Islam functions as a biographical compilation of scholarly articles covering all of the major figures throughout the course of Islamic history. 5For information on the Third Crusade, please consult: Thomas F. Madden, A New Concise History of the Crusades (Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2006), 63-95. 6Encyclopedia of Islam, 2nd ed., s.v. “Zangi,” 451-52. 2 receives little attention from modern Crusader historians because he did not direct the entirety of his actions against the Crusading forces. Despite the lack of discussion, however, Zengi’s career deserves examination. By viewing Zengi’s actions through the lens of power politics as opposed to the lens of the crusader, the porous political arena of the Muslim world during the period is highlighted. Zengi’s actions in Edessa cemented him as a Muslim hero, eulogized for his success on the battlefield as well as his overall defense of Islam.