Saladin's Siege of Mosul 1186: Unifying Syria and Iraq

In 1186, Saladin turned his attention to Mosul, the last major Zengid stronghold in northern Iraq. This episode explores the year-long siege that pitted Saladin against Izz ad-Din Mas'ud, the Zengid prince who refused to submit. Drawing on the accounts of Ibn al-Athir, Baha ad-Din ibn Shaddad, and al-Qadi al-Fadil, we unpack the military tactics, political maneuvering, and diplomatic letters that ultimately brought Mosul into the Ayyubid fold. We examine how the siege reshaped Saladin's strategy for unifying Syria and Iraq against the Crusaders, and why Mosul's submission was a turning point in his campaign. The episode also considers the role of the Abbasid caliph al-Nasir, who mediated between the rivals, and the aftermath that saw Saladin consolidate his power from Egypt to the Tigris. A crucial chapter in the story of Muslim resistance to the Crusades. #Saladin #Mosul #IzzadDinMasud #Zengid #Ayyubid #SiegeOfMosul #IbnAlAthir #BahaAdDin #AlQadiAlFadil #AlNasir #Abbasid #Crusades #MedievalHistory #IslamicHistory #MiddleEast #History #FexingoHistory #Warfare Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo