Saladin's Siege of Mosul: The Battle for Muslim Unity

In this episode, we explore Saladin's controversial siege of Mosul in 1182-83, a campaign often overshadowed by his wars against the Crusaders. We delve into why Saladin, a Kurdish Ayyubid sultan, turned his army against the Zengid ruler of Mosul, Izz ad-Din Mas'ud, who had once been allies under Nur ad-Din. We examine the political and religious stakes: Saladin's claim to be the defender of Sunni Islam against the Franj, versus his need to unify the Muslim world under his own banner. Key figures include Izz ad-Din, the caliph al-Nasir who mediated, and the chronicler Ibn al-Athir, a Mosul native whose account reveals the tension. The siege failed, but it set the stage for Saladin's later dominance. We also discuss the role of the atabegs, the siege tactics, and the lasting impact on Ayyubid-Zengid relations. #Saladin #SiegeOfMosul #IzzAdDinMasud #Zengids #Ayyubids #IbnAlAthir #AlNasir #MedievalHistory #MiddleEast #Crusades #Islam #SiegeWarfare #KurdishHistory #Mosul #HistoryPodcast #FexingoHistory #Warfare #Diplomacy #AyyubidDynasty #MedievalMiddleEast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo