Mujir ad-Din Abaq
Encyclopedia
Mujīr ad-Dīn ʿAbd al-Dawla Abu Saʿīd Ābaq ibn Jamāl ad-Dīn Muhammad (died 1169) was the governor of Damascus
from 1140 to 1154. He was the eldest son of Jamal ad-Din Muhammad.
After the death of his father in 1140, Mujir ad-Din succeeded his father as governor in 1140. As he was still a minor, Mu'in ad-Din Unur
was named vizier
. Zengi
attacked Damascus, hoping to take advantage of Jamal ad-Din's death, but Mu'in ad-Din effectively organized the defense of the city. When this regent died in July 1149, Mujir ad-Din took his place as the rightful heir of Damascus. He was a weak ruler, however, and Damascus came under the influence of Nur ad-Din Zangi, emir of Aleppo
and Mosul
, who had imposed his dominance over the city in the aftermath of the Second Crusade
.
In 1150 Nur ad-Din recognized Mujir ad-Din as ruler of Damascus, but in 1151 Mujir ad-Din allied with the crusaders against Bosra
, angering Nur ad-Din. Later that year Mujir ad-Din visited Aleppo and swore to remain loyal to Nur ad-Din. In 1152 Mujir ad-Din again besieged Bosra, until the governor of the city agreed to his demands and he returned to Damascus. In 1153 Mujir ad-Din joined Nur ad-Din in the capture of the crusader castle at Baniyas
. In 1154 the two were in conflict again, and Nur ad-Din finally occupied Damascus by force, exiling Mujir ad-Din to Homs
. Nur ad-Din was fully in control of the city and all of Syria
. Mujir ad-Din later left Homs for Baghdad.
His honorific title "Mujīr ad-Dīn" means "protector of the faith".
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
from 1140 to 1154. He was the eldest son of Jamal ad-Din Muhammad.
After the death of his father in 1140, Mujir ad-Din succeeded his father as governor in 1140. As he was still a minor, Mu'in ad-Din Unur
Mu'in ad-Din Unur
Mu'in ad-Din Unur al-Atabeki was the ruler of Damascus in the mid-12th century.-Origins:Mu'in ad-Din was originally a Mameluk in the army of Toghtekin, the founder of the Burid Dynasty of Damascus. When Zengi, the atabeg of Aleppo, besieged Damascus in 1135, Mu'in ad-Din was at the head of army...
was named vizier
Vizier
A vizier or in Arabic script ; ; sometimes spelled vazir, vizir, vasir, wazir, vesir, or vezir) is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in a Muslim government....
. Zengi
Zengi
Imad ad-Din Zengi was the atabeg of Mosul, Aleppo, Hama and Edessa and founder of the Zengid dynasty, to which he gave his name.-Early life:...
attacked Damascus, hoping to take advantage of Jamal ad-Din's death, but Mu'in ad-Din effectively organized the defense of the city. When this regent died in July 1149, Mujir ad-Din took his place as the rightful heir of Damascus. He was a weak ruler, however, and Damascus came under the influence of Nur ad-Din Zangi, emir of Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
and Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
, who had imposed his dominance over the city in the aftermath of the Second Crusade
Second Crusade
The Second Crusade was the second major crusade launched from Europe. The Second Crusade was started in response to the fall of the County of Edessa the previous year to the forces of Zengi. The county had been founded during the First Crusade by Baldwin of Boulogne in 1098...
.
In 1150 Nur ad-Din recognized Mujir ad-Din as ruler of Damascus, but in 1151 Mujir ad-Din allied with the crusaders against Bosra
Bosra
Bosra , also known as Bostra, Busrana, Bozrah, Bozra, Busra Eski Şam, Busra ash-Sham, and Nova Trajana Bostra, is an ancient city administratively belonging to the Daraa Governorate in southern Syria...
, angering Nur ad-Din. Later that year Mujir ad-Din visited Aleppo and swore to remain loyal to Nur ad-Din. In 1152 Mujir ad-Din again besieged Bosra, until the governor of the city agreed to his demands and he returned to Damascus. In 1153 Mujir ad-Din joined Nur ad-Din in the capture of the crusader castle at Baniyas
Baniyas
Baniyas is a city of northwestern Syria, located at the foot of the hill of Qalaat el-Marqab , 55 km to the south of Latakia and 35 km north of Tartous , and a Catholic titular see under the Latin name of Balanea, which is presently vacant.It is famous for its orchards...
. In 1154 the two were in conflict again, and Nur ad-Din finally occupied Damascus by force, exiling Mujir ad-Din to Homs
Homs
Homs , previously known as Emesa , is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is above sea level and is located north of Damascus...
. Nur ad-Din was fully in control of the city and all of Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
. Mujir ad-Din later left Homs for Baghdad.
His honorific title "Mujīr ad-Dīn" means "protector of the faith".