Zengid dynasty: Map & History
The Zengid dynasty was a Turkoman Sunni Muslim dynasty in the Middle East.
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The Zengid dynasty was a Turkoman Sunni Muslim dynasty in the Middle East. Initially an Atabegate of the Seljuk Empire created in 1127, it ruled parts of the Levant and Upper Mesopotamia, and eventually seized control of Fatimid Egypt in 1169. Imad al-Din Zengi was the first ruler of the dynasty. By 1174, the Zengid state extended from Tripoli to Hamadan and from Yemen to Sivas, as it also included the Egyptian territories held by Saladin as governor in the name of Nur al-Din Zengi.
Modern Countries Once Part of Zengid dynasty
At its mapped extent, Zengid dynasty covered territory in 6 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Jordan1169–1176 CE · nearly all
- Egypt1169–1176 CE · most
- Syria1139–1191 CE · most
- Iraq1139–1259 CE · a large part
- Turkey1139–1191 CE · a small part
- Libya1169–1176 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Zengid dynasty's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Zengid dynasty in Depth
History
In 1127, following the murder of Aqsunqur al-Bursuqi, atabeg of Mosul, the Seljuk Empire decided to name Zengi, son of Aq Sunqur al-Hajib, Seljuk Governor of Aleppo, as the new Seljuk atabeg of Mosul. Before this nomination, Zengi had been a successful Seljuk general in Iraq, where he had become shihna, or Governor for the whole region.
Zengi quickly became the chief Turkic potentate in Northern Syria and Iraq, taking Aleppo from the squabbling Artuqids in 1128 and capturing the County of Edessa from the Crusaders after the siege of Edessa in 1144. This latter feat made Zengi a hero in the Muslim world, but he was assassinated by a slave two years later, in 1146.
Military
The military of the Zengids, like that of the other Atabegates, continued the traditions of the Seljuk Empire. Professional Askar and Ghulam troops were combined with mercenaries and auxiliary Turcoman & Kurdish tribal elements. The best description of these troops appears in the mid-13th century Warqa wa Gulshah, where numerous weapons are depicted, such as javelins, spears, swords, bows, maces and lassos. The protective equipment can be quite heavy, including helmets and hauberk. Bows and arrows were used extensively, and dense volleys could pierce armour or even stop a Crusader charge on occasion. Against regular armies, Turcoman harassment techniques were extensively used.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Zengid dynasty (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Zengid dynasty: Key Facts
| Capitals | Mosul, Damascus, Aleppo |
|---|---|
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Founded | 1127 |
| Dissolved | 1250 |
Preceded by
Facts from Wikidata Q189545 (CC0).
Zengid dynasty Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 1,162,883 km² in 1172 CE.
Zengid dynasty: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Zengid dynasty exist?
The Zengid dynasty is dated to 1139 CE – 1259 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of the Zengid dynasty?
The capital of the Zengid dynasty was Multiple bases: Mosul (until 1234), Damascus (1154–1174).
How large was the Zengid dynasty at its peak?
At its peak in 1172 AD the Zengid dynasty covered about 1,162,883 km².
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