Why was Nureddin able to establish his dominance in Syria between 1146 and 1174?

Question 1

Military skill: What significant military action did Nureddin take in 1146?

Answer 1

Nureddin attacked and captured several castles near Antioch and drove Joscelin II out of Edessa.

Question 2

Military skill: What territories did Nureddin seize in 1147?

Answer 2

Nureddin seized Artah, Kafar Latha, Basarfut, and Balat from Antioch.

Question 3

Military skill: What happened in 1148 involving Nureddin and the Second Crusade?

Answer 3

Nureddin and his brother arrived at Damascus, forcing the Second Crusade to abandon the siege.

Question 4

Military skill: What was the outcome of the attack on Inab in 1149?

Answer 4

Nureddin’s army destroyed the Frankish army, and Raymond of Poitiers was killed.

Question 5

Military skill: What was the fate of Joscelin II of Edessa after his final defeat in 1150?

Answer 5

Joscelin II was blinded and died in prison in Aleppo in 1159.

Question 6

Military skill: What occurred during the Battle of Harim in August 1164?

Answer 6

Nureddin decisively defeated a joint army from Antioch and Tripoli, capturing Bohemond III and Raymond III.

Question 7

Military skill: What key town did Nureddin capture in 1164?

Answer 7

Nureddin captured the key town of Banias.

Question 8

Military skill (limitation): What were Nureddin’s attempts to besiege Damascus in 1150 and 1151?

Answer 8

Nureddin besieged Damascus twice but retreated each time without success.

Question 9

Military skill (limitation): What happened in 1152 regarding Tortosa?

Answer 9

Nureddin briefly captured Tortosa but was forced to abandon it.

Question 10

Military skill (limitation): What significant battle occurred in 1163 involving Amalric and Nureddin?

Answer 10

Amalric defeated and almost killed Nureddin at the battle of al-Buqaia in Syria.

Question 11

Propaganda and Jihad: How did Nureddin capitalize on his father’s success?

Answer 11

He presented himself as a rescuer of fellow Muslims in Damascus from the Second Crusade (1148)

Question 12

Propaganda and Jihad; What symbolic act did Nureddin perform after the victory at Inab?

Answer 12

Nureddin symbolically bathed in the Mediterranean to assert Muslim dominance over Syria.

Question 13

Propaganda and Jihad: What was Nureddin’s appeal to the citizens of Damascus in 1154?

Answer 13

He appealed to them to unite against the Franks, gaining their support.

Question 14

Propaganda and Jihad: What educational institutions did Nureddin build in Damascus?

Answer 14

He built new schools (madrassas) and a ‘palace of justice’ in 1163.

Question 15

Propaganda and Jihad: What was the central focus of Nureddin’s jihad?

Answer 15

Jerusalem was adopted as the central focus for Nureddin’s jihad.

Question 16

Failures of the Franks: What divisions affected the Second Crusade’s effectiveness?

Answer 16

Divisions over the target of the Second Crusade led to ineffective alliances.

Question 17

Failures of the Franks: What internal conflicts affected the siege of Damascus?

Answer 17

Internal squabbles among Frankish barons and lack of leadership hampered the siege.

Question 18

Failures of the Franks: What tensions existed in Jerusalem between 1149 and 1152?

Answer 18

Major tensions existed between Melisende and her son Baldwin III over power.

Question 19

Failures of the Franks: What was the outcome of Baldwin III’s siege of Shaizar in 1157?

Answer 19

The siege broke down due to disagreements over leadership.

Question 20

Failures of the Franks: What was Amalric’s focus during his invasions from 1163 to 1169?

Answer 20

Amalric’s invasions of Egypt directed resources away from Syria.

Question 21

Lack of external aid to the Franks: What was the response to appeals for a new crusade after the Second Crusade?

Answer 21

There was no response to appeals for a new crusade between 1163 and 1165.

Question 22

Lack of external aid to the Franks: What was the outcome of Pope Alexander III’s papal bulls?

Answer 22

Kings failed to respond to the papal bulls seeking aid for the Holy Land.

Question 23

Lack of external aid to the Franks: What hindered Henry II’s preparations for a crusade?

Answer 23

A large rebellion in 1173-74 hindered his preparations.

Question 24

Lack of external aid to the Franks (limitations): What was Baldwin III’s attempt to improve relations with Byzantium?

Answer 24

Baldwin III married Theodora in 1158 to establish an alliance.

Question 25

Lack of external aid to the Franks (limitations): How did Byzantine protection affect Antioch?

Answer 25

Byzantine protection played a vital role in deterring attacks on Antioch.

Question 26

Failures of the Franks (limitations): What happened in Damascus in 1148?

Answer 26

There was a siege of Damascus.

Despite this, in 1150, Damascus still turned to the Franks for support.

Question 27

Failures of the Franks (limitations): What was Amalric’s focus during his reign?

Answer 27

Amalric focused on Egypt.

This focus might have been a mistake, but it massively enriched Outremer.