by Frauke Pumpenmeier
From 909 to 1171, the Fatimid dynasty ruled not only Egypt, but also parts of the Maghreb and Syria-Palestine. During the Crusades, it increasingly lost areas of rule/influence; after all, Egypt itself was of interest to both the Franks under Amalrich I, King of Jerusalem, and Nur ed-Din, ruler of Damascus.
The Fatimid vizier Shavar had made financial promises to both parties, which he was unable (or unwilling) to honour. A first campaign in 1163 ended with a peace treaty, followed by another confrontation in 1167, in which the Syrians faced a numerically superior Egyptian-Frankish alliance. The Syrians, led by Shirkuh, therefore initially withdrew to the west bank to about the height of Minja and set up camp in the ruins of Hermopolis.
Soon the Frankish-Egyptian army under Amalrich I caught up with him there. Both parties were hesitant at first. Although Shirkuh’s force was outnumbered, it consisted largely of Turkish cavalry, whereas Amalrich’s force comprised mostly infantrymen and only a small number of knights.
However, Amalrich had no choice after, as Runciman describes it, ‘Saint Bernard…made one of his unfortunate interventions into Crusading History’ and admonished Amalrich in the form of a vision that he was only worthy of his cross relic (worn on a chain) if he proved himself to be a true Christian. Amalrich then opened battle on 18 March 1167. Shirkuh initially gave way in the centre of the front, then surrounded his opponent from the sides and defeated Amalrich.
Bibliography:
- St. Runciman, A History of the Crusades II (Cambridge 1952) 374