AYYUBIDS

Ayyubids: translation

The Ayyubids were a famous Islamic dynasty established by the illustriousSaladin(Salah al Din) in Egypt in 1171, and at their brief height they also held sway in greaterSyria,Iraq, and Yemen. The Ayyubids replaced the Fatimids and were in turn replaced by the Mamluks of Egypt in 1252.

The Ayyubids are one of the five Kurdish dynasties mentioned bySharaf Khan Bitlisiin theSharafnamaas enjoying royalty. Clearly, however, the Ayyubids thought of themselves as Muslims first, rather than ethnic Kurds. Other Ayyubids ruled in Syria until 1260. Indeed, the Kurdish writer-princeAbu al-Fida, followed by his son, ruled Hamah in Syria until 1342. The later rulers (meliks) ofHasankeyfin modernTurkeywere also in charge of an Ayyubid successor state.