Locating Zengi: Exploring the State’s Characteristics and Significance
The Zengids were a Turkish state that ruled in Mesopotamia and Syria in the 12th and 13th centuries, with its first ruler being Imadeddin Zengi. The city of Zengi is mentioned in the TV series Saladin, the Conqueror of Jerusalem, and holds great historical importance.
The Zengi State, founded by Imadeddin Zengi in Mosul, was shared among his sons after his death. Seyfeddin Gazi I and Kudbeddin Mevdud ruled the Mosul Principality, while Nûreddin Mahmud Zengi ruled the Aleppo Principality. The Zengids belonged to the Avshar tribe of Oghuz Turkmens and played a major role in neutralizing the Second Crusade and protecting the Islamic world from the invasion of the Crusaders.
Selahaddin Ayyubi, the nephew of Shirkuh, one of Nûreddin Mahmud Zengî’s commanders, put an end to the Fatimids and established the Ayyubid state in Egypt after the death of Nûreddin.
The Zengi State and its rulers left a lasting impact on the history of the region and their legacy continues to be remembered and studied to this day.
