Najm al-Din Ayyub facts for kids
Najm al-Din Ayyub was a brave Kurdish soldier and a smart politician. He was born in a city called Dvin. He is most famous for being the father of Saladin, who became a very well-known leader. Najm al-Din Ayyub is also the person from whom the Ayyubid dynasty gets its name. He passed away on August 9, 1173.
Contents
A Soldier's Journey: Life and Career
Najm al-Din Ayyub came from a Kurdish family. His father was Shadhi ibn Marwan, and his brother was Shirkuh. Their family was closely linked to another ruling family called the Shaddadids.
In 1130, when the last Shaddadid ruler was removed from Dvin, Najm al-Din's family moved. They first went to Baghdad and then to Tikrit. In Tikrit, Najm al-Din's father, Shadhi, became the governor. After his father died, Najm al-Din Ayyub took over as governor of Tikrit.
Working with Zengi
In 1132, Najm al-Din Ayyub started working for a powerful leader named Imad al-Din Zengi. During a battle near Tikrit, Najm al-Din helped Zengi escape safely across the Tigris River. This saved Zengi's life.
A few years later, in 1136, Najm al-Din's brother, Shirkuh, had a fight and killed a Christian man in Tikrit. Because of this, both brothers were forced to leave the city. It is said that Najm al-Din's famous son, Saladin, was born on the very night they left Tikrit.
Moving to Damascus
Zengi later made Najm al-Din Ayyub the governor of Baalbek. In 1146, Baalbek was attacked. Najm al-Din wisely decided to surrender the city. He then moved to Damascus.
Meanwhile, his brother Shirkuh began working for Zengi's son, Nur al-Din Zengi. Nur al-Din wanted to take control of Damascus. In 1148, during the Second Crusade, crusader armies attacked Damascus. This forced Nur al-Din and the rulers of Damascus to work together.
Eventually, Nur al-Din demanded that Damascus be given to him. Najm al-Din Ayyub and his brother Shirkuh helped arrange for the city to surrender in 1154. Najm al-Din Ayyub then stayed on as governor of Damascus under Nur al-Din's rule. He was so respected that he was the only official allowed to remain seated in Nur al-Din's presence.
In Egypt with Saladin
Najm al-Din's son, Saladin, also started working for Nur al-Din. Saladin was sent to Egypt to take control there. In 1170, Najm al-Din Ayyub joined his son in Egypt. Saladin offered his father a very important position, but Najm al-Din refused. Instead, he was given control of important cities like Alexandria and Damietta. Many of Saladin's other family members also came to Egypt.
Nur al-Din did not fully trust Saladin and his family. He worried they were becoming too powerful. Najm al-Din Ayyub publicly supported Nur al-Din. But in private, he told his son Saladin that Nur al-Din should never be allowed to take Egypt from him.
Death and Legacy
On July 31, 1173, Najm al-Din Ayyub was hurt in a horse riding accident. He passed away a few days later, on August 9. His death made things more tense between Saladin and Nur al-Din. Nur al-Din had asked Saladin to join him on a military trip. But Saladin went home when he heard about his father's death.
However, the big conflict expected between Nur al-Din and Saladin never happened. Nur al-Din died the next year. After that, Saladin eventually took control of both Egypt and Syria.
People who knew Najm al-Din Ayyub described him as a kind, generous, and noble man. He was also known for loving the game of polo. He was seen as a smart and wise leader who knew how to handle difficult situations.
His given name was Ayyub, which is like the name Job. The Ayyubid dynasty, founded by Saladin and his family, is named after him. "Najm al-Din" is an honorific title that means "star of the faith."
Family and Children
Najm al-Din Ayyub had several children, including:
- Nur al-Din Shahanshah (died 1148)
- al-Malik al-Mu'azzam Shams al-Dawla Turan-Shah (died 1181)
- Salah al-Din Yusuf (Saladin) (1137–1193)
- al-Malik al-Adil Sayf al-Din Abu Bakr Ahmad (Saphadin) (1145–1218)
- Taj al-Muluk Abu Sa'id Buri (died 1184)
- al-Malik al-'Aziz Sayf al-Islam Tughtekin (died 1197)
- Rabi'a Khatun (daughter, died 1246)
- Sitt Ash-Sham Fatima Khatun (daughter)
