Split between Sunni Seljuks and Shia Fatimids

Shia Fatimids

• By 969, they had control of Egypt, and had established an empire that, until the 1060s, also covered much of Syria and Palestine

• However, by 1095, they could only claim authority over Tyre, Sidon, and Acre

Sunni Seljuks

• Most powerful Sunni caliph had been from the Abbasid dynasty based in Bagdhad

• After 1059, the Abbasids were puppet rulers for the Seljuk Turks

Weaknesses in 1095

• 1092 - Malik Shah’s vizier was murdered, and Malik Shah himself died a month later (set the stage for a succession crisis that crippled the Seljuk Empire)

• 1094 - Egyptian vizier, Badr al-Jamali died and the Fatimid caliph died shortly after - triggered a succession crisis among the Fatimids aswell

Divisions

• After the stabilisation of Egypt, the Fatimids resumed their attacks against the Seljuk Turks and retook Jerusalem in 1098

• Shows they were not going to support Seljuk Turks, but use crusader attacks for their own gain

What happened to the Seljuk empire after the death of Malik Shah?

• Resulted in infighting and to the disintegration of their empire

• Muslim rulers were too divided to stop the crusaders