ABSTRACT
Malik IMMEDIATELY on learning of the death of his patron and ~:~e~f master, Saladin sent his condolences to Malik Saleh with
Nur ud-din the customary presents, offering his services and expressMahmud. ing his devotion. He continued the prayers and the
coinage, the chief tokens of suzerainty, in the name of N tlr ud-din's successor. But the minority of Malik Saleh encouraged the ambitions of his father's vassals and courtiers, and each tried to aggrandise himself at the expense of the young king. Their intrigues compelled Saladin to write in stern language, warning them against
he himself would come to Damascus to look after his A. H. sovereign. On this one of the Ameers (Gumushtagin) hurried off Malik Saleh to Aleppo, leaving Damascus exposed to a Frankish attack. The Crusaders would not forgo the opportunity, and laid siege to the city, which was only raised on the payment of a large ransom. Enraged at this and invited by some of the chief men, Saladin hurried to Damascus with seven hundred horse and took possession of the city. He did not enter the palace of Nth ud-din, but abode in his own house where his father, Najm ud-din Ayub, lived whilst at Damascus. From here he wrote to the young Atabek a respectful letter, containing his homage, and the assurance that he had come to Syria only for his suzerain's protection. The answer which was drawn up by his enemies contained, instead of thanks, accusations of ingratitude and disobedience. Provoked at this he marched towards Aleppo, with the object of having a personal interview with Malik Saleh. The young lad, instigated by Gumushtagin, did not look upon him with friendly eyes. When Saladin approached the northern city, the son of N fir ud-din, although only twelve years of age, came riding into the market-place and reminded the people of the gratitude they owed to his father, and called upon them to help him against "the ungrateful man outside." The Aleppins issued in arms against Saladin. "God is my witness," exclaimed he, "that I wish it not to come to arms, but since ye will have it so, they shall decide." The troops of Aleppo were defeated and fled in disorder into the city. Finding himself helpless, Gumushtagin unsheathed against Saladin the daggers of the Assassins. Their attack failed, and the unworthy guardian of young Malik Saleh appealed for help to the Crusaders and to
1193 A. c. laid siege to Emessa, but fell back on the approach of
Saladin, who once more attempted to come to an amicable arrangement with the son of N fir ud-din. He offered him, in a respectful letter, the restoration of Hama, Emessa, and Baalbek, on condition of holding Damascus and Egypt as Malik Saleh's lieutenant. His offers were haughtily refused. In a battle under the walls of the city, Malik Saleh's troops were again defeated and Aleppo was besieged in earnest. Gumushtagin and Saif ud-din Ghazi were compelled to sue for peace; they sent the young daughter of N fir ud-din, a mere child, to the camp of Saladin to excite his pity and to obtain favourable terms. Saladin received the maiden with the greatest kindness, covered her with presents, and at her request gave back all the cities he had taken in the principality of Aleppo. By the treaty, Damascus was definitely made over to him. From this time Malik Sa}(~h's name
was removed from the Khutba in Syria, Hijaz, and Egypt; and the Caliph, the fountain of all legitimate authority, ratified Saladin's assumption of independent power by the usual investiture and the title of Sultan.
