At a time when the Abbasid caliphate was weakened and the Crusader attacks turned into a bloodbath, Nureddin Mahmud b. rose like the sun in the sky of the Islamic land. Zengi. He became the shield of Muslims against the Crusaders by becoming the head of the Zengi State established in Mosul, and he never bowed the banner of Islam for a moment in his country, which he decorated with the spirit of justice and struggle.

In addition, Saladin, who took back Jerusalem from the Crusaders, would also grow up under the hands of this glorious commander. Who knew that the most valuable gift of the Turks to Jerusalem would be prepared by his order? Nureddin Mahmud b. was born in Aleppo on February 11, 1118. It is known that Zengi took part in some military activities initiated by his father Imadeddin Zengi at a young age.

When Imadeddin Zengi was killed while besieging Ca’ber Castle (September 14, 1146), his son Nureddin Mahmud came to Aleppo with some orders and dominated the city. Necmeddin Ayyub, the father of Selâhaddin Ayyubî, who would later become the founder of the Ayyubid State, and his uncle Shirkuh were also in the service of the Zengids State. Necmeddin Eyyûb was the administrator of the city of Baalbek, a part of the Damascus Atabegium under the rule of Seyfeddin Gazi.

His brother Şirkuh was one of Nureddin Mahmud’s leading commanders. When Seyfeddin Gazi (1146-49), the elder brother of Nureddin Mahmud, dominated Mosul, the capital of the Zengids Atabeg, and the places connected to it, the state was divided into two after the death of their father. The Crusaders, who were very happy about the death of Imadeddin Zengi, were even more pleased with the distribution of the lands between the two brothers.

They believed that the two brothers would fight each other and lose the lands their father had won. However, Nureddin Mahmud and Seyfeddin Gazi would support each other against the Crusaders, and their enthusiasm would remain at bay. Especially the joint action of Nureddin Mahmud and the Turkish Seljuk Sultan Mesud and the participation of the Artuqids put the Crusaders in a completely difficult situation.

After Imadeddin Zengi’s death, the Crusader Count Joscelin had the hope of recapturing Urfa. But he was not yet aware that he was facing a tougher opponent than his father. When Nureddin Mahmud became aware of Joscelin’s conquest plan, he warned the Turkish garrison in Urfa. However, despite the humane treatment shown to them, the Armenian people did not hesitate to open the gates of the city to Joscelin.

In this situation, the Turkish garrison had to retreat to the inner castle. Fortunately, Nureddin Mahmud came to Urfa with his forces five days later and Joscelin had to flee the city. The Armenians, who were afraid of paying the penalty for their betrayal, also followed him. The Turks won a double victory, frustrating both the Crusaders and the Armenians. Thus, the Christian people of Urfa determined their own fate.

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