Nour al-din Mahmoud Zangi`s political relations with Roman and Byzantine Saljuks, a fluctuation from convergence to divergence

Abstract

Formation of Raha`s and Antioch`s Cruciate governments in the north of Sham and their military threats against Islamic states in that reign caused political convergence and alliance between Nour al-din Mahmoud Zangi`s government and Roman Seljuks, during Masoud ibn Ghalich Arsalan era. The union had mutual advantages for the two sides. After Raha`s government demolished, Antioch weakened and Nour al-Din`s government established, the union ended. Nour al-din`s power threatened Roman Saljuks. So, the conflict between the two governments caused divergence between them. Then, Nour al-Din got closer to Byzantium because of common interests they had. This Article, using an analytical-explanatory method and printed sources, has tried to explain the reasons for the convergence and divergence between Nour al-din Mahmoud Zangi and Roman and Byzantine Saljuks.

Keywords

• Zangi Atabaks
• Sham
• Roman Saljuks
• Nour al-din Mahmoud Zangi
• Masoud ibn Ghalich Arsalan
• Ghalich Arsalan II
• Byzantium
• Crusades