NUREDDIN-MAHMUD, n7M.risl 31ALEK-At.-Anr.i. (11111-74). A Moham medan ruler of Syria. born at Damascus. his father, Gmad-ed-din Zengi. originally Governor of Mosul and Diarbekr on behalf of the Seljuk sultans, had established his independence, and ex tended his authority over Northern Syria. in cluding limns, Edessa, and Aleppo. Nureddin swivelled him about 1145 a nil ehanged the seat of government from Mosul to Aleppo. The feudal La I hi States had been established in Syria as a result of the First. Crusade, and Count lyn, Prince of Edessa, tried to regain the terri tories which he had previously lost, but was signally defeated ler the walls of Edessa. This was one of the chief ()evasions of the Second Crusade. Nureddin defeated the Cru saders before Damasente, and tinnily compelled them to abandon the enterprise. Ile next con quered Tripolis and Antioch, the prince of the latter territory being defeated and slain in a bloody conflict near lIngia (June 29, 1149). and
before 1151 all the Christian strongholds in Syria were in his possession. An illness. which pros trated him in 1159, enabled the Christians to recover sonic of their lost territories, and Nureddin, in attempting their resubjeetion, was totally defeated near the Lake of (lennesaret by Baldwin III., King of Jerusalem: but he re sumed the offensive. defeated the Christian princes of Tripolis and Antioch. making prisoners of both, and again invaded Palestiue. Mean while, he had obtained the sanction of the Caliph of Bagdad to his project to seize Egypt from the effeminate Fatimites and a large army under his lieutenant. )hirkoh, speedily overran Egypt. Shirkoh was sueeectled by his nephew, the cele brated Saladin (q.v.), who COMpluted the con quest of the country. Nureddin, Is-coming jeal ous of Salad in. was preparing to march into Egypt in person, when he died at Damascus, May 15, 1174.