Mawdud: Difference between revisions

'''Mawdud ibn AhmedAhmad''' (also spelled '''Maudud'''; {{lang-langx|ar|شرف الدولة المودودمودود|translit=Sharaf al-Dawla Mawdūd}}; died 2 October 2, 1113), also known as '''Sharaf al-Dawla Mawdûd''', was an [[Arab]] Muslim military leader who was [[List of rulers of Mosul#Seljuk Atabegs|atabeg of Mosul]] from 1109 to 1113. He organized several expeditions to reconquer lands from the [[Crusaders]] and defeated them at the Battle of Al-Sannabra.

The following year Mawdud marched against Edessa, but as the city walls had been quickly strengthened, he preferred to lay siege to the town of [[Turbessel]], held by [[Joscelin I, count of Edessa|Joscelin I of Courtenay]]. When [[Radwan of Aleppo|Ridwan of Aleppo]] sent news that the Christians under [[Tancred, Prince of Galilee|Tancred]] were on the verge of capturing Aleppo, he moved on to that city. On his arrival, however, he discovered that the capture of the city was not imminent at all, and that Ridwan even refused to open the city's gates for him. He also received the news that a relief army which had been sent by Baldwin I was now marching northwards, so he raised the siege of Turbessel and the subsequent [[battle of Shaizar (1111)|Battle of Shaizar]] in 1111 proved to be indecisive and a tactical draw.

The 1112 campaign began again with the siege of Turbessel, but was halted when a party of the Mosul army was decimated by Joscelin on June 15 June. An attempt to capture Edessa with the assistance of its Armenian population was discovered by then count [[Baldwin II of Edessa|Baldwin II of Jerusalem]], resulting in the slaughter of the Armenian participants.

In 1113 [[Toghtekin of Damascus]], tired of the ravages by the Christian forces against his territories, appealed to Mawdud to join him to invade the [[Kingdom of Jerusalem]]. The two pillaged [[Galilee]] and besieged [[Tiberias]], though without being able to capture it. On June 28 June, however, the Muslims defeated King [[Baldwin I of Jerusalem]]'s army at the [[Battle of Al-Sannabra]]. Reinforcements saved the Christian forces from total annihilation and, prevented the Muslim commanders from exploiting the victory, and ultimately forced them to retreat to Damascus due to a lack of supplies.