History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 39, Frankish Revival.

Hello again.

Last week we examined the changing fortunes of those in the Middle East.

At the conclusion of last week's episode,

we saw New Adin emerge as the ruler of territory

stretching across Syria, from Aleppo in the north to Damascus in the south.

Now that Nur-Din has achieved his long-held objective to take Damascus,

the question everyone wants to know is, what will he do next?

Well, his attention didn't immediately turn to attacking the crusader states.

Why not? Well, firstly, in the years after his victory at Damascus,

the Holy Land was rocked by a natural disaster in the form of a series of earthquakes. The city of earthquakes.

The city of Damascus escaped damage,

but many lives were lost in the cities of Aleppo, Shazar,

Holmes and Hummer. Any plans New Eden had to attack the Frange were placed on hold

while he sought to rebuild his fractured defensive walls and fortresses.

Then a few months after the earthquakes rocked the region,

Nieu Edin fell seriously ill.

So ill, in fact, that he was convinced he was dying. He ordered to be taken by

litter to Aleppo where he made preparations for his death. He didn't die but he was seriously ill for a year and a half. During this time of course there was no question of him attacking the Frange, but it did give him the opportunity to ponder the situation in the Middle East

and to think deeply about the best strategy to put into play upon his recovery. Events had been occurring in the

crusader states which affected the balance of power in the region. While Newer-Din

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