Dayfa Khatun
Encyclopedia
Dayfa Khatun was the regent ruler of Aleppo
from 1237 to 1244 during the reign of her grandson an-Nasir Yusuf
. She achieved an unprecedented measure of autonomous political influence, becoming the first Ayyubid female regent, and played a major role in architectural patronage in Aleppo, being responsible for the construction of the Firdaws Madrasa.
Khatun, the daughter of al-Adil, was married to Saladin
's son az-Zahir Ghazi
in 1212. Ghazi requested her hand in marriage to end the conflict between him and al-Adil. When she arrived in Aleppo, she was greeted by a great ceremony and received by Ghazi, his emirs, and local notables. Ibn Wasil wrote "When she entered al-Malik az-Zahir [az-Zahir Ghazi], he arose and took several steps towards her and showed her great respect." Her marriage was instrumental in the unification and maintenance of the Ayyubid empire.
Khatun's status grew more important when she gave birth to al-Aziz Muhammad, Ghazi's son and heir to throne of Aleppo. Not much about her is recorded for the remainder of Ghazi's rule which ended when he died in 1216 or Muhammad's reign which ended when he died in 1236.
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
from 1237 to 1244 during the reign of her grandson an-Nasir Yusuf
An-Nasir Yusuf
An-Nasir Yusuf An-Nasir Yusuf (Arabic: الناصر يوسف ) An-Nasir Yusuf (Arabic: الناصر يوسف ) (Royal Name: al-Malik al-Nasir Salah al-Din Yusuf (Arabic: الملك الناصر صلاح الدين يوسف )(1228–1260 ) was the Ayyubid ruler of most of Syria, including Aleppo (1236–1260) and Damascus (1250–1260)...
. She achieved an unprecedented measure of autonomous political influence, becoming the first Ayyubid female regent, and played a major role in architectural patronage in Aleppo, being responsible for the construction of the Firdaws Madrasa.
Khatun, the daughter of al-Adil, was married to Saladin
Saladin
Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb , better known in the Western world as Saladin, was an Arabized Kurdish Muslim, who became the first Sultan of Egypt and Syria, and founded the Ayyubid dynasty. He led Muslim and Arab opposition to the Franks and other European Crusaders in the Levant...
's son az-Zahir Ghazi
Malik az-Zahir
Az-Zahir Ghazi was governor and then ruler of Aleppo from 1186 to 1216. He was the third son of Saladin and his lands included northern Syria and a small part of Mesopotamia....
in 1212. Ghazi requested her hand in marriage to end the conflict between him and al-Adil. When she arrived in Aleppo, she was greeted by a great ceremony and received by Ghazi, his emirs, and local notables. Ibn Wasil wrote "When she entered al-Malik az-Zahir [az-Zahir Ghazi], he arose and took several steps towards her and showed her great respect." Her marriage was instrumental in the unification and maintenance of the Ayyubid empire.
Khatun's status grew more important when she gave birth to al-Aziz Muhammad, Ghazi's son and heir to throne of Aleppo. Not much about her is recorded for the remainder of Ghazi's rule which ended when he died in 1216 or Muhammad's reign which ended when he died in 1236.