Taj al-Muluk Buri
Encyclopedia
Taj al-Muluk Buri was an atabeg
of Damascus
from 1128 to 1132. He was initially an officer in the army of Duqaq
, the Seljuq ruler of Damascus, together with his father Toghtekin
. When the latter took the power after Duqaq's death, Buri acted as regent and later became atabeg himself.
and Tripoli
which had rebelled against Fakhr al-Mulk ibn 'Ammar, qādī of Tripoli. Buri however acted as a dispotic governor and the population appealed to Fakhr al-Mulk ibn 'Ammar, who captured him. Buri was however treated well and send back to Damascus.
In 1102, count Raymond IV of Toulouse besieged Tripoli. Fakhr al-Mulk sued for help to Damascus, but in vain. In 1104 Duqaq died and the power went to his vizier Toghtekin
. In 1108 Fakhr al-Mulk went to Baghdad to obtain help from the caliph, accompanied by Buri. When the two returned in Damascus, they were informed that Tripoli had fell in Crusaders' hands.
In 1119, Buri led an army against king Baldwin II of Jerusalem
, who had raided Adra'āt and halted him on a hill, were the Crusaders entrenched and stood against Buri's assault, until he was crushed. On 25 January 1126, Buri fought with his father against the Crusaders at Shaqhab, but they were both defeated by Baldwin II. The winners had however suffered heavy losses, and could not march against Damascus, which was then largely undefended.
Buri succeeded Toghtekin, uncontested, in February 1128. The following year, his vizier discovered a plot set by the Assassins to deliver Damascus to the Crusaders. Baldwin, who ignored that the plot had been brought to light, arrived with his army near Damascus and besieged it. The siege lasted until 5 December 1129,, when the western troops were forced to retreat after heavy rains had turned the surroundings of the city into a marsh.
In May 1131, two Ismailites of his personal guard tried to kill him, and Buri was severely wounded at the womb. Despite the cares of Damascus' best physicians, he accelerated his convalescence: after riding a horse, his wound opened back, causing his death in June 1132.
Atabeg
Atabeg, Atabek, or Atabey is a hereditary title of nobility of Turkic origin, indicating a governor of a nation or province who was subordinate to a monarch and charged with raising the crown prince...
of Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
from 1128 to 1132. He was initially an officer in the army of Duqaq
Duqaq
Abu Nasr Shams al-Muluk Duqaq was the Seljuq ruler of Damascus from 1095 to 1104.Duqaq was a son of the Seljuq ruler of Syria, Tutush I, and Khatun Safwat al-Mulk, He was the brother of Radwan. When their father died in 1095, Radwan claimed Syria for himself, and Duqaq initially inherited...
, the Seljuq ruler of Damascus, together with his father Toghtekin
Toghtekin
Zahir ad-Din Toghtekin was a Turkic military leader, who was atabeg of Damascus from 1104 to 1128. He was the founder of the Burid dynasty of Damascus.-Biography:...
. When the latter took the power after Duqaq's death, Buri acted as regent and later became atabeg himself.
Biography
Buri is mentioned for the first time in 1099, when Duqaq sent him to take possession of Jableh, a town between AntiochAntioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
and Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
which had rebelled against Fakhr al-Mulk ibn 'Ammar, qādī of Tripoli. Buri however acted as a dispotic governor and the population appealed to Fakhr al-Mulk ibn 'Ammar, who captured him. Buri was however treated well and send back to Damascus.
In 1102, count Raymond IV of Toulouse besieged Tripoli. Fakhr al-Mulk sued for help to Damascus, but in vain. In 1104 Duqaq died and the power went to his vizier Toghtekin
Toghtekin
Zahir ad-Din Toghtekin was a Turkic military leader, who was atabeg of Damascus from 1104 to 1128. He was the founder of the Burid dynasty of Damascus.-Biography:...
. In 1108 Fakhr al-Mulk went to Baghdad to obtain help from the caliph, accompanied by Buri. When the two returned in Damascus, they were informed that Tripoli had fell in Crusaders' hands.
In 1119, Buri led an army against king Baldwin II of Jerusalem
Baldwin II of Jerusalem
Baldwin II of Jerusalem , formerly Baldwin II of Edessa, also called Baldwin of Bourcq, born Baldwin of Rethel was the second count of Edessa from 1100 to 1118, and the third king of Jerusalem from 1118 until his death.-Ancestry:Baldwin was the son of Hugh, count of Rethel, and his wife Melisende,...
, who had raided Adra'āt and halted him on a hill, were the Crusaders entrenched and stood against Buri's assault, until he was crushed. On 25 January 1126, Buri fought with his father against the Crusaders at Shaqhab, but they were both defeated by Baldwin II. The winners had however suffered heavy losses, and could not march against Damascus, which was then largely undefended.
Buri succeeded Toghtekin, uncontested, in February 1128. The following year, his vizier discovered a plot set by the Assassins to deliver Damascus to the Crusaders. Baldwin, who ignored that the plot had been brought to light, arrived with his army near Damascus and besieged it. The siege lasted until 5 December 1129,, when the western troops were forced to retreat after heavy rains had turned the surroundings of the city into a marsh.
In May 1131, two Ismailites of his personal guard tried to kill him, and Buri was severely wounded at the womb. Despite the cares of Damascus' best physicians, he accelerated his convalescence: after riding a horse, his wound opened back, causing his death in June 1132.