On the other hand the victor of such a clash will gain a large Islamic Empire that the Crusaders will be hard pressed to defend against. Such a confrontation will drain away forces desperately needed by both parties to drive off the accursed Crusaders. It is almost a given that master and former lieutenant will have to face off against one another if either are to expand. This betrayal may prove dangerous for Nur ad-Din, as besides being a cunning general, Salah al-Din has revitalised Egypt into a mighty force once again. Unfortunately for Nur ad-Din his former lieutenant had ambitions of his own and soon took Egypt as his own.
Nur ad-Din sent a very capable lieutenant by the name of Salah al-Din to Egypt to rule it in his name. Owing to the determination and leadership of Nur ad-Din and his immediate predecessor, Zenghi, (Nur ad-Din’s father), the Syrian based Seljuks have begun to effectively challenge the Crusaders. However, prior to the First Crusade the Seljuks began to fragment amongst themselves, draining away much of their strength and momentum, ultimately resulting in the unlikely success of the First Crusade and the subsequent founding of the Crusader States. Relying heavily on their swift light cavalry the Seljuk Turks have seized lands in Syria and Asia Minor and settled down to become a major power in the Middle East.
Since migrating from the Steppes the nomadic Seljuk Turks have had an incredible impact on the Middle East.
