Iftikhar al-Dawla () was the

Fatimid The Fatimid Caliphate (; ), also known as the Fatimid Empire, was a caliphate extant from the tenth to the twelfth centuries CE under the rule of the Fatimid dynasty, Fatimids, an Isma'ili Shi'a dynasty. Spanning a large area of North Africa ...

governor of

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during the siege of 1099. On 15 July, he surrendered Jerusalem to Raymond of Saint-GillesCount of Toulouse (1093–1105) and marquis of Provence (1066–1105). in the

Tower of David The Tower of David (), also known as the Citadel (), is an ancient citadel and contemporary museum, located near the Jaffa Gate entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem, Old City of Jerusalem. The citadel that stands today dates to the Mamluk Sult ...

and was escorted out of the city with his bodyguard.Crusades. (2007). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 25 August 2007, fro
Encyclopædia Britannica Online
Little is known about Iftikhar al-Dawla, although he is mentioned as governor of

Ascalon Ascalon or Ashkelon was an ancient Near East port city on the Mediterranean coast of the southern Levant of high historical and archaeological significance. Its remains are located in the archaeological site of Tel Ashkelon, within the city limi ...

following the fall of Jerusalem, which suggests he was Fatimid governor of the whole of

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. The Syrian chronicler Bar-Hebraeus refers to him as an

Egyptian ''Egyptian'' describes something of, from, or related to Egypt. Egyptian or Egyptians may refer to: Nations and ethnic groups * Egyptians, a national group in North Africa ** Egyptian culture, a complex and stable culture with thousands of year ...

man. Usama ibn Munqidh's

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mentions an emir of the local castles of Abu Qubays, Qadmus and al-Kaf called Iftikhar al-Dawla whose sister was married to Ibn Munqidh's uncle, the ruler of Shayzar. Tasso, The Liberation of Jerusalem, canto 3.60 says that he met Godfrey of Bouillon “in the high court of France where I came as Egypt’s envoy long ago.” (Max Wickert translation.)

Defence of Jerusalem

Iftikhar al-Dawla had a strong garrison of Arab and Nubian troops. Hearing of the advance of the

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he poisoned the wells outside Jerusalem; moved livestock from the pastures inside the city walls and sent urgently to

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for reinforcements. He then ordered all

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, then the majority of the population, to evacuate the city, but allowed

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s to remain within. Although the garrison was well-supplied it was insufficient to man all the walls and was overwhelmed after a siege lasting six weeks.

Notes

Bibliography

*Geary, Patrick J. (2003). ''Readings in Medieval History''. Broadview Press. * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Iftikhar Al-Dawla Generals of the Fatimid Caliphate 11th century in Jerusalem 11th-century people from the Fatimid Caliphate 12th-century people from the Fatimid Caliphate Arab generals 11th-century Shia Muslims 12th-century Shia Muslims Muslims of the First Crusade 11th-century Arab people 12th-century Arab people Palestine under the Fatimid Caliphate