Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents v
3. Figures viii
4. Note on Names, Transliteration and Abbreviations ix
5. Abbreviations x
6. Principal Historical Figures, Dynasties and Terminology xiii
7. Acknowledgements xx
8. Introduction: Defining and Exploring the Political World of Bilad al-sham
9. Historiographical Overview 4
10. The Primary Sources 7
11. The Scope of this Book 16
12. Notes 17
13. Part I. Historical Sketch of Bilad al-sham
14. Introduction
15. The System of Autonomous Lordships in Syria 33
16. Byzantine, Fatimid and Seljuq Syria 35
17. Notes 37
18. 1. The Byzantine Empire
19. Byzantine Bilad al-sham 39
20. The Antiochene–Aleppan Balance of Power 43
21. The Byzantine Political Footprint in the Face of Seljuq Incursions 50
22. Byzantine Interactions with Local Rulers in Bilad al-sham 54
23. Conclusion: The Break-up of Byzantine Bilad al-sham 59
24. Notes 60
25. 2. The Fatimid Caliphate
26. Fatimid Bilad al-sham 70
27. The Fatimid Political Footprint in Northern Syria: 442–63/1050–71 73
28. The Fatimid Collapse in Southern Syria and Palestine 80
29. Fatimid Interactions with Local Rulers in Bilad al-sham 85
30. Conclusion: The Fatimids as ‘the Other’ in Bilad al-sham? 89
31. Notes 90
32. 3. The Great Seljuq Sultanate
33. Seljuq Bilad al-sham 98
34. The Sultan in Bilad al-sham 102
35. Syrian Campaigns Instigated by Malik Shah 107
36. The Seljuq Perpetuation of the System of Autonomous Lordships in Syria 111
37. Seljuq Bilad al-sham in the Sixth/Twelfth Century 123
38. The Türkmen in Syria 126
39. Conclusion: Reassessing Seljuq Bilad al-sham 132
40. Notes 133
41. Part II. Countering the Crusades?
42. Introduction 149
43. 4. The Reactions of Seljuq, Fatimid and Syrian Elites
44. The ‘Counter-Crusade’ and ‘la maqam’ Paradigms 151
45. The Seljuq Counter-Crusade 154
46. The Fatimid Counter-Crusade 158
47. Alliance Networks among Syrian Elites in the Early Crusading Era 168
48. Notes 174
49. 5. The Notables and Frontiers of Aleppo
50. The Empowerment of Syrian Notables 184
51. Appeals for Assistance 193
52. The Frontiers of Bilad halab 203
53. Revisiting Baldwin II’s Siege of Aleppo 213
54. Conclusion: Aleppan Notables and the Threat of Frankish Rule 220
55. Notes 221
56. Conclusion: Situating the Crusades in Syrian History 235
57. Appendix I: Chronology of Events 238
58. Appendix II: Regnal Dates in Bilad al-sham 240
59. Appendix III: Aleppo under Siege 244
60. Appendix IV: Damascus under Siege 251
61. Bibliography 253
62. Index 292