Topic summary
Shirkuh
Asad al-Dīn Shīrkūh bin Shādhī (Arabic: أسد الدين شيركوه بن شاذي, romanized: ʾasad al-Dīn Šērkōh bin Šāḏī; Kurdish: ئەسەدەدین شێرکۆ، شێرگوێ, romanized: Esed El-Dîn Şêrko, Şêrgûh), (died 23 March 1169) was a Kurdish commander in service of the Zengid dynasty, then the Fatimid Caliphate and uncle of Saladin. His military and diplomatic efforts in Egypt were a key factor in establishing the Ayyubid dynasty in that country.