Mawdud

Sharaf al-Dawla Mawdud ibn al-Tuntakin (Arabic: شرف الدولة مودود, romanized: Sharaf al-Dawla Mawdūd) was a Muslim military leader who was Emir of Mosul from 1109 to 1113. He is famed for organizing several expeditions to reconquer lands from the Crusaders.

Biography

According to G. Fink and I. Demirkent, the origin of Mawdud is unclear. The place and date of the emir's birth are not recorded too. Mawdud was an officer of Muhammad I Tapar. The First campaign he was sent to was against a rebel in Persia named Jawali Saqawa, Mawdud besieged him for 8 months, before being placed with another commander, which was Jawali's term to surrender. But in April 1108, Jawali, who became Emir of Mosul, rebelled, so Muhammad I sent him with other Emirs to put Mosul under siege and restore it to the sultanate. When all the Emirs retreated from the siege after Muhammed ibn Qatlaghtekin told them to do so, he refused saying: I don't leave only if the sultan command. And later in September, some rebels inside the city opened one of the gates allowing Mawdud and his forces to enter. Thus, Mawdud assumed the office of Emir of Mosul, and took the Emirate which became part of his domain. Mawdud's soldiers and patros [sic?] even reached al-Rahbah where they clashed with Bedouins.¹²³⁴

In 1110, Mawdud started his first campaign against the Crusaders, joined by Sokmen al-Kutbi, Shah of Ahlat, and Ilghazi, Emir of Mardin, and besieged , and , joined the campaign spreading defences on the , Mawdud already lifted the siege and went to and with Tughtekin leaving the Ephrates, the road was opened for the Crusaders towards a trap. But didn't fall for it, and instead entered to strengthen his army, Mawdud's attempt to lure him failed again, but the Crusaders had to leave because of attacks on other fronts, and they brought the Christian population with them to not be left vulnerable for raids, but while crossing the river, they had been attacked in the rear by Mawdud, inflicting heavy losses on them, then Mawdud ended the campaign and returned to Mosul.