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Shīrkūh

Metadata

Gender
Male
Dates
Active dates
1169 CE
Social role
  • State official
Other name
Asad al-Dīn Shīrkūh b. Shādhī

Description / Bio

Asad al-Dīn Shīrkūh b. Shādhī, was a Kurdish mercenary commander in the service of the Fatimids and the uncle of Saladin. He was instrumental in paving the way towards an Ayyubid dominance after Fatimid rule.

Yusuf Umrethwala, "Shīrkūh," available online through the Princeton Geniza Project at https://geniza.princeton.edu/people/shirkuh/, accessed June 3, 2026.
https://geniza.princeton.edu/people/shirkuh/