Shīrkūh
Description / Bio
Asad al-Dīn Shīrkūh b. Shādhī was a Kurdish mercenary commander, the uncle of Saladin, and the penultimate vizier of Fāṭimid Egypt. He was instrumental in paving the way towards Ayyubid dominance after Fatimid rule. Had the Fāṭimid vizier S̲h̲āwar killed in 564/1169 and succeeded him as vizier with the title al-malik al-manṣūr amīr al-juyūsh (al-Qalqashandī has preserved his investiture: Ṣubḥ al-aʿshā, 10:80–90). Died suddenly on Sunday 22 Jumādā II 564/23 March 1169. (Information from D. S. Richards, s.v. "Shīrkūh," in EI2)