Amidst yet another Crusader invasion in 1164, Dirgham clashed with Shawar, who had gained the support of Syrian troops led by Shirkuh.
16 Facts About Dirgham
1.
2.
Dirgham was of Arab origin, and his nisbas of al-Lakhmi and al-Mundhiri possibly indicate descent from the pre-Islamic Lakhmid kings of al-Hira.
3.
Dirgham had three brothers, Humam, Mulham, and Husam.
4.
Dirgham is first mentioned in the sources in 1153, as part of an expedition to relieve the city of Ascalon, which was being besieged by King Baldwin III of Jerusalem.
5.
Dirgham appears to have been a close ally of Tala'i ibn Ruzzik, who made him commander of a new military corps, the Barqiyya.
6.
Dirgham led the forces mustered to oppose the invasion, but was defeated and retreated to Bilbays.
7.
Dirgham was able to block Amalric's advance by breaching the dikes of the Nile, which was then in flood.
8.
Dirgham attempted to thwart his rival's plans by opening negotiations with Nur al-Din for an alliance against the Crusaders, but the Syrian ruler's reply was non-committal, and on his way to Egypt, Dirgham's envoy was arrested by the Crusaders, possibly on the instigation of Nur al-Din himself.
9.
Dirgham faced domestic challenges, as many of the Barqiyya commanders envied him and themselves made contact with Shawar.
10.
Dirgham set an ambush and killed seventy of them, including many of their followers.
11.
Dirgham preferred to negotiate with Amalric, offering him a peace treaty guaranteed by the surrender of hostages, and the payment of an annual tribute.
12.
Desperate for funds to pay his men, Dirgham confiscated the possessions of orphans, thereby provoking a public outcry against him.
13.
Dirgham's troops began deserting him, including the entire Rayhaniyya corps.
14.
Dirgham then fled Cairo, accompanied by the curses of the populace, while Shirkuh's army was entering the capital.
15.
Dirgham was overtaken near Fustat dragged from his horse and killed, followed soon by his brothers.
16.
Dirgham's head was severed and paraded in public, while his corpse was left unburied for several days, before being taken to a burial at Birkat al-Fil.