Death of al-Adil I

Timeline

1. 1218Damascus · DamascusIn his later years al-Adil I was nominal overlord of all Ayyubid lands, but his sons ruled separately: al-Kamil held Egypt, al-Mu'azzam held Damascus, and al-Ashraf controlled Mesopotamia. During the Fifth Crusade's invasion of Egypt, the aged al-Adil could no longer campaign in person but still tried to coordinate his sons against the common enemy.
2. 1218Damascus · DamascusOn August 31, 1218, al-Adil I died of illness in Damascus. He was Saladin's most trusted brother, had directed the home front during the Third Crusade, and after Saladin's death maintained the coexistence of Ayyubid family territories with great political skill. He died as the Fifth Crusade was besieging Damietta.
3. 1218Cairo and Damascus · Middle EastAfter al-Adil's death, each son consolidated his own territory: al-Kamil formally became sultan of Egypt and directed the war against the Crusaders, al-Mu'azzam succeeded to Damascus, and no one in the family could any longer command unified authority as father or elder brother. This fragmentation affected the Ayyubids' overall efficiency in responding to the Fifth Crusade.