Political Relations of Banu Merdas Shiite Government with the Seljuk and Fatimids

Governor Banu Merdas succeeded in establishing Banu Merdas government in Aleppo upon the weakening of Hamdanids government and power absence in this city in the early fifth century (414-472 AH). From strategic and military viewpoints, Aleppo had prominent status for Fatimids, Byzantium, and the Seljuk in the fifth century. Based on research findings, governors of Banu Merdas, despite repeated attacks of the Fatimids, could keep their power in Aleppo through adopting tactful policies. However, upon the entrance of Turkmen to Levant, the first Seljuk dynasty by capturing the city could nullify the efforts of Byzantium for pervading the northern region of Levant, on the one hand, and could put pressure on Fatimids, on the other hand. As a result of such attempts by the Seljuk, Banu Merdas government gradually declined and was driven to extinction. This study, through applying library method and original sources, attempts to investigate the political relations and encounters of this government with Fatimids and the Seljuk.