1182

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1182: A Year of Conflict in the Middle East

The year 1182 was a common year starting on a Friday, marked by significant events across the Middle East. In Egypt, Saladin left Cairo for Damascus, crossing into the kingdom of Jerusalem and ravaging its cultures without encountering the Franco army. He then combined his action with raids on Baisan, Jenin, and Acre, but was ultimately repelled from Beirut after a failed attempt to seize it.

Meanwhile, in India, Ghurid General Muhammad ibn Sam took Debal and made Sumra (Ismailians) his vassals. In Europe, Florence conquered Empoli, while Philippe Auguste of France expelled Jews from the royal domain and confiscated their property. The Byzantine Empire experienced a de facto usurpation of Manuel Comnène's cousin, Andronic Comnène, after his victory at the Battle of Nicomedia.

In the Byzantine Empire, April saw the Massacre of the Latinos, where Orthodox Eastern inhabitants of Constantinople killed Venetian, Genoese, and other Latin officials and traders who governed as agents of Empress Maria of Antioch. Andronic Comnenos then raised an army and entered the city, representing himself as the 'protector' of Alexios.

In Syria, Saladin's forces continued to clash with those of King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem. The two armies engaged in a fierce battle at Belvoir Castle, but ultimately repelled each other. Saladin responded by sending an Egyptian fleet to blockade Beirut and led his own forces into the Bekaa Valley. He then invaded the Jazira Region, ending the truce between him and the Zangids.

Saladin's military campaigns were met with resistance from various factions, including the Crusaders in Jerusalem and the Zangid emir of Mosul. Despite these challenges, Saladin remained a dominant force in the region, using his military prowess to expand his territories and secure key victories. The year 1182 marked an important turning point in the complex web of alliances and rivalries that defined the Middle East during this period.

In Cyprus, Isaac Comnène seized the island government with false letters, declaring himself an independent sovereign after the takeover of Andy Comnene. This event would have significant implications for the future of the island, as it marked a turning point in its history of independence and foreign influence.