Wikipedia:Today's featured article/September 20, 2023
Al-Adid (1151–1171) was the fourteenth and last caliph of the Fatimid dynasty, and the twenty-fourth imam of the Hafizi Isma'ili branch of Shi'a Islam, reigning from 1160 to 1171. Like the previous two caliphs, al-Adid came to the throne as a child, a puppet in the hands of various strongmen who became viziers of the Fatimid Caliphate. The power struggles in Cairo weakened the Fatimid state, strengthening both the Kingdom of Jerusalem, a Crusader state, and Nur al-Din, the Sunni ruler of Syria. The Crusaders repeatedly invaded Egypt; the Syrians sent their general, Shirkuh, to counter them. In January 1169, Shirkuh occupied Cairo and became vizier, but died shortly after. He was succeeded by his nephew, Saladin, who was at first conciliatory towards al-Adid, but proceeded to dismantle the Fatimid regime, with al-Adid sidelined. Sunni Islam was established as state religion, culminating in the official proclamation of Abbasid suzerainty in September 1171. Al-Adid died a few days later; his family was placed under house arrest. (Full article...)