Saif ad-Din Ghazi I.

He was the eldest son of Zengi and the older brother of Nur ad - Din. After the assassination Zengis 1146 he took over from his father in Mosul and al -Jazeera ( northern Mesopotamia ), while Nur ad - Din Aleppo appropriated. Saif ad-Din was smart enough not to argue with his brother about the heritage; he held a debate brought about with his brother, in which the division of the inheritance was confirmed in peaceable manner.

His reign was marked by difficulties with the Ortoqiden of Mardin and Diyarbakır and the Großseldschuken Sultanate. In addition, the sons Zengis remained loyal firmly to their family alliance. Saif ad-Din sent by Nur ad -Din help when it was needed, without that he would have tried doing to tear the country itself. For example, in 1148 the relief of the besieged city of Damascus from the Second Crusade. His second brother named Nasr ad-Din was used as a vassal of Nur ed -Din in Harran, while Qutb ad-Din Mawdud, the fourth and youngest brother, was raised in Mosul at the court of Sayf al -Din.