Nūr al-Dīn acquires Qalʿat Jaʿbar from its 'Aqilid lords

Nur al-Din Mahmud ibn Zengi took the fortress of Ja'bar, one of the most impregnable fortresses on the Euphrates, which had been in the hands of the Uqaylid Malikids since the days of Malikshah. Its lord, Shihab al-Din Malik, was seized while hunting, and the Banu Kilab carried him to Nur al-Din. He refused to hand over the fortress despite inducements and threats, and his troops besieged it. Then Ibn al-Dayah took the path of gentleness, accepted compensation, and surrendered it in exchange for Sarudj and its districts, the salt pans, and twenty thousand dinars. When he was offered the choice, he said: "This is more wealth, but as for honour, we parted from it at the fortress." ¹