 Soon , however , Saladin 's sons squabbled over the division of the empire . Saladin had appointed al @-@ Afdal to the governorship of Damascus with the intention that his son should continue to see the city as his principal place of residence in order to emphasize the primacy of the jihad ( holy struggle ) against the Crusader states . Al @-@ Afdal , however , found that his attachment to Damascus contributed to his undoing . Several of his father 's subordinate emirs left the city for Cairo to lobby Uthman to oust him on claims he was inexperienced and intended to oust the Ayyubid old guard . Al @-@ Adil further encouraged Uthman to act in order prevent al @-@ Afdal 's incompetence putting the Ayyubid empire in jeopardy . Thus , in 1194 , Uthman openly demanded the sultanate . Uthman 's claim to the throne was settled in a series of assaults on Damascus in 1196 , forcing al @-@ Afdal to leave for a lesser post at Salkhad . Al @-@ Adil established himself in Damascus as a lieutenant of Uthman , but wielded great influence within the empire . 
