 Rather than establishing a centralized empire , Saladin had established hereditary ownership throughout his lands , dividing his empire among his kinsmen , with family members presiding over semi @-@ autonomous fiefs and principalities . Although these princes ( emirs ) owed allegiance to the Ayyubid sultan , they maintained relative independence in their own territories . Upon Saladin 's death , az @-@ Zahir took Aleppo from al @-@ Adil per the arrangement and al @-@ Aziz Uthman held Cairo , while his eldest son , al @-@ Afdal retained Damascus , which also included Palestine and much of Mount Lebanon . Al @-@ Adil then acquired known as al @-@ Jazira ( upper Mesopotamia ) , where he held the Zengids of Mosul at bay . In 1193 , Mas 'ud of Mosul joined forces with Zangi II of Sinjar and together the Zengid coalition moved to conquer al @-@ Jazira . However , before any major results could be achieved , Mas 'ud fell ill and returned to Mosul , and al @-@ Adil then compelled Zangi to make a quick peace before the Zengids suffered territorial losses at the hands of the Ayyubids . Al @-@ Adil 's son al @-@ Mu 'azzam took possession of Karak and Transjordan . 
