One of the last of the Abbasid Caliphs, who tried to use Islamic institutions to strengthen his rule in Baghdad. Caliph al-Nasir who tried to restore the caliphate in Baghdad and its environs ruled from 1180 to 1225 and became powerful due to the collapse of the Seljuq Turkish Empire. Originally, the Shariah had been developed in protest against caliphal rule, but now al-Nasir studied to become an alim in all four of the law school of thoughts. He was also initiated into one of the futuwwah clubs, with the aim of making himself the Grand Master of all the futuwwahs in Baghdad. In spite of repeated requests by Sultan Salahuddin (Saladin) to help him fight against the Crusaders, he sent him no help and instead concentrated on fighting the Turks, Iranians and Mongols. It was Caliph al-Nasir who in 1216 had sought the aid of Chinghiz Khan to fight against Khwarizm Shah who had resolved to put an end to the Abbasid Caliphate. Chingiz Khan devastated not only Khwarizm but also Bukhara, Samarqend and other Muslim cities between 1216 al 1220. After Caliph al-Nasir's death, his successors continued these policies but it was too late. The Islamic world was shortly engulfed in a catastrophe, which would finally bring the Abbasid caliphate to a violent and tragic end.