The son of Imad Uddin Zangi, the ruler of Syria. After his father's death in 1146 he took control of Syria, while Iraq fell to the elder brother Saifuddin. The earlier exploits of the reign of Nuruddin were in continuance of the Holy war, which his father had waged against the Latin Christians of Palestine. Eddessa was taken by his father. The recovery of Edessa was the object of the second Crusade in 1148 undertaken by the Christians under Louis VII of France, but was successfully failed by the Muslim. Resuming the offensive Nuruddin invaded Antioch and in the following battle slew prince Raymond. After this the forts of Aintab, Tallbasher, Ravenden etc., fell without resistance. The death of Baldwin III in 1162 removed all the obstacles and now Nurddin became the absolute master of Syria, Egypt and Iraq. Nuruddin made Damascus this capital from where he ruled for about twenty-seven years till his death.