After the failure of the Second Crusade of 1147-1149 , the Zengid dynasty controlled Control a unified Syria and engaged Hostile_encounter in a conflict Hostile_encounter with the Fatimid rulers of Egypt .

Between 780–1180 , the Byzantine Empire and the Abbasid & Fatimid caliphates in the regions of Iraq , Palestine , Syria , Anatolia and Southern Italy fought Hostile_encounter a series of wars for supremacy in the Eastern Mediterranean .

Nonetheless , the Arabs remained Temporary_stay a fierce opponent to the Byzantines and a temporary Fatimid recovery after `` c. '' 970 had the potential to reverse Change many of the earlier victories .

The crusader invasion of Egypt ( 1154–1169 ) was a series of campaigns undertaken Action by the Kingdom of Jerusalem to strengthen Cause_change_of_strength its position in the Levant by taking advantage of the weakness of Fatimid Egypt .

The war began Process_start as part of a succession crisis in the Fatimid Caliphate , which began Process_start to crumble under the pressure of Syria and the Crusader states .

During the course of the war , the Seljuq Turks and their allies attacked Attack the Fatimid Caliphate of Egypt , capturing Conquering Jerusalem and catalyzing Process_start the call for the First Crusade .