Islam
Nuradin and Damascus
In 1150, Nuradin raided well into Antiochene territory. He had a truce with Joscelin, but in April, while riding to Antioch, Joscelin became separated from his escort and was captured by some Turcoman freebooters who wanted to sell him for ransom. When Nuradin heard of this, he sent cavalry to take Joscelin from the mecenaries. He had the Count blinded and put in prison, where he died nine years later.
Nuradin did not besiege Antioch itself. The city was too strong and he feared to attract the attention of the Byzantines. But he took just about everything else in sight, including Apamea. It was now, in 1150, that he drove all the way to Saint Symeon and made good his promise to bathe in the Mediterranean. He attacked Turbessel, but Countess Beatrice defended the fortress successfully. Soon after, she sold it and six other fortresses to Emperor Manuel. In spring 1151, he and the Seljuk Sultan Mas'ud attacked these remaining fortresses, dividing them between themselves. The last traces of the County of Edessa were gone.
The emir was also interested in Damascus. He made one demonstration in its direction in 1150 and another in 1151, but both times he withdrew when the Franks advanced. Count Raymond II of Tripoli was assassinated in 1152, prompting Nuradin to attempt the capture of Tortosa, but he was unable to keep the city. Over and over again, he was able to raise an army, but he was unable to command sufficient forces to carry out any sort of long-term campaign.
He did manage Damascus, however. In 1154 he advanced yet again, but this time the city was betrayed from within. This was the high-point in his career. In the later 1150s, he suffered a series of setbacks. Terrible earthquakes caused extensive damage in many cities in 1156 and 1157, and he and his emirs were busy with repairs. Then, in October 1157, he fell ill and for a time believed he would die. He did recover by January 1158, but he seemed to be more cautious after that and did not campaign as he had earlier.