The Fatimide caliphate deteriorated rapidly so the caliphs resorted to the strong rulers of Syria for protection and support. Thus, the ruler of Syria Nureddin Zinki sent an army to Egypt under the leadership of Assadeddin Shirkoh and his nephew Saladin to help face the Crusaders. The army succeeded in its mission but it remained in Egypt to protect it from further dangers.

The Fatimide caliph made Shirkoh his vizir and after his death, he gave the post to his nephew Saladin. After the death of the caliph himself, Saladin ruled Egypt with his dynasty known as the Ayubbides for 82 years.

The Ayubbide rulers are the following :
- King Nasser Saladin (1171-1192AD)
- King Aziz Emad Eddin (1192-1198AD)
- King Mansour Nasser Eddin (1198-1200AD)
- King Adel Seif Eddin (1200-1218AD)
- King Kamil Nasser Eddin (1218-1238AD)
- King Seif Eddin Abu Bakr (1238-1240AD)
- King Salih Nigm Eddin (1240-1249AD)
- King Turanshah (1250AD)
- Queen Shagarat El-Dor