abu’l fath of sarmin was emir of apamea after the assassination of khalaf ibn mula’ib in 1106. he enlisted help from ridwan to counter the threat from tancred. tancred, with help from khalaf’s son musbih ibn mula’ib, captured the town. abu’l fath, without allies among the neighboring emirs, negotiated the safe passage of the muslims in the town. nevertheless, he and three of his followers were put to death. apamean nobles were then taken to antioch to be ransomed by ridwan.