El Akir murdered his own brother, and, when he tried to make the widow marry him, she scarred him, causing her death. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Crusaders) Akir tried to capture King Richard I of England in an ambush in 1190 but instead captured William des Preaux, who claimed to be the King. He took William and Barbara Wright to Saladin who took her as his servant. Barbara publically embarrassed Akir and so he developed a grudge against her. He hired Luigi Ferrigo to help him kidnap Barbara. It was a success; Akir took her back to Lydda as his personal slave.