Salah al-Din redirects here. For the governorate in Iraq, see Salah ad Din. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Salah ad Din, Salâh-ad-Dîn, or Salahuddin ( Arabic: صلاح الدين is a Governorate in Iraq, north of Baghdad For the Saladin (FV601) six-wheeled armoured car, see Alvis Saladin. The Saladin (FV601 was a six-wheeled armoured car built by Alvis and used by the British Army. For the animated series of Saladin, see Saladin: The Animated Series. Saladin is an animated project inspired by the life Salah Al-Din Yusuf Ibni Ayub, the Islamic Hero who united Muslims in the holy war against the Crusades in the 12th century For the Metal Gear character codenamed Saladin, see Big Boss. (commonly abbreviated MG) is a Stealth game designed by Hideo Kojima. is a central Character in the Metal Gear series reputed to be "The Greatest Warrior of the Twentieth Century

Yusuf Salah ad-Din Ibn Ayyub
Sultan of Egypt and Syria
Artistic representation of Saladin
Reign	1174–1193
Coronation	1174
Full name	Salah ad-Din Yusuf Ibn Ayyub
Born	c. Sultan (سلطان is an Islamic title with several historical meanings This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية 1137–1138
Birthplace	Tikrit, Iraq
Died	March 4 1193 CE
Place of death	Damascus, Syria
Buried	Umayyad Mosque, Damascus, Syria
Predecessor	Nur ad-Din
Successor	Al-Aziz
Dynasty	Ayyubid
Father	Najm ad-Din Ayyub

Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb (Arabic: صلاح الدين يوسف ابن أيوب‎), known in English as Saladin, was a 12th-century Kurd who became Sultan of Egypt and Syria, and a major Muslim political and military leader. Tikrit (تكريت Tikrīt also transliterated as Takrit or Tekrit) is a town in Iraq, located For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Events 51 - Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title Princeps iuventutis (head of the youth Damascus ( دمشق,, also commonly known as الشام ash-Shām) is the capital and largest city of Syria. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية The Grand Mosque of Damascus, also known as the Ummayad Mosque' ( Arabic: جامع بني أمية الكبير transl Damascus ( دمشق,, also commonly known as الشام ash-Shām) is the capital and largest city of Syria. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Al-Malik Al-Aziz Osman bin Salahadin Yusuf (b1171 d1200 was the second son of Saladin and the second Ayyubid Sultan of Egypt. The Ayyubid or Ayyoubid Dynasty was a Muslim dynasty of Kurdish origins which ruled Egypt, Syria, Yemen (except for al-Malik al-Afdal Najm ad-Din Ayyub ibn Shadhi ibn Marawan (Arabic الملك ألأفضل نجم الدين أيوب بن شاﺬي بن مروان (died August 9, Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Sultan of Egypt was the status held by the rulers of Egypt after the establishment of the Ayyubid Dynasty of Saladin in 1174 until the Ottoman conquest Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion At the height of his power the Ayyubid dynasty, which he founded, ruled over Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Hejaz, and Yemen. The Ayyubid or Ayyoubid Dynasty was a Muslim dynasty of Kurdish origins which ruled Egypt, Syria, Yemen (except for This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. al-Hejaz (also Hijaz, Hedjaz; الحجاز al-Ḥiǧāz, literally "the barrier" is a region in the west of present-day Saudi Arabia Yemen ( Arabic: اليَمَن al-Yaman officially the Republic of Yemen ( Arabic: الجمهورية اليمنية al-Jumhuuriyya

He was born in the castle of Tikrit in 532 AH (1137—1138 AD) and died just after dawn on 27 Safar 589 AH (4 March 1193 AD) in Damascus. Tikrit (تكريت Tikrīt also transliterated as Takrit or Tekrit) is a town in Iraq, located Events 51 - Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title Princeps iuventutis (head of the youth Damascus ( دمشق,, also commonly known as الشام ash-Shām) is the capital and largest city of Syria. ^[1] He is best-known for leading the Muslim armies during the Crusades and recapturing Jerusalem. The Crusades were a series of military campaigns of a religious character waged by much of Christian Europe against external and internal opponents Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the

Early life

Saladin was born Yusuf Salah ad-Din Ayyub in 1138 AD to a Kurdish family in Tikrit, Iraq. Tikrit (تكريت Tikrīt also transliterated as Takrit or Tekrit) is a town in Iraq, located For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. ^[2][3] His father, Najm ad-Din Ayyub was banned from Tikrit and moved to Mosul where he met Imad ed-Din Zengi, the Turkish Atabeg (governor) of Mosul and the founder of the Zengid dynasty, who was leading Muslim forces against the Crusaders in Edessa. al-Malik al-Afdal Najm ad-Din Ayyub ibn Shadhi ibn Marawan (Arabic الملك ألأفضل نجم الدين أيوب بن شاﺬي بن مروان (died August 9, For the village in Azerbaijan see Mosul Azerbaijan. Mosul (الموصل Al Mūṣul, Kurdish: Mosul/Ninawa, Musul For the village in Azerbaijan see Atabəy. Atabeg, Atabek, or Atabey (in Turkic languages (Աթաբեկ Atabek is a hereditary The Zengid (or Zangid) dynasty was a Muslim Dynasty of Turkish origin which ruled parts of Northern Iraq and Syria during A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion The Crusades were a series of military campaigns of a religious character waged by much of Christian Europe against external and internal opponents The County of Edessa was one of the Crusader states in the 12th century, based around a city with an ancient history and an early tradition of Christianity Imad ed-Din Zengi appointed Najm ad-Din as the commander of his fortress in Baalbek. Baalbek (بعلبك is a town in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, altitude 1170 m (3850 ft situated east of the Litani River. After the death of Imad ed-Din Zengi in 1146, his son, Nur ad-Din Zengi became the Atabeg of Mosul. Saladin received his name from Nur ad-Din and was sent to Damascus to continue his education. Damascus ( دمشق,, also commonly known as الشام ash-Shām) is the capital and largest city of Syria. ^[4]

Muslim leader

Sultan of Egypt

"Saladin, king of Egypt" from a fifteenth century illuminated manuscript; the "globus" in his left hand is a European symbol of kingly power

He received his initial military education from his uncle, Shirkuh, Nur ad-Din's lieutenant who was representing him on campaigns against a faction of the Fatimid Caliphate of Egypt in the 1160s. An illuminated manuscript is a Manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration such as decorated Initials borders and The globus cruciger ( Latin, "cross-bearing orb" is an orb (lat Asad ad-Din Shirkuh bin Shadhi (from Persian شیرکوه (Shirkuh meaning lion of mountain also Shirguh or Shêrko in Kurdish) (died 1169 This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. Saladin eventually defeated the Fatimid faction and succeeded his uncle as vizier in 1169. A Vizier ( - wazīr) (sometimes also spelled Vazir Vizir Vasir Wazir Vesir, or Vezir - grammatical vowel changes are common in many western Asian There, he inherited a difficult role defending Egypt against the incursions of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem under Amalric I (see Crusader invasion of Egypt). This article is about the Christian kingdom For the history of the city see History of Jerusalem The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a Christian Amalric I of Jerusalem (also Amaury or Aimery) (1136 &ndash July 11 1174) was King of Jerusalem 1162&ndash1174 and Count of The Crusader invasion of Egypt ( 1154 - 1169) was a series of campaigns undertaken by the Kingdom of Jerusalem to strengthen its position in the Levant His position was tenuous at first; he was not expected to last long in Egypt where there had been many changes of government in previous years due to a long line of child caliphs fought over by competing viziers. The Caliph is the Head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the leader of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah A Vizier ( - wazīr) (sometimes also spelled Vazir Vizir Vasir Wazir Vesir, or Vezir - grammatical vowel changes are common in many western Asian With a Sunni Syrian base he had little control over the Egyptian army, which had been dominated by Shias since the rise of the Fatimids, and which was led in the name of the now otherwise powerless caliph al-Adid. Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Al-'Āḍid (1149–1171 also known as Athid, was the fourteenth and last Caliph of the Fatimid dynasty (1160-1171 ^[4]

When the caliph died, in September 1171, Saladin had the ulema pronounced the name of Al-Mustadi, the Sunni and, more importantly, Abbassid caliph in Baghdad, at sermon before Friday prayers; authority simply deposed the old line. Ulema ( ar علماء,, singular ar عالِم,, "scholar" refers to the educated class of Muslim legal scholars engaged in the several Hassan al-Mustadi Ibn Yusuf al-Mustanjid (1142 - 1180 (المستضئ بأمر الله was the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad from 1170 to 1180 Baghdad (بغداد) is the Capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate, with which it is also coterminous A sermon is an oration by a Prophet or member of the Clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, or religious topic Saladin ruled Egypt, but officially as the representative of the Turkish Seljuk ruler Nur ad-Din, who himself conventionally recognized the Abbassid caliph. Seljuk ( Arabic: السلاجقة Turkish: Selçuk; also Seldjuk, Seldjuq, Seljuq) was the eponymous hero of the Seljuks ^[4] Saladin revitalized the economy of Egypt, reorganized the military forces and, following his father's advice, stayed away from any conflicts with Nur ad-Din, his formal lord, after he had become the real ruler of Egypt. He waited until Nur ad-Din's death before starting serious military actions: at first against smaller Muslim states, then directing them against the Crusaders.

With Nur ad-Din's death (1174), he assumed the title of Sultan in Egypt founding the Ayyubid dynasty and restoring Sunnism in Egypt. Sultan (سلطان is an Islamic title with several historical meanings The Ayyubid or Ayyoubid Dynasty was a Muslim dynasty of Kurdish origins which ruled Egypt, Syria, Yemen (except for Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic He extended his territory westwards in the Maghreb, and when his uncle was sent up the Nile to pacify some resistance of the former Fatimid supporters, he continued on down the Red Sea to conquer Yemen. The Maghreb (المغرب العربي al-Maġrib al-ʿArabī) also rendered Maghrib (or rarely Moghreb) meaning "place of Sunset The Nile (النيل, Ancient Egyptian iteru or Ḥ'pī, Coptic piaro or phiaro) is a major north-flowing River Peace, in the modern usage is a concept defined by the ideal state of relationship as absence of hostility at the international level that of a War. The Red Sea is a Salt water Inlet of the Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia. Yemen ( Arabic: اليَمَن al-Yaman officially the Republic of Yemen ( Arabic: الجمهورية اليمنية al-Jumhuuriyya

Sultan of Syria

On two occasions, in 1170 and 1172, Saladin retreated from an invasion of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. This article is about the Christian kingdom For the history of the city see History of Jerusalem The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a Christian These had been launched by Nur ad-Din, and Saladin hoped that the Crusader kingdom would remain intact, as a buffer state between Egypt and Syria, until Saladin could gain control of Syria as well. A buffer state is a Country lying between two rival or potentially hostile greater powers, which by its sheer existence is thought to prevent conflict between them Nur ad-Din and Saladin were headed towards open war on these counts when Nur ad-Din died in 1174. Nur ad-Din's heir, as-Salih Ismail al-Malik, was a mere boy, in the hands of court eunuchs, and died in 1181. Another As-Salih Ismail was an Ayyubid ruler in the 13th century A eunuch (ˈjuːnək is a Castrated man in particular one castrated early enough to have major hormonal consequences the term usually refers to those castrated in order to

Immediately after Nur ad-Din's death, Saladin marched on Damascus and was welcomed into the city. Damascus ( دمشق,, also commonly known as الشام ash-Shām) is the capital and largest city of Syria. He reinforced his legitimacy there in the time-honored way, by marrying Nur ad-Din's widow Ismat ad-Din Khatun. Ismat ad-Din was also the name of the Mamluk sultana more commonly known as Shajar al-Durr. Aleppo and Mosul, on the other hand, the two other largest cities that Nur ad-Din had ruled, were never taken, but Saladin managed to impose his influence and authority on them in 1176 and 1186 respectively. For other meanings see Aleppo (disambiguation. Halab redirects here for other meanings see Halab (disambiguation. For the village in Azerbaijan see Mosul Azerbaijan. Mosul (الموصل Al Mūṣul, Kurdish: Mosul/Ninawa, Musul While he was occupied in besieging Aleppo, on May 22, 1176, the shadowy Ismaili assassin group, the Hashshashin, attempted to murder him. For other meanings see Aleppo (disambiguation. Halab redirects here for other meanings see Halab (disambiguation. Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. For the Egyptian city see Ismaïlia. The Ismāʿīlī ( Urdu: إسماعیلی Ismāʿīlī, Arabic: الإسماعيليون The Hashshashin (also Hashishin, Hashashiyyin, Hashasheen or Assassins) were an offshoot of the Ismā'īlī sect of Shia They made two attempts on his life, the second time coming close enough to inflict wounds.

While Saladin was consolidating his power in Syria, he usually left the Crusader kingdom alone, although he was generally victorious whenever he did meet the Crusaders in battle. One exception was the Battle of Montgisard on November 25, 1177. The Battle of Montgisard was fought between the Ayyubids and the Kingdom of Jerusalem on November 25, 1177. Events 1034 - Máel Coluim mac Cináeda, King of Scots dies Donnchad, the He was defeated by the combined forces of Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, Raynald of Chatillon and the Knights Templar. Baldwin IV of Jerusalem (1161&ndash 16 March 1185) called the Leper or the Leprous, the son of Amalric I of Jerusalem and his first The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon (Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici commonly known as the Knights Templar or the Order Only one tenth of his army made it back to Egypt.

Battles against Crusaders

A truce was declared between Saladin and the Crusader States in 1178. Saladin spent the subsequent year recovering from his defeat and rebuilding his army, renewing his attacks in 1179 when he defeated the Crusaders at the Battle of Jacob's Ford. Jerusalem has been and is considered by many to be one of the holiest cities in the world Crusader counter-attacks provoked further responses by Saladin. Raynald of Chatillon, in particular, harassed Muslim trading and pilgrimage routes with a fleet on the Red Sea, a water route that Saladin needed to keep open. Trade is the willing exchange of goods, services, or both Trade is also called Commerce. In Religion and Spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or Search of great Moral significance The Red Sea is a Salt water Inlet of the Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia. In response, Saladin built a fleet of 30 galleys to attack Beirut in 1182. Beirut (بيروت Bayrūt) is the Capital and Largest city of Lebanon with a population of over 2 Raynald threatened to attack the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Mecca ˈmɛkə also spelled Makkah ˈmækə (in full Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Arabic mækːæ(t ælmʊkarˑamæ مكّة المكرمة, literally Honored Medina mɛˈdiːnə (المدينة المنورة ælmæˈdiːnæl muˈnɑwːɑrɑ or المدينة ælmæˈdiːnæ also transliterated into English as In retaliation, Saladin twice besieged Kerak, Raynald's fortress in Oultrejordain, in 1183 and 1184. The Siege of Kerak took place in 1183 with Saladin 's forces attacking and being repelled from the Crusader stronghold Oultrejordain or Oultrejourdain ( Old French for "beyond the Jordan" was the name used during the Crusades for an extensive and partly undefined Raynald responded by looting a caravan of pilgrims on the Hajj in 1185. The Hajj (حج is a pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world According to the later thirteenth-century Old French Continuation of William of Tyre, Raynald captured Saladin's sister in a raid on a caravan, although this claim is not attested in contemporary sources, Muslim or Frankish. In fact, Raynald had attacked a preceding caravan, and Saladin set guards to ensure the safety of his sister and her son, who came to no harm.

Following the failure of his Kerak sieges, Saladin temporarily turned his attention back to another long-term project and resumed attacks on the territory of 'Izz al-Din (Mas'ud ibn Mawd'ud ibn Zangi), around Mosul, which he had begun with some success in 1182. For the village in Azerbaijan see Mosul Azerbaijan. Mosul (الموصل Al Mūṣul, Kurdish: Mosul/Ninawa, Musul However, since then, Mas'ud had allied himself with the powerful governor of Azerbaijan and Jibal, who in 1185 began moving his troops across the Zagros Mountains, causing Saladin to hesitate in his attacks. Azerbaijan ( English; Azərbaycan officially the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan Respublikası is the largest and most populous country in the South Jibāl ( جبال) was a short-lived Arab-ruled province located in western Iran, under the Abbasid Caliphate of Baghdad The Zagros Mountains (جبال زاجروس (رشته كوههاى زاگرس ( Sorani Kurdish: Zagros - زاگرۆس make up Iran 's and Iraq 's The defenders of Mosul, when they became aware that help was on the way, increased their efforts, and Saladin subsequently fell ill, so in March 1186 a peace treaty was signed. ^[5]

In July 1187, Saladin captured most of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. On July 4, 1187, he faced at the Battle of Hattin the combined forces Guy of Lusignan, King Consort of Jerusalem, and Raymond III of Tripoli. Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples The Battle of Hattin (also known as " The Horns of Hattin " because of a nearby extinct Volcano of the same name took place on Saturday July Guy of Lusignan, Guy of Jerusalem or Guy of Cyprus (c 1150 or 1159/1160 &ndash Nicosia, July 18, 1194) was a French King consort is a title given in some Monarchies to the husband of a Queen regnant. Raymond III of Tripoli (1140 &ndash 1187 was Count of Tripoli from 1152 to 1187 and Prince of Galilee and Tiberias in right of his wife Eschiva In this battle alone the Crusader army was largely annihilated by the motivated army of Saladin in what was a major disaster for the Crusaders and a turning point in the history of the Crusades. Saladin captured Raynald de Chatillon and was personally responsible for his execution in retaliation for previously attacking Muslim pilgrim caravans. Capital punishment, the death penalty or execution, is the Killing of a person by judicial process as Punishment. ^[6] Guy of Lusignan was also captured but his life was spared.

That night, "with uncharacteristic coldbloodedness", Saladin ordered the execution of the "hundred or so" Templar and Hospitaller knights among the prisoners. ^[7] Because of their religious "devotion and rigorous training", they were the "most feared" of the Christian soldiers. ^[7] Seated on a dias before his army, Saladin watched as "the band of scholars, sufis and ascetics . . . carried out the ceremonial killing". ^[7]

The execution of prisoners at Hattin was not the first by Saladin. On August 29, 1179, he captured the castle at Bait al-Ahazon and approximately 700 prisoners were taken and executed. Events 708 - Copper coins are minted in Japan for the first time (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 708)

The statue of Saladin at the entrance of the citadel in Damascus. Damascus ( دمشق,, also commonly known as الشام ash-Shām) is the capital and largest city of Syria.

Capture of Jerusalem

Saladin had almost captured every Crusader city. Jerusalem capitulated to his forces on October 2, 1187, after a siege. Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the Events 1187 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule The Siege of Jerusalem took place from September 20 to October 2, 1187. Before the siege, Saladin had offered generous terms of surrender, which were rejected. After the siege had started, he was unwilling to promise terms of quarter to the European occupants of Jerusalem until Balian of Ibelin threatened to kill every Muslim in the city, estimated between 3,000 to 5,000, and to destroy Islam’s holy shrines of the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque if quarter was not given. Balian of Ibelin (early 1140s—1193 was an important noble in the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem in the 12th century The Dome of the Rock ( Arabic: مسجد قبة الصخرة translit Al-Aqsa Mosque ( Arabic:المسجد الاقصى /æl'mæsdʒɪd æl'ɑqsˁɑ/ {{Audio|ArAqsaMosque Saladin consulted his council and these terms were accepted. Ransom was to be paid for each Frank in the city whether man, woman, or child. Saladin allowed many to leave without having the required amount for ransom for others. ^[8][9]

Tyre, on the coast of modern-day Lebanon was the last major Crusader city that was not captured by Muslim forces (strategically, it would have made more sense for Saladin to capture Tyre before Jerusalem--however, Saladin chose to pursue Jerusalem first because of the importance of the city to Islam). Tyre ( Arabic صور Ṣūr, Phoenician Phoenician wawsvg|12px|ו]] Ṣur, Hebrew Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية The city was now commanded by Conrad of Montferrat, who strengthened Tyre's defences and withstood two sieges by Saladin. Conrad of Montferrat, or Conrad I of Jerusalem ( Piedmontese: Conrà ëd Monfrà; Italian Corrado del Monferrato; mid-1140s &ndash In 1188, at Tortosa, Saladin released Guy of Lusignan and returned him to his wife, Queen Sibylla of Jerusalem. Sibylla of Jerusalem (c 1160 &ndash 1190 was the Countess of Jaffa and Ascalon from 1176 and Queen of Jerusalem from 1186 to 1190 They went first to Tripoli, then to Antioch. Antioch on the Orontes (Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Δάφνῃ Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Ὀρόντου or Ἀντιόχεια ἡ Μεγάλη Antiochia ad Orontem also In 1189, they sought to reclaim Tyre for their kingdom, but were refused admission by Conrad, who did not recognize Guy as king. Guy then set about besieging Acre. The Siege of Acre was the first confrontation of the Third Crusade, lasting from August 28, 1189 until July 12, 1191, and the

Battles with Richard the Lionheart

Hattin and the fall of Jerusalem prompted the Third Crusade, financed in England by a special "Saladin tithe". The Third Crusade (1189&ndash1192 also known as the Kings' Crusade, was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin The Saladin tithe, or the Aid of 1188, was a Tax, or more specifically a Tallage, levied in England and to some extent in France in Richard I of England led Guy's siege of Acre, conquered the city and executed 3,000 Muslim prisoners including women and children. Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash 6 April 1199 was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death Saladin retaliated by killing all Franks captured from August 28 - September 10. Bahā' al-Dīn writes: "Whilst we were there they brought two Franks to the Sultan (Saladin) who had been made prisoners by the advance guard. He had them beheaded on the spot. "^[10]

The armies of Saladin engaged in combat with the rival armies of King Richard I of England at the Battle of Arsuf on September 7, 1191, at which Saladin was defeated. Richard I (8 September 1157 &ndash 6 April 1199 was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death The Battle of Arsuf was a battle of the Third Crusade in which Richard I of England defeated Saladin at Arsuf. Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece. Saladin's relationship with Richard was one of chivalrous mutual respect as well as military rivalry; both were celebrated in courtly romances. As a Literary genre of High culture, romance or chivalric romance refers to a style of heroic Prose and verse Narrative When Richard became ill with fever, Saladin offered the services of his personal physician. Saladin also sent him fresh fruit with snow, to chill the drink, as treatment. At Arsuf, when Richard lost his horse, Saladin sent him two replacements. Richard had suggested to Saladin that his sister could marry Saladin's brother - and Jerusalem could be their wedding gift.

The two came to an agreement over Jerusalem in the Treaty of Ramla in 1192, whereby the city would remain in Muslim hands but would be open to Christian pilgrimages; the treaty reduced the Latin Kingdom to a strip along the coast from Tyre to Jaffa. The Treaty of Ramla was signed by Saladin and Richard the Lionheart in June 1192 after the Battle of Arsuf. In Religion and Spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or Search of great Moral significance Jaffa يَافَا;(יָפוֹ Yafo; also Japho, Joppa) is an ancient Port city believed to be one of the oldest in the world This treaty was supposed to last 5 years. Muslims and Christians now were living in harmony in the Holy Land, the place which matters in both religions.

Death

The tomb of sultan Saladin near the northwestern corner of the Umayyad Mosque, Damascus, Syria. Damascus ( دمشق,, also commonly known as الشام ash-Shām) is the capital and largest city of Syria. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية

View of the interior of the tomb of Sultan Saladin

Saladin died on March 4, 1193, at Damascus, not long after Richard's departure. Events 51 - Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title Princeps iuventutis (head of the youth Damascus ( دمشق,, also commonly known as الشام ash-Shām) is the capital and largest city of Syria. When they opened Saladin's treasury they found there was not enough money to pay for his funeral; he had given most of his money away in charity. ^[11]

Saladin is buried in a mausoleum in the garden outside the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria. A mausoleum ( plural: mausolea is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons The Grand Mosque of Damascus, also known as the Ummayad Mosque' ( Arabic: جامع بني أمية الكبير transl Damascus ( دمشق,, also commonly known as الشام ash-Shām) is the capital and largest city of Syria. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany donated a new marble sarcophagus to the mausoleum. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Marble is a nonfoliated Metamorphic rock resulting from the Metamorphism of Limestone, composed mostly of Calcite (a crystalline form of A sarcophagus is a Funeral receptacle for a Corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone Saladin was, however, not placed in it. Instead the mausoleum, which is open to visitors, now has two sarcophagi: one empty in marble and one in wood containing the body of Saladin.

Recognition

Saladin depicted on a Dirham coin (c. Dirham or dirhem (درهم is a unit of currency in several Arab nations and formerly the related unit of mass (the Ottoman dram) in the Ottoman Empire 1190)

Despite his fierce struggle against the crusades, Saladin achieved a great reputation in Europe as a chivalrous knight, so much so that there existed by the fourteenth century an epic poem about his exploits, and Dante included him among the virtuous pagan souls in Limbo. Chivalric order Chivalry is a term related to the Medieval institution of Knighthood. Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages. An epic is a lengthy Narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "country dweller rustic" is a word used to refer to various religions and religious beliefs from across the world The soul, according to many religious and philosophical beliefs is the self-awareness, or Consciousness, unique to a particular living See also Intermediate state Purgatory|Heaven|Sheol|Hades in Christianity|Hell in Christianity In Roman Catholic theology Limbo (Latin limbus Saladin appears in a sympathetic light in Sir Walter Scott's The Talisman (1825). Sir Walter Scott 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 &ndash 21 September 1832 was a prolific Scottish Historical novelist and Poet popular throughout Despite the Crusaders' slaughter when they originally conquered Jerusalem in 1099, Saladin granted amnesty and free passage to all common Catholics and even to the defeated Christian army, as long as they were able to pay the aforementioned ransom (the Greek Orthodox Christians were treated even better, because they often opposed the western Crusaders). The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world An interesting view of Saladin and the world in which he lived is provided by Tariq Ali's novel The Book of Saladin. ^[12]

Notwithstanding the differences in beliefs, the Muslim Saladin was respected by Christian lords, Richard especially. Richard once praised Saladin as a great prince, saying that he was without doubt the greatest and most powerful leader in the Islamic world. ^[13] Saladin in turn stated that there was not a more honorable Christian lord than Richard. After the treaty, Saladin and Richard sent each other many gifts as tokens of respect, but never met face to face.

In April 1191, a Frankish woman's three month old baby had been stolen from her camp and had been sold on the market. The Franks urged her to approach Saladin herself with her grievance. After Saladin used his own money to buy the child, "he gave it to the mother and she took it; with tears streaming down her face, and hugged it to her breast. The people were watching her and weeping and I (Ibn Shaddad) was standing amongst them. She suckled it for some time and then Saladin ordered a horse to be fetched for her and she went back to camp. "^[14]

The name Salah ad-Din means "Righteousness of Faith," and through the ages Saladin has been an inspiration for Muslims in many respects. Modern Muslim rulers have sought to capitalize on the reputation of Saladin. A governorate centered around Tikrit and Samarra in modern-day Iraq, Salah ad Din Governorate, is named after him, as is Salahaddin University in Arbil. |||} Iraq is divided into 18 Governorates (or Provinces ( Muhafazah) Baghdād Sāmarrā ( Arabic, سامَرّاء) is a city in Iraq. It stands on the east bank of the Tigris For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Salah ad Din, Salâh-ad-Dîn, or Salahuddin ( Arabic: صلاح الدين is a Governorate in Iraq, north of Baghdad Salahaddin University ( Zankoy Selaheddîn in Kurdish) is located in Arbil ( Hewler) capital of Kurdistan Region of Iraq Arbil (also written Erbil or Irbil; BGN: Arbīl; Kurdish: هه‌ولێر Hewlêr A suburb community of Arbil, Masif Salahaddin, is also named after him. Arbil (also written Erbil or Irbil; BGN: Arbīl; Kurdish: هه‌ولێر Hewlêr

Few structures associated with Saladin survive within modern cities. Saladin first fortified the Citadel of Cairo (1175 - 1183), which had been a domed pleasure pavilion with a fine view in more peaceful times. The Saladin Citadel of Cairo () is one of the most popular Tourist attractions of Cairo, Egypt. In Syria, even the smallest city is centred on a defensible citadel, and Saladin introduced this essential feature to Egypt. A citadel is a fortress for protecting a Town, sometimes incorporating a Castle.

Among the forts he built was Qalaat Al-Gindi, a mountaintop fortress and caravanserai in the Sinai. A caravanserai ( kārvānsarā, Turkish kervansaray) was a roadside Inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai ( Coptic: sina; Egyptian Arabic: sina سينا Arabic, sina'a سيناء The fortress overlooks a large wadi which was the convergence of several caravan routes that linked Egypt and the Middle East. Wadi (وادي) (also Vadi) is traditionally a valley In some cases it can refer to a dry riverbed that contains water only during times of heavy rain Inside the structure are a number of large vaulted rooms hewn out of rock, including the remains of shops and a water cistern. A notable archaeological site, it was investigated in 1909 by a French team under Jules Barthoux. ^[15]

According to the French writer René Grousset,

"It is equally true that his generosity, his piety, devoid of fanaticism, that flower of liberality and courtesy which had been the model of our old chroniclers, won him no less popularity in Frankish Syria than in the lands of Islam". ^[16]

When German Kaiser Wilhelm the Second went to Syria he laid a wreath at the tomb of Saladin in Damascus with the inscription,

"A Knight without fear or blame who often had to teach his opponents the right way to practice chivalry". Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية A wreath is a ring made of Flowers leaves and sometimes Fruits that can be used as an ornament hanging on a wall or door or resting Damascus ( دمشق,, also commonly known as الشام ash-Shām) is the capital and largest city of Syria. ^[16]

Legacy

The Eagle of Saladin as it appears in the Egyptian coat of arms. The Egyptian Coat of arms ( شعار مصر) is a Golden eagle looking towards the viewer's left ( Dexter

The Eagle of Saladin as it appears in the Palestinian coat of arms. The Coat of Arms of the Palestinian National Authority is the Coat of arms used by the Palestinian National Authority.

The Eagle of Saladin as it appears in the Iraqi coat of arms. The Coat of arms or state emblem of Iraq includes the golden eagle of Saladin associated with 20th-century pan-Arabism bearing a shield

The Eagle of Saladin as it appears in the Yemenese coat of arms. The Coat of Arms of Yemen depict a golden eagle with a scroll between its claws

Although the Ayyubid dynasty he founded would only outlive him by fifty-seven years, the legacy of Saladin within the Arab World continues to this day. The Ayyubid or Ayyoubid Dynasty was a Muslim dynasty of Kurdish origins which ruled Egypt, Syria, Yemen (except for With the rise of Arab nationalism in the Twentieth Century, particularly with regard to the Arab-Israeli conflict, Saladin's heroism and leadership gained a new significance. Arab nationalism ( Arabic: القومية العربية is a Nationalist ideology which rose to prominence amongst Arabs from the early 20th century onwards Saladin's liberation of Palestine from the European Crusaders was taken as the inspiration for the modern-day Arabs' struggle against Zionism. The Crusades were a series of military campaigns of a religious character waged by much of Christian Europe against external and internal opponents History of Zionism|Timeline of Zionism|World Zionist Organization|Zionist political violence Zionism is an international political movement that originally supported the Moreover, the glory and comparative unity of the Arab World under Saladin was seen as the perfect symbol for the new unity sought by Arab nationalists, such as Gamal Abdel Nasser. Gamal Abdel Nasser (جمال عبد الناصر Gamāl ‘Abd an-Nāṣir; - January 15 1918 September 28 1970) was the second President For this reason, the Eagle of Saladin became the symbol of revolutionary Egypt, and was subsequently adopted by several other Arab states (Iraq, Palestine, and Yemen). The Egyptian Coat of arms ( شعار مصر) is a Golden eagle looking towards the viewer's left ( Dexter The Coat of arms or state emblem of Iraq includes the golden eagle of Saladin associated with 20th-century pan-Arabism bearing a shield The Coat of Arms of the Palestinian National Authority is the Coat of arms used by the Palestinian National Authority. The Coat of Arms of Yemen depict a golden eagle with a scroll between its claws

Saladin in film

In 1963 an Egyptian movie about Saladin was released, titled Al Nasser Salah Ad-Din. Al Nasser Salah Ad-Din الناصر صلاح الدين is a movie that was released in 1963, written by Youssef El Sebai, based on the novel by Naguib Mahfouz In the 1965 Doctor Who serial The Crusade he was played by Bernard Kay. Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The Crusade is a serial in the British Science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four Bernard Kay ( February 23 1928 in Bolton, England) is a British actor with an extensive television repertoire 2005's Kingdom of Heaven, directed by Ridley Scott, has Saladin portrayed by Syrian actor Ghassan Massoud. The year 2005 in film involved some significant events Releases of sequels took place with movies like The Devil's Rejects, Cheaper Kingdom of Heaven is a 2005 Epic film, directed by Ridley Scott and written by William Monahan. Sir Ridley Scott (born November 30 1937 in South Shields, Tyne and Wear) is a British Academy Award Nominated and Golden Globe Emmy Award and BAFTA Award winning Ghassan Massoud ( غسّان مسعود) (born September 20, 1958) is a Syrian actor and Filmmaker He is known in the West for playing In the 2007 Swedish film Arn – The Knight Templar (Arn – Tempelriddaren), Saladin is portrayed by Indian actor and supermodel Milind Soman. 2007 saw major releases such as The Simpsons Movie, National Treasure Book of Secrets, Swedish cinema is one of the most widely-known national cinemas in the world and during the 20th century was the most prominent of Scandinavia. Arn – The Knight Templar (original title in Swedish: Arn – Tempelriddaren) is a 2007 Epic film based on Jan Guillou India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Milind Soman ( Marathi:मिलिंद सोमण is an Indian model and actor

See also

• History of Arab Egypt
• Alvis Saladin, a British armoured car named after Saladin used by the British Army and others
• Nathan the Wise
• Saladin: The Animated Series

Notes

References

• Bahā' al-Dīn Ibn Shaddād (trans. Bahā' ad-Dīn ibn Shaddād ( بهاء الدين ابن شداد; the honorific title "Bahā' al-Dīn" means "splendour of the faith" ( 7 March Richards, D. S. ) (2002). The Rare and Excellent History of Saladin. Ashgate. ISBN 978-0-7546-3381-6
• Bowman, Alan K. (1986). Egypt After the Pharaohs.
• Gabrieli, Francesco (trans. Costello, E. J. ) (1984). Arab Historians of the Crusades. Routledge & Kegan Paul. ISBN 978-0-710-20235-2
• Gibb, H. A. R. (1973). The Life of Saladin: From the Works of Imad ad-Din and Baha ad-Din. Clarendon Press. ISBN 978-0-86356-928-9
• Gillingham, John (1999). "Richard I", Yale English Monarchs, Yale University Press.
• Grousset, Rene (1970). The Epic of the Crusades. New York: Orion Press.
• Hindley, Geoffrey (2007). Saladin: Hero of Islam. Pen & Sword. ISBN 1-84415-499-8
• Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani (ed. Landberg, C. ). (1888). Conquête de la Syrie et de la Palestine par Salâh ed-dîn. Brill.
• Lane-Poole, Stanley. (1898). Saladin and the Fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Putnam.
• Lyons, M. C. & Jackson, D. E. P. (1982) Saladin: the Politics of the Holy War. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge University Press (known colloquially as CUP is a Publisher given a Royal Charter by Henry VIII in 1534 ISBN 978-0-521-31739-9
• Minorsky, V. (1957). Studies in Caucasian history, Cambridge University Press.
• Reston, James (2001). Warriors of God: Richard the Lionhearted and Saladin in the Third Crusade. New York: Anchor Books. ISBN 0-385-49562-5
• Runciman, Steven. A History of the Crusades: Volume 2, The Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Frankish East. Cambridge University Press.

External links

• Saladin
• Richard and Saladin: Warriors of the Third Crusade
• De expugnatione terrae sanctae per Saladinum A European account of Saladin's conquests of the Crusader states. (Latin)