Saladin

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=Overview = Al-Malik al-Nasir Salah al-Din Abu 'l-Muzaffer Yusuf ibn Ayyub ibn Shadi, known in the western world as Saladin (c.1138- March 4, 1193) was a Kurdish Muslim who defeated the Christians and reclaimed Jerusalem for the Arabs during the [|Crusades]. He is known as one of the most inspirational and influential characters of the medieval period, revered by both friend and enemy. Almost single-handedly, Saladin united warring Arab factions to a common cause, and is still worshipped today by many in the Arab world for his outstanding conquests both militarily and morally; a strong commander and righteous religious leader .toc =Early Career = Saladin’s military career began under the rule of sultan Nur ad-Din (b.1118-d.1174), who he would later clash with on political and military views. Saladin served as a general under the command of his uncle, Shirkuh (c.1100-d.1169), and came to be known as a great military strategist at a young age. He was promoted to the position of military governor in Damascus, and when his uncle died in 1168, became the supreme commander of the army. He quickly recruited troops and gained much power and respect throughout Egypt, Damascus and much of the Arab world. When Nur ad-Din died there came a period of political chaos and competition for the title of sultan. Saladin made his move and married Nur ad-Din’s widow, which elevated him to sultan.

=Military and Religious Leader = As sultan, Saladin began to change the Muslim world. He believed in righteousness and morality in all things, and conducted himself in such a way that all who knew him had great respect for his selflessness and compassion. [|Ibn Shaddad], one of Saladin’s advisors and close friends says that he once saw the sultan, towards the end of his life when he was extremely sick and unable to rise from his bed for weeks, standing alone in his room and praying. Shaddad came to him and Saladin was weak and shaking, the effort of standing to pray almost killing him. Nevertheless he would perform his prayers every day, as Muslim religion dictated, without fail. Saladin was a gentle man, and rarely would resort to anger or violence in any form. One rare example contradicting this is that of [|Reynald de Chatillon]. Reynald attacked a Muslim caravan travelling through the desert, breaking a treaty Saladin had with Jerusalem. After the battle at Hattin, Reynald was captured by the Saracens and killed by Saladin himself. Ibn Shaddad notes that this was only done through an oath which the sultan had sworn to himself and his people after the attack on innocent Muslims.

= = =The Battle of Hattin = Hattin was a disaster for the Christian forces, considered their worst defeat throughout the Crusades. Ibn Shaddad writes in his history of Saladin that the sultan was advised in his dreams that it would be righteous to initiate a jihad, the 'holy war', to reclaim Jerusalem. The battle took place on the 4th July, 1187. Saladin’s horsemen used a ‘flank and encircle’ manoeuvre which allowed them to attack the Frankish cavalry (considered the elite of the Christian armies) from all directions. The Muslims took Reynald de Chatillon, a French knight, and [|Guy de Lusignan], the King of Jerusalem and later King of Cyprus, as prisoners. Guy’s life was spared when Jerusalem was surrendered, but when Reynald took a sip of iced water offered only to Guy, Saladin took his life.

=**Saladin's Influence **= Modern and contemporary sources both praise Saladin for his deeds in battle, in being merciful and in religious practices, amongst many other things. He was a moral and religious leader as much as he was the commander of an army. Praise for Saladin is most common through the work of contemporary Arab sources, particularly Ibn Shaddad, his friend and advisor. Shaddad’s biography paints Saladin as a humble, honest and morally correct man who would show mercy to all, but at the same time was extremely strict within his practices and beliefs. Saladin has become one of the most important Middle Eastern individuals through history not only because of his success in the Crusades, but his ability to unite the constantly warring states of the Arab world in the Middle Ages.

=Bibliography = =Footnotes =
 * Baha’ al-Din Ibn Shaddad (trans. D. S. Richards). 1922. //The Rare and Excellent History of Saladin//, Ashgate Publishing Limited, Hampshire.
 * Gibb, Sir H. 1973. //The Life of Saladin//, Oxford University Press, London.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Hindley, G, 1976, //Saladin,// Harper & Row Publishers, Great Britain.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Jackson, R. 2006. //Fifty Key Figures in Islam,// Routledge, Oxon.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Jordan, W. C. 2001. //Europe in the High Middle Ages,// Penguin Books Ltd, London.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Lyons, M. C., Jackson, D. E. P. 1982. //Saladin: The Politics of the Holy War//, Cambridge University Press, Great Britain.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Newby, P. H., 1983, //Saladin In His Time,// The Thetford Press, Norfolk.