Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Birth and Exile in Tikrit
- Early Education and Character
- Entering Politics under Nur ad-Din
- Campaigns in Egypt
- End of the Fatimid Caliphate
- Rise of the Ayyubid Dynasty
- The Battle of Hattin and Jerusalem
- Diplomacy with Richard the Lionheart
- Saladin’s Code of Honor
- Death and Humble Legacy
- Lesser-Known Facts about Saladin
- External Resource
- Internal Link
Introduction
Saladin is one of those rare figures in history admired by both allies and enemies. Born on December 1, 1137, in Tikrit (modern-day Iraq), he rose to prominence during the chaos of the Crusades. Unlike many leaders of his era, Saladin combined military prowess with deep faith, political wisdom, and unexpected mercy. His crowning achievement—the recapture of Jerusalem in 1187—was done not through bloodshed, but with compassion. Saladin remains a symbol of leadership, justice, and unity across cultures and religions.
Birth and Exile in Tikrit
Saladin’s birth was already surrounded by drama. On the very night he was born, his father, Najm ad-Din Ayyub, was expelled from Tikrit. They left under duress, cast out from their Kurdish homeland due to political tensions. Some say Saladin entered the world while his family was crossing the Tigris River—a symbolic beginning for a man destined to live in motion.
The family settled in Mosul, then Damascus, regions full of military ambition and religious fervor. It was in this restless environment that Saladin’s future took shape.
Early Education and Character
Despite the world of warriors he was born into, Saladin was not a child of swords and battles. He loved learning. He studied the Qur’an, poetry, astronomy, and law. Those who knew him described him as quiet, thoughtful, and even shy in his youth. War was not his first instinct. Faith, order, and reason were.
He never drank alcohol, avoided excess, and was known for being extremely generous. All his life, Saladin would surprise those around him—not only with what he did, but how he did it.
Entering Politics under Nur ad-Din
His career began under the command of his uncle, Shirkuh, a general under Nur ad-Din, the powerful ruler of Aleppo and Damascus. Together, they campaigned in Egypt, which was then under Fatimid (Shi’a) control. The power struggle between Sunni and Shi’a Muslims mirrored the larger tensions between East and West during the Crusades.
After Shirkuh’s death in 1169, Saladin unexpectedly inherited command. At just 31 years old, he became vizier of Egypt—a Sunni general in a Shi’a state. No one expected him to last. But within just two years, he abolished the Fatimid Caliphate and restored Sunni authority.
Campaigns in Egypt
Saladin quickly established order in Egypt. He lowered taxes, built hospitals, and reorganized the army. He became beloved among the people for his discipline, honesty, and ability to keep peace in a land previously torn by instability.
While technically still under Nur ad-Din’s authority, Saladin began to consolidate his own power. After Nur ad-Din’s death in 1174, Saladin made his move.
End of the Fatimid Caliphate
The abolition of the Fatimid Caliphate in 1171 was a monumental event. It ended over two centuries of Shi’a rule in Egypt and marked the beginning of Sunni revival under Saladin. But he didn’t do it with violence. Saladin waited patiently, allowed events to unfold, and transitioned the state slowly, ensuring stability at every step.
He recognized the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad, realigning Egypt with the broader Sunni world. His political finesse was as sharp as any blade.
Rise of the Ayyubid Dynasty
By 1174, with Nur ad-Din dead and no clear successor, Saladin began unifying Syria, Mesopotamia, and Egypt under one banner. It took years of battles, diplomacy, and even marrying into rival families, but by the early 1180s, he ruled over one of the most powerful empires in the Islamic world.
Thus began the Ayyubid Dynasty, named after his father, Ayyub. This dynasty would last decades and play a major role in resisting Crusader expansion.
The Battle of Hattin and Jerusalem
The moment that defined Saladin’s legacy came in 1187. At the Battle of Hattin, near Lake Tiberias, Saladin’s forces decimated the Crusader army. He captured nearly all their top commanders, including King Guy of Jerusalem and the brutal Reynald de Châtillon.
Reynald had a history of breaking truces and attacking Muslim pilgrims. Saladin personally executed him—coldly, but in accordance with his code of justice. The rest were spared.
Then came the ultimate prize: Jerusalem.
On October 2, 1187, Saladin entered the holy city. But unlike the Crusaders in 1099, who had slaughtered thousands, Saladin offered mercy. He allowed Christians to leave peacefully. Those who couldn’t pay ransoms were freed anyway. Mosques were restored, but no churches were destroyed.
This act of restraint shocked the world. Even European chroniclers spoke of his dignity.
Diplomacy with Richard the Lionheart
The Third Crusade (1189–1192) was led by none other than Richard the Lionheart. The two never met in person but communicated through letters, envoys, and even exchanged gifts. Though they clashed militarily, they respected each other immensely.
Saladin refused to attack Richard’s sick or wounded troops. At one point, he even sent his own doctor to care for Richard. They negotiated a truce in 1192: Muslims would keep Jerusalem, but Christian pilgrims could visit freely.
For two sworn enemies, it was an unusually honorable agreement.
Saladin’s Code of Honor
What made Saladin legendary wasn’t just victory—it was how he behaved in both triumph and defeat. He slept little, ate modestly, and refused riches. He donated most of his income to the poor and widows of martyrs. He freed Christian prisoners after battles and banned looting.
He prayed regularly, fasted during Ramadan, and always sought to act justly. His reputation for integrity transcended faiths. European poets and knights admired him, not for his religion, but for his example.
Death and Humble Legacy
Saladin died on March 4, 1193, in Damascus, after a short illness. At the time of his death, he had so little money left that there wasn’t enough to pay for his funeral. He had given away nearly everything.
He was buried in a simple tomb near the Umayyad Mosque. Centuries later, Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany visited it and funded the restoration of the mausoleum—testament to how widely Saladin was revered.
His dynasty continued to rule, but none matched his stature.
Lesser-Known Facts about Saladin
- He never wore a crown. He believed true leadership didn’t require symbols of power.
- He loved horses and personally trained some of his cavalry.
- He valued scholars. His courts welcomed poets, jurists, and scientists.
- He rarely used violence unnecessarily. He preferred negotiation over bloodshed.
- He left behind no palace. His greatest monument was his reputation.
