Sultan Salahuddin Ibn Yousaf Al Ayubi (c. 1138 — March 4, 1193), better known in the Western world as Saladin, was a Kurdish Muslim who became the Sultan of Egypt and Syria.

He led Islamic opposition to the Franks and other European Crusaders in the Levant . At the height of his power, he ruled over Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Hejaz, and Yemen.

He led the Muslims against the Crusaders and eventually recaptured Palestine from the Kingdom of Jerusalem after his victory in the Battle of Hattin. As such, he is a notable figure in Kurdish , Arab, Persian , Turkish and Muslim culture. Saladin was a strict practitioner of Sunni Islam.

His chivalrous behavior was noted by Christian chroniclers, especially in the accounts of the siege of Kerak in Moab, and despite being the nemesis of the Crusaders he won the respect of many of them, including Richard the Lionheart; rather than becoming a hated figure in Europe, he became a celebrated example of the principles of chivalry.

Recognition and Legacy

Western world

His fierce struggle against the crusaders was where 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.

Though Saladin faded into history after the Middle Ages, he appears in a sympathetic light in Sir Walter Scott 's novel The Talisman (1825).It is mainly from this novel that the contemporary view of Saladin originates. According to Jonathan Riley Smith, Scott's portrayal of Saladin was that of a "modern [19th Century] liberal European gentlemen, beside whom medieval Westerners would always have made a poor showing."

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).

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. 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.

Muslim world

The name Salah ad-Din means "Righteousness of Faith. The glory and comparative unity of the Arab World under Saladin was seen as the perfect symbol. For this reason, the Eagle of Saladin became the symbol of Egypt and several other Arab states.