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[[Image:Saladin.jpg|right|thumb|Saladin]]

[[Image:Saladin.jpg|right|thumb|Saladin]]

'''Saladin''' or '''Salah al-Din''' ([[Arabic]]: صلاح الدين الأيوبي) was a [[Kurdish]] [[Muslim]] Sultan who died March 4, 1193.  He fought against the [[Crusaders]] in the [[Crusades]]. He was famous for defeating the Christian forces and retaking [[Jerusalem]], and his encounters with Richard I of England are recounted throughout the ages as one of the most romantic military rivalries of all time.  

'''Saladin''' or '''Salah al-Din''' ([[Arabic]]: صلاح الدين الأيوبي) was a [[Kurdish]] [[Muslim]] Sultan (1138-1193).  He is best known for successfull battles against the European Christian Crusaders in the [[Crusades|Third Crusade]], and for recapturing [[Jerusalem]].  

Regularly regarded as a fine example of chivalry, both Richard and Saladin treated each other with enormous respect during the conflict, and Saladin sent Richard fruit and other goods when he was suffering from severe [[dysentery]] during the campaign. Similarly, Richard sent Saladin fine English woolens when he heard that Saladin was suffering from flu. Nevertheless, Richard executed thousands of prisoners outside the walls of [[Acre]] during the siege, an act Saladin did not resemble by his actions throughout the campaign whatsoever.  

Saladin was generally a successful general, but he was defeated by [[Richard I]] (who was the King of [[England]] at the time) at the battle of Arsuf in 1191. He also suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Montgisard in 1177 against King [[Baldwin IV]] of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Saladin came from a family in northern Syria which produced numerous prominent government and military leaders under the rule of the Zangid dynasty. In 1152 he joined the staff of his uncle Shirkuh and later accompanied (1169) Shirkuh, who headed a Zangid army, to Egypt, where he helped the [[Fatamid]] rulers resist the Crusaders.  In 1171 Saladin became the Fatimid vizier (prime minister), with the mission of repulsing the Crusaders.  He solidified his power base in 1171 when he overthrew the Fatimid dynasty, returning Egypt to Islamic orthodoxy and becoming sole ruler there.

Saladin was generally a successful general, but he was defeated by [[Richard I]] (who was the King of [[England]] at the time) at the battle of Arsuf in 1191. He also suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Montgisard in 1177 against King [[Baldwin IV]] of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem.

At the death in 1174 of the Zangid ruler in Syria, Saladin set out to conquer the Zangid kingdom as a preliminary to his holy war (jihad) against the Crusaders.  Launching the jihad in 1187, Saladin was victorious at Hattin, recaptured Jerusalem, and drove the Crusaders back to the coast.  These events prompted the Christians to mount the Third Crusade (1189-92), pitting Saladin against Kings Richard I of England.  The Crusaders succeeded only in capturing Acre, and the Peace of Ramleh (1192) left the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem with only a small strip of land along the Mediterranean coast.

 

Saladin's encounters with King [[Richard I]] of England are recounted as a great romantic military rivalry.  Regularly regarded as a fine example of chivalry, both Richard and Saladin treated each other with enormous respect during the conflict, and Saladin sent Richard fruit and other goods when he was suffering from severe [[dysentery]] during the campaign. Similarly, Richard sent Saladin fine English woolens when he heard that Saladin was suffering from flu. Nevertheless, Richard executed thousands of Muslim prisoners outside the walls of [[Acre]] during the siege, an act Saladin did not reciprocate.  

He first overthrew the [[Fatimid]] dynasty of Egypt, abandoning its [[Shiite]] religion in the process, and then conquered [[Syria]].

Saladin is one of the few Muslims who stood out in European memory.  

In [[Dante]]'s [[Divine Comedy]], Saladin appears in [[Limbo]] along with other virtuous non-Christians. He is the only [[muslim]] to be honored in this way.

In [[Dante]]'s [[Divine Comedy]], Saladin appears in [[Limbo]] along with other virtuous non-Christians. He is the only [[muslim]] to be honored in this way.