Changes

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.

The Enlightenment reshaped the image of Saladin;  especially [[Voltaire]] portrayed him as an examplar of a Muslim with greater natural virtue than any crusader in order to ridicule Christianity. During the Romantic era, Saladin was also in high esteem, especially through Sir [[Walter Scott]]'s novels. Although many of Saladin's historically attested actions were quite magnanimous, Scott often enhanced his image with fictitious events.

The [[Enlightenment]] reshaped the image of Saladin. [[Voltaire]] portrayed him as an example of a Muslim with greater natural virtue than any crusader in order to ridicule Christianity. During the Romantic era, Saladin was also in high esteem, especially through Sir [[Walter Scott]]'s novels. Although many of Saladin's historically attested actions were quite magnanimous, Scott often enhanced his image with fictitious events.

Until  the nineteenth-century, Muslims showed little interest in the Crusades or in Saladin. With the outset of European imperialism, especially the British takeover of Egypt in the 1880s, Saladin was rediscovered as a cultural hero for Muslims. After World War I Saladin's image in the Muslim world took a new twist: he became the national hero of the Kurds, while Arabs latched onto him as a Pan-Islamic hero, and Turkey transformed him into a Turk. Meanwhile, Shia' Muslims typically view him as a villain.<ref>See Möhring,(2008)</ref>

Until  the nineteenth century, Muslims showed little interest in the Crusades or in Saladin. With the outset of European imperialism, especially the British takeover of Egypt in the 1880s, Saladin was rediscovered as a cultural hero for Muslims. After World War I Saladin's image in the Muslim world took a new twist: he became the national hero of the Kurds, while Arabs latched onto him as a Pan-Islamic hero, and Turkey transformed him into a Turk. Meanwhile, Shia' Muslims typically view him as a villain.<ref>See Möhring,(2008)</ref>

==Further reading==

==Further reading==