Changes

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;  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.

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.

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==