Saladin, or Salah-al-Din Yusuf ibn-Ayyub, Sultan of Egypt and Syria

b. 1138; d. 1193

Born at Tekrit on the Tigris. He took part in the expeditions to Egypt in the service Nureddin, was appointed vizier, and in 1171 suppressed the Fatmid dynasty and constituted himself sovereign of Egypt. On the death of Nureddin in 1174 he declared himself sultan, was recognised as sovereign by the princes of northern Syria, and in 1187 inflicted a crushing defeat on the Christians at Tiberias. His success caused great alarm to Europe, and led to the Third Crusade. In 1191 Acre fell into the hands of Philip II of France and Richard Coeur-de-Lion. But although Saladin was defeated, and Jaffa and Caesarea retaken, Richard was forced to leave Saladin in possession of Jerusalem and to agree to a truce. Saladin died at Damascus, and is remembered for his kindliness and chivalry, which made a great impression on his European enemies. He was not just a warrior and champion of Islam, but also an art patron and builder of schools and mosques.

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