Saladin

__Saladin__
__by:__ Alex W. - A Period Chris C. - B Period Kevin C. - D Period Sally T. - F Period [] **Introduction to Saladin: ** The year was 1187, and two opposing religious groups were fighting for control over Jerusalem, or the "Holy Land." The first group, coming from the south, was the Muslims. The Muslims believed Jerusalem should be under their control because their last profit of Allah, Muhammad, had set Jerusalem as the first Qiblah, the direction in which Muslims pray towards, before changing it much afterward to Mecca. Secondly one of the three most famous Islamic mosques, Al-Aqsa is located here. Lastly the sacred Dome of the Rock was created here, after Muhammad had sat and prayed on this rock. The Christians, deriving from the West, believed Jerusalem should be under their control because Jerusalem was important to the Christians, deriving from the west, because they believe God's son, Jesus, was born nearby, and had lived and was crucified on Calvary Hill, which also resides in Jerusalem. These two religious groups took part in a series of battles called "The Crusades. Salah al Din ibn Ayyub, or Saladin, was a great, Muslim leader, whom captured Jerusalem from the Christians in 1076. Below you will find more about why Saladin was one of the most recognized leaders, praised by both the Christians for his chivalrous, and honorable behavior, and by his fellow Muslims. Early Life **

In 1137, Salah al-Din ibn Ayyub was born to Najm ad-Din Ayyub in Tikrit, Iraq. While he had a mother, her name and family are not known. Soon after his birth, his father moved the family to Aleppo. At first, Saladin had a greater interest in religion than military training. His formal military career began when he joined his uncle, Asad ad-Din Shirkuh. He accompanied his uncle, an important commander under Nur al-Din, on many expeditions and conquests as a lesser soldier.

[Salah al-Din ibn Ayyub was born to Najm ad-Din Ayyub in Tikrit, Iraq. Iraq's flag is as follows.] [] Rise to Power Saladin was born into a Kurdish family in the year 1137. Saladin defended Egypt against the Crusaders and abolished the Fatimid caliphate in 1171, under the command of the Seljuk statesmen and the soldier Shurkah.​ With the title of Sultan, Saladin took power in Egypt. Saladin was a Kurd and thus, many Seljuks refused to serve under him. At first, his position was tenuous. No one expected him to last long in Egypt where, because of a long line of under aged caliphates were waiting to take his place, and lastly there had been many changes of government over the years causing lack of faith. As the leader of a foreign army from Syria, he also had no control over the Egyptian army. With the help of his brothers, Saladin essentially turned Egypt into a vassal state of his own family. Also he restored Sunnism in Egypt. In 1187-1192 during the Crusades, Saladin single handedly united all the Muslims for the first time in history, and later established a truce with Richard the Lionhearted. Unfortunately soon after the Crusades, Saladin died in 1193, living to an age of 56 years.

[A crown is worn to symbolize power. Saladin was a wonderful leader, and used his power wisely.] [] Crusades The third crusade consisted of unified Muslim soldiers, led by Saladin, attacking, and later conquering Jerusalem in 1187. Instead of slaughtering the civilians inside, similar to some previous actions followed through by the Christians, Saladin's army showed mercy and spared their lives. Losing Jerusalem shocked Western Europe, and the Pope called for another crusade. King Richard I of England, Frederick I of the Holy Roman Empire, and Phillip II of France all headed for the Holy Land. After reuniting with his troops, Richard "The Lionheart" advanced toward the gates of Jerusalem in 1192. All luck was against him for Richard's army was plagued by disease and lack of freshwater. Richard was forced to plead Saladin for freshwater, which Saladin granted being virtuous and chivalrous. The thrid crusade ended in a treaty, with the Christians leaving the Holy Land, but allowed to make pilgrimages unarmed there. [] = = Achievements

Saladin had made many achievements during his life. First off, Saladin had united all the squabbling Islamic nations under him, by the summer of 1183. Some of these nations include Egypt, Syria, Yemen, and Palestine. He established a prosperous, thriving capital at Damascus. Under Saladin's rule, Damascus was a commercial, city that sold wool, furniture, swords, and had popular metal smiths. Next of Saladin’s, achievements was the historic recapturing of Jerusalem in the third crusade, during the year 1187. Saladin also created a treaty with King Richard the Lionheart stating that Jerusalem was to be controlled by the Muslims, but the Christians were allowed to live peacefully in the city, and come and go as they pleased. This was a fair compromise and King Richard the Lionheart eagerly accepted. These are a few of Saladin’s accomplishments and achievements.

[] [One of Saladin's greatest accomplishments was a treaty with King Richard the Lionheart.]

Jihad, the Holy War

Saladin was a strict Muslims always putting religious beliefs before military stratagizing and training. Though he always put religion before anything else, Saladin was obsessed with Jihad, or holy war. Saladin loved Jihad amost as much as the religion itself, he would study about, talk about, he would not be satisfied with himself or his army until the Jihad was carried out. He also used Jihad to motivate his Muslim troops as a goal for something tp believe in. After wars with other Muslims states, Saladin was always ready for Jihad. He would reconstruct his army until he felt it was perfect, or the best it could get. He nearly made it so. Even without using advanced military strategies he easily beat the crusaders with his well rounded army. He decided military strategy was better replaced by the uniting of other Muslim states. He was very sucessful using this tatic, and always had a huge, well trained army waiting at bay until he needed them. [Statue of Saladin.] [] =** Conclusion **= Overall, Saladin was a legendary hero of the Muslim religion. He was known for his outstanding progress in fighting the Christian Crusaders and his generosity to his kinsmen and to his enemies, as well as placing the Holy City of Jerusalem in the hands of Islam. Saladin died in the year 1193, just a year after signing a treaty with King Richard "the Lionheart" of England marking the end of the Third Crusade. Saladin forever changed the Islamic world. []

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