Saladin transformed the medieval world through his military genius and his reputation for justice. While he famously recaptured Jerusalem from the Crusaders, his life off the battlefield contained surprising acts of kindness and a deep love for learning. For instance, he once sent fresh fruit and ice to his greatest enemy during a fever. Furthermore, he died with almost no money because he gave his wealth to the poor. Prepare to meet the Sultan who earned the respect of his enemies.
Saladin
Saladin was actually of Kurdish descent rather than Arab. He was born in 1137 in Tikrit, which sits in modern-day Iraq. Specifically, his family originated from Armenia before they moved to serve the local rulers in Mesopotamia.
His real name was Yusuf ibn Ayyub. The name Saladin is a Western version of his honorific title, Salah ad-Din. This title translates to “Righteousness of the Faith” in Arabic. Consequently, history remembers him by his nickname rather than his birth name.
He preferred religious studies over military training as a young man. He possessed a deep knowledge of the Quran, mathematics, and even Arab pedigrees for horses. Therefore, he only joined the army because his uncle, Shirkuh, insisted he come along to Egypt.
Saladin and Richard the Lionheart never actually met in person. Although they fought a long and bloody war, they only communicated through messengers and letters. Indeed, their famous “friendship” existed entirely through mutual respect from a distance.
He sent his own horses to Richard during the Battle of Jaffa. When Saladin saw Richard fighting on foot because his horse had died, he sent two fresh mounts to his rival. He believed that such a great king should not have to fight in the dirt like a common soldier.
He provided ice and fruits to his enemies during the summer heat. When Richard fell ill with a fever, Saladin sent messengers with snow from the mountains and fresh pears. This gesture stunned the European knights who expected a more brutal enemy.
Saladin captured Jerusalem in 1187 after a massive victory at the Battle of Hattin. This ended 88 years of Crusader rule over the holy city. Remarkably, he allowed the Christian inhabitants to leave safely if they paid a small ransom.
He refused to massacre the Christians in Jerusalem. When the city surrendered, his advisors suggested he take revenge for the bloodbath the Crusaders caused in 1099. However, Saladin chose to protect the holy sites and the people instead.
He founded the Ayyubid dynasty, which ruled over Egypt, Syria, and Yemen. At the height of his power, his empire stretched over thousands of miles. Thus, he united the Muslim world for the first time in centuries to face the European invaders.
Saladin died with only one piece of gold and forty pieces of silver. Despite being a Sultan of multiple countries, he gave away all his riches to build schools and hospitals. Consequently, his family had to borrow money just to pay for his funeral.
He survived two assassination attempts by the Order of the Assassins. The secret group tried to stab him in his sleep twice during his campaigns in Syria. To protect himself, he started sleeping in a specially built wooden tower to stay out of reach.
He possessed incredible endurance for the desert heat. He often spent 12 hours (720 minutes) a day in the saddle inspecting his troops. He rarely ate a full meal and preferred a simple diet of boiled rice and barley water.
Saladin allowed Christian pilgrims to visit Jerusalem even after he captured it. He signed a treaty with Richard that guaranteed safe passage for anyone coming to pray. This act of religious tolerance was almost unheard of during the medieval period.
He stood about 5 feet 4 inches (163 centimeters) tall. Although he was not physically imposing, his presence and calm voice commanded absolute loyalty. He spoke Kurdish, Arabic, Persian, and Turkish fluently.
Finally, his tomb in Damascus features two sarcophagi. One is made of walnut wood and holds his actual remains. The other is a magnificent marble coffin that Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany gifted to the city centuries later to honor Saladin’s memory.
