Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub
Also known as: Saladin · Salah al-Din
Sultan of Egypt and Syria - Military Commander - Unifier of Islam
Locations
Geographic Footprint
Life & Battles
Timeline
Born in Tikrit
Born into a prominent Kurdish family in Tikrit, present-day Iraq. His father Najm ad-Din Ayyub was a governor under the Zengid dynasty.
First Campaign in Egypt
Accompanied his uncle Shirkuh on the first of three military expeditions to Egypt, entering the complex politics of the crumbling Fatimid Caliphate.
Vizier of Egypt
After Shirkuh's death, Saladin was appointed vizier of Egypt at age 31. He swiftly consolidated power and abolished the Fatimid Caliphate, restoring Sunni Islam to Egypt.
Sultan of Egypt and Syria
Following the death of his Zengid overlord Nur ad-Din, Saladin seized Damascus and declared himself Sultan, beginning the unification of the Islamic world under one banner.
Aleppo and Mosul Submit
After years of diplomacy and military pressure, the last independent Muslim princes of northern Syria and Mesopotamia submitted to Saladin, completing his political unification.
Battle of Hattin
Destroyed the Crusader army at the Horns of Hattin by encircling and dehydrating them before a decisive charge. King Guy of Jerusalem was captured and the True Cross taken.
Recapture of Jerusalem
Entered Jerusalem on October 2 — exactly 88 years after the First Crusade seized it. Unlike the Crusader massacre of 1099, Saladin spared the population and allowed ransom for captives.
Battle of the Horns of Hattin
Sea of Galilee, Palestine - vs Kingdom of Jerusalem (Guy of Lusignan) - Annihilated the Crusader field army, capturing King Guy and the relic of the True Cross. The loss stripped the Crusader states of their military power and opened Palestine to reconquest.
Siege of Jerusalem
Jerusalem - vs Balian of Ibelin - Retook the holy city after 88 years. Saladin's mercy — sparing the population and allowing ransom — contrasted sharply with the 1099 Crusader massacre and forged his legendary reputation.
Third Crusade Begins
The fall of Jerusalem prompted Pope Gregory VIII to call the Third Crusade, bringing Richard I of England, Philip II of France, and Frederick I of Germany east.
Acre Falls to Richard I
Richard I's fleet and siege machinery proved decisive at Acre after a long siege — the city fell, marking the high-water mark of the Crusader counter-offensive.
Siege of Acre (defense)
Acre, Palestine - vs Richard I of England - Despite fierce resistance Saladin could not relieve the besieged city. Acre fell to the combined Crusader fleet and siege machinery of Richard I.
Battle of Arsuf
Arsuf, Palestine - vs Richard I of England - Unable to break Richard's disciplined march formation, Saladin suffered his most decisive battlefield defeat. The engagement demonstrated Richard's tactical brilliance.
Treaty of Jaffa
Negotiated a three-year truce with Richard I — Jerusalem remained in Muslim hands but unarmed Christian pilgrims were permitted to visit. Both men expressed deep mutual respect.
Battle of Jaffa
Jaffa, Palestine - vs Richard I of England - Saladin's surprise attack was repelled by a tiny garrison and Richard's rapid naval relief. The stalemate led directly to the Treaty of Jaffa and an end to the crusade.
Death in Damascus
Died of fever in Damascus just months after the peace, at age 55. His treasury held only one gold piece — he had given everything away in charity throughout his life.
Family Tree
Parents
Najm ad-Din Ayyub
Father
c. 1100–1173
Shirkuh
Uncle and mentor
died 1169
Subject & Siblings
Saladin
Self
1137 - 1193
Al-Adil I
Brother
1145–1218
Spouses
Ismat ad-Din Khatun
Wife
Children
Al-Afdal
Son and heir
1170–1225
Al-Aziz Uthman
Son (Sultan of Egypt)
1172–1198
Az-Zahir Ghazi
Son (Prince of Aleppo)
1173–1216
Key Contributions
-
Sword Recaptured Jerusalem
Retook the holy city from the Crusaders in 1187, ending 88 years of Latin rule and triggering the Third Crusade led by Richard the Lionheart.
-
Shield Chivalry in War
Famous for mercy and honor in victory — sparing Jerusalem's population, ransoming prisoners, and reportedly sending his own physician to treat the ailing Richard I.
-
Crown Founded the Ayyubid Dynasty
United Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, Yemen, and parts of North Africa under one dynasty, creating the most powerful Muslim state of the 12th century.
-
Scroll Restorer of Sunni Islam
Abolished the Shia Fatimid Caliphate in Egypt and restored Sunni orthodoxy, permanently reshaping the religious landscape of the Middle East.
Fact Cards
Gold
Died Nearly Penniless
When Saladin died, his treasury contained only one gold piece and forty silver coins. He had given away virtually all his wealth to the poor and to his soldiers throughout his reign.
Heart
Sent Richard His Doctor
During the Third Crusade, when Richard I fell gravely ill, Saladin sent his own personal physician and fresh fruit to his enemy's camp — a gesture of chivalry that astonished both sides.
Scroll
Admired by Crusaders
Crusader chroniclers praised Saladin's justice and generosity even while at war with him. Dante placed him among the virtuous pagans in the Inferno — the only Muslim ruler so honored.
Star
Kurdish Origins
Despite becoming the defining hero of Arab Islam, Saladin was ethnically Kurdish. His family came from the region around Dvin in what is now Armenia.
Typhoid fever
Last Scene
Location: Damascus, Syria
Burial: Damascus, Syria
Those Present
-
Al-Afdal
Eldest son; inherited Damascus and the Syrian domains
-
Al-Aziz Uthman
Son; inherited Egypt and became Sultan
-
Al-Adil I
Brother; later reunified the Ayyubid empire
-
Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani
Saladin's secretary and biographer; recorded his final days
Aftermath
Saladin's death left the Ayyubid empire without a strong central figure. Fraternal conflict fragmented his realm until his brother Al-Adil reunited it. Despite the political dissolution, Saladin's legacy endured — both in the Muslim world as a symbol of resistance and unity, and in the West where his chivalrous reputation grew throughout the Middle Ages and into modern times.
Chain of Events
Late February, 1193
Falls gravely ill
Shortly after escorting pilgrims returning from the hajj, Saladin developed a severe fever that his physicians struggled to treat.
March 4, 1193
Death in Damascus
Saladin died in his palace in Damascus surrounded by family. His personal treasury held barely enough to cover the cost of his own funeral.
March 1193 onward
Ayyubid succession conflict
His sons Al-Afdal and Al-Aziz immediately disputed the inheritance. His brother Al-Adil eventually reunified most of the Ayyubid domains by 1202.
"Beware of shedding blood unjustly; that is the greatest of sins and the one most likely to be punished by God."
Attributed to Saladin