Saladin << SAL uh dihn >> (1138-1193), was the best-known Muslim warrior of the 1100’s. He brought about the Third Crusade by capturing Jerusalem in 1187, see Crusades (The Third Crusade) . The Muslims regarded Saladin as a saintly hero, and even the Christians honored him for his honesty and bravery.
Saladin served as a soldier in the army of Nur al-Din, a Syrian leader. In 1164, Nur al-Din sent Saladin with an army to settle a struggle between members of the government of Egypt. The army returned to Egypt in 1168 to help defend the country against the Christian crusaders. The Syrian army took control of Egypt, and Saladin became vizier. The vizier ran the Egyptian government, though the head of state was the caliph.
The caliph of Egypt was leader of the Shiite branch of Islam, and thus a rival of the caliph of Baghdad, who was leader of the Sunni branch. See Islam (Divisions of Islam) . Before the Egyptian caliph died, in 1171, Saladin ordered Egypt to join the Sunni branch of Islam. The caliph of Baghdad later recognized Saladin as sultan of Egypt and Syria.
After gaining control of Egypt, Saladin extended his rule northeastward to Damascus, Aleppo, Mosul, and Edessa. He led Muslim armies that captured Jerusalem from the Christians in 1187. Some of his troops were besieged at Acre (now Akko) in 1189. They surrendered after two years to Richard the Lion-Hearted (see Richard I ). Saladin and Richard made a truce in 1192 that gave the coast to the Christians and the interior to the Muslims and allowed Christian pilgrims to enter Jerusalem.
Saladin supported theologians and other scholars. He also built schools, dikes, canals, and mosques. Saladin was born in Mesopotamia.
