Saladino

Saladino, also known as Saladin (Arabic: صلاح الدين يوسف بن أيوب, Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb; Kurdish: سەلاحەدین ئەیوبی, Selahadînê Eyûbî), was a prominent Muslim military and political leader of Kurdish origin. He was the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, ruling Egypt, Syria, and parts of Yemen, Palestine, and Mesopotamia.

Saladino rose to prominence in the service of Nur ad-Din Zangi, the Zengid ruler of Syria. He was sent to Egypt in 1169 to support the Fatimid caliphate against Crusader incursions and quickly consolidated his power. Upon Nur ad-Din's death in 1174, Saladino declared his independence and embarked on a campaign to unify the Muslim territories of the region.

His most famous achievement was the recapture of Jerusalem from the Crusaders in 1187 after the Battle of Hattin. This victory galvanized the Third Crusade, led by European monarchs including Richard the Lionheart of England. Despite significant military pressure from the Crusader forces, Saladino maintained control of Jerusalem and negotiated a truce with Richard, allowing Christian pilgrims access to the city.

Saladino is revered in both Muslim and Western cultures as a skilled military strategist, a pious leader, and a chivalrous adversary. His legacy extends beyond his military achievements. He is remembered for his just rule, promotion of Islamic scholarship, and patronage of the arts and sciences. He died in Damascus in 1193.