Salah ad-Din

Al-Malik an-Nasir Salah ad-Dunya wa-d-Din Abu al-Muzaffar Yusuf ibn Ayyub ibn Shazi al-Kurdi [1] (Arabic: الملك الناصر أبو Kurdish Selahedînê; Eyubî, Saladin (Arabic: سەلاحەدینی ئەییووبی‎), known in Russian and Western tradition as Salah ad-Din al-Ayyubi (Arabic: صلاح الدين الأيوبي‎; 1137, Tikrit – March 4, 1193, Damascus[2]) – Muslim commander and leader of the 12th century of Kurdish[2][3] origin. The founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, which at its height ruled Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Hejaz and Yemen.

Sultan Dawlat el-Akrad. 1174 – March 4, 1193. Predecessor: the title was established. Successor: Al-Aziz Uthman ibn Yusuf. Sultan of Egypt de jure as part of the Zangid State: September 13, 1171–1174. Predecessor: the title was established. Successor: independence from the Zangid state was declared. Vizier of the Fatimid Caliphate: March 23, 1169 – September 13, 1171. Predecessor: Asad ad-Din Shirkuh I ibn Shadi. Successor: the state is abolished. Birth: 1137 Tikrit. Genus: Ayyubids. Birth name: Arab. يُوسُف بن نجم الدين أيُّوب‎ Father: Najm ad-Din Ayyub ibn Shadi. Mother: Sitt-al-Mulk-khatun. Spouse: Ismat al-Din Khatun. Children: Al-Afdal Ali ibn Yusuf, Al-Aziz Uthman ibn Yusuf and Az-Zahir Ghazi. Attitude to religion: Sunni Islam. Battles: Crusades to Egypt. Battle of Montgisard. Siege of Kerak Castle. Battle of Marj Uyun. Battle of Jacob's Ford. Battle of Belvoir Castle. Battle of Al-Fula. Battle of Cresson. Battle of Hattin. Siege of Jerusalem. (1187). Siege of Tyre. Siege of Acre (1189–1191). Battle of Arsuf. Battle of Jaffa. Battle of Kurun-Hama.

In Europe, he is known as Saladin, although this is not even a name: Salah ad-Din is a laqab, an honorific title meaning "piety of faith."[4] This ruler's proper name was Yusuf ibn Ayyub (Yusuf, son of Ayyub). There are many sources written by Salah ad-Din's contemporaries. Among them, the works of personal biographers and historians are worth highlighting: Baha ad-Din ibn Rafi, Salah ad-Din's teacher and advisor; Ibn al-Athir, a historian from Mosul; and al-Qadi al-Fadil, Salah ad-Din's personal secretary.

Salah ad-Din was born in 1137 in Tikrit, Mesopotamia. His family was of Kurdish origin from Armenia, as confirmed by his nisba al-Kurdi. Salah ad-Din's father, Ayyub, after living in Armenia, moved to Baghdad, then to Tikrit, where he lived until his death. Ayyub spoke Kurdish, Arabic, Turkish, and Persian.

In 1132, Ayyub aided the army of Imad ad-Din Zangi, for which he was expelled from Tikrit. In 1139, he became commander of the fortress in Baalbek, and after Zangi's death in 1146, he moved to Damascus and governed the city.

Little is known about Saladin's early years. He was educated and knew arithmetic, Islamic law, Arabic poetry, and history. In his youth, he was more interested in religion than in military affairs, which may have been related to the capture of Jerusalem during the First Crusade.

In the fragmented Abbasid Empire, the Fatimids ruled Egypt, the Crusaders occupied the eastern Mediterranean coast, and Nur ad-Din Zangi controlled Syria and Mesopotamia.

At the insistence of his family, Salah ad-Din began his military career under the patronage of his uncle, Shirkuh, Nur ad-Din's military commander. In 1164, Shirkuh set out for Egypt with an army at the request of the exiled vizier Shawar. Salah ad-Din, a 26-year-old junior officer, accompanied him. Shawar, reinstated, demanded the withdrawal of his troops, but Shirkuh refused. Upon discovering Shirkuh's plans to seize Egypt, Shawar appealed to King Amalric I of Jerusalem for aid. Salah ad-Din participated in the defense of Bilbeis.

After the siege of Bilbeis, the Zangids defeated the combined forces of Shawar and Amalric I. Salah ad-Din commanded the right wing, and his feint retreat led the crusaders into difficult terrain. This victory, according to Ibn al-Athir, was one of the "most remarkable," but at a high price for Shirkuh.

The Crusaders settled in Cairo, while Saladin and Shirkuh advanced on Alexandria. After negotiations, both sides agreed to leave Egypt.

The Capture of Damascus: Nur ad-Din's death in 1174 cleared the way for Salah ad-Din to assume power in Syria. Instead of launching a direct attack, he declared himself the protector of Nur ad-Din's successor, as-Saleh. Taking advantage of the civil strife in Syria, Salah ad-Din captured Damascus in November 1174.

Further conquest: After Damascus, Salah ad-Din continued to capture cities belonging to Nur ad-Din. He besieged Aleppo but was defeated by the forces of Mosul. An assassination attempt by the Assassins failed.

Campaign against the Assassins: In 1176, Saladin launched a campaign against the Assassins but failed to take their strongholds. A peace agreement was brokered by his uncle.

Saladin became famous for his fight against the Crusaders, which was reflected in literature (for example, in Walter Scott's "The Talisman"). In 1187, he defeated the Crusaders at Hattin and captured Palestine, Accra, and Jerusalem. During the Third Crusade, the Crusaders recaptured Accra, and Richard I the Lionheart won victories at Arsuf and Jaffa, forcing Saladin to cede the coast but retain Jerusalem. Saladin also permitted Christian pilgrims to visit the city. His chivalric qualities, bravery, and generosity earned him respect throughout Europe. Richard I the Lionheart and Saladin, despite never meeting in person, maintained mutual respect and granted privileges to each other's subjects.

According to Imad ad-Din, Saladin fathered five sons before leaving Egypt in 1174. Al-Afdal Ali, his eldest son, born in 1170, and al-Aziz Uthman, born in 1172, accompanied Saladin to Syria. The third son, az-Zahir Ghazi, later became the governor of Aleppo. Al-Afdal's mother gave birth to another child in 1177. According to al-Qalqashandi, the twelfth son was born in 1178, while in Imad ad-Din's list he appears as the seventh child.

Al-Malik an-Nasir Salah al-Dunya wa-d-Din Abu'l-Muzaffar Yusuf ibn Ayyub ibn Shazi al-Kurdi[1] (Arabic: الملك الناصر أبو المظفر صلای الدنيا. Selahedînê EyûBî, Russian and Western traditions, Saladin, known as Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi (Arabic: 1137, Tikrit - March 4, 1193, Damascus[2]) was a Muslim commander and leader of the 12th century of Kurdish[2][3] The founder of the origin. Ayyubid dynasty, which in its heyday ruled Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Hejaz and Yemen.

Sultan Dawlat el-Akrad. 1174 – March 4, 1193. Predecessor: the title has been established. The successor: Al-Aziz Uthman ibn Yusuf. Sultan of Egypt de jure as part of the Zangid State: September 13, 1171–1174. Predecessor: the title has been established. Successor: independence from the Zangid state was proclaimed. Vizier of the Fatimid Caliphate: March 23, 1169 — September 13, 1171. The predecessor: Asad al-Din Shirkuh I ibn Shadi. Successor: the state has been abolished. Birth: 1137 Tikrit. Family: Ayyubids. Birth name: Arabic Father: Najm al-Din Ayyub ibn Shadi. Mother: Sitt al-Mulk-khatun. Spouse: Ismat al-din Khatun. Children: Al-Afdal Ali ibn Yusuf, Al-Aziz Uthman ibn Yusuf and Az-Zahir Ghazi. Attitude to religion: Sunni Islam. Battles: The Crusades in Egypt. The Battle of Montgizard. The siege of Kerak Castle. The Battle of Marj-Uyun. The Battle of Jacob's Ford. The battle of Belvoir Castle. The Battle of Al-Fula. The Battle of Cresson. The Battle of Hattin. The Siege of Jerusalem. (1187). The Siege of Tyre. The Siege of Acre. (1189-1191). The Battle of Arsuf. The Battle of Jaffa. The Battle of Kurun-Hama.

In Europe, he is known precisely as Saladin, although this is not even a name: Salah al-Din is a lakab — an honorary nickname meaning "piety of faith"[4]. The proper name of this ruler is Yusuf ibn Ayyub (Yusuf, son of Ayyub). There are many sources written by Salah al-Din's contemporaries. Among them, it is worth highlighting the works of personal biographers and historians: Baha al-Din bin Rafi, Salah al-Din's teacher and adviser, Ibn al-Asir, a historian from Mosul, al-Qadi al-Fadil, Salah al-Din's personal secretary.

Salah al-Din was born in 1137 in Tikrit, Mesopotamia. His family was of Kurdish origin from Armenia, which confirms his nisba al-Kurdi. Salah al-Din's father, Ayyuba, moved to Baghdad after living in Armenia, then to Tikrit, where he lived until his death. Ayyub spoke Kurdish, Arabic, Turkic and Persian.

In 1132, Ayyub helped the army of Imad al-Din Zangi, for which he was expelled from Tikrit. In 1139, he became commander of the fortress in Baalbek, and after Zenghi's death in 1146, he moved to Damascus and ruled the city.

Little is known about Salah al-Din's early years. He was educated, knew arithmetic, Islamic law, Arabic poetry and history. In his youth, he was more interested in religion than in military affairs, which could be related to the capture of Jerusalem during the First Crusade.

In the fragmented Abbasid empire, the Fatimids ruled Egypt, the Crusaders occupied the eastern Mediterranean coast, and Nur al-Din Zangi controlled Syria and Mesopotamia.

At the insistence of his family, Salah al-Din began his military career under the patronage of his uncle, the military commander Nur al-Din, Shirkuh. In 1164, Shirkuh and his army went to Egypt at the request of the exiled vizier Shevar. Salah al-Din, a 26-year-old junior officer, accompanied by him. Shevar, who was reinstated, demanded the withdrawal of troops, but Shirkuh refused. Having discovered Shirkuh's plans to capture Egypt, Shevar turned to King Amori I of Jerusalem for help. Salah al-Din participated in the defense of Bilbeis.

After the siege of Bilbeis, the Zangids defeated the combined forces of Shevar and Amori I. Salah al-Din commanded the right wing, his false retreat led the Crusaders to an inconvenient terrain. This victory, according to Ibn al-Asir, was one of the "most remarkable", but at a high price for Shirkuh.

The Crusaders settled in Cairo, and Salah al-Din and Shirkuh advanced to Alexandria. After negotiations, both sides agreed to withdraw from Egypt.

Capture of Damascus: The death of Nur al-Din in 1174 opened the way for Salah al-Din to power in Syria. Instead of a direct attack, he declared himself the defender of Nur al-Din's heir, as-Saleh. Taking advantage of the civil strife in Syria, Salah al-Din captured Damascus in November 1174.

Further conquest: After Damascus, Salah al-Din continued to capture the cities belonging to Nur al-Din. He besieged Aleppo, but was defeated by the forces of Mosul. The assassination attempt by the assassins failed.

The Campaign against the Assassins: In 1176, Salah al-Din launched a campaign against the assassins, but was unable to take their fortresses. A peace agreement was reached through the mediation of his uncle.

Saladin became famous for his struggle with the Crusaders, reflected in literature (for example, "Talisman" by Walter Scott). In 1187, he defeated the Crusaders at Hattin, captured Palestine, Acre and Jerusalem. During the Third Crusade, the Crusaders retook Accra, and Richard I the Lionheart won victories at Arsuf and Jaffa, forcing Saladin to cede the coast, but retaining Jerusalem. Saladin also allowed Christian pilgrims to visit the city. His chivalrous qualities, bravery and generosity gained respect in Europe. Richard I the Lionheart and Saladin, despite the lack of personal meetings, had mutual respect and provided benefits to each other's subjects.

According to Imad al-Din, before Salah al-Din left Egypt in 1174, he became the father of five sons. Al-Afdal Ali, his eldest son, who was born in 1170, and al-Aziz Uthman, who was born in 1172, accompanied by Salah al-Din to Syria. The third son, az-Zahir Ghazi, later became the ruler of Aleb. Al-Afdal's mother gave birth to another child in 1177. According to al-Kalkashandi, the twelfth son was born in 1178, and at the same time he appears as the seventh child in the list of Imad al-Din.