|
||
Name:
Saladin
'Salah Ad-din Yusuf Ibn Ayyub
Date:
Born: 1137
Died: March 4, 1193
Biography:
Founder of the ethnically Kurdish Ayyubid dynasty of Egypt and Syria, Saladin is the most
famous Muslim hero of the European Middle Ages. Saladin is perhaps most widely known for
capturing Jerusalem from the Crusaders in 1187 and thus ending the 80-year Frankish
occupation. Before that, however, he had already made a name for himself by successfully
defending Egypt against the armmies of the Crusades and ending the Fatimid caliphate in
1171, thus restoring Sunni orthodoxy to Egypt. Despite his successful opposition to the
Crusaders, he was lauded in Europe as a shining example of what a chivalrous knight,
should be. By the 14th century there was even an epic poem about his life.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
What is Islam?
What is Islam? What do Muslims believe? Where did Islam come from? What is jihad? Find the answers to these questions and more in our Islam FAQ.
