Saladin: Difference between revisions

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Before Saladin recaptured Jerusalem<ref>Baha ad-Din from the Ibid, page 101</ref>, Baha ad-Din quotes Saladin as saying:

{{cquote|While I (Beha ad-Din) was standing thus Saladin turned to me and said: "I think that when God grants me victory over the rest of Palestine I shall divide my territories, make a will stating my wishes, then set sail on this sea for their far-off lands and pursue the Franks there, so as to free the earth of anyone who does not believe in God, or die in the attempt." }}

Soon, Saladin had taken back almost every Crusader city. He recaptured [[Jerusalem]] on [[October 2]], [[1187]], after 88 years of Crusader rule (see [[Siege of Jerusalem (1187)|Siege of Jerusalem]]). Saladin initially was unwilling to grant terms of quarter to the occupants of Jerusalem until [[Balian of Ibelin]] threatened to kill every Muslim in the city, estimated between 3,000 to 5,000, and to destroy Islam’s holy shrines of the Dome of the Rock and the Aqsa Mosque if quarter was not given. Saladin consulted his council and these terms were accepted. Ransom was to be paid for each Frank in the city whether man, woman, or child. Saladin allowed many to leave without having the required amount for ransom for others. According to Imad al-Din, approximately 7,000 men and 8,000 women could not make their ransom and were taken into slavery.

Only [[Tyre (Lebanon)|Tyre]] held out. The city was now commanded by the formidable [[Conrad of Montferrat]]. He strengthened Tyre's defences and withstood two sieges by Saladin. In 1188, at Tortosa, Saladin released Guy of Lusignan and returned him to his wife, Queen [[Sibylla of Jerusalem]]. They went first to Tripoli, then to Antioch. In [[1189]], they sought to reclaim Tyre for their kingdom, but were refused admission by Conrad, who did not recognise Guy as King. Guy then set about besieging [[Akko|Acre]] (see [[Siege of Acre]]).

[[Image:Damascus-SaladinTomb.jpg|140px|thumb|The tomb of sultan Saladin near the northwestern corner of the Umayyad Mosque, [[Damascus]], [[Syria]].]]

Hattin and the fall of Jerusalem prompted the [[Third Crusade]], financed in England by a special "[[Saladin tithe]]". This Crusade took back Acre. After Richard I executed the Muslim prisoners at Acre, Saladin retaliated by killing all Franks captured from August 28th28 - September 10th10.<ref>Beha ad-Din - The Life of Saladin) Beha ad-Din, pages 278- 281</ref>, describes a particular grisly scene with two captured Franks during this time period: "Whilst we were there they brought two Franks to the Sultan (Saladin) who had been made prisoners by the advance guard. He had them beheaded on the spot." The armies of the most illustrious Saladin engaged in combat with the rivaling armies of the most esteemed King [[Richard I of England]] at the [[Battle of Arsuf]] on [[September 7]], [[1191]] at which Saladin was defeated. Saladin's relationship with Richard was one of chivalrous mutual respect as well as military rivalry; both were celebrated in [[courtly romance]]s. When Richard was wounded, Saladin offered the services of his personal physician. At Arsuf, when Richard lost his horse, Saladin sent him two replacements. Saladin also sent him fresh fruit with snow, to keep his drinks cold. Richard had suggested to Saladin that his sister could marry Saladin's brother - and Jerusalem could be their wedding gift.

The two came to an agreement over Jerusalem in the [[Treaty of Ramla]] in 1192, whereby the city would remain in Muslim hands but would be open to Christian [[pilgrimage]]s; the treaty reduced the Latin Kingdom to a strip along the coast from Tyre to [[Jaffa]].

Saladin died on [[March 4]], [[1193]] at [[Damascus]], not long after Richard's departure. When they opened Saladin's treasury they found there was not enough money to pay for his funeral; he had given most of his money away in charity <ref>''The Rare and Excellent History of Saladin'', Bahā'al-dīn Ibn Shaddād, trans D.S. Richards, Ashgate 2002, p25,p. 25 and p244244</ref>.

His tomb is in Damascus, at the [[Umayyad Mosque]], and is a popular attraction.