Saladin

Saladin

Al-Malik an-Nasir Salah ad-Din Yusuf is the chief executive of the Ayyubid dynasty , which ruled Egypt from 1169 to 1250 and in Syria from 1174 to 1260. Itself directs the Egypt of 1169 to 1193 , Damascus in 1174 to 1193 and Aleppo from 1183 to 1193. Its name, an-Nasir, meaning "one who receives God's victory" and Saladin means "righteousness of the Faith." It is known to have been the main opponent of the Franks settled in the last third of the ^twelfth century and the architect of the recapture of Jerusalem by Muslims in 1187.

Biography

"Saladin rex aegypti," manuscript of the fifteenth century

Yusuf (Joseph), son of Ayyub , was born in Tikrit on the Tigris in a family Kurd originally from Dvin , the Armenian ancient . Shortly after her birth, her family fled Tikrit and went to the court Zengi , atabeg of Mosul. This governor appoints Ayyub Baalbek and Shirkuh (uncle of Saladin) officer in his army .

The conquest of Egypt

In 1163 , Nur ad-Din , the son of Zengi sends Shirkuh restore Shawar to vizierate. Nur ad-Din, a Sunni, was reluctant to intervene in the affairs of the Shiite Fatimid caliphate, but he can not afford to let the French occupied the country. The first expedition ended with a partial success, Shawar was restored, but has not paid the allowances Shirkuh. In 1167 , a second expedition was sent to Egypt, during which Saladin accompanied his uncle. Saladin provides including defense of Alexandria, while Shirkuh fighting in Upper Egypt. Finally concluded a peace treaty between the Egyptians and Zengides Franks and Frankish armies and zengides evacuate Egypt. In 1169 , a third expedition allows Shirkuh to seize vizierate, but died shortly afterwards on 23 March 1169 .

The Caliph's advisers Fatimid Al-Adid advised him to appoint as Vizier Saladin, hoping to enjoy his youth and inexperience. But Saladin did not leave control and replaces Egyptian officials whose loyalty is not considered foolproof by his relatives. The prisoners of the caliph, a eunuch by the name of al-Mtamen al-Khilafa, trying to appeal to the Franks, but his message is intercepted and discreetly Saladin beheaded on August 20 1169. The Black Watch, whose members were closely linked to disgraced officials, rebels, but Saladin sent his brother Fakhr al-Din Turanshah combat and the guards are killed after two days of fighting very hard on August 23. Saladin brought with him most of his family in Egypt and installs on fields confiscated from wealthy landowners who had supported the uprising .

On 16 October 1169 , the Frankish army led by King Amalric I of Jerusalem and Ashkelon left reached Egypt on October 25 and joined by a Byzantine fleet, laid siege to Damietta. Saladin sensed that the situation in Cairo is not safe and feared a revolt if he leaves the city to defend Damietta. He sent an army commanded by his uncle Sihab al-Din Mahmud and his nephew Taqi al-Din Omar, who succeeded in Damietta refuel and build a garrison. Finally, the dissonance between Franks and Byzantines and the seat is lifted on December 19 . Amaury then attempts to conclude an alliance with Saladin against Nur ad-Din, Saladin feeling that begins to consider its independence from Nur ad-Din .

Saladin surrounds the capital of a limestone wall that extends from al-Qahira to Fustat and the Nile. At the center of this defensive system is the Citadel , where the new ruler governs the country. Now open to the people, al-Qahira, whose palaces are demolished houses the caravanserai , the souks and houses of merchants, artisans and burghers of the new regime .

In December 1170 , he attempted a foray into the kingdom of Jerusalem on Daron , but Amaury ^I. forced him to retreat . In 1171 , Nur ad-Din, a Sunni, ordered him to abolish the Caliphate Shia in Egypt and placed the country under the moral authority of the Caliph Abbasid in Baghdad , Al-Bi-Mustadh'Amri Allah. Saladin hesitates because he holds the position of caliph caliphate abolished the risk of compromising the legitimacy of his power. Finally, a resident of Mosul visiting Cairo ascended the pulpit and delivered the prayer on behalf of the Caliph of Baghdad on 10 September 1171. Al-Adid, dying, is not informed of the incident and died shortly after .

The abolition of the Fatimid Caliphate provides an international dimension to Saladin, who is not content with a simple role of governor in the name of Nur ad-Din. Despite declarations of submission and vassalage, he tries to go independent, always finds an excuse not to join the troops of Nur ad-Din during actions against the Franks. It also charges Shams al-Dawla Turan Shah, one of his brothers, to the conquest of Yemen in order to allow a land of refuge and retreat. Franks advantage of these divisions to foment a Shia revolt in Egypt, but it is discovered and crushed by Saladin on 6 April 1174 . At the same time, Nur ad-Din is preparing an expedition to submit Saladin, when he died in Damascus on 15 May 1174 . On July 11 , it was the turn of Amalric ^I of dying .

The work of Saladin

In 1174, the political context of the Levant is very favorable to Saladin in Jerusalem, King Amalric ^I died, leaving the kingdom to a minor son, Baldwin the Leper. The Regent, Miles Plancy , do not always take the right decisions vis--vis Egypt and the kingdom is located in a defensive position. In Aleppo, Nur ad-Din also leaves a child, As-Salih Ismail al-Malik , but the lieutenant of Nur ad-Din struggle for the regency, and a nephew out of power revolt.

During the twenty years he has left to live, Saladin focuses on two tasks:

• First, take over the program Zengi and his son Nur ad-Din and unify Muslims in Syria and Egypt under a single authority to block against the Franks and to prevent the actions of an emir Jihad does not compromise, as was the case in the past;
• Then fight against the Franks, back the territories they occupied in Palestine and expel them from the Levant.

The unification of the Muslim Middle East

Occupation of Damascus (1174)

Nur ad-Din survived by three governors in each of the major cities of his kingdom. Ibn al-Daya government Aleppo, Ibn al-Muqaddam Damascus, where the crown prince, and Gmchtekn Mosul. Gmchtekn went to Damascus, taking with him the prince As-Salih Ismail , then went to Aleppo, which is the capital of the kingdom zengide, and took power in rejecting Ibn al-Daya. Meanwhile, Saif ad-Din Ghazi , a nephew of Nur ad-Din took advantage of the absence of Gmchtekn to seize Mosul. In Damascus, Ibn al-Muqaddam, learner empowerment of Gmchtekn, worries and offer Damascus Saif ad-Din Ghazi, but the latter, busy consolidating its seizure of power in Mosul, can not intervene. Ibn al-Muqaddam then appealed to Saladin, who enters the city on 27 November 1174 , welcomed by a jubilant crowd that has not forgotten the times when Shirkuh Ayyub and governors were in town. He maintains a fiction of Regency proclaiming that he is humble about Salih Al-Malik and Syria that it intervene to protect the interests of the young prince against the Franks .

The attacks zengides-cons (1175 and 1176)

Saladin then proceeded northwards, takes Homs on 10 December 1174 , Hama on December 28 and appears to Aleppo on December 30. But the city refuses to go, Al-Salih not hesitate to harangue the crowd despite his twelve years, recalling the blessings of his father and the ingratitude of Saladin. Meanwhile, the Regent uses the Ismailis , who try but fail to kill Saladin and the Franks, who led the new ruler of Tripoli Raymond III besieged Hims, forcing Saladin to lift the siege of Aleppo ¹ February 1175 to rescue Homs .

The head of the family zengide, the atabeg Mosul Saif ad-Din Ghazi II (cousin of As-Salih Ismail ) sends in spring 1175, in Syria, an army commanded by his brother Izz ad-Din Mas'ud , who is its junction with the troops of Aleppo and then walk south of Syria. Saladin's offer to return Homs and Hama against the return of the army, but also require zengides Damascus. Saladin then urges action on 23 April 1175 in Hama and Qurn Zengides beats. After this victory, he ceases to swear allegiance to Zengides, to coin money and to say prayers on behalf of As-Salih Ismail. He proclaimed himself a sovereign prince. He even laid siege to Aleppo and the prince will lift the siege after the prince accepted the protectorate Ayyubid .

In spring 1176, Saif ad-Din Ghazi II brings together a coalition of emirs of Jazeera and Diyarbakir, tries one last attack with troops commanded by Gmchtekn Aleppo. The battle is against Saladin 22 April 1176 at Tell al-Sultan and balance again with a victory of Saladin. Taking advantage of his success, he seized the strongholds of Biz'a and Menjib, cutting communications between Aleppo and Mosul, Aleppo and besieged the June 26 , but without success, both Aleppo are eager to defend their independence. He then attacked the Ismailis and besieged their citadel in May-June 1176, but must also abandon the siege .

The continuing struggle (1179-1181)

Wars against the Franks did not allow him to continue the unification in the next two years, and not until 1179 that he resumed the offensive, this time against Kl Arslan II , Seljuk sultan of Rum , attacking Raban, belonging to a vassal of Saladin in the Commagene. Then two princes zengides die, Saif ad-Din Ghazi in Mosul on 29 June 1180 and Al-Sahil Ismail in Aleppo on 4 December 1181. At Saif ad-Din succeeded his brother Izz ad-Din Mas'ud ^I. , also designated as successor by Al-Sahil Ismail. Saladin, who was then in Egypt, can not use periods of unrest that accompany an estate. Izz ad-Din Massud is greeted with enthusiasm. The city of Hama revolt also zengide loyalty and despite the presence of a governor Ayyubid; Izz ad-Din Massud might be able to return to Damascus he had been bold, but he missed his chance. Worse, he yielded to recriminations from his brother Imad ad-Din Zengi Aleppo and gave him in exchange of Sinjar, thus breaking the unity of the empire zengide .

Occupation of Aleppo (1183)

In September 1182 , Saladin retook the offensive against Izz ad-Din Mas'ud , took Edessa and occupies the Jazira. Then he laid siege to Mosul on 10 November 1182. Izz ad-Din then appealed to all the Emirs neighbors involved and show their support in Mosul so that Saladin, who does not want his reputation as leader of the jihad against the Franks tainted by his ambition, and is backing up the seat. In addition, Zengides had entered into agreements with Baldwin the leper , King of Jerusalem , which began operations diversion .

After trying in vain to take Mosul, Saladin appeared before Aleppo in May 1183. The population is under the same provisions as in the previous headquarters and the city seemed impregnable. But Imad ad-Din Zengi, greedy by nature, reluctant to pay for defenders and prefers to agree with Saladin. He'll Aleppo through the possession of several fortresses, Sinjar, Raqqa and Saruj Nisibin, where he retired on 12 June 1183 with its wealth, leaving Aleppo under the jeers of the population. The unification of Syria and Mosul was over, headed by a prince of a small scale, was not likely to worry Saladin who will become the same suzerain .

The fight against the Franks

Saladin in the assault on Jaffa.

Although the unification of Muslim Syria has remained its primary until 1183, Saladin did not hesitate to fight the Franks, first when he could take advantage of an opportunity, secondly to establish its position and reputation as a leader of jihad against the Franks.

In response to Baldwin the Leper

Battle of Montgisard.

The first occasion occurred in November 1177. Thierry d'Alsace , Count of Flanders arrived with his army, and the Franks took the opportunity to launch operations against Hama (October 1177) and Harim (November 1177). By his spies, Saladin learned that most of the Frankish forces are so occupied in northern Syria, he decided to launch an attack in the southern kingdom of Jerusalem , starting from Egypt. Garrison Templar Gaza resists and leaves the city to Saladin besieged Ascalon , defended by Baldwin IV the Leper , who warned in time, was able to gather a small army to resist. Saladin begins to establish a seat, then saying it has no army between him and Jerusalem, broke camp and took over management of Ramla and Lydda. But the discipline of his troops, too confident, relaxes, and the emirs began to loot the country. Meanwhile, Baldwin left Ascalon and joins with the Knights Templar in Gaza, and began a turning movement that attacks the army of Saladin, disorganized, on its side. The surprise was total and Saladin suffered the 25 November 1177 at Montgisard a severe defeat .

Saladin takes his revenge two years later. On 10 April 1179 , returning from a raid around Damascus, Baldwin IV and the Constable Humphrey II of Toron are attacked in the forest Paneas by a nephew of Saladin. Baldwin manages to escape, but Humphrey was killed in the engagement. On 10 June 1179 , the knights of Baldwin, who rush to Saladin without waiting for the infantry and their army and fragmenting, causing the Frankish defeat at the Battle of Marj Ayun. With its success, Saladin besieged the castle in August Jacob's Ford (which controls the passage of the Jordan River and preventing incursions Muslim), takes it and is destroyed. But a drought depleted the resources of Damascus and Baldwin and Saladin a truce in May 1180. The truce applies only to the kingdom of Jerusalem and Saladin attempted a foray into the county of Tripoli , before concluding another truce with Count Raymond III .

Renaud de Chatillon , the former Prince of Antioch , was released in 1177 , after sixteen years of captivity in Aleppo. He then married Stephanie of Milly , Lady of Transjordan. This master thief enjoys the position of his stronghold on the road from Damascus to Egypt to attack and plunder the caravans Muslim, regardless of the truce, despite the admonitions of Baldwin. In spring 1182, Renaud again violates the truce and captured fifteen thousand pilgrims to Mecca; Baldwin wants to relax, without success. Saladin's army concentrated in Damascus and Baldwin met the army to defend the krak of Moab in Transjordan, but a nephew of Saladin, Farruk Shah, took the opportunity to make a major foray into Galilee. In June, Saladin, tries to invade and Samaria, but Baldwin holds in check. In August, he attacked Beirut, but the arrival of the armed forces of Baldwin to raise the siege. Saladin then abandons the Franks and began campaigns against Zengides, ending with the capture of Aleppo in 1183 .

The situation is very precarious for the Franks, almost surrounded by the possessions of Saladin. In addition, leprosy Baldwin suffered worse, and it must give the lieutenant general of the kingdom to his brother Guy de Lusignan. In October 1183, Saladin invaded the Galilee and Guy de Lusignan to meet him. The two armies are facing Fountains Tuban, but the Frankish barons are finding that they are in an unfavorable position and refuse to engage in combat they feel lost. However, they hold their position and Saladin was forced to retreat .

Shortly before, Renaud de Chatillon had developed a particularly daring expedition to take Mecca. Its fleet from the beginning of 1183 and headed for the outskirts of Medina and Mecca. But Al-Adel , who went on to rule Egypt for his brother Saladin, sent a squadron destroyed the Frankish fleet. The expedition members were captured and beheaded, and now an implacable hatred between Saladin Renaud de Chatillon. In November, Saladin attacked again krak of Moab, but Baldwin, seriously ill, have summoned his army to force Saladin to lift the siege on 4 December 1183. Saladin retry the seat in mid-August 1184 , a further intervention by the king of Jerusalem requires him to beat the retreat on September 4 in 1184 .

Baldwin IV died on 16 March 1185 and his nephew Baldwin V , or Baudouinet, aged nine years, succeeded him under the regency of Count Raymond III of Tripoli. This began a policy of peace with Saladin that allows it to attack again in Mosul, but without success. Discord arise within his family and he begins to replace key positions his brothers by his son. Of these, Baldwin V died in September 1186 and Guy de Lusignan ascended the throne .

Guy de Lusignan, Hattin and the capture of Jerusalem

The Battle of Hattin

Christians in the holy city before marching Saladin

Guy de Lusignan was accepted as king by the barons only with reluctance and with the support of barons like Josselin III of Edessa , Renaud de Chatillon and Gerard de Ridefort , the Master of the Temple. These are favorable to a resumption of war against Saladin, while the party of Raymond III of Tripoli preferred to temporize and wait for the death of Saladin, which will surely cause a problem of succession .

Renaud de Chatillon is still breaking the truce by attacking and looting in early 1187 in a caravan which would have been the sister of Saladin . Saladin asks to repair Renaud refuses, then Guy de Lusignan who is unable to obey his vassal .

To punish Reynald of Chatillon and finish with the Franks, Saladin calls for jihad in spring 1187 and the Muslim troops began to gather in Damascus. In May he destroy the lordship Overseas Jordan. Then he made an incursion Sephoria where he defeated and massacred an army Templar. In June, he attacked and besieged Tiberias and Guy de Lusignan decides to wear to meet him for the fight. The battle was fought on July 4 at Hattin and the Crusader army, encircled after an exhausting march, and thirsty is destroyed. Much of the Frankish nobility, including Guy de Lusignan, Reginald of Chatillon, Gerard de Rideford is captured. Renaud de Chatillon is executed soon after, and all the Templars and Hospitallers .

His secretary Imad ed-Din said that Saladin "ordered that they be decapitated , choosing to see them dead than imprisoning. A procession of Islamic scholars and Sufis and a certain number of devout men and ascetics with him, each seeking to be allowed to participate in the execution, and drew his sword and went up his sleeves. Saladin, gay face, sat on his dais; unbelievers showed black despair " .

Having little resistance to him, Saladin began the conquest of the kingdom of Jerusalem. To avoid being taken back by reinforcements Christians, he begins by taking the ports of the kingdom, during the summer of 1187. Only the city of Tyre , defended by Conrad of Montferrat successfully resists the headquarters of Saladin. Having thus secured his rear, he went with his army to Jerusalem and laid siege to the city on 20 September 1187 , ensuring he will suffer the same fate to Christians than Muslims during the conquest of Jerusalem. But the town, defended by Balian of Ibelin , resists and agrees to make saves against life of its inhabitants, upon payment of a ransom .

It allows Christians to leave the conquered cities and returning safely to the coast with some of their property, which is rare for the time and earned him the esteem of his opponents. In Jerusalem, he went to the church of Islam Temple ( Masjid Al-Aqsa ), but leaves it to the Christian Holy Sepulchre and makes the Jews their synagogues , suppressed by the Crusaders. This indulgence does a lot for building the image of the "Knight of Islam."

Saladin then attacks to conquer the County of Tripoli and the principality of Antioch in the year 1188 , but fails to take their capital, despite the complicity of Burzey Sibyl, wife of Bohemond III , Prince of Antioch , which provides information on Saladin troop movements and the provisions of the Franks. Similarly Grenier Renaud , Count of Sidon , successfully resisted in the castle of Beaufort .

The Third Crusade

Richard the Lion Heart and Saladin.

In addition to ensuring a successful defense of Tyre , Conrad of Montferrat sends messengers to warn Europe to the plight of the Crusader states. At this news, the Pope launched a fresh appeal for a new crusade which meet the principal sovereigns, Frederick ^I Barbarossa , Holy Roman Emperor , a href = "Philippe_II_de_France" alt = "Philip II of France"> Philip II Augustus, King of France and Richard the Lion Heart , King of England .

Meanwhile, to counter the effectiveness of Conrad of Montferrat, Saladin released Guy of Lusignan in August 1189 , hoping that the mediocrity of the latter paralyzes Conrad, but he refuses to Guy the access of Tyre. Guy de Lusignan then decided to besiege the city of Acre, with a handful of knights. Gradually increasing the besieging army of newcomers, first survivors of the crusade Germanic, then a detachment led by Franco English Count Henry II of Champagne and then the kings of France and England and their army. Saladin tried multiple attacks to clear the city, calling on all Muslims to jihad princes, but can not prevent his making the 12 July 1191 .

Then, when Philip Augustus returned to France, King Richard and his ally the grand master of the Knights Templar , Robert de Sable undertake the conquest of the coast and thwart the tactics of harassment inflicted on Saladin Crusader. The two armies clash in Arsouf on September 5. However, Richard does not exploit his success and does not grasp the opportunity that could allow him to recapture Jerusalem, and finally conclude a peace treaty with Saladin, recognizing the possession of the Franks and the coastline of the hinterland Palestinian the Ayyubid .

Despite a diplomatic blunder on the part of Richard shortly after the capture of St. Jean d'Acre, the relationship between the two men was mingled with respect and military rivalry. When Richard was wounded, Saladin offered the services of his personal physician, the great Moses Maimonides; to Arsuf, when Richard lost his horse, Saladin sent him two instead. During negotiations, there was even the project of marrying the sister of Richard, Joan of England , with Al-Adel , Saladin's brother . Richard and Saladin came to an agreement on Jerusalem in 1192 under which the city would remain Muslim but would be open to pilgrims Christians .

Shortly after Richard's departure, Saladin died the night of 3 to 4 March 1193 in Damascus . We can read on his tomb: "Lord, grant him his latest conquest, paradise."

The character

Statue of Saladin in Damascus

Statue of Saladin in Jerusalem, before the citadel of David.

Saladin was never officially carried the title of Sultan , who is nevertheless given by many contemporaries. He felt that this title, corresponding to the "secular arm" of the Caliphate, was rightfully the Seljuks of Iran. Only after the elimination of the Seljuks by the Mongols as the Ayyubid preempted title.

Praise of Saladin by Usama ibn Munquidh who was one of his comrades:

"God grant to beautify Islam and its followers by giving long life to Salah ad-Din, helping them with the edge of his sword and his decisions, shelters in the size of his shadow! And as he has for them, washed of all impurity sources of its merits, he can still submit the land to its high power to order or to defend, and the heads of his enemies to his sentence sword. "

The same does not deprive Saladin also find an excessive brutality. During a battle near Homs rain made the ground impassable for horses. Infantrymen fighting in melee, one of them away to take refuge in Homs:

"Salah ad-Din was stationed with me and we watched these soldiers before us. One of them ran to join those of Homs, whom he mingled. Salah ad-Din, who had been told one of his companions:

"Bring here the man who was next to the fugitive!

When this was done, he asked:

- What was he who stood beside you and ran away to go to Homs?

- By God, Sir, "replied the soldier, I do not know.

- Slice through the middle! ordered Salah ad-Din "

.

Despite his fierce opposition to the Christian power, Saladin gained an immense reputation in Europe of sovereign chivalrous to the point that existed in the ^fourteenth century a poem epic on his exploits and that Dante includes it among the heathen souls of limbo.

The German Emperor Wilhelm II during his visit to Damascus in 1898 , offered to the Ottoman Empire, the restoration of the mausoleum of Saladin, built in 1193, and a marble sarcophagus. Currently in the mausoleum which is located near the mosque of the Umayyad , there are two sarcophagi: one empty in marble and remained one timber that contains the body of Saladin. To William II , it was to honor one who has conquered both England and France.

The Province of Iraq today that contains the city of Tikrit named in his honor Salah ad-Din.

Posterity

Plaque to Mausoleum of Saladin in Damascus in Syria

In 1176, Saladin married 'Ismat al-Din, daughter of former emir of Damascus Unur and widow of Nur al-Din, in a political marriage. She would then have more than forty years, since she had married Nur al-Din in 1147, and gave no child to Saladin. Nevertheless, it seems to have been very loving, as indicated by the letters he sent while he was ill at Harran, and the precautions taken by physicians to announce the death of his wife ('Ismat was already dead when Saladin's illness, but not told him the news that two months later).

Saladin did not have another wife that 'Ismat al-Din, but many concubines, who assured him many descendants. We know little, except that the birth of a son automatically entailed the emancipation of a concubine, Saladin made sure that their religious education and that they sat up in his last moments by Ibn Shaddad. They were probably a dozen and put the world twenty-four children, six of whom died in infancy . Saladin, his death was (according to the chronicler, Abul Feda) father of seventeen son and a daughter, who include:

• Afdhal al-Nur ad-Din Ali (1169 - 1225), sultan of Damascus
• Al-`Aziz` Imad ad-Din Uthman (1171 - 1198), sultan of Egypt
• Malik El-ed-Zahir Ghazi (1171 - 1216), emir of Aleppo
• Malik El-Kader ed Dafer
• El Zahir es Dawud Malik (Death 1234), emir of El-Bira
• El-Moaddem Turan Shah (Died after 1250)
• Nosrat ed-Din (d. after 1250)
• a daughter married to his cousin al-Kamil , sultan of Egypt

Preceded by	Al-Malik an-Nasir Salah ad-Din Yusuf (Saladin)	Followed by
Shirkuh vizier of Egypt	Vizier and Sultan of Egypt 1171 - 1193	Al-`Aziz` Imad ad-Din Uthman
As-Salih Ismail al-Malik	Ayyubid Sultan of Damascus 1174 - 1186	Afdhal al-Nur ad-Din Ali
Imad ad-Din II Zengi	Ayyubid sultan of Aleppo 1183 - 1193	Malik El-ed-Zahir Ghazi

Literary references to Saladin

Dante cites numerous characters, including Saladin in Canto IV of the Inferno , the first part of the Divine Comedy :

"I saw Camilla and Penthesilea on the other side, I also saw King Latinus, seated with his daughter Lavinia. I saw that Brutus who drove Tarquin , Lucretia , Julia, Marzia and Cornelia , and one away, Saladin. "

References

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