Naima, an important Ottoman administrator in the early 18th century, wrote of the sultan: “It is the truth that he served religion and the state in a way that has been granted to few other kings. It’s unsurprising, then, that Saladin’s defeat of the Franks continued to loom large in the collective memory of that era – but so, too, did his abilities as a ruler. Though the crusaders were driven from the Holy Land in 1291, the threat of subsequent invasions and other struggles launched by forces of Christian Europe against the Ottoman empire during the 15th and 16th centuries meant that the prospect of a repeat of the crusades remained genuinely alive for the region’s people.Īfter the British took power in Egypt in 1882, the achievements of Saladin proved an alluring subject for those who resented British rule This is particularly true in the Middle East, where tensions connected with the idea of the crusades, and associations with bloody western conquests of Islamic lands, continue to fester. His legacy is not confined to politics and religion, yet his story is inextricably bound to the memory and legacy of the crusades. In a world of danger there’s only one man you will want in your corner – Saladin.”
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In a cartoon series produced for Malaysian television in 2010, aimed at 10- to 15-year-olds, a figure based on Saladin appeared as “the ultimate hero: courageous in the face of danger, never willing to admit defeat and funny when he needs to be. His life and career feature in many less-provocative cultural forms including film, dance, theatre, television drama and documentaries. Recently, however, in the aftermath of the brief rule of President Mursi of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt (2012–13), the regime of General Sisi removed the sultan’s story from the curriculum on the basis that it could inspire jihad – a backhanded compliment reflecting Saladin’s ability to encourage action. Saladin also appears in school books across the Middle East and in Muslim countries such as Pakistan and Malaysia. I envision coming out of the clouds, and in our hearts and minds is created the remembrance of the battles.
“I envision you all as himself, wielding his all-conquering sword dripping with the blood of infidels. In verse, a common form of communication in Middle Eastern cultures, he wrote: Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the opening ceremony for Selahaddin Eyyubi (Saladin) Airport in 2015 (STR/Getty Images)Ī yet more incendiary invocation of the sultan’s memory was made by Osama bin Laden, former leader of the Islamist terror group al-Qaeda. President Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey periodically invokes the sultan to signal his opposition to the west at the inauguration of a new airport in south-east Turkey in 2015, he stated: “We are naming this airport Selahaddin Eyyubi to send a message of solidarity and brotherhood, and to say that Jerusalem belongs to Kurds, Turks, Arabs and Muslims forever.” An ethnic Kurd, he is a hero to many of his people he appears on the coinage of Iraqi Kurdistan, and the university in Irbil is named for him. And though he undoubtedly benefitted from a cadre of eloquent and persuasive literary admirers, the evidence from those beyond his inner circle – even the writings of his enemies – indicates the prominence of these personality traits, and demonstrates that they were central to his success as the leader of the jihad against the Franks, and as a dynastic empire-builder.Įven today, the range of people who call upon Saladin’s legacy is astonishing. Over the course of his lifetime, Saladin became famous for his generosity, piety, justice and mercy.
Though the victory at Jerusalem is at the heart of his renown, Saladin’s character – or the image formed around his character – is also immensely important. His story is woven into the political, religious and cultural landscape as the man who defeated invading westerners and fought for his faith and his people. Over 800 years later, the sultan commands an extraordinarily enduring reputation across the Muslim world. Following his triumph in this clash againast the crusaders, the sultan captured the holy city of Jerusalem in October 1187 (Heritage Images/Getty Images) Saladin captures the ‘true cross’ at the battle of Hattin on 4 July 1187, depicted in a medieval illustration.