Saladin

2012-08-12T01:55:14Z

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{{Era|AC|TSC}}
{{WP-REAL|Saladin}}
{{Character Infobox
|image = Salahahdin.png
|birth = c. 1138
|death = 4 March 1193
|period = High Middle Ages
|faction = [[Saracens]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]''<br>''[[Assassin's Creed]]'' {{mo}}}}
'''Salāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb''', better known as simply '''Saladin''' (c. 1138 - 1193), was a Kurdish Muslim, who became the first Sultan of Egypt and Syria.

He was also the commander of the Muslim armies united against the invading armies of Europe, under [[Richard I of England|Richard the Lionheart]] during the [[Third Crusade]], and was known for his cunning tactics, fighting skill in battle, chivalry, and tolerance.

==Biography==
===Siege of Masyaf===
In 1176, Saladin's forces [[Siege of Masyaf|laid siege]] to the [[Levantine Assassins]]' headquarters of [[Masyaf]], following several assassination attempts on him. Quickly taking control of Masyaf's village, the [[Saracen]] forces set up camp near the fortress.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]''</ref>

For further protection, the Saracens set up a fake tent of the Sultan in the middle of the camp to fool the Levantine Assassins. However, an Assassin spy by the name of [[Ahmad Sofian]] had infiltrated the Saracen forces, and was able to inform the Levantine Assassins of the location of the Sultan's real tent.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade"/>

Saladin's tent was infiltrated by the Assassin [[Umar Ibn-La'Ahad]] soon afterwards. Umar left a note attached to Saladin's belt while he was asleep, however, the Sultan woke up before he could leave, and summoned his guards. Umar managed to escape the tent, but was forced to kill a noble in the process.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade"/>

Saladin left the battlefield temporarily, and sent his uncle [[Shihab Al'din]] to form a truce with the Levantine Assassins, with the Saracens desiring the life of Umar in exchange for the captured Ahmad Sofian, and the safety of Masyaf. After the terms of the truce were accepted, the Saracens left Masyaf.<ref name="Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade"/>

===Third Crusade===
At the beginning of the Third Crusade, Saladin and his men defeated Guy of Lusignan (the King of [[Jerusalem]] who would later ally with King Richard in the Siege of [[Acre]]), and Raynald of Chatillon at the Battle of Hattin, where he destroyed the entire army of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.<ref name="Wikipedia">[[wikipedia:Saladin|''Wikipedia'': Saladin]]</ref>

Following this tremendous victory, Saladin moved on to secure most of the cities and fortresses of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, until finally conquering Jerusalem itself in 1187. Following the arrival of King Richard, Saladin moved to fight against him. Saladin and King Richard continued to fight, with the pattern of Richard taking ground in the Holy Land, and Saladin immediately re-taking any, and all ground taken by King Richard.<ref name="Wikipedia" />

Eventually, King Richard saw it fit to finally give up his ambitions towards conquering Jerusalem after losing many battles, resources, and support for his crusade, and accepted a peace treaty offered earlier by Saladin, which allowed Christians to visit Jerusalem for Pilgrimage unharmed, and unharrassed.<ref name="Wikipedia" />

===Later life===
Saladin died on 4 March, 1193, and was buried at the [[Umayyad Mosque]], in [[Damascus]], [[Syria]].

===Legacy===
Today, Saladin is considered to be a hero in the Muslim community, and is also respected by his Christian counterparts for the tolerance, mercy and respect he showed towards them.<ref name="Wikipedia" /> Saladin was known for his leadership skills which enabled his army to successfully defend the Holy Land from the Crusader armies during the Second Crusade. He was also intelligent, brave and possessed all the qualities of a true leader.

==Trivia==
*"Saladin" means "Righteousness of our Religion/Faith." He acquired the title after expressing his early intentions for conquering Jerusalem to his mentor, Imad El-Din Zinki, another Muslim conqueror.
*In the 12th century, the Crusaders (such as [[Robert de Sable]] and the Acre [[Herald|heralds]]) used the European pronunciation of "''Sala-din''", while the Saracens (such as the [[Damascus]] and Jerusalem heralds) used the Arabic pronunciation of "''Salah-addin''".

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{AC}}
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Characters]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade Characters]]
[[Category:Historical Characters]]

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Saladin