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Description
Medieval Muslim leader. Not an Arab but a Kurd, of course, (as I have been reminded by a zealot of the latter race).

Saladin (Salh ed-Din ibn Ayyub) rose to prominence fighting the Crusaders in Egypt under his uncle Shirkuh, a general sent by Nur ed-Din the ruler of Syria. Saladin became ruler of Egypt, deposing the Fatimid Caliphate. He crossed to Syria and deposed Nur ed-Din's heir, uniting the Muslim Middle East under his rule. He was defeated by the lerous young king of Crusader Jerusalem, Baldwin IV, at Montguissard, but triumphed later at Hattin (1187), beheading the Templar and Hospitallar prisoners subsequently, and taking captive King Guy of Jerusalem and other Frankish leaders. He also beheaded his old nemesis Reynald de Chatillon, who had fought at Montguissard. After this Saladin captured much of the Kingdom of Jerusalem including the Holy City, despite a valliant defence by Balian of Ibelin (who had never been a blacksmith). The people were spared but those who could not pay a ransom were taken as slaves. Subsequently Saladin encountered the Third Crusade under Richard the Lionheart, who defeated Saladin at Acre and Arsuf, but who failed to recapture Jerusalem. The Crusade ended with an uneasy truce. Saladin died soon after and his heirs were evenually usurped by his brother al-Adil.

Description
Medieval Muslim leader. Not an Arab but a Kurd, of course, (as I have been reminded by a zealot of the latter race).

Saladin (Salh ed-Din ibn Ayyub) rose to prominence fighting the Crusaders in Egypt under his uncle Shirkuh, a general sent by Nur ed-Din the ruler of Syria. Saladin became ruler of Egypt, deposing the Fatimid Caliphate. He crossed to Syria and deposed Nur ed-Din's heir, uniting the Muslim Middle East under his rule. He was defeated by the lerous young king of Crusader Jerusalem, Baldwin IV, at Montguissard, but triumphed later at Hattin (1187), beheading the Templar and Hospitallar prisoners subsequently, and taking captive King Guy of Jerusalem and other Frankish leaders. He also beheaded his old nemesis Reynald de Chatillon, who had fought at Montguissard. After this Saladin captured much of the Kingdom of Jerusalem including the Holy City, despite a valliant defence by Balian of Ibelin (who had never been a blacksmith). The people were spared but those who could not pay a ransom were taken as slaves. Subsequently Saladin encountered the Third Crusade under Richard the Lionheart, who defeated Saladin at Acre and Arsuf, but who failed to recapture Jerusalem. The Crusade ended with an uneasy truce. Saladin died soon after and his heirs were evenually usurped by his brother al-Adil.