Founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, identified with the great struggles against the Crusaders and the conquest of Jerusalem Who is Salah al-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub? (Saladin)
Salah al-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, vizier of Egypt, was born in 1138. When he came to the throne of Egypt, he took part in many duties. He provided the order of the region in which he lived. Selahaddin Eyyubi, who accomplished important things in his military life, was also interested in art and science.
The childhood life of Saladin Ayyubi
Saladin was the son of one of the well-known families of the time. His father was Necmeddin Eyyub. On the day Saladin Ayyubi was born, the whole family migrated to Aleppo. Selahaddin Eyyubi and his family started to work in the service of İmadeddin Zengi, the Turkish governor of Northern Syria, in this place where they migrated.
Salah al-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub (1137 – 4 March 1193), commonly known as Saladin was the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty. Hailing from a Kurdish family, he was the first sultan of both Egypt and Syria. An important figure of the Third Crusade, he spearheaded the Muslim military effort against the Crusader states in the Levant. At the height of his power, the Ayyubid realm spanned Egypt, Syria, Upper Mesopotamia, the Hejaz, Yemen, and Nubia.
Saladin's grandfather, Shadi, was an influential person and knew important names. He helped his son Necmeddin Eyyub to be appointed as the commander of Tikrit through his close friend, Baghdad Governor Bihruz. Selahaddin Eyyubi and his family, who settled in the Tikrit region, lived here. Saladin Ayyubi grew up in Baalbek and Damascus and received his education there.
Educational life of Saladin Ayyubi
Selahaddin Eyyubi (Turkish letters), who received a good education, was interested in religion. During his education, he turned to art and science and worked in these fields. In addition to his education in logic, philosophy, and Islamic law, he also learned Arabic, Persian, Kurdish and Turkish languages. It is known that Saladin Ayyubi, who graduated from Dar'ul-Hadis (Hadis University) in Damascus, was an expert in Euclidean Geometry, astronomy, mathematics, and arithmetic.
Missions of Saladin Ayyubi
Saladin was trained by his uncle, Shirkuh, and Shirkuh took Salahuddin Ayyubi into his service at the age of 26. Saladin, who was trained militarily, fought alongside the Fatimid caliph.
He took part in the task of capturing the city of Bilbeis, which was under the rule of the Crusader army. During his mission, Bilbeis encountered the Crusader army after taking the city. On the occasion of his success with the cavalry units in this encounter, Saladin proved himself militarily.
Saladin in Alexandria
When the war ended, Saladin and his uncle moved to Alexandria. When they came to Alexandria, the caliph assigned them soldiers and castles. The Crusaders attacked the castle where Saladin Ayyubi and his uncle were located. Saladin's troops succeeded in repelling the Egyptian Crusaders.
Egypt expeditions involving Saladin Ayyubi
Sultan Nureddin, who was the Atabe of Aleppo of the Great Seljuks, gave the task of helping Şaver, in Egypt, to Şirkuh, the uncle of Saladin. Shirkuh accepted the task with Saladin Ayyubi's joining him. Selahaddin Eyyubi came to an important point in his military service with this task.
During his mission in Egypt, Şaver was able to defeat his opponents. When the situation in Egypt started to get mixed up, Şaver, who got help from the Crusader army, went to the defense at the point where Africa and Asia met. Saladin Ayyubi and his uncle Shirkuh did not know what to do during this time. Saladin took command of the army. In this situation, tensions arose between Şaver and Saladin Ayyubi and his uncle. Şaver, afraid of future attacks, accepted the peace, and peace was established between the trio. When the events started to come to a conclusion, Saladin Ayyubi returned to Damascus and turned to the science he was interested in.
Second and third Egyptian expeditions
Saladin Ayyubi and his uncle Shirkuh also participated in the second and third Egyptian Campaigns. Saladin Ayyubid and Shirkuh captured the Alexandria castle with their army in the second Egypt Campaign. After the Greek army that came to support the Crusaders, Saladin Eyyubi and Shirkuh left the castle. With the retreat, peace was achieved and the soldiers of Saladin Ayyubi and Shirkuh left the castle.
During the Third Egyptian Campaign, Shirkuh died. After the death of his uncle, Saladin Ayyubi was appointed as the commander of the Syrian troops, as well as the vizier of Egypt.
Saladin on the Egyptian throne
Saladin, who came to power in Egypt, completely abolished the Shiite Fatimid caliphate. He aimed to unite all Muslim lands in Syria, Northern Mesopotamia, Palestine, and Egypt under his own banner until 1186. It enabled the re-establishment of Islamic unity. In the Battle of Hattin, Saladin defeated the Crusader army under the command of the King of Jerusalem, Guy of Lusignan.
Rather than mistreating the Crusaders who lost their lives, Sultan Saladin welcomed them. He had a reputation for this behavior.
Death of Saladin
Saladin, who made a name for himself with his military successes and was interested in science and art, died in 1193 in the capital Damascus.