SALADIN, the name given by western writers to SAL/al-ED-INN Yusstw TEN AY1713, the sultan of Egypt and Syria, and the founder of the Aynbite dynasty in those countries. As the great Moslem hero of the third crusade, and the beau ideal of Moslem chivalry, he is one of the most interesting characters presented to us by the history of that period. He belonged to the Kurdish tribe of Rayne], and was born at Tekreit (a town on the Tigris, of which his father Ayub was kutt•al or governor under the Seijuks) in 1187. Following the example of his farther and uncle, he entered the service of Noured din (ci v.). prince of Syria, and accompanied his uncle in his various expeditions to Egypt in command of Noureddin's army. Saladin was at this time much addicted to wine and gambling, and it was not till at the head of it small detachment of the Syrian army he was beleaguered in Alexandria by the combined Christians of Palestine' and Egyptians that he gave indications of possessing, the qualities requisite for a great captain. en the death of his uncle Shirkoh, Saladin became grand-vizier of the Fati mite caliph. anti received the title of "the victorious prince;" hut the Christians of Syria and Palestine, alarmed at the elevation of a Syrian emir to supreme power in Egypt, made a combined and vigorous attack on the new vizier. Saladin foiled them in Damietta, and transferred the contest to Palertir:c, taking several for tresses, and, defeating his assailants tear Gaza; but about the same time hits newborn power was hposed to a still more formidable danger from his master, Noureddin, whose jeatousy of the talents and ambition of his able young lieut. required all the skill and wariness at Saladin's command to allay. On Noureddin's death in 1174, Saladin began a struggle with his successor, which ended in his establishing himself as the sultan of Egypt awl Syria, elide which was confirmed to him by the caliph of Bagdad. The next ten years were occupied in petty wars with the Christians, and in the arrangement and consolidation of his now extensive dominion. The plundering by the Christians of a
rich pilgrim caravan on its way to Mecca, an infringement of the treaty with Saladin, brought down upon them the letter's vengeance; their army suffered a dreadful defeat at Tiberias (July 4, 1187); the king of Jerusalem, the two graud-masters, and many other warriors of high rank were taken captive; Jerusalem was stormed (Oct. 2), and almost every other fortified place in Palestine was taken. The news of this great suc cess of the infidels being brought to western Europe, aroused the enthusiastic of the Christians to its highest pitch, and :t powerful army of crusaders, headed by the kings of France and England, speedily mode their appearance on the scene of strife. They captured Acre in 1191, and Richard Coeur-de-Lton, at the head of that portion of the crusading army WIACII adhered to him, continued the war with success, twice defeated' Szdadin, took Caesarea and Jaffa, and finally obtained a treaty for three years (Aug., 1192), by which the coast from Jaffa to Tyre was yielded to the Christians. In the fol lowing year Saladln died at Damascus of a disease under which he had long suffered. Saludin ens not a mere soldier; his wise administration left behind it traces which endured for centuries; and the citadel of Cairo and sundry canals, dikes, and roads are existing evidences of his careful attention to the wants of his subjects. lu hint the warrior instinct of the Kurd was united to a high intelligence; and even his opponents' frankly attribute to him the noblest qualities of mediaeval chivalry, invincible courage, inviolable fidelity to treaties, greatness of soul, piety, justice, arid moderation.
The Ayubite dynasty of which he was the tounder ruled over Syria till 1259, when it was disposessed by Ow Perso-Monguls, and over Egypt till the rise of the first Mam.e luke kingdom under lbeg in 1250.