Saladin the great
Saladin re- conquered large areas of the crusader kingdom. His great victory was the Battle of Hatting in July 1187. Among the prisoners were king guy of Jerusalem and Reynolds of Chatillon.
after the battle, Saladin gave the king iced water to drink. The king drank and gave the rest to Reynolds but Saladin said 'This godless man did not have permission to drink and will not save his life that way'. Then, with his own hand , he cut off Reynolds head. 'Twice,' said Saladin, I have sworn to kill that man. Once when he attacked Mecca and Medina, and again when he broke the truce and attacked the traders. Saladin also ordered the execution of all the knights Templar and Knights Hospitalet, the soldier-monks.
A few months later Saladin re-captured Jerusalem The Muslims took Christian crosses down from the mosques but there was no other looting or destruction in the city. There was no revenge for the way the crusaders had treated the Muslim hoy places in 1099. Rich prisoners were set fee after ransoms. Some of the poor were set free with out a ransom but many others were made slaves. Christians were not forced to leave Jerusalem. The native people who were Christians were allowed to stay and worship in the churched Saladin also invited Jews to Return to Jerusalem.
after the battle, Saladin gave the king iced water to drink. The king drank and gave the rest to Reynolds but Saladin said 'This godless man did not have permission to drink and will not save his life that way'. Then, with his own hand , he cut off Reynolds head. 'Twice,' said Saladin, I have sworn to kill that man. Once when he attacked Mecca and Medina, and again when he broke the truce and attacked the traders. Saladin also ordered the execution of all the knights Templar and Knights Hospitalet, the soldier-monks.
A few months later Saladin re-captured Jerusalem The Muslims took Christian crosses down from the mosques but there was no other looting or destruction in the city. There was no revenge for the way the crusaders had treated the Muslim hoy places in 1099. Rich prisoners were set fee after ransoms. Some of the poor were set free with out a ransom but many others were made slaves. Christians were not forced to leave Jerusalem. The native people who were Christians were allowed to stay and worship in the churched Saladin also invited Jews to Return to Jerusalem.
This is only Muslims picture of Saladin in the top left corner. There are few descriptions but he was surprisingly short and frail. His full name was Salah ad-Din Yusuf Ibn Ayyub. He died in 1193.
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Once when I was ridding at Saladin's side, an army scout came to use with a sobbing woman. She said 'Yesterday some Muslim thieves entered my tent and stole my little girl. I cried all night and our commanders told me that Saladin is Merciful, go to him and ask for your daughter back. I placed all my hopes in you'
Saladin was touched and tears came out of his eyes. He sent someone to the Slave market to look for the girl, and later a horseman arrived bearing the child on his shoulder. All those present wept. Thus was her daughter returned to her. |
Saladin was a wise man, Valiant in war and generous beyond all measure.