Saladin was born in 1137 in Tikr’it, Iraq. Saladin was of Kurdish Heritage, and at the age of 14 he started in the service of the Syrian ruler, Nuru d-Din. He started to show his qualities under 3 campaigns against the Crusaders who were established in Palestine. The first was in 1164 and the last in 1169. 1169 Saladin served as second to the commander in chief of the Syrian army, his uncle Shirkuh. Shirkuh became vizier of Egypt, but …showed first 75 words of 283 total…

…showed last 75 words of 283 total…in 1183, and Mosul, Iraq in 1186. With his new strength he attacked the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem in 1187, and after three months of fighting gained control over the city. Now the Crusaders only had control over the coast. A third Crusade of 1189 only managed to enlarge the coastal area of Palestine. Following an armistice agreement with King Richard 1 of England in 192, the whole coast was in Christian hands, while Jerusalem remained under Muslim. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography** None