Salah Ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, known in the Western world as Saladin, was the first Sultan of Egypt and Syria and founder of the Ayyubid dynasty.

A Muslim of Kurdish origin, Saladin led the opposition to the European Crusaders in the Levant. Notably defeating the Crusaders at the decisive battle of Hattin in 1187 AD, leading the way to the re-capture of Jerusalem. Saladin remains a prominent symbol in Muslim culture. He died in Damascus in 1193 AD, having given much of his wealth to his subjects.

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