
WWW.THECOLLECTOR.COM
Saladins Youth Forged the Sultan Who Defied Crusaders
Saladin (born Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub) can be credited with almost single-handedly changing both the Muslim and Western worlds during the Crusades in the 12th century. By bringing together various Islamic sects and through his principled leadership, he was able to defeat the Crusaders at Jerusalem in 1187. He also created a vast new Ayyubid Empire by defeating the Zengid Dynasty. Moreover, his willingness to extend tolerance to non-Muslim religious groups and his ability to be merciful and compassionate toward his enemies earned him great respect among his contemporaries and near-reverence in modern depictions.Who Was Saladin?Saladin, by Cristofano dellAltissimo, 16th century. Source: Wikimedia CommonsSaladin is perhaps best known for having put an end to Crusader control of Jerusalem through his victory at the Battle of Hattin in 1187. This was a battle that decisively ended Christian dominance over the city and ushered in a new era for the world of the Crusades. However, it should be noted that Saladin also managed to supplant the Fatimid Empire of North Africa and absorb the Zengid Empire of modern-day Iraq and Syria under his leadership. These were territories consisting of distinctly different religious communities (the Zengids were Sunni Muslims and the Fatimids were Shia Muslims), and by uniting them under the Ayyubid Empire, he in large part united the Muslim world of this time.Many have likely learned of Saladin from films, which have constituted a wide range of portrayals, many of which are idealized versions of his exploits. The one that stands out the most is his depiction in the 2005 historical film Kingdom of Heaven, where he is portrayed as strong-willed, chivalrous, and tolerant. This depiction may seem at odds with how many people think of the Crusades, but while the film is largely fictionalized, this portrayal is probably somewhat close to the truth.Battle of Hattin, 13th century. Source: Stanford LibrariesAt one point in the filmfollowing the siege of JerusalemSaladin picks up a fallen Crusader cross from the ground and respectfully places it back where it had been standing. It is a powerful image of tolerance, and one that was arguably devised by director Ridley Scott to urge such respect in a post-9/11 world where Muslims were often depicted purely as villains in the media. This depiction demonstrates many qualities that are arguably true of the historical figure himself, such as tactfulness and the discerning treatment of his enemies. However, it also reflects a romanticized version of the real-life figure and of the Crusades in general.This interpretation also speaks to the enduring image of the Crusades in the modern world, and the tendency for Saladin to be used as a modern characterization of current global issues. Perhaps more than any other figure from the erawith the possible exception of Richard the LionheartSaladin seems to invite mythologizing, where he is often used to understand modern qualms and modern identity for both the Muslim world and the West.It is as important to understand the forces behind such characterizations as much as it is to understand the actual context in which Saladin lived, to get a real understanding of this oft-sensationalized figure.The World of the CrusadesKing (Saladin From Egypt), by William and Henry Rock, 19th century. Source: Metropolitan Museum of ArtThe orientalist scholars of the late 19th and early 20th centuries are perhaps some of the primary examples of the tendency to mischaracterize (or at least place biases) on figures such as Saladin. Many adopted the colonial perspective of their period and approached Islam and the Middle East of the past as something exotic that could only be understood as existing in opposition to the West. Therefore, figures such as Saladin would frequently be understood as uniquely just or chivalrous within such a context. After all, an Islamic ruler who showed tolerance or a sense of fairness was often romanticized or seen as an outlier.The Middle East during this period wasin realitya complex region, something Saladin would have understood and appreciated, especially considering his upbringing. Trade in the area during this period was extensive, and contrary to the assertions of orientalist scholars, local communities were not isolated and were structured differently than communities under the feudal system in Europe.This also meant that Islamwhile certainly a force that frequently connected communitieswas not the sole force that motivated expansion.Alloy Coin, Saladin, 12th Century. Source: British MuseumAt the same time as these developments in the Middle East, the Christian crusader had emerged from European political developments prior to the 11th century, including the restructuring of the church and a new social hierarchy that existed due to feudalism.Specifically, the emergence of a proto-class system in Western Europe encouraged the militancy of the Church where this had not existed previously. Previously, the church maintained less of a connection with the warrior class, a shift witnessed during the centuries leading up to the Crusades. Similarly, the Church seemed all too aware that the spread of Islam coincided with their difficulties in proselytizing/converting in recent centuries.As historian Khurram Qadir writes: In initiating the crusades, Urban II may have hoped to enlist a body of knights in the service of the cross or guardians of its church, what he got was a mass movement which for the next two hundred years would become a major focus of the history of Europe and western Asia. However, it would be wrong to assume that only political motives and negative impulses such as anti-Muslim emotions powered the crusades.The Crusaders Reach Jerusalem, by Domenico Paradisi, 17th & 18th centuries. Source: Metropolitan Museum of ArtPrevious Arab conquests in the region also meant that Arab rulers oversaw a vast amount of territory that had strategic value. It meant that combined with the fracturing of Christianity, there was considerable fear in the Western world that their faithwhich was already facing internal disputeswas now facing the large-scale spread of Islam.This was the world into which Saladin was born, and likely by a combination of skill and status, he was able to become a strategic leader who changed the face of the Middle East.Saladin as Heir to an EmpireSection of a Quran, 13th century. Source: Metropolitan Museum of ArtWhile Saladin did not strictly inherit his eventual status as a leader of a Sultanate, he nevertheless was the result of these global shifts during this period and of his upbringing.Born in what is now modern-day Iraq and raised in Syria, Saladins leadership abilities were passed down to him in part by his birth into the bureaucracy of the time. Such a bureaucracy was based on status and roles within society. As historian Robert C.L. Holmes writes, during this period, Islamic armies organized their units according to the ethnic backgrounds of the soldiers. Islam can be thought of as being a unifying force that brought these disparate groups together, yet this statement is also evidence of a stratified system of social leadership, one in which Saladins father was arguably privileged.His fathera man of Kurdish descentworked under the leadership of the Governor of Aleppo, a man known as Imad ad-Din Zengi. Eventually, this led to Saladin receiving military training and serving under Zengis son, Nur-ad Din. As William E. Welsh writes: Saladin was always at Nur ad-Dins side, never leaving the Sultan whether on the march or at court.Saladin was therefore exposed from a very early age to both political and military machinations. Saladins upbringing demonstrates that this was a society that was built on defined leadership roles and family status. He would have also understood the necessity of Islam in maintaining social order not as a controlling force but as a societal glue that transcended race and origin.Bowl, Ayubbid Dynasty, 12-13th century, Syrian. Source: The British MuseumHolmes describes the Ayyubid Dynasty under Saladin as ultimately a confederation of territories overseen by members of the ruling Ayyubid dynasty on Saladins behalf. Family members were appointed as governors of the various territories and there was a reliance on familial bonds.Therefore, Saladins brilliance was a result of his upbringing, his position in life, but also his understanding of how these factors empowered him and maintained his society. As Holmes writes, his true genius was as war leader or administrator. And while his reliance on familial bonds may appear like nepotism to some, it was likely a necessity for maintaining order in a world with no overarching institution of religion or power that functioned as the Church did in Europe at this time.Such a Sultanate would be dependent on familial connection and strategic cunning for order and the maintenance of power. In this way, Saladin had both the means and the knowledge to be a powerful leader.Later Life and LegacySaladin the Turk, by Gustave Dore, 19th century. Source: Wikimedia CommonsSaladin rose to a powerful position through talent as well as the circumstances of his social status at birth. He was not a usurper or born purely of inheritance. This may be the reason he is still so admired today; this was a man whowhile not entirely self-madewas nevertheless a leader who possessed skill and discernment and was able to surpass and acquire surrounding territories.His ability to exhibit tolerance towards his enemies was born in part by his willingness to compromise. However, he also arguably recognized the strategic necessity of sparing the lives of his enemies. Many historians consider Saladin to have used the psychological impact of his reinforcements at the Battle of the Horns of Hama, for instance, to force his enemy to surrender, even though his army was outnumbered.Similarly, following the decisive Battle of Hattin, which ended the Crusaders control over Jerusalem, Saladin spared the lives of many (though certainly not all) of the captured Crusaders. Saladin was willing to resort to punishing his enemies, yet he was calculating in such pursuits. All these factors likely won Saladin respect as much as they made him a fearful adversary.While Saladin remains admired and is frequently depicted, his legacy as a leader for a while faded into history. However, his accomplishments are long-lasting, and the impact of his decisive use of strategy and reasoning shaped the world for centuries to come.
0 Yorumlar
0 hisse senetleri
1 Views