Saladin (1137-93) was the Muslim Sultan of Egypt and Syria (r. 1174-1193) who shocked the western world by defeating an army of the Christian Crusader states at the Battle of Hattin and then capturing Jerusalem in 1187. Saladin all but destroyed the states of the Latin East in the Levant and successfully repelled the Third Crusade (1187-1192).
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Definition
Timeline
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1174Saladin captures Damascus.
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1174 - 1193Reign of Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, and founder of the Ayyubid dynasty.
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May 1174After the death of Nur ad-Din, Saladin proclaims himself as the independent ruler of Egypt.
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1175An attempt by 13 members of the Assassins to murder Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, fails.
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1175Saladin defeats an army from Aleppo at Hama.
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1176A second attempt by the Assassins on the life of Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, fails.
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1177Saladin defeated by a Frankish army at Mont Gisard.
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1179Saladin defeats a Franks army at Marj Ayyun.
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1183Saladin captures Aleppo.
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1185Saladin captures Mosul.
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Apr 1187Saladin attacks the Franks-held castle of Kerak.
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3 Jul 1187 - 4 Jul 1187Saladin defeats the Franks army at the Battle of Hattin.
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Sep 1187Saladin captures Jerusalem.
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Jul 1188Saladin besieges the Knights Hospitaller castle of Krak des Chevaliers but withdraws to meet the Third Crusade.
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1189 - 1192The Third Crusade is formed with the aim of recapturing Jerusalem for Christendom. Although some cities were recaptured, Jerusalem was not one of them.
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Aug 1189 - Jul 1191The siege of Acre during the Third Crusade.
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12 Jul 1191Richard I of England captures Acre during the Third Crusade.
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Jan 1192The Crusader army led by Richard I of England arrives within sight of Jerusalem but decides not to attack for fear of a counter-attack by Saladin.
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Jul 1192Saladin takes Jaffa during the Third Crusade.
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Aug 1192Richard I of England retakes Jaffa from Saladin during the Third Crusade.
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4 Mar 1193Death of Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria.
