The Cairo Citadel was commissioned by Saladin in 1176. It was built using stone from the Giza pyramids and served as the seat of government for Egypt's rulers for nearly 700 years, symbolizing Ayyubid military engineering.
1632
Who was the main opponent of Salah ad-Din during the Third Crusade (1189–1192)?
Richard I of England, known as Richard the Lionheart, was the primary military adversary of Saladin during the Third Crusade. Despite their fierce battles, such as at Arsuf, the two leaders developed a relationship of mutual respect and chivalry.
1633
The Ayyubids were staunch followers of which branch of Islam?
The Ayyubids were fervent Sunnis, primarily adhering to the Shafi'i school of law. One of their primary domestic goals was the eradication of Shia influence in Egypt and the establishment of numerous Sunni madrasas (religious schools).
1634
Which Crusader leader was specifically executed by Salah ad-Din personally after the Battle of Hattin?
Reynald of Châtillon was executed by Saladin for his repeated breaches of truces and his attacks on Muslim merchant and pilgrim caravans. Saladin had famously vowed to kill Reynald with his own hands for his insolence and cruelty.
1635
Salah ad-Din captured Jerusalem in 1187 after it had been under Crusader control for how many years?
Jerusalem was captured by the First Crusade in 1099. Salah ad-Din's recovery of the city in October 1187 ended 88 years of Frankish rule. Unlike the Crusaders in 1099, Saladin granted amnesty to the Christian inhabitants upon payment of a ransom.
1636
What was the name of the decisive battle in 1187 where Salah ad-Din defeated the Crusader states?
The Battle of Hattin (July 1187) was the most significant victory for the Ayyubids. Saladin's forces annihilated the army of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, capturing King Guy of Lusignan and leading to the reconquest of Jerusalem later that year.
1637
Which uncle of Salah ad-Din led the initial military expeditions to Egypt on behalf of Nur ad-Din Zengi?
Asad ad-Din Shirkuh was the commander sent by the Zengid ruler Nur ad-Din to intervene in Fatimid internal politics. Shirkuh was appointed as the Fatimid vizier in 1169 but died shortly after, leaving his nephew Salah ad-Din to take command.
1638
In which year did Salah ad-Din officially abolish the Fatimid Caliphate in Egypt?
In September 1171, following the death of Caliph al-Adid, Salah ad-Din ordered the name of the Abbasid caliph to be mentioned in the Friday sermons, effectively ending the 262-year-old Shia Fatimid Caliphate and returning Egypt to Sunni orthodoxy.
The Ayyubids were of Kurdish origin, specifically from the Rawadiya tribe. They hailed from the town of Dvin in modern-day Armenia before moving to Iraq to serve the Zengi dynasty in Tikrit and later Mosul.
1640
Who was the founder and first Sultan of the Ayyubid dynasty?
Salah ad-Din (Saladin) founded the Ayyubid dynasty in 1171 after the death of the last Fatimid caliph and the death of his uncle Shirkuh. While his father Najm ad-Din Ayyub provided the family name, it was Salah ad-Din who established the sovereign sultanate covering Egypt and Syria.
