In this episode of pplpod, we examine the life of Yusuf ibn Ayyub, widely known as Saladin, a Kurdish commander who rose to become the first Sultan of Egypt and Syria. We trace his early career under the Zengid dynasty and his ascent to power in Egypt, where he abolished the Fatimid Caliphate and founded the Ayyubid dynasty. Listen in as we discuss his efforts to unify the Muslim territories of Egypt, Syria, and Mesopotamia to strengthen the front against the Crusader states.

We detail the pivotal events of 1187, including the decisive Battle of Hattin, which annihilated the Crusader field army and paved the way for the recapture of Jerusalem. The episode also covers the subsequent Third Crusade, highlighting Saladin’s famous military and diplomatic rivalry with King Richard the Lionheart, a relationship marked by mutual re ...