2020-11-24 Tue

Salah-ud-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub known as Saladin in the Western World was the legendary warrior who repelled the Crusaders at the Horns of Hattin in northern Palestine and recaptured the holy city of Jerusalem for the Muslims in 1187 CE.

Saladin led the Muslim military campaign against the Crusader states in the Levant. During his reign, Saladin has been described as the de facto Caliph of Islam and at the height of his power, his caliphate included Egypt, Syria, Upper Mesopotamia, the Hejaz, Yemen, and other parts of North Africa. Saladin has become a prominent figure in Muslim, Arab, Turkish and Kurdish culture, and he has often been described as being the most famous Kurd in history.

On 23 November, he arrived in Damascus amid general acclamation and rested at his father's old home there, until the gates of the Citadel of Damascus, whose commander Raihan initially refused to surrender, were opened to Saladin four days later, after a brief siege by his brother Tughtakin ibn Ayyub. He installed himself in the castle and received the homage and salutations of the inhabitants.

He issued gold coins from Cairo mint bearing his official title—al-Malik an-Nasir Yusuf Ayyub, ala ghaya "the King Strong to Aid, Joseph son of Job; exalted be the standard." Depicted here is a Lead coin of Saladin with a posthumous portrait.

Image Source: Wikipedia.org