Quote:
Originally Posted by Salvanas
Oh he was FAR from a Saint. He as much a saint as is any war leader.
He did what he must to get back the lands into Muslim hands. I would like to point out that although he DID murder the innocent and raped the land, the First Crusade before him, did the same thing to the Muslim people of the land.
They took Jerusalem, and made it a Christian only city (And Jew, if I'm not mistaken). Saladin took it back, and opened it to the whole of humanity again.
A ruthless leader, aye. But in the end, a fair one.
I'm Turkish/Egyptian. And I'm Atheist.
|
I don't think that is entirly accurate.
He started out very noble. But when Richard the Lionhearted of England showed up, Saladin had a problem. Richard was a seige fighter, Saladin liked pitched battles, to favor his numbers, cavalry and archers. Saladin ambushed Richard and divided his Army when it was on the march. If Richard had have fled, he would have lost half his Army, so he was forced to stay and fight. He won.
After that, Saladin "raped the land", literally. He burned every village and killed every goat. He cut down every forest and poisned all the wells and rivers. He was trying to hinder Richard and weaken him as much as he could. It was working.
When Richard arrived at Jarusalem, he realized he could not take the city. If he did, he would become a prisoner in it. This did not sit well with his friends, the Hospitallers (Warrior Monks) and Burgandy. Who were promised victory.
Richard did manage to make a few victories. At one time (I forget the city, was it Jaffar?), he rode out to Sladins Army on horseback alone, and shouted at them and taunted them to fight him. Saladins Army fled. Both Muslim and Christian historians believe it was Richards lone physical presence that did this.
So Richard could not take Jarusalem, but the peace he managed to barter with Saladin was the agreement that the city be open to all. Saladin agreed, and it was under his rule that the city was open, yet it was not his will alone that made that happen.
Almost 1,000 years later, the same war continues...