The life and legend of the sultan saladin
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The Life and Legend of the Sultan Saladin
The riveting and definitive biography of the Islamic world's most famous military hero
'Superbly researched and enormously entertaining .. one of the outstanding books of the year' The Times
An epic story of empire-building and bloody conflict, this ground-breaking biography of one of history's most venerated military and religious heroes opens a window on the Islamic and Christian worlds' complex relationship.
WINNER OF THE SLIGHTLY FOXED BEST FIRST BIOGRAPHY PRIZE
When Saladin recaptured Jerusalem from the Crusaders in , returning the Holy City to Islamic rule for the first time in almost ninety years, he sent shockwaves throughout Christian Europe and the Muslim Near East that reverberate today.
It was the culmination of a supremely exciting life, fraught with challenges and contradictions but blessed occasionally with marvellous good fortune. Born into a significant Kurdish family in northern Iraq, Saladin shot to powe
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An engaging biography that offers a new perspective on one of the most influential figures of the Crusades
In , Saladin marched triumphantly into Jerusalem, ending decades of struggle against the Christians and reclaiming the holy city for Islam. Four years later he fought off the armies of the Third Crusade, which were commanded by Europe’s leading monarchs. A fierce warrior and savvy diplomat, Saladin’s unparalleled courtesy, justice, generosity, and mercy were revered by both his fellow Muslims and his Christian rivals such as Richard the Lionheart.
Combining thorough research with vivid storytelling, Jonathan Phillips offers a fresh and captivating look at the triumphs, failures, and contradictions of one of the Crusades’ most unique figures. Bringing the vibrant world of the twelfth century to life, this book also explores Saladin’s complicated legacy, examining the ways Saladin has been invoked in the modern age by Arab and Muslim leaders ranging from Nasser in Egypt, As
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Superb, highly readable and definitive One of the world’s leading crusades scholars Phillips's narrative of Saladin's career is levande and judicious, punctuated bygd set pieces that charge along like battle scenes from Game of Thrones
Superbly researched and enormously entertaining one of the outstanding books of the year
An authoritative and brilliantly told account of the life of one of the world’s greatest – and most famous – military leaders. Jonathan Phillips leaves no stone unturned in this impressive and lively history of the genius who was Saladin
Outstanding. Jonathan Phillips has written a compelling konto of arguably the most inspirational of Islamic military heroes
Fascinating, authoritative and intelligent
This illuminating and fascinating biography of Saladin could not be timely. Today political figures often inspire little admiration, but Saladin’s career at the height of the Crusades reminds us that moral charisma and integ