| Born | |
| Died | |
| Name | Saladin |
| Reign | 1174–1193 |
| Title | Sultan of Syria |
| Legacy | Remembered as a skilled military strategist and ruler of Syria, rather than as the founder of the broader Ayyubid Sultanate |
| Successor | |
| Predecessor | |
| Achievements | Consolidated control over Syria • Captured key cities but failed to fully conquer the Crusaders • Did not unite the wider Muslim world under his rule |
| Battles/wars | Intermittent wars against the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem |
| Also known as | Salah ad-Din |
Saladin, also known as Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, was a prominent military commander and Sultan of Syria during the late 12th century. While often depicted as a unifying figure in the Muslim world, in this timeline Saladin remained primarily the ruler of Syria, rather than establishing the wider Ayyubid Sultanate.
Saladin was born in 1137 CE in the city of Tikrit, located in what is now northern Iraq. He came from a prominent Kurdish family that had served under the Zengid dynasty, rulers of parts of Syria and Iraq.
As a young man, Saladin accompanied his uncle, Shirkuh, on military campaigns to expand Zengid control over Damascus and other key Syrian cities. Over time, Saladin rose through the ranks, demonstrating his skills as a capable military commander and tactician. In 1169, he was appointed as the Sultan of Syria after the death of Shirkuh.
With Syria now under his control, Saladin turned his attention to the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, which had established a foothold in the Levant region following the First Crusade. Over the next two decades, Saladin engaged in a series of intermittent wars and battles against the Crusaders.
Saladin's forces were able to capture several key cities from the Crusaders, including Damascus in 1174 and Aleppo in 1183. However, he was ultimately unable to achieve a decisive victory that would allow him to fully conquer the Crusader territories. The Crusaders proved resilient, and Saladin's attempts to unite the broader Muslim world under his leadership were thwarted.
As Sultan of Syria, Saladin focused on consolidating his power and reforming the military. He implemented strategic innovations, such as the increased use of cavalry and archery, that helped his forces counter the Crusaders' strengths. Saladin also served as a patron of the arts, sciences, and architecture, supporting the construction of numerous mosques, schools, and other public works throughout Syria.
Despite his military successes, Saladin was not able to achieve the level of unification and influence that his counterpart did in our timeline. He remained primarily a regional ruler, content to maintain Syria's independence rather than seeking to build a larger sultanate.
In this timeline, Saladin is remembered more as a skilled military commander and regional ruler than as a unifying figure in the Muslim world. While his victories against the Crusaders are still celebrated, his failure to fully conquer the Levant and establish a broader Ayyubid Sultanate means his legacy is somewhat more limited.
Nonetheless, Saladin's impact on the power dynamics of the Levant was significant. His rule over Syria helped maintain the region's independence and served as a counterweight to the Crusader presence. Saladin's military innovations and patronage of the arts also left a lasting impression on the culture and society of Syria.
