From his authority in Cairo, Saladin worked hard to preserve unity between many of the Muslim kingdoms that comprised the Middle East region. Accordingly, Lane-Poole reports that as dynasties rolled over into new families of leadership in places such as Syria and Mesopotamia, "to these transactions Saladin offered no opposition. He was bound by his treaty to respect his ally of Mosul, and he never broke a treaty in his life." (Lane-Poole, Ch. XI) While Saladin postured as a warrior-ruler, he also remained loyal to the legal terms of regional agreements and in an important regard would parlay this good-will into a unity in repelling the English crusaders who sought to eliminate religious divergence from the Christian faith.
Not only can we begin to see the picture of a balanced and fair leader, we can also begin to view the origins of the Islamic faith as a cultural other in the face of Christian hegemony. Saladin would emerge as perhaps the key representative of resistance to this spiritual genocide. And he would do so through measures which were decidedly more civilized than those employed...
Through diplomatic balance, Saladin united under his rule the territories of Syria, Egypt, Mesopotamia and Palestine, parlaying this solidarity into the conquering of Jerusalem, occupied by the Europeans nearly a century prior. According to Walker, "in contrast to the European conquest of Jerusalem, Saladin's capture of the city was far more civilized and less bloody." (Walker, p. 1)
The rest of Saladin's life would be dedicated to maintaining unity in the Muslim world, pursuing internal peace and engaging his societies with a generous and benevolent rulership. He would enjoy uncontested rule until his death, at which point his kingdom splintered and his legacy grew in stature. It is conceivable that had the unity sought and maintained by Saladin survived past his death, the Muslim world might enjoy a considerably different and more positive position in the global community today.
Works Cited:
Lane-Poole, S. (2007). The Life of Saladin: AD 1138-1193. Third Millennium Library.
Walker, P.E. (2010). Saladin. History-World.org.
