Saladin: The Politics of the Holy War

A classic study of Saladin, the scourge of the crusaders, who during the 12th century imposed unity on his dominions, retook Jerusalem, and for a time resisted the Third Crusade. He was a brilliant military leader, a diplomat, politician and administrator who earned a reputation for honesty and chivalry. Lyons and Jackson use many souces including private and official correspondance of Saladin's own court to give a detailed examination of Saladin's career and discuss what his manipulation of power revealed about the structure and society of Islam.