SOURCE: “The Showdown with the Crusader” in Saladin, State University of New York Press, 1972, pp. 195–261.

In the following essay, Ehrenkreutz offers an assessment of Saladin's career that focuses on his accomplishments as well as his shortcomings. Ehrenkreutz stresses that he does not, unlike many critics, conjecture about or romanticize Saladin's intentions.

“As for the claim of the Caliph that I’ve conquered Jerusalem with his army and under his banners—where were his banners and his army at the time? By God! I conquered Jerusalem with my own troops and under my own banners!”—Saladin to Caliph al-Nasir

Traditional Treatment of Saladin's Career Is Open to Question

To modern western readers Saladin is best known for his military battles with the Crusaders between 1187 and 1192. This is understandable in view of the dramatic character of that struggle and the fact that it involved formidable naval and land forces and...