Books

While Saladin is famous for his mercy, most notably at Jerusalem, he was savage in his treatment of Reynald of Châtillon and the Military Orders at Hattin, as well as ordering executions after several of his earlier battles against the Franks and in the aftermath of the Acre massacre. He also put down revolts in Egypt with considerable harsh- ness. Hattin aside, the need to be seen to act firmly after a recent setback often seems the trigger for these killings. Overall, however, he was widely regarded in his lifetime. As Abd al-Latif, a visitor to the sultan in the last months of his life, wrote: ‘I found a great king who inspired both respect and affection, far and near, easy-going and willing to grant requests. His companions took him as a model ... men grieved for him as they grieve for prophets. I have seen no other ruler for whose death the people mourned, for he was loved by good and bad, Muslim and unbeliever alike.’ 6 The memory of Saladin is open to manipulation and appropria...