Honored by Christian and Muslim alike, celebrated by Dante and Sir Walter Scott, Saladin reigns as the most famous of all Islamic heroes. As sultan of Egypt, Syria, Yemen, and Palestine, he achieved great success in the wars against the crusaders--particularly with his capture of Jerusalem. And, his disciplined army stood in marked contrast to the Christians, who slaughtered indiscriminately following their victory in 1099. This thoroughly researched biography shows Saladin as a skillful diplomat, a generous but firm ruler, and a deeply religious man...who tragically died without enough money to pay for his own grave.