The Life and Legend of the Sultan Saladin

The Life and Legend of the Sultan Saladin by Jonathan Phillips is a biographical study of one of history's most consequential military leaders. Published in 2019, the work examines both the historical Saladin and the legend that has accumulated around him over centuries, separating documented fact from romanticized myth.

Phillips, a historian specializing in the Crusades, traces Saladin's rise from a Kurdish military officer to the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty and the recapture of Jerusalem in 1187. The narrative covers his consolidation of power across the fragmented Muslim world, his strategic campaigns against the Crusader states, and his complex relationship with European powers. Rather than presenting a one-dimensional portrait, Phillips engages with contemporary sources - both Islamic and Christian - to construct a nuanced account of his subject's ambitions, failures, and legacy.

The book addresses how Saladin has been appropriated and reinterpreted by different cultures and eras, from medieval chronicles to modern political rhetoric. By examining the gap between historical reality and legend, Phillips offers readers insight into how figures of the past are remembered and reimagined. This approach makes the work valuable not only for understanding the Crusadic period but also for considering how history itself is constructed and transmitted.

• Covers Saladin's military campaigns and political consolidation
• Examines primary sources from both Islamic and European perspectives
• Explores the legend of Saladin and its cultural reinterpretations
• Published 2019 by a leading Crusades historian
• Biography and memoirs genre

Available nationwide with Cash on Delivery. Order your copy from OnlineBooksOutlet today.