Salah al-Din Tomb:
The remnants of al-Madrasa al-Aziziyeh from the Ayyubid era are scarce, but the most remarkable survivor is the burial chamber of Salah al-Din Yousef Bin Ayoub. The construction of the Tomb of Salah al-Din took place in 1196, during the short reign of his son, al-Afdal, over Damascus. The adjacent religious school, which now only comprises a few columns and an interior arch, was erected shortly after the mausoleum under al-Aziz Othman Bin Salah al-Din.
Salah al-Din, born in 1138 to a Kurdish family in Tikrit (modern Iraq), had his upbringing shaped by his father, Najm al-Din Ayoub Bin Shadhi Bin Marwan. His father relocated the family to Mosul (Iraq) and later became the commander of Imad al-Din Zenki’s fortress in Baalbek (modern Lebanon). During his father’s tenure in Baalbek, Salah al-Din spent a significant portion of his youth in Damascus, where he received his education. He delved into subjects such as religion, history, literature, and poetry, developing a deep affection for the city.
In 1164, Salah al-Din embarked on his military career under the guidance of his uncle, Assad al-Din Skirkuh Bin Shadhi. When his uncle passed away five years later, he was appointed as vizier of Egypt by the Fatimid Caliph al-Aadid. By 1170, he commenced leading military campaigns against the Crusaders in Gaza (Palestine). In the subsequent year, al-Aadid’s demise left Salah al-Din with full control over Egypt. Although he pledged allegiance to the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad (Iraq), his power over Egypt remained uncontested.
While he maintained a nominal alliance with Nur al-Din Zenki, he withdrew from a joint assault on Crusader castles near the Kingdom of Jerusalem. He suspected that Nur al-Din Zenki would hinder his return to Egypt after the campaign and that Nur al-Din Zenki aspired to annex Egypt for himself. Salah al-Din returned to Egypt, preparing for an imminent military confrontation with Nur al-Din Zenki.
As he expanded his dominion over Egypt and conquered Yemen in 1174, he gathered forces outside Cairo, anticipating an attack from Syria. In May of 1174, Nur al-Din Zenki died from poisoning, and Salah al-Din found himself facing his eleven-year-old son, al-Saleh Ismail. Internal strife erupted across the territories previously held by Nur al-Din Zenki, leading to his involvement in the defence of Damascus. Subsequently, he seized control of the city, appointing his brother as governor, and continued his conquest by capturing the city of Hama.
Aleppo presented a persistent challenge for Salah al-Din. He laid siege to the city for several months in early 1175 but decided to lift the siege due to the looming threat of rival forces uniting against him. Although he successfully conquered the city of Homs, an alliance of Nur al-Din Zenki’s heirs, led by Seif al-Din Ghazi Bin Mawdud of Mosul (Iraq), confronted him.
Despite being outnumbered, his forces emerged victorious in battle outside of Hama. With this triumph, he proclaimed himself the Sultan of Egypt and Syria, receiving recognition from the Abbasid leadership in Baghdad.
In the spring of 1176, Salah al-Din’s forces achieved another significant victory at Tel Sultan, south of Aleppo. They captured several crucial towns in the region, including Manbej and Aazaz, tightening the grip on Aleppo. Eventually, a truce was established in the summer, stipulating the acknowledgment of him as the ruler of Syria.
Salah al-Din still faced challenges from Rashid al-Din Sinan, situated in Syria’s coastal mountain ranges, commanding nine fortresses at high altitudes. During his late summer campaign, Salah al-Din failed to conquer any of these fortresses and eventually agreed to a truce and alliance with Rashid al-Din Sinan.
The circumstances surrounding this agreement remain disputed, with one account suggesting that a threatening note was discovered in Salah al-Din’s tent while he slept, despite taking numerous precautions to safeguard against assassins. Other narratives propose that he called off the siege due to urgent requirements elsewhere. Irrespective of the details, the agreement between Salah al-Din and Rashid al-Din Sinan would endure, and the Ismailis would remain largely independent within their territories.
Following the truce with Rashid al-Din Sinan, his focused his attention on the Crusader states. He initiated a series of campaigns that aimed to recapture Jerusalem, which had been under Crusader control since the First Crusade in 1099. Salah al-Din’s military prowess and strategic manoeuvres allowed him to reclaim several key cities, including Tiberias, Acre, and Jaffa.
In July 1187, his forces decisively defeated the Crusaders at the Battle of Hattin, leading to the fall of Jerusalem in October of the same year. However, Salah al-Din granted clemency to the city’s Christian inhabitants and allowed them to leave peacefully or remain under his rule.
Salah al-Din’s recapture of Jerusalem sparked the Third Crusade, which brought notable European leaders such as Richard the Lionheart of England, Philip II of France, and Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, to the region. The Crusaders sought to regain control of Jerusalem, but Salah al-Din’s military prowess and the unity of the Muslim forces thwarted their efforts. Despite their inability to recapture Jerusalem, the Crusaders managed to secure a few coastal cities, including Acre.
In 1193, Salah al-Din passed away in Damascus. His empire, encompassing Egypt, Syria, Yemen, and other territories, was divided among his sons and relatives, leading to internal conflicts and power struggles. However, his legacy as a skilled military leader and a unifying figure in the face of Crusader aggression endured. He is remembered as a hero in the Muslim world and is often referred to as Saladin, a name that has become synonymous with chivalry, honour, and military prowess.
The Tomb of Salah al-Din in Damascus remains an important historical and cultural landmark in the city. While the mausoleum itself is well-preserved, the adjacent al-Madrasa al-Aziziyeh has suffered significant damage over the centuries and only a few remnants remain. Nonetheless, the Tomb of Salah al-Din stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of one of the most renowned figures in Islamic history.
