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Saladin: Hero of Islam
The extraordinary character and career of Saladin are the keys to understanding the Battle of Hattin, the fall of Jerusalem and the failure of the Third Crusade. He united warring Muslim lands, reconquered the bulk of Crusader states and faced the Richard the Lion Heart, king of England, in one of the most famous confrontations in medieval warfare. Geoffrey Hindley's sympathetic and highly readable study of the life and times of this remarkable, many-sided man, who dominated the Middle East in his day, gives a fascinating insight into his achievements and into the Muslim world of his contemporaries. REVIEWS "...Highly recommended for library collections and biographical reading lists."Midwest Book Review 8/07
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1976
115 people are currently reading
485 people want to read
About the author
Geoffrey Hindley
49 books19 followersGeoffrey Hindley (1935-2014), educated at Kingswood School, Bath and University College Oxford, was a lecturer and writer. He was three times an invited participant at the International Congress on Medieval Studies, Western Michigan University; was visiting associate professor at the University of Florida, Gainesville; and lectured in Europe and America on European culture,
medieval social history and Magna Carta, and the history of music. From 1994 to 2000 he taught English civilization at the University of Le Havre. Right up until his death he was co-president of the Society for the History of Medieval Technology and Science of Oxford and London.
medieval social history and Magna Carta, and the history of music. From 1994 to 2000 he taught English civilization at the University of Le Havre. Right up until his death he was co-president of the Society for the History of Medieval Technology and Science of Oxford and London.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 15, 2025
লেখক জেফরি হিন্ডলে, অন্যান্য পশ্চিমা লেখকদের মতো কিং রিচার্ডের প্রেম পড়লেন এবং সেই প্রেমের জ্বালায় সালাউদ্দিনের জেরুজালেম দখল নিয়ে দুটি বাক্য ব্যয় করলেন আর রিচার্ড- সালাউদ্দিনের দ্বৈরথ নিয়ে পূরো একটি অধ্যায় 🤦
August 11, 2012
This books has to come with a big map. Otherwise you get confused or even bored. The theory about jihad makes perfect sense and somehow entertaining. Even though the narration jumped from battle in Hattin to previous decades and thus is a bit hard to follow, it's still highly informing and entertaining if you're a big enough fan of history.
My problems with this book
1) I couldn't manage to memorize all the names of Saladin's families and Syrian cities...they're so many and so much alike. Al-Adil, al-Shaubak...damn it, haha.
2) The first half of the book would have been more charming had it come with some brief introductions to noted Frankish noblemen around Kingdom of Jerusalem. I had to check Wiki to figure out who they were. But still, the whole process is overall highly entertaining.
3) The power struggle among Syrian emirs is very charming but would be easier to understand and envision with a map.
My problems with this book
1) I couldn't manage to memorize all the names of Saladin's families and Syrian cities...they're so many and so much alike. Al-Adil, al-Shaubak...damn it, haha.
2) The first half of the book would have been more charming had it come with some brief introductions to noted Frankish noblemen around Kingdom of Jerusalem. I had to check Wiki to figure out who they were. But still, the whole process is overall highly entertaining.
3) The power struggle among Syrian emirs is very charming but would be easier to understand and envision with a map.
May 14, 2015
One of my favorite films is Ridley Scott's the Kingdom of Heaven with such notable actors as Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, and Ghassan Massoud as Saladin. It is an engaging story which I viewed as a loose interpretation of historical events.
The character Saladin intrigued me. His portrayal as a brilliant military tactician, a man of honor, and a man of wisdom prompted further research into this unique personalicty. It was a pleasure to read this biography of such an honorable man and warrior.
I was surprised to read that a great deal of the story in the film was indeed based on historical accounts. It gave me a deeper appreciation of the film and Saladin's character. It has prompted me to pursue further research in the history of this man. He stands out as one of the great leaders in history.
The character Saladin intrigued me. His portrayal as a brilliant military tactician, a man of honor, and a man of wisdom prompted further research into this unique personalicty. It was a pleasure to read this biography of such an honorable man and warrior.
I was surprised to read that a great deal of the story in the film was indeed based on historical accounts. It gave me a deeper appreciation of the film and Saladin's character. It has prompted me to pursue further research in the history of this man. He stands out as one of the great leaders in history.
February 4, 2014
Rather misleadingly, with the title and the introductory blurb on the inside flap, I took this to be a biography.
As it turns out, it is far more of a generic retelling of the history of the Third Crusade from a Muslim (ie non-Frankish) perspective than actually being an interesting focus on the personal life of one of the most famous warriors in history.
So on that front, it's quite disappointing as you're led to believe you're going to get some sort of profound insight into what motivated the man or what he was like as a person, beyond the usual assumptions and such.
In other words, this is no biography, it's a history of the Third Crusade and one that doesn't particularly set your mind aflame. If anything, the detail is a little indecipherable at times, though it deserves credit for filling me on more details about the disunity between the Syrians which prolonged the conflict with the Frankish invaders in the long run.
Okay.
As it turns out, it is far more of a generic retelling of the history of the Third Crusade from a Muslim (ie non-Frankish) perspective than actually being an interesting focus on the personal life of one of the most famous warriors in history.
So on that front, it's quite disappointing as you're led to believe you're going to get some sort of profound insight into what motivated the man or what he was like as a person, beyond the usual assumptions and such.
In other words, this is no biography, it's a history of the Third Crusade and one that doesn't particularly set your mind aflame. If anything, the detail is a little indecipherable at times, though it deserves credit for filling me on more details about the disunity between the Syrians which prolonged the conflict with the Frankish invaders in the long run.
Okay.
June 4, 2012
kisah perjalanan hidup sang panglima perang salahuddin al-ayubi. dimana di masanya ketika musuh2nya mendengar namanya saja sudah gentar. penaklukan jerusalem dan cordoba dbawah kepemimpinannya memang mengukir sejarah banget. pantas saja kalau sampai dbuat bukunya.
aku pribadi memang kenal sosok ini, pas nonton film 'kingdom of heaven' (orlando bloom, eva green, edward norton). dan terus terang aja si reidley scott sbg sutradaranya sukses banget menggambarkan sosok panglima ini. sampe 'merinding' nontonnya.
pesan: rekomen banget utk dbaca smua kalangan dan pemeluk agama apapun. krn dbuku ini menjelaskan bagaimana saladin ketika menaklukan jerusalem, beliau tidak sama sekali memaksakan keyakinan siapapun, nasrani dan yahudi mendaptkan perlakuan yg sama spt penduduk beragama islam. bahkan smua rumah ibadah nasrani dan yahudi sama sekali tidak dhancurkan :)
aku pribadi memang kenal sosok ini, pas nonton film 'kingdom of heaven' (orlando bloom, eva green, edward norton). dan terus terang aja si reidley scott sbg sutradaranya sukses banget menggambarkan sosok panglima ini. sampe 'merinding' nontonnya.
pesan: rekomen banget utk dbaca smua kalangan dan pemeluk agama apapun. krn dbuku ini menjelaskan bagaimana saladin ketika menaklukan jerusalem, beliau tidak sama sekali memaksakan keyakinan siapapun, nasrani dan yahudi mendaptkan perlakuan yg sama spt penduduk beragama islam. bahkan smua rumah ibadah nasrani dan yahudi sama sekali tidak dhancurkan :)
August 14, 2021
Very great insight of the biography of the Saladin and his triumphs
November 9, 2007
Haven't finished it yet, but it came across as being a bit too specific and complex for my interests. The messy nature of Syrian politics at the time (with new dynasties arising every fortnight) doesn't help make it an easy read. Will get back to it sometime... I hope.
The chapters on Saladin's uprbringing in Baalbek and Damascus are quite entertaining though, and the section on 'the quadrilateral of power' (i.e. the rivalry between Mosul, Aleppo, Baghdad, and Damascus), is illuminating on the Syrian/Abbasid political status quo in the early first millennium.
More maps in the appendix section and a couple of more images (especially portraits of the numerous characters) would have certainly helped.
The chapters on Saladin's uprbringing in Baalbek and Damascus are quite entertaining though, and the section on 'the quadrilateral of power' (i.e. the rivalry between Mosul, Aleppo, Baghdad, and Damascus), is illuminating on the Syrian/Abbasid political status quo in the early first millennium.
More maps in the appendix section and a couple of more images (especially portraits of the numerous characters) would have certainly helped.
November 3, 2013
You can't just read this book once, the map provided helps to understand the phases in the chapters. Allot of information which I'll probably have to pick up on again in the future.
Couldn't resist not reading it when I saw it. I love reading about ancient warfare and the book is descriptive when talking about circumstances and how they would make decisions.
Couldn't resist not reading it when I saw it. I love reading about ancient warfare and the book is descriptive when talking about circumstances and how they would make decisions.
September 14, 2014
A well-written and balanced biography, in its historical context, of one of the great leaders of history. The world lack such great individuals who do what needs to be done to obtain the desired outcome, all the while keeping their sense of humanity.
June 22, 2012
as expected from Geoffrey Hindley! :D
very recommended..
very recommended..
Read
February 4, 2020It is a wonderful book. It is for those who want to understand Palestine and the Crusaders in 1187.
I highly recommend it.
I highly recommend it.
September 10, 2023
Saladin, or more accurately, Salah al-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, was born around 1137 in Tikrit to a prominent Kurdish family serving under Nur ad-Din of the Zengid dynasty during the Fatimid Caliphate. He rose in stature through his excellent military and diplomatic skills, subjugating Egypt, where he replaced the Shiite authorities with Sunni leadership and was appointed vizier. Using Egypt as his base of power, he expanded his authority across Syria, defeated his Zengid masters, and eventually unified much of the Islamic Near East under his leadership. He then turned to conquest of the Christian crusader states, defeating them in battle and taking Jerusalem for Islam. After Richard the Lionhearted arrived with troops to pursue the Third Crusade, Saladin fought him to a stalemate, allowing Muslim forces to maintain dominance in the holy land for centuries to come.
Besides his significance as a unifier and military leader, Saladin’s extraordinary personal character earned him a legendary status in both the Muslim and Christian domains. Many stories by contemporaneous first-person observers attest to his exceptional kindness and generosity, even to his enemies, which included sparing many lives and spending his own money to help rivals and opponents. He was so generous, in fact, that despite being sultan of vast lands, he died with only a single dinar and forty pieces of silver to his name. His virtues secured him the reputation of a model king, whose generosity, personal bravery and selfless sacrifice, clemency, piousness, and philosophical approach to life became the basis for stories for centuries after his death. Not only did Richard the Lionhearted and many other Christian opponents praise him, but much later, Dante, Boccaccio, and Sir Walter Scott would portray him as a virtuous and great man.
Saladin: Hero of Islam tells Saladin’s story in the context of the history and complex political intrigues in which he lived. It offers a straightforward historical telling, with emphasis on the religious propaganda surrounding the importance of Jerusalem, the relationships and struggles among the emirs and generals of the Muslim world, and the military decisions Saladin had to make. If you have a reasonable grasp of 12th century Near East history and politics from the perspective of the West, this will function as a good introduction to the world on the other side of the religious divide. It’s well-written and follows both the politics and military maneuvers well. Plus, it includes some wonderful tidbits that give a flavor of the complexity and humor of the era. If, however, you were hoping to understand more about the man behind the myth, that picture surfaces more murkily. The book does not attempt to square the often-ruthless and realpolitik Saladin that emerges from these pages with his fabled reputation. We don’t learn, for example, why Saladin’s interactions with Richard have attained a chivalric exemplar status down through the ages. Instead, we see a sharp and effective leader who is harsh when he needs to be and generous when he chooses. Moreover, we do not see how the author uses his sources, so it is hard for the reader to know what is recounted and what is extrapolated.
Nonetheless, this is a useful book, well worth reading to understand more about the real Saladin and the times in which he lived.
Besides his significance as a unifier and military leader, Saladin’s extraordinary personal character earned him a legendary status in both the Muslim and Christian domains. Many stories by contemporaneous first-person observers attest to his exceptional kindness and generosity, even to his enemies, which included sparing many lives and spending his own money to help rivals and opponents. He was so generous, in fact, that despite being sultan of vast lands, he died with only a single dinar and forty pieces of silver to his name. His virtues secured him the reputation of a model king, whose generosity, personal bravery and selfless sacrifice, clemency, piousness, and philosophical approach to life became the basis for stories for centuries after his death. Not only did Richard the Lionhearted and many other Christian opponents praise him, but much later, Dante, Boccaccio, and Sir Walter Scott would portray him as a virtuous and great man.
Saladin: Hero of Islam tells Saladin’s story in the context of the history and complex political intrigues in which he lived. It offers a straightforward historical telling, with emphasis on the religious propaganda surrounding the importance of Jerusalem, the relationships and struggles among the emirs and generals of the Muslim world, and the military decisions Saladin had to make. If you have a reasonable grasp of 12th century Near East history and politics from the perspective of the West, this will function as a good introduction to the world on the other side of the religious divide. It’s well-written and follows both the politics and military maneuvers well. Plus, it includes some wonderful tidbits that give a flavor of the complexity and humor of the era. If, however, you were hoping to understand more about the man behind the myth, that picture surfaces more murkily. The book does not attempt to square the often-ruthless and realpolitik Saladin that emerges from these pages with his fabled reputation. We don’t learn, for example, why Saladin’s interactions with Richard have attained a chivalric exemplar status down through the ages. Instead, we see a sharp and effective leader who is harsh when he needs to be and generous when he chooses. Moreover, we do not see how the author uses his sources, so it is hard for the reader to know what is recounted and what is extrapolated.
Nonetheless, this is a useful book, well worth reading to understand more about the real Saladin and the times in which he lived.
August 18, 2024
Hindley does a great job getting the reader interested in the story, opening the book with the dramatic recapture of Jerusalem by Saladin. From there he sets out to cover the geopolitical context that made this recapture so improbable. While the cast of characters and shifts in alliances are impossible to avoid or minimize in the fractious Muslim polities of the Middle East in the 12th century, Hindley manages to weave the reader through this complex political world and track the men that made Saladin possible as well as Saladin’s own achievements. The book manages to capture the back and forth of the military victories as well as the uncertainty of anyone’s dominion over any particular area. Definitely an interesting story very well told.
December 12, 2022
The Kindle Version of this book contains 14 Chapters, an Introduction, Epilogue, and Maps. The author mentions a few primary sources that a reader my review, however, this book is dominated by secondary sources. I did not find the nook particularly engaging. Additionally, I would have expected that the maps would have been better quality. And after years of Kindle evolutions, I would have expected better links to maps and bibliography resources. This is an average book
February 11, 2018
Highly recommended
This book was very well written . the narrative was very good and yes I would recommend this book to anyone
This book was very well written . the narrative was very good and yes I would recommend this book to anyone
March 11, 2018
Honestly didn't expect this book to be this boring. unfortunately it took me ages to read and finish and I never really got into it found myself wondering about other things....
January 16, 2020
Świetnie napisana książka, trudny temat ale dałem radę na dodatek z zaciekawieniem to łyknąłem :)
October 18, 2020
Good book, at times the reader has to think hard. Narration could have been a tad easy to read.
July 21, 2014
One of the most influential figures in the history of warriors...history of empires...history of medieval warfare..cant imagine the might of such impactful and courageous character when he jumps into thebloody battlegrounds or when he liberates jerruselum and stands tall to look at the minarates of the mosque of aqsa....
December 6, 2015
I preferred "Warriors of God: Richard the Lionheart and Saladin in the Third Crusade" 2001 by James Reston. But this book gave a more in depth background story of Saladin's early years and rise to power.
January 25, 2013
Good book - biography of Saladin. He was a remarkable man. I am surprised at the impact he has had on todays middle east.
June 12, 2016
Kisah perjuangan salah satu panglima Islam terhebat Shalahuddin Yusuf bin Ayyub dalam memerdekakan Palestine dari penjajahan tentara Salib. Sangat direkomendasikan!
April 11, 2013
Good history of the Islamic revolution in the middle east.
April 21, 2013
Great person from islamic history
September 13, 2016
A nice biography of Saladin but it also provides extra background from the death of Mohamed to the second crusade as well as the regional politics and strife surrounding Saladin.
May 18, 2012
429 - 2012
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews