Arend

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Salah ad-Din, known as Saladin to the Franks, was a Kurd who rose from humble beginnings to become Sultan of Egypt and Syria. He united the peoples of Allah, recaptured Jerusalem, and pushed the Crusaders to the brink. His battles against King Richard the Lionhearted were legendary, and he ultimately tamed the fierce king. The narrative begins with a reflection from Yahya al-Dimashq, who recalls meeting Saladin as a skinny child. This trilogy chronicles the lives of Saladin and John of Tatewic, a Crusader whose fate intertwines with Saladin’s. It explores the Second and Third Crusades through Saladin’s transformation from a shy boy to a formidable leader who retakes Jerusalem. John, seeking redemption from his past, becomes friends with Saladin after being captured and sold into slavery by his family. As John rises to become secretary to the King of Jerusalem and later Richard, he navigates the treacheries of the court. Meanwhile, Saladin, alongside his uncle, conquers Egypt and unites Arabia to reclaim Jerusalem and defend it against Richard's forces. Their friendship and enmity shape the destiny of the Holy Land, illustrating the complexities of war, loyalty, and honor.