Gone Medieval — "Saladin: Crusher of the Crusades"

Host: Matt Lewis (with Dr. Eleanor Janega)
Guest: Professor Jonathan Phillips
Release Date: February 13, 2026

Overview

This episode of Gone Medieval delves into the life, legend, and lasting impact of Saladin, the renowned Muslim leader who recaptured Jerusalem from the Crusaders and became a figure of awe—even among his foes. Host Matt Lewis and Dr. Eleanor Janega are joined by Professor Jonathan Phillips, an expert on the Crusades and Saladin’s biographer, to explore Saladin’s rise to power, his complex personality, his dynastic legacy, and the ways in which his reputation was shaped both in his time and for centuries beyond.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who Was Saladin?

[02:33–03:06]

• Birth & Background: Saladin was born in 1137 in Tikrit (now Iraq), into a Kurdish family.
  • "[Saladin] is one of the great figures of medieval history. He was born in 1137 in Tikrit." (Jonathan Phillips, 02:33)
• Claim to Fame: Known for recapturing Jerusalem for Islam, defeating the Crusaders at Hattin, and facing Richard the Lionheart in the Third Crusade.
• Heritage: Kurdish ethnicity, which made his family somewhat outsiders among the Sunni Muslim Turkic elites of Syria.
  • "In some ways, that makes him a little bit of an outsider... although the Turks and the Kurds work well alongside one another." (Dr. Eleanor Janega, 03:36)
• Family Role: His father (Ayyub, namesake of the Ayyubid dynasty) was a talented administrator; his uncle (Shirkuh) a renowned warrior.

2. Context and Fractures in the Muslim Near East

[04:47–05:43]

• Sunni vs. Shiite Split: At Saladin’s rise, Egypt was Fatimid (Shiite), while Syria and Iraq were Sunni. The Christian Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem sat between these powers.
• Zengid Dynasty: Saladin and his family served Nur al-Din, a champion of Sunni jihad and a powerful force unifying Muslim resistance to the Crusaders.

3. Saladin’s Rise to Power

[06:02–08:41]

• Egypt’s Strategic Value: Fatimid Egypt was wealthy but weak, tempting both Crusaders and Sunnis.
• Seizing Egypt: Through a series of invasions led by his uncle Shirkuh, Saladin’s family gained control. Upon Shirkuh’s sudden death (from overeating), Saladin was chosen as his successor—perhaps initially because he was underestimated, but he soon proved exceptional.
  • "There's some suggestion he's chosen because people don't think he's going to be terribly good and could be pushed around a bit. That was a mistake..." (Jonathan Phillips, 08:19)
• Consolidating Power: Carefully studied Egypt’s systems; commissioned surveys and etiquette books, displaying administrative acumen and a long-game approach.
  • "He wants to understand what he's got under his control. Those are quite interesting insights into the way that he's thinking a long game here." (Jonathan Phillips, 09:12)

4. Navigating Politics & Building a Dynasty

[09:25–12:07]

• Working with Existing Structures: Saladin didn’t overhaul Egypt, but artfully fit himself and his family into the existing power structures—a shrewd approach for an outsider.
• Tensions with Nur al-Din: As Saladin solidified power in Egypt and built a dynastic base, his independence worried his former patron. Tensions mounted toward civil war, but Nur al-Din’s death in 1174 gave Saladin a crucial opening.
  • "To be a successful ruler, you need to be lucky. And he's very fortunate because in May 1174, Nur al-Din, just as he's about to set out, dies." (Jonathan Phillips, 12:50)

5. Expanding His Empire & Justifying Actions

[13:04–17:43]

• Annexation of Syria: After Nur al-Din’s death, Saladin moved to enlarge his empire, sometimes clashing with fellow Sunni Muslims—actions that drew criticism and required deft propaganda to justify.
• Image Management: Saladin’s chroniclers and propagandists painted him as virtuous, merciful, and pious (a "mirror for princes"), though even contemporaries like the Christian William of Tyre recognized his wisdom, valor, and—importantly—his generosity.
  • “You need to be fearful of him. And I think his generosity is an interesting characteristic to be fearful of.” (William of Tyre via Jonathan Phillips, 17:35)

6. Cementing Power & Facing Setbacks

[19:04–22:54]

• Securing Key Cities: Gained control over Damascus, Aleppo, and, eventually, Mosul—the "crucial trio" needed to confront the Crusaders.
• Challenges: Suffered military setbacks (like the defeat at Montgisard); faced dangerous opponents like Reynald of Chatillon, whose provocative raids climaxed in outrages such as threatening the Prophet’s tomb, prompting harsh retribution from Saladin.

7. Towards Jerusalem—Motivation and Method

[21:37–23:06]

• Ultimate Goal: To retake Jerusalem, inspired by Nur al-Din’s vision. Saladin’s conquests and internal wars were presented as necessary preconditions for confronting the Franks and achieving this sacred aim.
  • “If we all work together under me, this is what we’re going to achieve.” (Jonathan Phillips, 22:41)

8. The Defining Victory: Hattin & Jerusalem

[24:37–33:28]

• The Battle of Hattin (1187): After a near-fatal illness spurred Saladin to hasten his campaign, he used a Crusader provocation as a pretext to attack. He presented his enemies with an impossible choice (to rescue a noblewoman in Tiberias or not), lured them into a grueling march, and annihilated the Crusader army.
  • “[Hattin] is as simple as that. Yes. He is under so much pressure to make something happen. He’s talked the talk for so long. And he set the trap and they fall for it.” (Jonathan Phillips, 30:25)
• Capture of Jerusalem: Achieved through both military might and negotiation—showed clemency to the defenders in return for ransom, contrasting with the massacre of Muslims and Jews by Crusaders in 1099.
  • "Saladin is well known for his mercy. And not slaughtering the defenders of Jerusalem is a big part of that.” (Jonathan Phillips, 33:25)

9. Response and the Third Crusade

[33:37–34:53]

• Christian Europe’s Reaction: The fall of Jerusalem triggered the Third Crusade; Saladin hastened to consolidate his gains, with mixed fortune—he failed to take the port of Tyre, which would later serve as a Crusader beachhead.
• Saladin vs. Richard the Lionheart:
  • Mutual Respect: Despite being demonized in the West, proximity bred a grudging and then sincere admiration between the two sides, particularly through negotiations involving Saladin’s brother, Safadin.
    • “Their understanding changes... by meeting each other... you have people who’ve got shared ideals.” (Jonathan Phillips, 38:21–39:23)
  • Chivalry and Personal Qualities: Both Saladin and Richard embodied the chivalric ideals prized by their foes, blurring the line between enemy and role model.

10. Outcome of the Third Crusade & Saladin’s Later Years

[40:05–43:43]

• Stalemate and Compromise: Richard won significant victories and territory, but could not retake Jerusalem. Both leaders, exhausted and facing domestic problems, settled on a treaty: the Crusaders regained part of the coast, but Jerusalem remained under Muslim control.
  • “I did lose some land, but I kept Jerusalem.” (Jonathan Phillips, 42:41)
• Succession Issues: Saladin died in 1193, leaving behind 17 sons and a fractious succession. The union he created soon began to unravel due to dynastic disputes.

11. Saladin’s Legacy & Reputation

[44:12–48:12]

• Western Perceptions: From bogeyman to paragon—Saladin was demonized after Jerusalem’s fall, but Crusaders who encountered him spread tales of his generosity and nobility. In later centuries, he became a chivalric hero in Western literature (e.g., Walter Scott’s The Talisman), even inspiring English parents to name their children after him.
  • “It’s hard to think of any figure in history who’s inflicted such a powerful blow as capturing Jerusalem... who is taken in such a positive way.” (Jonathan Phillips, 45:11)
• Memory in the Muslim World: Revered, especially among Sunnis, as the liberator of Jerusalem and unifier of Muslim lands, though viewed less favorably by Shiites for ending Fatimid rule. His image endures in architecture, poetry, and popular memory.
  • “Books of history are overflowing with stories about Saladin.” (Ottoman administrator, via Jonathan Phillips, 46:22)
• Modern Appropriations: Saladin is invoked today by a wide spectrum of groups (Islamists, nationalists, Kurds, etc.) as a symbol of unity and resistance.
  • “He’s an attractive character in many respects. He’s not somebody who’s a sort of dangerous psychopath... you can draw on him as a ruler to be admired in that broader sense.” (Jonathan Phillips, 48:00)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the Power of Generosity:
  "He's generous beyond measure... For that reason alone, you need to be fearful of him." — William of Tyre (relayed by Jonathan Phillips, 17:35)
• Saladin’s Practicality as a Ruler:
  "He wants to understand what he's got under his control... thinking a long game here." — Jonathan Phillips (09:12)
• On The Hattin Trap:
  "He set the trap, and they fall for it." — Jonathan Phillips (30:33)
• Saladin the Charismatic Leader:
  "I think it's his ability to draw people along with him, his understanding of propaganda and resource... and his endurance in keeping going..." — Jonathan Phillips (46:53)
• Surprising Western Admiration:
  "You can find people, believe it or not, in Oxfordshire calling their children Saladin in the 1240s." — Jonathan Phillips (45:03)
• On Saladin’s Modern Resonance:
  "He's there to be identified with... as the man who drew a people together and expelled Westerners from the holy city of Jerusalem." — Jonathan Phillips (47:47)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 02:33 — Introduction to Saladin’s origins and family
• 06:02 — Saladin’s rise to power in Egypt
• 09:12 — Administrative acumen and consolidation strategy
• 12:25 — Tensions with Nur al-Din and dynastic politics
• 17:35 — Saladin’s cultivated image and the power of generosity
• 24:37 — Saladin’s near-fatal illness and the final push for Jerusalem
• 26:35 — The road to Hattin and Saladin’s tactical brilliance
• 31:28 — Aftermath of Hattin: capturing Jerusalem
• 36:35 — Mutual respect between Saladin and Richard the Lionheart
• 40:05 — Who won the Third Crusade? Analyzing outcomes
• 44:12 — Construction of Saladin’s legacy in East and West
• 46:53 — Final reflection on Saladin’s personality and enduring appeal

Conclusion

The episode paints Saladin as more than just a military opponent of the Crusaders; he emerges as a statesman, administrator, master of propaganda, and ultimately a figure whose chivalric qualities and political savvy made a lasting mark on both the Islamic world and Christian Europe. The nuanced discussion reveals how Saladin’s legacy was shaped as much by image-makers and later generations as by his actual deeds—showing the ongoing power of reputation and storytelling across cultures and eras.