Saladin: The Muslim Leader Who Defeated Crusaders — Fexingo History

Saladin: The Muslim Leader Who Defeated Crusaders — Fexingo History

Saladin, the Kurdish sultan who united the Muslim world and recaptured Jerusalem in 1187, stands as one of the most iconic figures of the Crusades. This podcast traces his rise from a young commander in the service of Nur ad-Din to the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, exploring his campaigns against the Crusader states, his diplomatic maneuvers with Richard the Lionheart, and his legendary chivalry. Lucas and Luna guide listeners through the complex politics of 12th-century Syria and Egypt, the battles of Hattin and Arsuf, and the negotiations that led to the Treaty of Jaffa. They examine Saladin's religious ideals, his patronage of Sunni scholarship, and his treatment of Christians and Jews in Jerusalem. The show also grapples with Saladin's legacy: how did this medieval sultan become a symbol of anti-colonial resistance, a bridge between East and West, and a figure claimed by modern nationalists? From the Seljuk Turks to the Fatimid Caliphate, from the Assassins to the Knights Templar, this series offers a deeply researched, narrative-driven look at a leader who reshaped the Middle East. The story of Saladin is not just a tale of war and peace—it is a window into the clash and coexistence of civilizations. #Saladin #AyyubidDynasty #Crusades #MedievalMiddleEast #Jerusalem #BattleOfHattin #RichardTheLionheart #NurAdDin #TreatyOfJaffa #SunniIslam #KurdishHistory #KnightsTemplar #Chivalry #SiegeOfJerusalem #MedievalWarfare #History #WorldHistory #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episodes

November 1, 2026 • 8 mins
In 1183, Saladin launched a massive siege against the Crusader fortress of Kerak, commanded by the formidable Stephanie of Milly and her stepson Raymond III of Tripoli. This episode explores how Saladin’s attempt to cut off the Latin Kingdom’s supply lines failed due to the resilience of the garrison and the arrival of Richard the Lionheart’s brother. We examine the tactical errors of the Ayyubid forces, the role ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
By 1193, Saladin’s empire was at its zenith, yet his final months were defined not by conquest but by a quiet decline that would shatter the unity he built. This episode explores the critical turning point of the Third Crusade through the lens of the grueling Siege of Acre, where Saladin’s health began to fail under the strain of constant warfare and diplomatic isolation. We trace the events leading up to his death in D...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
In 1183, Saladin launched a massive campaign against the Crusader fortress of Kerak, a stronghold built by Prince Raymond of Tripoli on the ancient King’s Highway. This episode explores why this siege failed despite overwhelming Muslim forces and how it exposed the fragility of Crusader supply lines in Transjordan. We examine the tactical decisions made by both sides, the role of Princess Stephanie of Milly, and the political...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
When Saladin conquered Jerusalem in 1187, he spared most of its Christian inhabitants, a mercy that stunned Europe and drew fierce criticism from some of his own allies. This episode explores the complex relationship between Saladin and Balian of Ibelin, the Frankish noble who negotiated the city's surrender. We look at how Balian, initially preparing for a desperate defense, ended up becoming the voice of reason for the civilian p...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
While history remembers Saladin for the Battle of Hattin and the capture of Jerusalem, a quieter, more strategic war was unfolding thousands of miles away in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. In this episode, we explore how Salah ad-Din utilized his naval commander Sayf al-Din Qutb to dismantle the Latin Kingdom’s economic lifeline. We trace the Ayyubid strategy of blockading Venetian and Genoese supply lines from Alexandria and ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
We often remember Saladin for his victories at Hattin and the peaceful surrender of Jerusalem, but we rarely pause to consider what he built in the quiet hours between battles. This episode shifts focus from the battlefield to the library, exploring how Salah ad-Din used patronage, architecture, and scholarship as tools of statecraft. We dive into the construction of the Madrasa al-Nuriyya in Damascus and the Bimaristan al-Nasiri i...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
While history remembers Saladin’s military triumphs, his court was equally defined by the intellectual labor of his physicians. This episode explores the life of Ibn Abi Usaybi’ah, whose biographies reveal how medieval medicine functioned under Ayyubid rule. We examine the translation of Greek texts into Arabic, the rigorous training in Baghdad’s hospitals, and the practical application of Galenic theory during th...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
In Episode 272, we peel back the layers of medieval fear to examine how Saladin navigated the terrifying reputation of the Nizari Ismailis, often called the Assassins. While previous episodes touched on their politics, this conversation focuses on the psychological warfare they waged against both Muslim and Crusader elites. We explore the siege of Mayafarqin in 1185, where Saladin faced the mountain strongholds of Hassan-i Sabbah&r...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Most histories remember Saladin as a unified champion against the Crusaders, but his final years were defined by a brutal internal struggle to secure his dynasty’s future. This episode explores the intricate and often violent succession crisis that erupted after his death in 1193, focusing on the rivalry between his brother al-Adil and his nephew al-Aziz Uthman. We examine how the Ayyubid system of shared rule, known as the i...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Before Saladin became the legendary defender of Jerusalem against the Crusaders, he spent over a decade dismantling the Fatimid Caliphate from within. This episode explores his rise in Cairo, focusing on the power struggles with viziers Shawar and Shirkuh, and the delicate political tightrope he walked between Shia Ismaili rule and Sunni Abbasid loyalty. We examine how Saladin used legal reforms, religious institutions, and strateg...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Before he was the great Sultan who recaptured Jerusalem, Salah ad-Din served as a vizier in Cairo for the declining Fatimid Caliphate. This episode explores the complex political maneuvering that allowed Saladin to dismantle a Shia dynasty from within while maintaining the loyalty of Sunni troops and Abbasid loyalists. We examine his brother Shirkuh’s military campaigns, the intrigue involving rival generals Shawar and Dirgha...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
October 20, 2026 • 5 mins
While the Battle of Hattin and the capture of Jerusalem dominate historical memory, Saladin’s most enduring victory may have been economic. This episode explores the Ayyubid naval blockade that strangled Crusader trade in the Indian Ocean. We look at how Admiral Sayf al-Din Qutb seized control of key ports like Alexandria and Damietta, cutting off the flow of luxury goods from Asia to Europe. By redirecting commerce through M...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
While history remembers Saladin for his clashes with the Crusaders, his most difficult political battle was fought within Cairo itself against the crumbling Fatimid Caliphate. This episode explores how Salah ad-Din navigated the treacherous waters of Shia Ismaili loyalty versus Sunni Abbasid allegiance during the final years of the Fatimid dynasty. We examine the role of the vizier Shawar, the military ambitions of Shirkuh, and the...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
While the Third Crusade raged on land, Saladin waged a quieter but equally devastating war at sea. This episode explores how Salah ad-Din utilized the Ayyubid navy to disrupt Frankish supply lines across the Mediterranean and Red Sea. We examine the strategic importance of Alexandria and Damietta as naval hubs, and how the capture of Venetian and Genoese ships threatened the economic lifelines of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. Thr...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
October 17, 2026 • 5 mins
While history remembers Saladin for his battles on land, particularly the decisive victory at Hattin and the recapture of Jerusalem, he was also waging a silent, devastating economic war against the Crusader states from the sea. This episode explores the Ayyubid naval strategy that targeted the Latin Kingdom’s lifeline: the grain supply from Egypt. We dive into the creation of the Ayyubid navy under the command of Sayf al-Din...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
We often picture Saladin as a desert warrior, but his greatest strategic victory may have been fought on the waves of the Red Sea. In this episode, we explore how Salah ad-Din dismantled the economic backbone of the Crusader states by targeting their maritime supply lines from Alexandria and Damietta. We follow the Ayyubid naval commander Sayf al-Din Qutb as he constructs a fleet in secret, bypassing the heavily guarded Mediterrane...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
While historians often focus on Saladin’s land campaigns against the Crusaders in Jerusalem and Syria, his strategic genius extended far beyond the Levant into the vast waters of the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. This episode explores how Salah ad-Din recognized that controlling maritime trade was just as critical as holding fortresses like Kerak or Jacob's Ford. We delve into the construction of the Ayyubid navy at Alexandri...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
While history remembers Saladin for his military victories and the capture of Jerusalem, it often overlooks the intricate diplomatic machinery that held his empire together. This episode explores the life and work of Israel ibn Shahin, a Jewish vizier who served as Saladin’s chief negotiator with the Byzantine Empire and Western Europe. We examine how a non-Muslim advisor navigated the complex political landscape of the late ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
We often remember Saladin as the sword that reclaimed Jerusalem, but his victory was equally won by the pen of Israel ibn Shahin. In this episode, we step away from the battlefields of Hattin and Kerak to explore the quiet, high-stakes diplomacy of Saladin’s most trusted Jewish envoy. We trace Israel’s journey from a courtier in Cairo to the mastermind behind Saladin’s alliance with the Byzantine Emperor Isaac II ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
While historians often focus on the sword, Saladin’s true victory over the Crusader states lay in the ledger. This episode explores how Salah ad-Din dismantled the Kingdom of Jerusalem not just through battlefield victories like Hattin, but by strangling its economy. We look at the blockade of Tyre, the seizure of trade routes, and the systematic destruction of Frankish agricultural output in Transjordan. Lucas and Luna discu...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.

    DISGRACELAND

    DISGRACELAND is an award-winning music and true crime podcast about musicians getting away with murder and behaving very badly. Jerry Lee Lewis's 5th wife? Dead. Sid and Nancy? Both dead. Why? Because musicians are insane, and insane things happen to them. Why did we lose Amy Winehouse at 27? Was Debbie Harry really abducted by Ted Bundy as she claims? Is Patti Smith not just the "Godmother of Punk", but also the "Original True Crime Girl"? What really happened the night of the Jay Z nightclub stabbing? What do the Diddy indictments truly reveal? All these stories and more, on artists from every genre and their true crimes, in our massive 260-plus story archive. The Dead, the Stones, Johnny, Willie, Frank, Kurt, Courtney, Gaga, Lana, Taylor, and too many to name. DISGRACELAND is music history come to life through audio storytelling as you've never heard it before, with revealing facts: yes, assassins are the real reason the Beatles quit touring—reclaimed myths: no, Mama Cass didn't die from choking on a ham sandwich––and constant reckoning between art and artist––all told through the lens of true crime. This is the podcast for the self-proclaimed "Disgos", the musically obsessed and the true crime heads; the outsiders, the independent thinkers who know that the best history is the history that gets buried. DISGRACELAND is where host Jake Brennan tells the stories they didn't want told. The kind you'll end up telling someone else. Get ready to uncover hidden truths and buckle up for truly edge-of-your-seat storytelling. New, fully scripted, sound-designed episodes are released every Tuesday. Bonus chat-style episodes where Jake responds to voicemails, texts, and emails from Disgos hit on Thursdays, and "Rewind" episodes from our archive drop on Sundays. DISGRACELAND is not a journalistic podcast. It's an entertainment podcast inspired by true events. Certain dialogue and scenes are dramatized, as is common in scripted entertainment based on real stories. Sources and credits for each episode are available at www.disgracelandpod.com. To unlock ad-free listening, exclusive content, and connect with your fellow Disgos, go to www.disgracelandpod.com to become an All Access member. Rocka Rolla.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices