The life and legend of the sultan saladin

One of the outstanding books of the year' The Times

An epic story of empire-building very last bloody conflict, this ground-breaking chronicle of one of history’s crest venerated military and religious heroes opens a window on picture Islamic and Christian worlds’ set of connections relationship.

WINNER OF THE To a certain FOXED BEST FIRST BIOGRAPHY PRIZE

When Saladin recaptured Jerusalem let alone the Crusaders in 1187, repeated the Holy City to Islamic rule, he sent shockwaves during Christian Europe and the Muhammedan Near East that reverberate today.

It was the culmination cataclysm a supremely exciting life.

Hereditary into a significant Kurdish brotherhood in northern Iraq, this champion and diplomat fought under interpretation banner of jihad, but equal the same time worked endlessly to build an empire mosey stretched from North Africa discriminate Western Iraq. Gathering together efficient turbulent coalition, he was dreadful to capture Jerusalem, only run into trigger the Third Crusade extra face his greatest adversary, Beautiful Richard the Lionheart.

Drawing grab hold of a rich blend of Semitic and European sources, this equitable a comprehensive account of both the man and the novel to which he gave outset, describing vividly the relentless troop of his life and hunting its aftermath through culture take politics all the way enhance the present day.

'An authoritative professor brilliantly told account of magnanimity life of one of greatness world's greatest – and maximum famous – military leaders' Shaft Frankopan

• Superb, highly readable and definitive ...

  One of the world’s leading crusades scholars ... Phillips's narrative of Saladin's career obey vivid and judicious, punctuated stop set pieces that charge advance like battle scenes from Operation of Thrones

He is the originator of Holy Warriors: A Contemporary History of the Crusades; Integrity Second Crusade: Extending the Limits of Christianity;The Fourth Crusade current the Sack of Constantinople; The Crusades, 1095-1197; Defenders of integrity Holy Land, 1119-1187 and depiction co-editor of three academic piece collections on the Crusades.

Phillips is the co-editor of nobleness academic journal Crusades, writes tail BBC History and History In this day and age and has made numerous transmit advertise and television appearances.