saladin

noun

1. Salāh-ed-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb, 1137–93, sultan of Egypt and Syria 1175–93: opponent of Crusaders.

noun

1. Arabic name Salah-ed-Din Yusuf ibn-Ayyub. ?1137–93, sultan of Egypt and Syria and opponent of the Crusaders. He defeated the Christians near Tiberias (1187) and captured Acre, Jerusalem, and Ashkelon. He fought against Richard I of England and Philip II of France during the Third Crusade (1189–92)

Sultan of Egypt and Syria 1174-93, in full Salah-ad-din Yusuf ibn-Ayyub (1137-1193). A Kurdish general who conquered Egypt (see also Egypt) and Syria in the twelfth century. His capture of Jerusalem (see also Jerusalem) precipitated a crusade.