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Abdeen Palace Museum - Cairo

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Tomb of Al-Shatby in Alexandria

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Roman Emperor Diocletian

Diocletian reigned as the Roman emperor in the years 284 to 305 CE. In 249 CE, Roman emperor Philip the Arab was defeated and killed, and after this event the Roman Empire had to endure about thirty years of really weak rulers. The times of Augustus, Vespasian and Trajan were gone for good, and the greatest Empire, which once ruled the old world, was collapsing both economically and militarily. There were incessant raids on the Danube and in the eastern territories. At long last in the year 284 CE, a man came to the throne with a mission to transform the empire beyond recognition. His name was Diocletian.
Emperor Trajan of Rome

Trajan’s birth transpired on 18th September of the year 53 A.d. in Italica, located in Southern Spain. To his credit, he was of Italian colonists who are immigrants, and even rose in the aristocratic house of the Vlpii (since his name was Marcus Vlpius Traianus). Yet clearly he was a synecdoche to the empire. His elevation to that position of power came with the ascension of the very region he was born in: Roman Spain was at its prime during that period.

Information about Egypt's Sultan, Salah El-Din Al-Ayoubi

05 16, 2023

A hero for the Arabs

Saladin, a warrior from Kurdistan, helped his uncle Chirkuh take power in Egypt. At 32 years old, he succeeded him as vizier. After having brought together Egypt and Syria, the two main parts of the Arab-Muslim world, this empire builder, by the way good Muslim, turns his blows against the Franks installed in Palestine for two generations, that is to say, almost a century.

He revived the mysticism of jihad (holy war against infidels), long since fallen into disuse, and won a decisive victory over the Christians at Hattîn in 1187. This victory makes forget the defeat suffered by the same Saladin at Montgisard two years earlier. It allows the Muslims to reconquer Jerusalem almost a century after its annexation by the crusaders (1099).

The Frankish chroniclers report with emotion that, during the capture of Acre, Saladin redeems from his money the infant of a young Frankish prisoner to reunite him with his mother. But the sultan also testifies to a useless cruelty as his time was customary. So does he leave Muslim religious without experience of the sword to massacre in an atrocious way the Templars and Hospitallers captured after the battle of Hattin... And when, as a young officer, he seized power in Cairo.

Saladin, founder of the Ayyubid dynasty (named after his father), was succeeded by his brother, Melik el-Adil, a friend of Richard the Lionheart. The latter considered giving her his sister Jeanne in marriage so that together, in tolerance, they rule the Holy Land! But this utopian project has failed in the beginning.

Furthermore, the Castle of the Mountain (qala'a al-Gabal), also known as the Salah al-Din al-Ayyoubi (Saladin) citadel, is one of Cairo's most significant landmarks and one of the biggest castles constructed during the Middle Ages. After seizing control of Egypt, Saladin saw that, in contrast to other major Levantine towns like Damascus and Aleppo, Cairo lacked a citadel to provide security, despite its prominence and size.

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During his reign, Saladin made significant advancements in education and instruction, including the establishment of schools. He also held poets in high regard and provided them with a prominent position in his court. Under his leadership, the economy flourished, and the country experienced a period of prosperity. One of his notable constructions in Egypt was Saladin's castle, which attracted tourists from distant lands.

Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, commonly known as Salah al-Din or Saladin, was a prominent historical figure in medieval Islamic history, particularly during the 12th century. While he is not a central figure in modern Egyptian history (which usually refers to events from the 19th century onwards), he is an important figure in the broader history of the region. Here are some key points about Saladin:

Military Leader: Saladin was a skilled military leader and statesman. He is best known for his role in the Crusades, a series of religious wars between Christian and Muslim forces over control of the Holy Land. Saladin played a central role on the Muslim side of the conflict.

Reconquering Jerusalem: One of Saladin's most famous achievements was the recapture of Jerusalem from the Crusaders in 1187. His forces successfully seized the city, which had been under Christian control for nearly a century.

Chivalry and Tolerance: Saladin is often celebrated for his chivalrous conduct during the Crusades. He was known for his fairness and tolerance toward Christians and Jews living in the areas he controlled, allowing them to practice their religions freely.

Founding the Ayyubid Dynasty: After his military successes, Saladin founded the Ayyubid Dynasty, which ruled over a significant portion of the Islamic world for several decades.

Legacy: Saladin is remembered as a symbol of Islamic resistance to the Crusaders and as a figure who sought to unify and defend Muslim lands. His reputation has transcended history, and he is often admired for his qualities of leadership, diplomacy, and fairness.

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Information about Egypt's Sultan, Salah El-Din Al-Ayoubi

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Information about Egypt's Sultan, Salah El-Din Al-Ayoubi

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Who was Salah El-Din Al-Ayoubi, and what role did he play in modern Egyptian history?

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