Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi (1137–1193), known in the West as Saladin, was the founder of the Ayyubid Dynasty and one of the most iconic Muslim leaders in history. He is best remembered for his leadership during the Crusades and for recapturing Jerusalem from the Crusaders in 1187. However, behind his military genius lies a powerful and influential family lineage that helped shape Islamic history in the 12th and 13th centuries.
Tribal Roots: Rawadiya Tribe
Salahuddin belonged to the Rawadiya branch of the Kurdish Hadhbani tribe. His grandfather, Shadhi ibn Marwan, was a Kurdish chief who moved the family from Dvin (Armenia) to Tikrit (Iraq), where the foundation of the Ayyubid family was laid.
Founding Father: Najm ad-Din Ayyub
Salahuddin’s father, Najm ad-Din Ayyub, was the son of Shadhi ibn Marwan. He served under the Zengid rulers and became the governor of Baalbek and later Egypt. Najm ad-Din played a pivotal role in raising Salahuddin and positioning him in military and political affairs.
Asad ad-Din Shirkuh
Imad ad-Din appointed Shirkuh as commander of his army and entrusted him with training his son, Nur ad-Din Zengi, who became highly influenced by Shirkuh. Shirkuh played a key role in laying the foundation of the Ayyubid Empire.
Siblings and Early Family Members
Salahuddin had several siblings, many of whom held high-ranking positions within the dynasty:
- Nur ad-Din Shahanshah – Governor of Baalbek
- Turan-Shah – Emir of Yemen & Baalbek
- Tughtakin – Emir of Yemen & Arabia
- Al-Adil I (Sayf ad-Din) – His most prominent brother, who later became the 4th Ayyubid Sultan (r. 1200–1218)
- Rabi’a Khatun – Sister of Salahuddin, known for her piety and scholarship
- Sitt al-Sham Fatimah Khatun – Another sister, renowned for founding the Al-Shamiyah al-Kubra Madrasa in Damascus
Salahuddin Ayyubi: Founder of the Ayyubid Sultanate
Salahuddin (full name: Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb) established the Ayyubid Sultanate after the decline of the Fatimid Caliphate in Egypt. He ruled as Sultan of Egypt and Syria from 1174 until his death in 1193.
His reign was marked by:
- The reconquest of Jerusalem (1187)
- Strategic diplomacy with Crusader kings like Richard the Lionheart
- Patronage of Islamic institutions, madrassas, and mosques
- Expansion of Ayyubid power across the Middle East
Children of Salahuddin
Salahuddin had many sons, but after his death, internal family rivalries prevented a unified Ayyubid rule. His prominent sons include:
- Al-Afdal – Emir of Damascus
- Al-Aziz Uthman – Second Ayyubid Sultan (ruled Egypt)
- Az-Zahir Ghazi – Emir of Aleppo
Ayyubid Succession and Legacy
The Ayyubid throne passed among Salahuddin’s descendants and relatives, leading to the rise of multiple sultans:
Prominent Ayyubid Sultans After Salahuddin:
- Al-Adil I (brother) – 4th Ayyubid Sultan
- Al-Kamil (son of Al-Adil I) – 5th Sultan, known for treaties with Crusaders and Frederick II
- As-Salih Ayyub – 7th Sultan; died during the Seventh Crusade
- Shajar al-Durr – Widow of As-Salih Ayyub; ruled briefly and was instrumental in the rise of the Mamluk Dynasty
The End of Ayyubid Rule
The Ayyubid dynasty weakened due to infighting, Crusader pressure, and rising Mongol threats. Eventually, the Mamluks, former slave soldiers of the Ayyubids, took over Egypt, starting with Izz al-Din Aybak after the death of Shajar al-Durr.
The last Ayyubid ruler was Al-Ashraf Musa, who ruled briefly before the full establishment of Mamluk rule.
