Saladin's Diplomacy with Byzantium: A Forgotten Alliance

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a lesser-known facet of Saladin's strategy: his diplomatic outreach to the Byzantine Empire. After the Battle of Hattin in 1187, Saladin sent envoys to Constantinople, seeking an alliance with Emperor Isaac II Angelos against the Crusader states. They discuss the complex relationship between the Byzantine Empire and the Franj, the role of the Greek Orthodox Christians in Jerusalem, and the fascinating correspondence between Saladin and the Byzantine court. The episode delves into the motivations behind Saladin's diplomatic overtures, the response from Constantinople, and how this alliance shaped the balance of power in the Levant. Key figures include Saladin, Isaac II Angelos, the historian Baha ad-Din ibn Shaddad, and the chronicler Niketas Choniates. The conversation also touches on the fate of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the broader implications of Muslim-Byzantine cooperation. #Saladin #ByzantineEmpire #IsaacIIAngelos #Diplomacy #ThirdCrusade #BahaAdDinIbnShaddad #NiketasChoniates #Constantinople #Jerusalem #HolySepulchre #Ayyubid #Crusades #Franj #GreekOrthodox #Hattin #MedievalHistory #MiddleEast #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo