Saladin's Forgotten Rival: Sultan Kilij Arslan II of Rum

Saladin is remembered for uniting the Muslim world against the Crusaders, but his path to supremacy was blocked by another powerful sultan: Kilij Arslan II of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum. This episode explores their uneasy alliance and rivalry, from the 1170s negotiations to the 1180s betrayal at the Siege of Mosul. We delve into Anatolian geopolitics, the Seljuk-Ayyubid border tensions, and how Saladin's focus on the Jazira and Syria left Rum as a lasting challenge. Kilij Arslan's death in 1192 fractured his realm, paving the way for the Seljuk decline and the rise of the Ayyubid state. A deep dive into a forgotten chapter of Saladin's career, featuring Ibn al-Athir, Baha ad-Din, and the shifting loyalties of medieval Islam. #Saladin #KilijArslanII #SeljukSultanateOfRum #Anatolia #SiegeOfMosul #Ayyubid #Crusades #IbnAlAthir #BahaAdDin #MedievalIslam #Jazira #ByzantineEmpire #NurAlDin #History #FexingoHistory #MiddleEastHistory #Seljuk #SultanateOfRum Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo