Saladin's Kurdish Roots and the Rise of the Ayyubids

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Saladin's Kurdish heritage and the early career that shaped his rise. They discuss his birth in Tikrit in 1137, the role of his father Najm ad-Din Ayyub and uncle Shirkuh, his service under Nur ad-Din of the Zengid dynasty, and his military and administrative apprenticeship in Syria and Egypt. The conversation covers the siege of Alexandria in 1167, the fall of the Fatimid Caliphate in 1171, and how Saladin's Kurdish identity and family ties influenced his legitimacy and leadership. Listeners will learn about the Ayyubid dynasty's origins, the power struggles with the Zengids, and the broader 12th-century Middle Eastern geopolitics that set the stage for Saladin's campaigns against the Crusader states. #Saladin #Ayyubid #Kurdish #Nur ad-Din #Zengid #Shirkuh #Tikrit #Alexandria #Fatimid #Cairo #Crusades #12thCentury #MiddleEast #Sultan #History #FexingoHistory #Siege #Jihad Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo