Saladin's Spies: The Intelligence Network That Won a Crusade

Long before Saladin's victory at Hattin, a vast network of spies, double agents, and coded messages was working behind the scenes. This episode unpacks how Saladin's intelligence operations — run by his trusted vizier al-Qadi al-Fadil — infiltrated crusader courts, intercepted enemy plans, and even used carrier pigeons to relay battlefield movements. We explore specific agents like the spy who posed as a merchant in Tyre, and how misinformation about troop numbers sowed discord between King Baldwin IV and Reynald de Châtillon. Lucas and Luna also discuss the ethical calculations of espionage in the context of jihad, and how Saladin's network compared to the Assassins' famed intelligence. A rare look at the shadow war that shaped the Third Crusade. #Saladin #Crusades #MedievalSpies #Intelligence #Espionage #alQadiAlFadil #Ayyubids #Hattin #Tyre #BaldwinIV #ReynaldDeChatillon #CarrierPigeons #Jihad #CrusaderStates #MiddleEast #History #FexingoHistory #MedievalWarfare Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo