Saladin's Trusted Adviser: The Life of Baha ad-Din ibn Shaddad

In this episode, we explore the life and writings of Baha ad-Din ibn Shaddad, Saladin's closest confidant and official biographer. Born in Mosul in 1145, ibn Shaddad was a distinguished Islamic jurist and scholar who became Saladin's qadi al-askar (judge of the army) and witnessed key events of the Third Crusade firsthand. His chronicle, 'The Rare and Excellent History of Saladin,' remains one of the most important primary sources on the sultan's life and campaigns. We discuss how ibn Shaddad's personal observations shaped our understanding of Saladin's character — from his generosity during the Siege of Acre to his humility in death. We also examine the controversies: ibn Shaddad's obvious bias, his silence on certain events like the execution of Reynald de Châtillon, and how his work compares with other chroniclers such as Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani. Join Lucas and Luna as they uncover the man behind the biography and the friendship that preserved Saladin's legacy. #BahaAdDinIbnShaddad #Saladin #Ayyubid #ThirdCrusade #IslamicHistory #Crusades #MedievalHistory #Biography #Chronicle #Mosul #Acre #QadiAlAskar #ImadAdDin #RareAndExcellentHistory #Historiography #MiddleEast #History #FexingoHistory #AyyubidDynasty #MedievalMiddleEast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo