He abolished the dynasty of the Fatemite
khalifs. Though Noureddin had been the patron of his family, and
the father of his fortunes, yet was that hero no sooner expired,
than he invaded the territories of his young and unwarlike
successor. He conquered the fertile and populous province of
Syria. He compelled the saheb of Mawsel to do him homage. The
princes of the Franks already trembled for their possessions,
and prepared a new and more solemn embassy, to demand the
necessary succours of their European brethren.
"The qualities of Saladin were gilded with the lustre of
conquest; and it has been the singular fortune of this Moslem
hero, to be painted in fairer colours by the discordant and
astonished Christians, than by those of his own courtiers and
countrymen, who may reasonably be supposed to have known him
best. He has been compared with Alexander; and tho' he be
usually stiled, and with some justice, a barbarian, it does not
appear that his character would suffer in the comparison. His
conquests were equally splendid; nor did he lead the forces of a
brave and generous people, against a nation depressed by
slavery, and relaxed with effeminacy. Under his banner Saracen
encountered Saracen in equal strife; or the forces of the East
were engaged with the firmer and more disciplined armies of the
West.
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