SAL 
SAL 
560 
or academies, in which the principles of the Sunnite theology 
were taught. Though he occasionally assisted Noureddin 
in his enterprizes against the Christians, he incurred the 
suspicion of that prince, who marched to the borders of 
Egypt with a large army, in order to compel him to sub¬ 
mission. A temporary accommodation, however, prevented 
hostilities between them; and the death of Noureddin, in 
1174, removed the greatest obstacle to Saladin’s ambitious 
projects. Though lie acknowledged Al-Malek, the minor 
son of Noureddin, as the lawful heir to that prince, he took 
measures to seize his dominions, first under the pretence of 
protection, and then openly for himself. He reduced Da¬ 
mascus and several other places in Syria, and besieged Al- 
Malek in Aleppo, but without effect. He also endeavoured 
to expel the Franks from the maritime parts of Palestine, but 
was entirely defeated at Ascalon, with the destruction of 
almost his whole army. Al-Malek died in 1181; and Sa- 
ladin, in 1183, became master of Aleppo by capitulation, 
sO that he was now in full possession of Syria as well as of 
Egypt, to both which provinces his title as Sultan had been 
confirmed by the Caliph Nasser. The great object both of 
his religious zeal and his politics was now to expel the Chris¬ 
tians from Palestine, and recover the city of Jerusalem. His 
ardour was further inflamed by the desire of vengeance. 
Arnaud de Chatillon, one of the Frank lords settled in that 
country, had not only committed great ravages on the Ara¬ 
bian border, but had attacked a caravan of pilgrims going 
to Mecca, massacreing a number of them, and carrying the 
rest into captivity. As this act of hostility was an infraction 
of a convention between Saladin and the Christians, by 
which pilgrims were to pass unmolested, he vowed revenge 
upon the perpetrator. This threat he was enabled to make 
good by his victory in the famous battle on the plain of Ti¬ 
berias, in 1187, when Guy of Lusignan, the King of Jeru¬ 
salem, together with Chatillon, the masters of the Templars 
and Hospitallers, and a number of knights, were made pri¬ 
soners. The masters and knights were immediately massa¬ 
cred before the Sultan’s tent, being regarded by him as pro¬ 
fessed assassins. Lusignan and Chatillon were brought into 
the tent, and the Sultan drank to the former and then pre¬ 
sented the cup to him. Lusignan, after quenching his 
thirst, would have passed the cup to Chatillon; but the Sul¬ 
tan interposed. “ The person and dignity of a king,” said 
he, “ are sacred; but this impious robber must instantly 
acknowledge the prophet whom he has blasphemed, or meet 
the death which Ire has so often deserved.” The warrior 
disdained the proffered terms of mercy : Saladin struck him 
on the head with his scimitar, w'hich was a signal for his 
guard to finish that which he had begun, and Chatillon was 
immediately dispatched. Lusignan was sent to Damascus, 
and was speedily ransomed. 
From all the cities, both of the sea-coast and the inland 
country, the garrisons had been drawn away for the fatal 
field. Tyre and Tripoli alone could escape the rapid inroad 
of Saladin; and three months after the battle of Tiberias, he 
appeared in arms before the gates of Jerusalem. For a time 
he peremptorily refused all Offers of capitulation, and ex¬ 
pressed a determination to take it by storm. At length, 
however, the preparations for a vigorous defence on the part 
of the besieged induced the Sultan to listen to terms, and it 
was agreed that the Christian inhabitants should evacuate the 
city, with liberty to carry off their effects, and that the 
Franks shonld pay a certain ransom per head, or remain 
slaves to the conqueror. Saladin entered the holy capital 
in great triumph, and fairly executed the conditions of the 
treaty. He thence proceeded to lay siege to Tyre, but the 
destruction of his fleet by the Franks rendered the attempt 
abortive. The intelligence of the loss of Jerusalem excited 
equal grief and consternation among the Christian powers, 
and the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, the Kings of France 
and England, with several other princes, took the cross, and 
prepared armaments for the relief of the Holy Land. The 
particulars of their exploits, and of the brave resistance of 
Salaheddin, may be found in the article Croisades. 
This great prince died at Damascus, at the age of 56, and 
the loss of their hero plunged his subjects of Syria and Egypt 
into deep mourning. He was, indeed, one of the most 
conspicuous characters of .that period, and in many respects 
showed himself worthy of his high fortune. Though charge¬ 
able in the outset of lift? with unjustifiable methods of ob¬ 
taining power, but which may be partially excused from the 
consideration that he only usurped from usurpers, he em¬ 
ployed his power with great regard to the good of his sub¬ 
jects, whose burthens he lightened, whilst he benefited them 
by a great number of useful works and establishments. In 
his private expenses he was extremely moderate, being ad¬ 
dicted to no luxurious indulgence, and affecting simplicity 
and frugality in his appearance and mode of living. At the 
same time he was magnificent in his donations, and was so 
little of a miser, that the whole contents of his treasury at 
his death were one gold coin and a few silver drachms. In 
religion, he seems to have been fanatic and intolerant. The 
only study which he encouraged was the orthodox theology 
of his sect, and he looked with contempt or aversion upon 
polite literature and profane science. He was devoutly pa¬ 
tient of injuries, and, for an eastern monarch, could not be 
called sanguinary. He was faithful to his engagements, and 
administered justice with diligence and impartiality. By 
his virtues he obtained the esteem even of his enemies; and 
indeed the moral comparison between him and most of the 
heroes of the crusade, is much in his favour. Saladin left a 
family of seventeen sons and one daughter, and was the 
founder of the dynasty of Ayoubites. Mod. Univers. Hist. 
Gibbon. 
SAL AIII AH, a fortress on the eastern frontier of Egypt, 
forming the key of the route from that country into Syria. 
It was first built by Saladin, and contains now about 6000 
inhabitants. 
SALAIBSKOIE, a fortress of Asiatic Russia, in the pro¬ 
vince of Tomsk, built at the junction of the small river Sa- 
laiba with the Bia. It is surrounded by immense forests, 
traversed by a savage race called the Coumandins. 
SALIGNAC, a small town in the south-west of France, 
departments of the Dordogne. Population 2100 ; 32 miles 
south-east of Perigueux. 
SAL AKA, a harbour of Nubia, on the western coast of the 
Red Sea. Lat. 20. 42. N. long. 37. 5. E. 
SALA'M, .v. [Persian.] A compliment of ceremony or 
respect. The word is now well known in the East Indies.— 
Our ambassador, — after reciprocal sallams , returned to his 
lodging. Sir T. Herbert. 
SALAMANCA, a province in the west of Spain, forming 
the south part of the kingdom of Leon, and bordering on 
Portugal. It lies between 5. and 7. of west long., and 40. 
and 41. of north lat.; has a superficial extent of 1500 square 
miles, with 210,000 inhabitants. It consists partly of a dead 
flat, destitute of trees, and deficient in water; partly of lofty 
mountains, particularly in the south, where are found the 
Sierras, or mountain rangers of Francia, Bejar, Gredos, Gata, 
and Puerto del Pico. It is watered by the Douro, the Ague- 
da, the Yeltes, the Tonnes and the Alagon, and contains a 
small lake called Gredos. The climate is in general dry and 
hot, rain seldom falling during the summer months. The 
mountains are rich in minerals. The more favourable expo¬ 
sures produce vines, and those fruits which require a warm 
climate. The wool of this province is good, and the best 
pastures are allotted to the Merino sheep. The contraband 
trade carried on with Portugal is very considerable. 
SALAMANCA, an ancient city in the north-west of Spain, 
situated on the ascent of three hills, with the river Tonnes 
flowing at their base. The environs are pleasant, and afford, 
along with the numerous spires of the city, a great relief to 
the eye of the traveller who has approached it by a mono¬ 
tonous country. The town is surrounded by a wall, has 
thirteen gates, several squares and fountains, and a number 
of massy buildings; but the streets are all on uneven ground, 
and the indolence of the Spaniards prevents them from turn¬ 
ing this position to advantage, by conducting streams of 
water from the upper to the lower parts of the town. The 
principal square is extensive, with piazzas all round. The 
houses are uniform, and of a good height, with balconies in 
front; and one of the sides of the square is occupied by the 
town 
