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Saladin conquered a few smaller Muslim states and after As-Salih Ismail’s death, he took control over Syria and most of northern Iraq. Eventually he turned on the Christian Crusaders. Saladin had united almost the entire known Muslim world. Previous to this, Muslims were divided into groups of their own people, and they were often fighting one another. Saladin could now mobilize most of the Muslim people against the Christian Crusaders,who had been the dominating influence over the Muslims and had controlled Jerusalem since 1095. Saladin did not attack the Crusaders right away. He had not only to make sure his kingdom was united but also to build up his army. The few battles between Saladin and Crusaders during this time were almost always won by Saladin, except for the Battle of Montgisard where Saladin escaped with only one tenth of his army.
Saladin made peace with the Crusaders, but he broke it a year later. He did not launch any major attacks until a man named Reynald of Chatillon began harassing Muslim caravans and killing any Muslims he came across. Reynald threatened to attack the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina. These outrages, combined with others committed by Reynald, forced Saladin to invade the Crusader state of The Kingdom of Jerusalem. Saladin and Reynald met at the Battle of Hattin. Saladin won absolute victory and decapitated Reynald of Chatillon himself.
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