Richard and Saladin essays

Richard and Saladin essays Richard 1 and Saladin were both major leaders in the Third Crusade. They were both very intelligent at an early age, and possessed precocious political and military ability, which made them very successful. Richard was hot-tempered, cruel, and irresponsible, which made it easy for him to be despised by many. In contrast to Richard, Saladin studied poetry and was known as a saintly hero by the Muslims. He was even admired by the Christians for his honesty and bravery. Saladin and Richard had mutual respect for one another after the Battle of Arsuf, when they had made a truce. Both Richard and Saladin had great military and political abilities at an early age. Richard 1 was given the duchy of Aquitaine, his mothers inheritance, at the age of 11 and was enthroned as duke at Poitiers. Richards eldest brother, Henry the Young King, was simultaneously crowned as his father's successor. Richard and his other brother, Geoffrey, then learned how to defend their property while still teenagers. Richard was also six feet four inches tall, which gave him a great advantage militarily. Saladin, as a child, was a scholar who studied the Koran as well as poetry, and his scholarly ways would continue through his life. At the young age of fourteen, he entered into the service of his uncle who was a great and respected Arab warrior. Another mentor of Saladin was the Saracen chief Zenghi. Saladin learned his military lessons well and soon began to stand out among Nur ed-Din's forces. Richard had no filial piety, foresight, or sense of responsibility. He joined his brothers in rebellion against his father, who invaded Aquistaine twice before Richard proposed and received pardon. Afterwards, Richard was occupied with holding back people revolting in his own duchy. His harshness made the Gascons angry, and they later revolted. After Richard became heir to England, and to Normandy and Anjou, his father wished him to yield Aquitaine to his you...