Known as Saladin in the West, Salahudeen al Ayubi was born in 1138 in Tikrit. Saladin, a Kurdish warrior, became the Sultan of Egypt and known as a champion of Islam. Salahudeen became a legend in the East and West for his role in clearing the Crusaders from Jerusalem. His capture of Jerusalem, and the Muslim triumph that followed, gave him a remarkable place in the pages of history.   The rise of a new, unified Islamic state centered in Egypt was accomplished by the skilled leadership of Saladin. The First Crusade captured Jerusalem in June 1099, amid a horrible massacre of the inhabitants. In 1174, Saladin began his expansion of his territory. In just twelve years, he conquered Damascus, Alleppo, and Iraq. Saladin…