Family of Saladin Ayyubi: Wives, Children, Siblings, and Parents
Saladin, also known as Salah ad-Din, was a prominent figure in Islamic history as the founder and first ruler of the Ayyubid State. His extraordinary military and political accomplishments, including recapturing Jerusalem from the Crusaders, have kept his life and lineage a topic of fascination for many.
Saladin, his children, and his wives have especially piqued the interest of many people. His notable children include Aziz Osman Bin Saladin, Efdal Bin Saladin, Melik Zahir Gazi, Al-Mu’azzam Turanshah ibn Salah al-Din, Da’ud ibn Şalah al-Din, Agar Sharefeddin Abu Yusuf Yakub, Mas’ud ibn Şalah al-Din, İshaq ibn Şalah al-Din, Al-afdal ‘Ali, among others.
Moreover, Saladin’s extraordinary family background is equally noteworthy. His family, who were of the Revvadi branch of the Hezbaniyye Kurds, have a fascinating history. It is believed that their Kurdish lineage originated from the Yemeni Azd tribe, who are of Arab origins. The Revvadis, who were initially Arab settlers from Basra, were resettled by the Abbasid Caliphate in Azerbaijan. From there, they began to intermingle with the Kurdish population of the region and eventually became recognized as Kurds.
Saladin himself was born into a prominent Kurdish family in Tikrit, present-day Iraq. His father, Necmeddin Eyyub, was born in the Kurdish-inhabited village of “Ecdenakan,” and Saladin’s grandfather, Shadi bin Mervan, had close ties with prominent figures in the area.
The family’s close association with Imaduddin Zengi and their shift from Bagdhad governor Bihruz to the Zengids adds to the complex family dynamics that surrounded Saladin’s early life.
Furthermore, Saladin had prestigious brothers with Islamic tradition-driven nicknames like Tâcülmülk Börü, Seyfülislam Tuğtekin, Âdıl Seyfeddîn Ebû Bekir, and Şemsûddevle Turanşah.
This article sheds light on the often-unknown aspects of Saladin’s life, family, and heritage, contributing to a deeper understanding of the historic figure and his significance in Islamic history.