Ayyubid Empire

== Rise- The Third Crusad == In 1191 Richard the Lionheart reaches the Holy Land with 30,000 soldiers following him. Saladin, not expecting Richard to be much of a threat, sends an army under the Command of El Mahmud the Chivalrous. Richard and Mahmud's armies clash, with Richard emerging victorious. This decisive Crusader victory shocks Saladin, and so he mobilizes the army and leads it himself into battle. Right before the battle Saladin splits his army in two. 25,000 stayed with Saladin while 7,000 go behind Richard's army and hits it from the back. Then Saladins main force smashes into the Crusaders, overwhelming them and slaughtering many. At the end of the battle 20,000 crusaders were dead, 7000 captured, and the rest escaped. Richard was among the Captured and so the third Crusade ended. Saladin spares Richards life but kills Conrad, one of the Crusader leaders. Richard spends time learning about Islam, and soon asks Saladin if he may Convert. Saladin happily agrees and appoints Richard to be the next Sultan. Richard changes his name to Abbas Handam.