March 3* is the Feast of Saladin, who died 825 years ago at Damascus, Syria. Saladin was a military and political leader who as sultan led Islamic forces against European Crusaders. His victory at the Battle of Hattin in 1187 paved the way for Islamic re-conquest of Jerusalem and other Holy Land cities in the Near East. During the Third Crusade, Saladin was able to negotiate a truce with Richard I of England (the Lionheart) that allowed for continued Muslim control of Jerusalem.
In honor of Saladin, here is a suggested feast menu:
Learn more about Saladin:
*Some sources say March 4, but given the number of years gone by plus calendar changes, it’s hard to know which is correct. Celebrate as ye will.
Saladin was also Kurdish, one of the most liberal and culturally evolved peoples in the Middle East. A friend of mine, US Army Cpt. during the Iraq War, dealt with them during his deployment and was quite impressed.