1174 CE: Saladin captures Damascus.

1174 CE - 1193 CE: Reign of Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, and founder of the Ayyubid dynasty.

1174 CE: After the death of Nur ad-Din, Saladin proclaims himself as the independent ruler of Egypt.

1175 CE: An attempt by 13 members of the Assassins to murder Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, fails.

1175 CE: Saladin defeats an army from Aleppo at Hama.

1176 CE: A second attempt by the Assassins on the life of Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, fails.

1177 CE: Saladin defeated by a Frankish army at Mont Gisard.

1179 CE: Saladin defeats a Franks army at Marj Ayyun.

1183 CE: Saladin captures Aleppo.

1185 CE: Saladin captures Mosul.

1187 CE: Saladin attacks the Franks-held castle of Kerak.

1187 CE: Saladin defeats the Franks army at the Battle of Hattin.

1187 CE: Saladin captures Jerusalem.

1188 CE: Saladin besieges the Knights Hospitaller castle of Krak des Chevaliers but withdraws to meet the Third Crusade.

1189 CE - 1192 CE: The Third Crusade is formed with the aim of recapturing Jerusalem for Christendom. Although some cities were recaptured, Jerusalem was not one of them.

1189 CE - 1191 CE: The siege of Acre during the Third Crusade.

1191 CE: Richard I of England captures Acre during the Third Crusade.

1192 CE: The Crusader army led by Richard I of England arrives within sight of Jerusalem but decides not to attack for fear of a counter-attack by Saladin.

1192 CE: Saladin takes Jaffa during the Third Crusade.

1192 CE: Richard I of England retakes Jaffa from Saladin during the Third Crusade.

1193 CE: Death of Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria.