The fifth novel, Saladin and the Assassins (Salah al-din al-Ayyubi; 1913) takes place at the time of the Crusades. Saladin is an important historical figure known in the west for having fought Richard the Lionheart, defeated the crusaders and recaptured Jerusalem. He established his rule over Egypt and Syria and founded the Ayyubid dynasty. In Egypt he overturned the Shi'i Fatimid caliphate returning Egypt to Sunni Islam.About the Author: Jurji Zaydan (1861-1914), was a prolific Lebanese novelist, journalist, editor and teacher, most noted for his creation of the magazine al-Hilal, which he used to serialize his 23 historical novels