Episode 247
A few days after receiving the news, I found myself in Egypt, my mind a whirlwind of emotions.
“So, what’s the situation?”
“While the details will likely be provided by the officials here, from what we’ve gathered, it seems the Sultan’s condition is indeed critical. Fortunately, he’s still holding on, but to be honest, it doesn’t look like he has much time left.”
“And how are people reacting?”
“Given the Sultan’s age, most are resigned to the inevitable. Neighboring countries are already preparing to send delegations for condolences, which suggests the news is likely true.”
Amirs from all over are converging on Cairo. The real issue is the void that will be left by the departure of the greatest Sultan who has led the Ayyubids for so long.
Nasr, with eyes bleary from sleepless nights, continued to analyze the situation.
“To summarize, the Maghreb region, which hasn’t fully settled yet, is even more unsettled by the news of the Sultan’s condition. It’s a relief that Saladin’s brother, Al-Adil, has been tentatively decided as the new Sultan of the Maghreb. If this had happened before Al-Adil left the Ayyubids, the entire region would have been on the brink of chaos.”
“Al-Adil will have his hands full stabilizing the Maghreb, so he won’t be able to focus on the Ayyubids. But with his brother critically ill, he must be torn.”
“Since he can’t leave the Maghreb, he’ll likely send a delegation in haste. The same goes for the former Khwarezm. They’re worried about how the Ayyubid turmoil might affect them, given their own precarious situation.”
Realistically, the reason the Ayyubids are the strongest among the former Islamic states is that the surrounding nations have all but collapsed.
Khwarezm was not just defeated by the Mongols; it was obliterated. The Almohads lost their leadership in a recent war, and internal strife over the caliphate has left them in disarray, leaving no power capable of checking the Ayyubids.
But this also means those bordering the Ayyubids are concerned about how the chaos from Saladin’s absence might spill over to them.
“What about Europe or the Byzantine Empire?”
“They’re mostly watching from afar. However, since Saladin wasn’t on bad terms with European monarchs, they’ll likely send delegations to offer condolences.”
It’s not the time of the Crusades, and no one is likely to exploit Saladin’s absence for mischief. So, the issue remains internal to the Ayyubids, and with the succession somewhat established, the chances of major upheaval seem slim.
I approached Al-Afdal, who still seemed dazed.
“Are you worried?”
”…Yes. Honestly, I didn’t expect things to unfold so suddenly. I thought I’d have time to prepare after returning to Cairo.”
Compared to history, you’ve been given ample time to prepare. You should be grateful.
Of course, it’s natural for a son to be troubled when his father is critically ill.
Even in his dazed state, I didn’t find him weak or pathetic.
“The Sultan is likely waiting for his eldest son to return. If you hurry, you won’t be too late.”
”…Yes. I just hope I’m not too late. By the way, did my father say anything to you?”
“He did mention something about the succession. As you might have guessed, your accompanying me was to help establish your foundation as the successor.”
“Yes, I assumed as much.”
“So, you needn’t worry too much about that. Everything is already in place.”
With the Maghreb and Khwarezm still struggling, if the Ayyubids falter, the domino effect could be unpredictable.
Until the new order is firmly established, Al-Afdal needs to support me as the new Sultan of the Ayyubids.
Saladin wanted that too, which is why he entrusted the successor to me.
In reality, even if we wanted to avoid helping each other, the situation demands it.
“I’m still concerned about the atmosphere in Cairo.”
“An Ayyubid without my father is unimaginable… I just worry if I can fill that void.”
Al-Afdal will never command the same authority as Saladin, but that’s why he must borrow authority from elsewhere.
Whether the new system can truly take root depends on how well it’s established.
And to see how well it functions, one must look beyond the influence of any single individual.
With figures like Saladin or Philip II, it’s impossible to gauge how well a system works because a few geniuses can carry the weight alone.
Conversely, when a nation maintained by a genius like Saladin loses him, its flaws become apparent.
Historically, the Ayyubids couldn’t overcome this and fell.
So, what about now?
That depends on how much power I can help Al-Afdal wield.
“Your Majesty!”
“Father!”
Rushing into Cairo, we were greeted by Saladin, leisurely eating fruit in bed.
“Oh, I apologize for startling you. It seems you came as soon as you heard the news.”
“Yes. We were about to return to Constantinople when we heard of the Sultan’s condition and turned back immediately.”
“I’m sorry to have worried you. It’s just that, at my age, my body doesn’t always cooperate.”
“Father, I heard you collapsed while trying to get into a carriage. Are you still unwell?”
“Hahaha. It’s natural for one’s strength to wane with age. I’m fine now. Those who saw me collapse just overreacted.”
Despite his words, Saladin looked more haggard than the last time I saw him. He seemed to struggle even with eating fruit, pausing frequently. He didn’t move from the bed, suggesting he couldn’t use his legs properly.
After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly.
“I’d like to speak with the Apostle alone for a moment. Could you step outside?”
”…Yes? Oh, alright. I’ll wait outside.”
“Yes. Don’t be anxious, just wait.”
After warmly seeing his son out, Saladin turned to me with a deep sigh.
“What do you think? I hope he hasn’t been too much trouble.”
“He’s exceeded my expectations. He seems like he’ll be a good successor.”
“Really?”
Saladin picked up a piece of fruit, then set it back down.
“You might know, but strangely, I was unconscious until yesterday.”
“Is that so? The stories I heard were so different that it made me more anxious.”
“Indeed. They say people often have a moment of clarity before they go, don’t they? Hahaha.”
Though he laughed, his voice carried a hint of melancholy. No matter how detached one is, facing the end of life is never easy.
“If that’s truly the case, wouldn’t it be better to spend your last moments with your son?”
“Talking with my son would be nice, but speaking with you will benefit his future. As a father, the choice is obvious.”
“You needn’t go to such lengths. I won’t oppose your successor.”
“Since you already think that way, and now that you’ve heard my final request, won’t you do even better? You can consider it an old man’s cunning if you like.”
Even though his son is grown, perhaps he still seems like a child to Saladin, who can’t shake his worries.
Saladin shook his head, unable to fully dispel his concerns.
His anxiety likely stems from the fact that, objectively, Al-Afdal’s abilities fall short compared to Saladin’s.
Can a son, who seems less capable than his father at the same age, truly succeed in this role?
Objectively, Al-Afdal isn’t lacking, but Saladin’s own brilliance makes such worries inevitable.
It’s true that even as a compliment, it’s hard to say Al-Afdal could match half of his father’s prowess.
When I said he was better than expected, I meant he wouldn’t ruin the country, not that he’d be a ruler on par with Saladin.
In terms of ability, he lagged far behind Saladin’s brother, Al-Adil.
Though Al-Adil, being older, isn’t a competitor, compared to Jalal ad-Din, who will eventually unify Khwarezm and become Sultan, the difference in ability is clear.
Of course, given the size of the nation he’s inheriting, the newly established Khwarezm won’t pose a threat to the Ayyubids.
“Ayyub is now the heart of two continents, Asia and Africa. Even if your son takes over, its position will remain unshaken. I promise you that.”
“Haha, if you vouch for it, I can set my worries aside and feel at ease.”
Saladin’s face visibly relaxed, showing he wasn’t just offering empty words.
After a moment of silent contemplation, he spoke again in a clear, albeit soft voice.
“As one grows older, memories of the past seem to surface more often. Do you remember when we first met?”
“Of course, I remember. Back then, I was neither an apostle of Islam nor anything significant, yet you welcomed me with such generosity.”
“If there’s one thing I’ve done right in my life, it was recognizing your true worth back then. Thanks to that, everyone who follows Ayyub can lead a happy life.”
“It’s your leadership that has placed this nation on solid ground.”
“But alone, it would have been nothing more than a castle built on sand. Without you, a true crusade wouldn’t have been possible, and Damascus might have ended up like Baghdad.”
Saladin closed his eyes gently.
“To be honest, I felt the end approaching even then, but I prayed to God each time. I wished to witness the birth of a new order before closing my eyes. Thankfully, God has answered my prayers.”
“Then perhaps you should pray for just a little more time?”
“Haha… I doubt that would work. Even reaching this point has been a struggle. To confess, my conversation with you isn’t solely for my son’s sake.”
“Is there something else you’d like to hear?”
Though I meant it as a joke, Saladin nodded, not denying it.
“They say as you age, you become more childish and filled with idle thoughts. It seems there’s some truth to that. I’ve been curious, but asking those around me would only yield answers meant to please me.”
“So you wish to ask me.”
“Hahaha. Indeed. You’ve seen many great rulers, haven’t you? Philip II, Richard I—such remarkable figures were by your side. How do I compare? How will history remember me?”
Though he seemed above it all, in the end, even a great ruler like him wished to know how his reign would be judged.
I responded as objectively as possible, setting aside personal bias.
“Among those who bear the title of Sultan, none will precede Salah ad-Din, neither in the past nor in the future.”
”…”
“Richard I and Philip II were undoubtedly great rulers, but considering character, I would place Your Majesty first.”
”…”
“How does that sound? I tried to be as objective as possible.”
When he didn’t react, I turned to see his response.
Saladin remained still, a satisfied smile on his face.
I bowed deeply, sincerely, to the man who departed peacefully until the very end.