The image of Saladin in medieval Italian literature among sources of knowledge and the European view of the Islamic world

Authors

Al al-Bayt University/ Mafraq/ Jordan

Abstract

The article discusses the image of Saladin in medieval Italian literature, both colloquial and learned. The contribution addresses Saladin's character and life, compares the concept of Western chivalry with that of Arab-Islamic chivalry, and finally studies Saladin's image in the works of two Italian authors: Celio (Cielo) d'Alcamo (13th century) and Dante Alighieri (1265-1321). The article concludes that there is a similarity in the sources of knowledge of both writers, and that they do not truly separate Saladin from the Western view of the East, that is, as both an enemy and a model knight, despite the fact that he earned respect and admiration from the West during the Middle Ages. The implementation of Saladin's image in literature was based on a central vision that remained silent on the greed and hostility towards the civilization to which Saladin belonged.
Keywords: Saladin, Italian literature, the common people, intellectuals, the Middle Ages, chivalry

Keywords

Main Subjects

Journal of the Faculty of Arts
Volume 85, Issue 8
October issue of social sciences
October 2025

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics