AN ANALYSIS OF AYYUBID MILITARY MANOEUVRES DURING THE BATTLE OF HATTIN BASED ON HISTORICAL SOURCES

The Ayyubid forces, under the leadership of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi, had successfully liberated Bayt al-Maqdis after the Battle of Hattin, which witnessed the defeat of the Crusaders led by the Guy of Lusignan, and this proved to be a significant event in the history of the Ayyubid Sultanate. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the discourse on Ayyubid military manoeuvres during the Battle of Hattin based on historical literary works, as well as the war strategies employed by Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi during the battle. This qualitative study adopted historical methods and content analysis by examining primary and secondary sources that discuss the Ayyubid military campaigns implemented during the Battle of Hattin. Findings reveal that historical literary works authored by classical historians and modern scholars, such as Ibn al-Athir, Ibn Shaddad, Karen Armstrong and Carole Hillenbrand, provide discussions on the Ayyubid militarys background and the strategies employed during the Battle of Hattin, which ultimately led to the liberation of Bayt al-Maqdis. These discussions highlight the Ayyubid military operations during the Battle of Hattin and Salah al-Din al-Ayyubis leadership prowess in commanding the Ayyubid forces to reclaim Bayt al-Maqdis.