10. Saladin

Born: 1137

Died: 1193

Reign: 1174 – 1193

Saladin was a senior statesman at the court of Sultan Nur ad-Din, and later took over that title. He gained fame in battles in the Crusades where his main rival was Richard the Lionheart.

He vehemently opposed the Christian rulers and caused them numerous defeats and thus changed the course of the Crusades. He also successfully defended his sultanate of Richards’ attacks, and only failed mission was his attack on the Kingdom of Jerusalem.