Boccaccio's Decameron (14th c.) with Notes by G. H. McWilliam:

Saladin, The 12th c. Kurdish Prince. 

"Of  Kurdish origin, the Muslim leader  Salah ad-Din (1137-93) popularly known as Saladin gained enormous respect and popularity in the Christian world for his diplomacy, military genius, scholarliness, and generosity of spirit. The last of these (generosity) is splendidly celebrated in the Decameron's penultimate narrative (X, 9). 

In the Comedia, Dante had placed Saladin in the area of Limbo reserved for the souls of virtuous Pagans (in the company of Homer, Caesar, Plato and Dante's guide, Virgil.)"

The Third Story of Decameron is a charming tale about "Melchizedek, the Jew,... about three rings, avoids, a most dangerous trap laid for him by Saladin."

Saladin, employing diplomacy and the sword became the Emperor of Egypt, Syria and much of Mesopotamia.