Final answer:
Saladin responded to the withdrawal of crusaders from Jerusalem by focusing on strengthening his military and political position, negotiating truces, and taking advantage of European internal conflicts to maintain Muslim control over the city.
Step-by-step explanation:
After hearing that the crusaders had begun to withdraw from Jerusalem, Saladin did not react immediately by attacking but instead made strategic moves to solidify his control and prepare for potential counterattacks from the retreating forces.
Understanding that the nature of the crusades was an ongoing battle, Saladin and his successors, such as al-Kamil, focused on strengthening their position through political and military maneuvers.
This included attempting to negotiate truces and playing rival European factions against each other to maintain their hold over Jerusalem and surrounding territories.
Despite repeated attempts by various European monarchs to reclaim Jerusalem during successive crusades, after Saladin's initial recapture of the city, control remained largely in Muslim hands until the eventual rise of the powerful Mamluk dynasty.
Saladin's chivalrous and humane leadership left a lasting impression on both the Muslim and Christian worlds. The complex interplay of military campaigns, internal dynamics, and diplomacy defined this historic period.