He joined the military at the age of 14

One of the interesting facts about Saladin you may not know, Saladin was just 14 when he started training for his military career. Saladin's uncle Asad al-Din Shirkuh served as his primary military instructor while serving as Nur ad-Din, the Zengid emir of Damascus and Aleppo. Asad al-Din was Saladin's most important tutor. Shawar, the vizier to the Fatimid caliph al-Add, was expelled from Egypt in 1163 by Dirgham, a rival from the renown Banu Ruzzaik tribe. Nur ad-Din granted his request for military support and, in 1164, dispatched Shirkuh to assist Shawar in his campaign against Dirgham. At the age of 26, Saladin accompanied them.

Saladin was instructed by and shaped by Shirkuh into the capable officer he later became. Shirkuh fought beside Saladin in each engagement. He also assisted him in winning the Battle of al-Babein, which is regarded as one of history's most notable conflicts. He helped Shirkuh depose Shawar in Egypt, which later resulted in Egypt's defeat and the conquest of the Egyptian monarchy.

Shirkuh passed away a year later, making Saladin the concurrent military leader and Egyptian emperor.