The Third Crusade
Saladin
• Saladin was nephew of Shirkuh, an important military commander under Nur-ad-Din.
He was Sunni and a devout Muslim
• He was Vizier of Egypt after the death of his uncle Shawar. He later became Sultan of
Egypt and ruler of Damascus after the death of Nur-ad-Din
• Saladin campaigned widely in the area, bring any regions under his control such as Syria
• He battled the Assassin sect before turning his attention to the Crusaders – he fought
Baldwin IV until his death, with Baldwin then victor at Montgisard in 1166, and Saladin
at Jacob’s Ford in 1179
• He was generous to his supports, strictly administered justice, and believed in Jihad,
giving him a strong position against the Franks
• Further motivation came when Reynald of Chatillon attacked Muslim caravans
(pilgrims) heading from Cairo to Damascus in the winter of 1186 – 1187
• Reynald killed pilgrims and traders, a clear violation of the truce drawn up in 1180 – this
gave Saladin a clear cause for war
• April 1187 – Saladin attacked Kerak – the Templars were defeated in May 1187 (430
vs army of 7000 Muslims) – early losses contributed to defeat at Hattin
• Saladin took and united many regions – Mosul (March 1186), Sidon (July 1187), Beirut
(August 1187), Ascalon (1187), Nablus, Jaffa, Toron, Gaza, Ramla, Jerusalem (August
1187)
Hattin (1187)
The Lead Up:
• In May and June 1187, Saladin gathered armies from across his territories – Egypt,
Aleppo, the Jazira, and Syria – 20,000 men
• Franks assembled in full force at Sapphorie. Mercenaries were hired and castles and
cities were stripped of their garrisons – 1,300 knights, 15,000 foot-soldiers
o This made it easier for Saladin to conquer the rest of Jerusalem after the defeat at
Hattin
• 3rd July – orders were given to Crusaders armies to march to Tiberias, 30km away from
Sapphorie, on a road, without proper water supplies – advantage for Saladin
• Guy had two choices – to prepare for a siege at Sapphorie or march out and attack – he
decided to march out which was a key strategic failure
o It allowed Saladin to pick the place of battle which ended up being the reason for the
defeat of the Crusaders
47
, The Battle of Hattin, 1187:
• The two armies met on the 3rd of July
• Christian infantry were instantly hit by mounted archers of Saladin who fired, wheeled
and turned away
• Christians camped at nightfall, and were exhausted by the heat and were dehydrated
• The Muslims, in contrast, counted on supplies on camel back from Lake Tiberias
• The Christians were surrounded but tried to break through to Lake Tiberias, 10km away
• Muslims set fire to the grass and brush to dry the Frank’s throats
o Christians broke ranks and scattered
o Raymond and the vanguard charged enemy and succeeded in escaping
o Remaining Christians fell back into the Horns of Hattin and were trapped
The Loss of Jerusalem (1187)
• Saladin’s armies progressed quickly, taking Tiberias, Nazareth, Acre, Caesarea, and Jaffa
o Some places surrendered immediately, other after brief sieges
o Settlers on Frankish farms fled to Tyre on the coast or to the north
• By September all coastal towns except Tyre had fallen to the Muslims – this was thanks
to the defence of Conrad of Montferrat who had led a firm resistance to Muslim attacks
• Jerusalem was next – Patriarch Heraclius negotiated the resistance, but surrender was
inevitable
• Defence was led by Balian of Ibelin
• Saladin assaulted the walls, attacking St. Stephen’s Gate
• Saladin negotiated the return of Muslim prisoners and accepted ransoms for Christians
• Young men and women were enslaved, elderly freed – contrast to massacre in 1099
• No Franks were allowed to stay Jerusalem, but eastern Christian could if they accepted
the status of dhimmi (protected religious community)
• Churches were stripped of ornaments and converted in mosques, colleges, or convents
• The Holy Sepulchre was spared, allowing local pilgrimage
• Saladin repopulated Jerusalem with descendants of former Muslim inhabitants
• A few castles held out, but were slowly captured – Kerak (November 1188), Saphet
(December 1188), Belvoir (January 1189), Montreal (April 1189), Beaufort (April 1190)
• Only Tyre survived – a crucial bridgehead for the early stages of the Third Crusade
Reasons for the Third Crusade
Reasons for the Third Crusade:
• Divisions between the nobles of Jerusalem of Baldwin IV led to their defeat in battle
• The defeat at the Battle of Hattin on the 3rd of July 1187 to Saladin
• The Fall of Jerusalem to Saladin on the 2nd of October 1187
48
