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Third Crusade 1189-1192: From Hattin to Jaffa DOCUMENTARY

Kings and Generals・67 minutes read

The Third Crusade was marked by key battles like Hattin and Asif, with Saladin's victories prompting a massive response fueled by leadership like Richard the Lionheart and Philip Augustus. Despite challenges, resilience, and fierce battles, the Crusaders secured a truce in 1192, allowing Christian pilgrims to access the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem while Saladin retained control of the city.

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The Third Crusade, marked by iconic battles and strategic maneuvers, was a pivotal historical event sponsored by Rise of Kingdoms, offering a historical strategy game for players.
Saladin's victories in 1187 against King G of Jerusalem led to the proclamation of the Third Crusade in Western Europe, where Richard the Lionheart and French King Philippe allied to lead a massive response.
Richard the Lionheart's tactical prowess and diplomatic maneuvering against Saladin culminated in a truce in 1192, allowing Christian pilgrims access to Jerusalem while Saladin retained control, ending the Third Crusade.

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What were the pivotal battles during the Third Crusade?
Patti, Naka, Econia, Jaffa, and Asif.

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Summary

00:00

Third Crusade: Battles, Strategies, and Intrigue

The Third Crusade was a significant historical event marked by brilliant commanders, courtly intrigue, religious struggles, desperate sieges, unexpected maneuvers, bold tactics, and iconic battles.
The battles of Patti, Naka, Econia, Jaffa, and Asif were pivotal events during the Third Crusade.
Rise of Kingdoms sponsored a documentary on the Third Crusade, offering a historical strategy game for players to download.
In late June 1187, two armies, one led by King G of Jerusalem and the other by Saladin, prepared for a decisive campaign in Galilee.
King G's army consisted of 1,200 mounted knights, 4,000 other mounted troops, and 15,000 infantry with varying weapons.
Saladin's army, with 35,000 men, was better organized and included infantry, cavalry, and a unit of Mamluks as the Sultan's personal guard.
Saladin's attack on Tiberias led to its fall, prompting King G's army to march towards the city.
Despite initial reluctance, King G's army marched towards Tiberias, facing harassment from Saladin's cavalry and a strategic maneuver that led to their defeat at the Battle of Hattin.
The Battle of Hattin saw the collapse of King G's army, with most warriors killed or taken prisoner, leading to Saladin's subsequent siege and capture of Jerusalem.
Conrad of Montferrat's resistance at Tyre and the fall of Jerusalem prompted the proclamation for the Third Crusade in Western Europe, amidst deepening rivalries and power struggles among Western powers.

17:08

Angevins and Lionheart: Crusade for the Holy Land

The Angevins were vassals of the French Kings but often more powerful, leading to friction.
Saladin's victories in 1187 broke a deadlock, prompting a massive Crusade response.
Richard the Lionheart, supported by French King Philippe, took up the cross in 1187.
French Lords pledged support after Archbishop Justice's sermon on the Holy Land's state.
The Saladin tithe raised funds for the Crusade, more successful in England than France.
Richard allied with the French King to prevent disinheritance, leading to a peace settlement.
Richard ascended to the English throne, intensifying efforts to raise funds for the Crusade.
Richard and Philippe organized their armies and set off for the Levant in 1190.
Emperor Frederick Barbarossa joined the Crusade, facing challenges but advancing.
Saladin's siege of Acre saw a fierce battle where the Crusaders were initially defeated.

34:57

Barbarossa's Crusade: Victory, Tragedy, and Triumph

Barbarossa's disciplined troops moved towards Filum Elian, outnumbering the Seljuks and attacking from both sides.
German sources claimed Kcassaro had a ten thousand strong army, losing half in battle, improving Barbarossa's logistical situation.
After resting, Crusaders marched towards Eternium to replenish rations and replace lost horses.
The German army planned to attack the Seljuks led by Kilij Arslan and his son, who were preparing to defend the city.
Barbarossa's son discovered the city was defended by a small garrison, leading to a retreat towards the Citadel.
Barbarossa's charge broke the Seljuk center, causing the Sultanate army to retreat, ending the battle.
Barbarossa entered the city, and the German force marched south towards the coast into Christian lands.
Barbarossa's attempt to ford the river Salif led to his drowning, with his son attempting to hold the Crusade together.
The Crusaders besieged Acker, fortifying their position with ditches, ramparts, and palisades.
Saladin's garrison in Acker faced starvation and desperation, leading to negotiations for surrender, which the Crusaders rejected.

52:25

Crusaders' strategic shifts lead to victory

On July 2nd, the Crusaders shifted their strategy to exploiting breaches in the city's fortifications rather than all-out attacks, leading to significant breaches made by French sappers and English catapults.
During the assault, Marshal of France, Orbray de L'Amour, declared his determination to either die or triumphantly enter the city, but was killed after the attack was repelled.
Despite illness, Richard, unable to walk, used a crossbow to pick off Muslim troops from a regal stretcher near the front lines.
On July 12th, 1191, a deal secured the surrender of Akka, sparing Muslim lives, returning prisoners, and the True Cross, with a payment of two hundred thousand gold dinars.
The peaceful surrender of Akka contrasted with the violent siege, leading to admiration for the surrendering opponents and the Crusaders' resilience in facing various challenges.
The Crusaders gained a beachhead in the Holy Land and captured Saladin's prized Egyptian fleet, ensuring naval superiority.
Saladin's defeat in July 1191 damaged his martial reputation, leading to his retreat and the reconsecration of captured churches in Akka.
Richard became the uncontested leader of the Third Crusade after Philip Augustus left for Europe, securing his authority and resolving the succession of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Richard faced diplomatic maneuvering from Saladin, leading to a drastic step of marching out of the city with prisoners, resulting in a brutal exchange of executions.
The Crusader army, led by Richard, advanced towards Jaffa in a slow and strategic manner, engaging in battles and facing challenges from Saladin's forces, ultimately reaching the river of reeds.

01:09:32

"Crusaders Triumph in Battle, Saladin's Defeat"

The Lionheart commanded his army to charge and reinforced the left-wing, leading a lethal nightly charge that routed the Muslim line.
Saladin rallied his Elite Guard and units to counter the Crusaders but failed, resulting in significant Muslim casualties.
The Crusaders celebrated a victory near Asif, with an estimated 700 Crusader soldiers dead compared to 7,000 Muslim casualties.
Saladin demolished Ascalon to focus on defending Jerusalem, adopting scorched earth tactics against the Crusaders.
Richard's army spent seven weeks stalled in Jaffa, allowing Saladin to further expand his scorched earth strategy.
Richard reorganized his army in October 1191, advancing towards Jerusalem, facing skirmishes with Saracen troops.
Richard used diplomacy and military threats to pressure Saladin, leading to a series of spying episodes and sabotage between the two sides.
Crusade engineers refortified regions like Yaso and Ramla, enduring dire winter conditions and malnourishment.
The Crusaders advanced towards Jerusalem, reaching a small destroyed fortress near Bates New Bern, just 12 miles from the city.
A council decided to retreat from Beta Nuba back to the coast, causing divisions among the Crusaders and leading to Richard's focus on consolidating power in the Levant.

01:27:30

Richard the Lionheart's Military Triumph at Jaffa

Richard the Lionheart, upon learning of resistance at the Citadel of Jaffa, displayed his military prowess by wading through the sea to reach the shore with his army, causing panic among the Muslims who then retreated in disorderly fashion.
Saladin, struggling to control his army, planned a surprise attack on Jaffa but was discovered by a soldier, leading to a battle where Richard's innovative defenses, including shield walls and anti-cavalry stakes, repelled the Muslim cavalry.
After negotiations, a truce was reached on September 2nd, 1192, allowing Christian pilgrims access to the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem while Saladin retained control of the city, marking the end of the Third Crusade.

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