Top 7 Battles of the Knights Templar - DOCUMENTARY
Real Crusades History・62 minutes read
The Knights Templar were fearless warrior monks driven by religious devotion in the Crusades. Despite their triumphs and strategic prowess, their recklessness led to devastating defeats, ultimately leading to the end of their presence in Palestine.
Insights
- The Knights Templar were renowned for their fearless combat skills, disciplined training, and intense religious devotion to Christianity, allowing them to triumph against larger enemy forces in crucial battles during the Crusades.
- Gerard of Rideford's reckless behavior and ill-advised decisions, such as urging King Gee to march into deadly situations against Saladin, proved detrimental to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, showcasing the impact of individual actions on historical events.
- The Battle of Arsuf, led by King Richard the Lionheart during the Third Crusade, secured Christian control of crucial territories, demonstrating the strategic brilliance and military prowess that enabled the Crusaders to overcome Saladin's forces and achieve significant victories in the region.
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Recent questions
Who were the Knights Templar?
Fearless warrior monks dominating Crusades battlefields.
What was the Battle of Hattin?
Greatest defeat of the crusaders, leaving Jerusalem vulnerable.
Who was King Richard in the Crusades?
Led the charge to recapture Acre with strategic prowess.
What was the significance of the Battle of Arsuf?
Secured Christian control of the coastal plain.
What led to the end of Acre in the Crusades?
Templars and Mamluks engaged in a fierce battle.
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Summary
00:00
Knights Templar Triumph in Battle of Montgisard
- The Knights Templar were fearless warrior monks who dominated the Crusades battlefields.
- Their strict discipline and constant training allowed them to defeat larger enemy armies.
- The Templars were driven by intense religious devotion to the Christian faith.
- In 1177, King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem faced Saladin's massive army in the Battle of Montgisard.
- Count Philip of Flanders arrived in Acre as a crusader, joining forces with King Baldwin IV.
- Despite being outnumbered, King Baldwin IV and his men defended Jerusalem against Saladin.
- Saladin's army, estimated at 12,000-26,000, invaded Christian territories.
- Grand Master Odo of Saint-Amand led the Knights Templar to aid King Baldwin IV in the battle.
- The Christian cavalry, led by the Templars, shattered Saladin's lines, leading to a great triumph.
- Saladin suffered immense casualties, with only about 10% of his forces escaping, saving the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
17:45
Gerard's Recklessness: A Kingdom's Downfall
- The Saracens overwhelmed the Crusaders, leaving only three knights alive, including Gerard of Rideford who was seriously wounded but managed to escape.
- Gerard's anger at Raymond of Tripoli allowing Saladin's troops through Christian territory led to his reckless behavior, detrimental to the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
- Gerard's recklessness was unusual among the cautious Crusaders, as described by Saracen chronicler Usama ibn Munkid.
- Gerard's advice led to the deadly Battle of Cresson, where a small group of Templars and knights were wiped out by a larger Saracen army.
- News of the calamity prompted a reconciliation between Raymond and Gee at the Hospital Castle of Saint Job.
- Gerard's survival at Cresson led to his advice for King Gee to march into a deadly situation against Saladin near the Horns of Hattin.
- Templar history had great leaders, but Gerard's recklessness at a critical time was detrimental to the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
- In 1187, Gee of Lucion, King of Jerusalem, faced internal divisions as Reynaud of Chateauneuf's actions threatened the peace treaty with Saladin.
- Raymond of Tripoli recognized the danger and advised Gee to maintain a defensive position at Seferi to avoid risking the kingdom against Saladin's forces.
- Despite Raymond's advice, Gerard of Rideford convinced Gee to march on Tiberius, leading to a disastrous battle against Saladin's forces.
33:42
"Battle of Hattin: Crusaders Defeated, Jerusalem Vulnerable"
- Salden launches a full-on assault, causing discipline among the crusaders to break down.
- Ghee's lack of gravitas as king leads to the Christian infantry breaking ranks and retreating north.
- Raymond of Tripoli and Bailey of Ebelin deliver a powerful charge, allowing the crusaders to escape to the city of Tyre.
- The Templars and Hospitalers struggle against the encircling Saracens.
- Despite overwhelming numbers, the Christian knights fight with great spirit, almost overcoming Saladin's advantage.
- Saladin's son, Al-Afdal, recounts the battle where the Franks retreat and return with undiminished ardor.
- Saladin captures King Gee, Gerard of Rideford, and Reynald of Chateaune.
- Saladin orders the mass killing of captured Templars and Hospitalers.
- The Battle of Hattin marks the greatest defeat of the crusaders, leaving Jerusalem vulnerable.
- The Third Crusade is launched, with Richard the Lionheart leading the charge to recapture Acre.
49:54
Richard's Victory at Battle of Arsuf
- Richard had around 10,000 infantry and 1,200 heavy cavalry, totaling 11,000 to 12,000 men, while Saladin's army numbered at least 25,000.
- Saladin launched an attack on the Crusaders as they emerged from the woods, with some forces held in reserve.
- The fighting was intense, with the Crusaders' rear guard, including crossbowmen and archers, crucial in repelling the Turks.
- Richard strategically arranged his infantry and archers to protect the cavalry from enemy arrows.
- The Crusaders were hemmed in by Saladin's attacks, leading to close-range combat with the Turks.
- The increasing boldness of the Saracen attacks played into Richard's plan to force Saladin into close-quarter fighting.
- The Crusaders launched three waves of charges coordinated by Richard's trumpeters, devastating Saladin's army.
- King Richard personally led the fighting, displaying ferocity and skill in defeating the Saracens.
- Saladin's nephew attempted to rally the Muslims, but Richard's final charge sealed the victory for the Crusaders.
- The Battle of Arsuf secured Christian control of the coastal plain, allowing them to occupy the port city of Jaffa and a considerable chunk of Palestine.
01:05:25
Crusade of Alfonso VIII: Victory at Las Navas
- Queen Berenguela devoted herself to organizing the funeral and mourning for the deceased prince with great propriety and virtue, surpassing even the generosity of princes in her almsgiving.
- King Alfonso VIII of Castile prepared for a crusade in 1211, with Pope Innocent III declaring it a formal crusade and offering indulgences to participants.
- Castilian bishops, including Archbishop Rodrigo of Toledo, preached the crusade, aiming to combat the intentions of the Sultan of Morocco, Al-Nasir.
- King Alfonso VIII allied with King Pedro II of Aragon, taking an oath to meet for the crusade at Toledo on the eighth day of Pentecost.
- Alfonso launched a pre-campaign against the Almohads, capturing three castles and preparing for the crusade with a small force.
- Pope Innocent III endorsed Alfonso's crusade, urging Christian knights to unite against the enemies of the cross, particularly warning King Alfonso IX of Leon against attacking Castile.
- The nobility of Castile readied for the campaign, while prayers and support for King Alfonso VIII spread across Europe.
- The Christian coalition gathered in Toledo for the crusade, including French knights, Navarre's king, and many knights from Leon and Portugal.
- The crusaders advanced towards Al-Nasir's army, capturing several castles, but faced challenges with the scorching summer heat and the French knights' dissatisfaction.
- The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa ensued, with the Christian forces achieving a decisive victory over the Almohad army, leading to the end of the Almohad threat and the eventual capture of important Moorish-held cities in Al-Andalus.
01:20:47
Templars defend stronghold, escape to Cyprus
- Templars and Mamluks engaged in a fierce battle, with the Templars eventually sealing themselves in their stronghold. Despite their commitment to fight to the end, they managed to save women and children by lowering them onto boats that escaped to Cyprus. The Mamluks, led by Al-Ashraf, destroyed the Templar fortress after breaching it, causing the collapse of the fortress on the remaining Templars and enemy warriors. This marked the end of Acre, with Al-Ashraf ordering the city's destruction to prevent recapture by Crusaders. The Latin Christian presence in Palestine ended, while the Templars and heirs of Jerusalem held out in Cyprus, a Latin power center for centuries.
