Saladin and the Third Crusade

by Elliot912 in History, July 23, 2009

The main objective of the third crusade was to retake Jerusalem from Muslim control. The reason for this was that a military mastermind named Saladin had united almost all of the Middle Eastern countries under one banner. Saladin was from Tirket, modern day Iraq. When he was young his uncle taught him the ways of a military commander…..

At the end of September Balian rode out to make negotiations with Saladin offering surrender but Saladin rejected the offer. This was because as he spoke to Saladin his men scaled the walls and planted his banner. Soon, however, the crusaders repelled the attack and the surrender terms were agreed upon. Saladin came up with a price to free the people but it was lowered and altered continually. It was finally decided that 7000 people would be able to leave the city for a price of 30000 Bezants. Balian handed the keys over to the Tower of David on the 2nd October, thus ending the siege.

When news of this was received in England Richard the Lionheart sailed to the Middle East and defeated Saladin at every turn. Some famous examples include the battle of Arsurf and the siege of Acre.

Richard then marched onwards to Jerusalem where Saladin and Richard agreed to leave Jerusalem in Muslim hands on the condition that Christian followers would be allowed to travel there as pilgrims. Both sides agreed to this and Richard left.

In December 1192 Richard was captured by Duke Leopold who suspected Richard of murdering his cousin Conrad of Montferrat. He finally returned to England in 1194. Richard was killed by an arrow wound in 1199 at the age of 42.

The siege of Jerusalem ended this way because Saladin was an excellent negotiator who realized that if required Richard could have crushed him at every turn. As a result the third crusade failed in its main objective to capture Jerusalem.