Episode Details
Episode Details
Please note that the TimeRef website is currently being redesigned.

The Third Crusade (1187 .. 1191)

he defeat of the Crusader army at the Battle of Hattin on July 4th, 1187 by Saladin's much larger army and the fall of Jerusalem to the Muslims were the triggers that started the Third Crusade. One of those Crusaders captured by Saladin was William, the Marquis of Montferrat a man in his early seventies. One of his sons, Conrad had been travelling to the Holy Land at the time of the battle and when he arrived at Acre he was surprised to find it in the hands of the Muslim army. Escaping from Acre without getting caught, he sailed to Tyre and found it still controlled by the Crusaders but on the brink of surrender. Conrad had sailed to the Holy Land with a band of knights and instantly they took charge of the situation.

Outside the walls of Tyre, Saladin threatened to execute the Marquis if Conrad failed to surrender the port, but Conrad refused to save his father and give up his fellow Crusaders. Saladin accepted that Conrad could not be pursuaded to capitulate and moved on. In November of 1187 Saladin turned his attention back to Tyre and in late December launched both a seaborne and land attack, but the Crusaders were well prepared and captured the Muslim's ships and launched a devastating counter attack outside the walls of Tyre forcing Saladin to retreat inland.

Delayed help from the West

It wouldn't have taken long for news of the defeat at Hattin to reach Europe. When Pope Urban III was told he is said to have died from grief. Historically a driving force behind the Crusades was the Pope, but over the next three years several Popes came and went and failed to promote new movements. The rulers of England and France, King Henry II and Philippe II had their own conflicts and concerned that they would each invade. It was not possible for either king to leave their countries without a truce. In 1188 a meeting and truce were agreed at Gisors in Normandy where symbolically an elm tree was felled. But by the summer the truce was over and war had broken out between the two countries.


The routes taken by Richard and Philip through Italy to Messina in Sicily

Route of Philip and Richard to Messina

The routes taken by Richard and Philip across the Mediterranean Sea to Acre

Route of Philip and Richard to Acre

See the timeline below or this graphical version for more detailed information.

Episode Events
Episode Events

1187

After a short siege Saladin captured the port of Acre from the Christians.
The Christian Army of Jerusalem was beaten by Turkish forces at the Battle of Hattin. Guy of Lusignan was King of Jerusalem at this time. All Knights Templars and Hospitallers who survived the battle were executed afterwards. The Archbishop of Tyre, a man called Josias, was dispatched from the city to Europe to inform the Pope and European leaders of the disaster that had taken place and to ask for help. ¹
Only ten days after the Crusader defeat at Hattin, Conrad of Montferrat arrived with group of Italian knights at the port of Tyre. He had first attempted to land at Acre unaware that the city had fallen to Saladin and once he learnt the truth he turned to Tyre. When he arrived at Tyre he found that it was under siege and on the brink of surrender. Conrad took charge and defied Saladin to attack even though the Muslim leader threatened to kill Conrad's father, the Marquis of Montferrat who he held prisoner. For the moment Saladin decided against an attack.
Jerusalem fell to the Muslims and the al-Asqu mosque was returned to Islam. The Muslims allowed four Christian Priests to hold services in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This was in contrast to the first Crusaders who since they first captured the city in 1099 had treated Jerusalem as theirs alone. The Muslim leader was Al-Malik al-Nasir Salad ed-Din Yusuf also known as Saladin. ¹
When Josias, the Archbishop of Tyre, reached Rome and the Papal Court he informed Pope Urban III of the disaster at Hattin. The Pope was is poor health and the news was too much for him to bare and he died. Gregory VIII was elected as the new Pope but his reign only lasted two months. Gregory died on 17th of December at Pisa. ¹
King Richard took the Cross. Before going on a Crusade a vow was taken and the person was given a piece of cloth in the shape of a cross to be sown onto the surcoat. To go on a Crusade meant a person was granted a plenary indulgence which freed them from the terrors of purgatory and hell if they killed the enemy and gave them the promise of eternal life in heaven. ¹
Saladin turned his attention back to Tyre and offered Conrad gold and the release of his father if the port was surrendered. After Conrad refused to accept the conditions Saladin first ordered an attack by sea. But the crusaders were well prepared and when the Muslim ships entered the harbour a chain was raised behind them and all onboard were killed. With captured Muslim ships, the crusaders were able to drive back any further seaborne attacks.
After failing to take the port by sea, Saladin attempted a land attack, but again the crusaders were too well prepared and came out from their defences and attacked the weary besiegers. Saladin accepted he could not captured Tyre and retreated.

1188

Josias, the Archbishop of Tyre, found Henry II and Philippe II at Gisors and told them of the defeat at Hattin. Both kings agreed to peace terms and to contribute to a joint Crusade. It was decided to raise a new tax to pay for the endevour. This tax, known as the Saladin Tithe, was imposed on the people of England and France to raise funds for a new Crusade. But the truce between England and France did not last long enough for the planned joint crusade to get underway. ¹
At Mainz Cathedral, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa took the Cross showing his intention to travel to the Holy Land.  ¹

1189

The Order of the Teutonic Knights established at Acre. ¹
In early May 1189, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa garthered his army at Ratisbon (now called Regensburg in Bavaria, Germany). He had ensured that his lands were safe while he was away on crusade and left his eldest son Henry in charge of the country. ¹
William II, the king of Sicily died suddenly in November of 1189. It had been planned that he would take part in the Third Crusade.

1190

A group of German knights on crusade during the siege of Acre formed an Order to assist sick pilgrims travelling to holy land. ¹
The large army of German crusaders marched towards Constantinople on the way to the Holy Land. But Isaac II, the Byzantine Emperor, had sided with Saladin and was attempting the stop them by attacking the crusaders. But the German army was too strong and they captured Adrianople. A peace treaty was signed by Isaac and Frederick of Germany, the crusaders' leader, that ensured the Germans were given supplies and free passage through to the Holy Land.
Beaufort Castle was captured by Saladin after a long siege from Raynald of Sidon who had offered to hand over the castle to the Muslim leader on the condition that he had three months to remove his family to a place of safety. At the end of the three months Saladin expected the castle to be handed over but found that Raynald had used the time to refortify and supply the castle against a siege. Raynald mde the mistake of begging for more time and was held hostage by Saladin. Raynald's men finally gave up the castle for the release of Raynald.
Richard was given the pilgrim's scrip (a bag for the journey) and staff by the archbishop of Tours in preparation for his Crusade. These items were traditionally carried by pilgrims. ¹
King Richard I of England and King Philippe II, Augustus of France, met at Vézelay and agreed to divide the spoils of the Crusade equally between themselves. They planned to take different routes, Richard via Marseilles and Philippe via Genoa. Richard had around 100 ships at his disposal, several of which were from the Cinque Ports, others from Shoreham and Southampton and more donated by private persons. Other ships were hired from ports in Normandy. Richard could have had a force of around 8000 men half of which could have had horses. ¹
Richard leaves to begin his crusade.
Richard was in no hurry to reach the Holy Land as he had an issue to resolve in Italy first. William II, the King of Sicily, had recently died. He was married to Richard's sister, Joan, who was bequeathed a large dower, a payment meant to support her if she outlived her husband. William had also bequeathed a large sum of money to Henry II, the king of England. Through force, Tancred of Lecce claimed the throne of Sicily and imprisoned Joan refusing to pay the money to her or the King of England. When Richard arrived in Messina he demanded that his sister should be released and all the money owing should be paid. ¹
The people of Messina, supporting Tancred, shut the gates on Richard and attacked his soldiers. In the harbour French ships turned against Richard as the friendship between Richard and Philippe had broken down because Philippe believed Richard was about to refuse to go through with his marriage to Alais, Philippe's half-sister. This was true as Richard had arranged a marriage to Berengaria of Navarre who was travelling to meet him. Richard's men stormed Messina and captured the town. Richard was lenient on the people of Messina and decided to build a fort overlooking the town. Tancred agreed to pay the money owed, freed Joan from prison and paid Richard a large amount of gold. Friendly relations were restored between Richard and Philippe when Richard agreed to split the gold with the French king. ¹
Richard and Philippe stayed in Sicily over the winter months waiting for the weather to improve before continuing their journeys to the Holy Land. ¹

1191

The King of France set sail for the Holy Land a few days before Richard. ¹
The fleet left Sicily to sail to Rhodes. On route, three ships were separated from the group and landed on Cyprus at the port of Limassol. The governor of Cyprus at the time was Isaac Dacus Comnenus, who had come to power from trickery. He had sided with Saladin, and treated Richard's ships as the enemy. ¹
Philippe Augustus landed in Acre in an attempt to remove Guy of Lusignan as the King of Jerusalem, and replace him with Conrad of Montferrat. ¹
Richard located the three lost ships at Limissol, and promptly attacked Comnenus' troops in the town and drove them out. Comnenus was again attacked outside the town, but escaped, leaving behind his standard, embroidered with gold cloth. This was later presented to the abbey of Bury St. Edmunds. ¹
King Richard I met Guy of Lusignan (King of Jerusalem), Geoffrey (Richard's brother), Bohemund (Prince of Antioch), Raymond (Count of Tripoli), Humphrey of Toron and other knights to discuss the attempt by Philippe II of France to replace Guy of Lusignan with Conrad of Montferrat as the King of Jerusalem. ¹
Richard took time to marry Berengaria at Limassol. ¹
By the 1st of June, Richard had control of the whole of Cyprus and imposed a 50% tax in return for letting the Cypriots return to a more traditional way of life. Richard of Camville and Robert of Turnham were left in charge of Cyprus.
King Richard I landed at Tyre and quickly moved towards Acre, where he needed to help an army that was besieging the town which was being held by a garrison of Saladin's troops. By July 12th, the town fell to Richard. Richard held Saladin's men hostage in exchange for 200,000 dinars and the release of 1500 of Richard's own troops who were being held by Saladin. When no ransom was paid, Richard publicly executed 2700 of the garrison. It was at this point that Richard angered Leopold of Austria, who was to imprison Richard as he tried to return to Normandy. Leopold's banner was ripped down from alongside Richard's and the French. The banners indicated that the spoils of war should be shared, but Richard was not prepared the share with Leopold, who had not contributed to the fall of Acre. ¹
Under Richard's command, the city of Acre is taken back by the Crusaders.

1192

The Knights Templar hadn't held Cyprus for long before revolts by the local population forced them to sell the island on. They sold it to Guy de Lusignan who became its ruler.
Conrad of Montferrat was killed by two Assassins disguised as monks as he walked home. The Assassins, one of whom had been captured alive and questioned, had been sent by their leader Sinan. The suspected reasons for the murder are varied, some theories suggest Conrad had intercepted a shipment of wealthy goods bound for the Assassin Order while others suggest Saladin had ordered the murder of both Conrad and Richard I. Some also suggest it was Richard himself who had ordered the murder.
Word reached Richard that a Moslem caravan rich with supplies was heading for a well known as the Round Cistern. The caravan was not expecting an attack and the Christian army managed to capture a large amount of rich merchandise, horses and camels. ¹
Saladin was in Jerusalem when he heard the news of the Christian attack on the caravan. It looked certain that the Crusaders would use the resources that they had captured to continue on and attack the city. But Richard decided to return to Jaffa against the wishes of many in his army. While peace negotiations were again sent to Saladin Richard moved his army up to Acre in preparation to leave the Holy Land. When Richard left Jaffa Saladin took his army out of Jerusalem and attacked the city. After three days of assault the walls of Jaffa fell and the Moslems entered. ¹
Richard the Lionheart signed a peace treaty with the Moslem leader Saladin. ¹
After the agreement of a peace treaty Richard left the Middle East and began the voyage back to England.
Richard was shipwrecked while returning home from the middle east.

1193

Richard was captured by the Emperor of Germany, Henry IV after being shipwrecked on the way home after his Crusade. The Emperor demanded a large ransom to set Richard free.

1194

Richard I returned to England after his Crusade and imprisonment in Germany. John had all his castles in England confiscated and the only title left to him was that of Lord of Ireland.

Event Participants and Locations

Event Participants and Locations

3D/VR

Virtual Buildings

Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past.

Medieval Episodes

Early Middle Ages

High Middle Ages

Last Middle Ages

Early Modern Period