Third Crusade

The Third Crusade ( 1189 - 1192 ) was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin .

The Third Crusade (1189–1192), also known as the Kings' Crusade , was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin (Salāh ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb). After the failure of the Second Crusade , the Zengid dynasty controlled a unified Syria and engaged in a conflict with the Fatimid rulers of Egypt , which ultimately resulted in the unification of Egyptian and Syrian forces under the command of Saladin, who employed them to reduce the Christian states and to recapture Jerusalem in 1187. Spurred by religious zeal, Henry II of England and Philip II of France ended their conflict with each other to lead a new Crusade (although Henry's death in 1189 put the English contingent under the command of Richard Lionheart instead). The elderly Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa responded to the call to arms, and led a massive army across Anatolia , but drowned before reaching the Holy Land. Many of his discouraged troops left to go home. After some military successes, the Christian powers argued over the spoils of war; frustrated with Richard, Frederick's successor Leopold V of Austria and Philip left the Holy Land in August 1191. On September 2, 1192, Richard and Saladin finalized a treaty by which Jerusalem would remain under Muslim control, but which also allowed unarmed Christian pilgrims to visit the city. Richard departed the Holy Land on October 9. The failure of the Third Crusade to recapture Jerusalem would lead to the call for a Fourth Crusade six years later.

Albans Seljuqs : Sultan Kilij Arslan II Christian opponents: Emperor Isaac II Angelos Self-proclaimed Emperor Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus King Tancred of Sicily Rashid ad-Din Sinan Strength English: 8,000 men French: 2,000 men (not counting the Templars and other troops of the Kingdom of Jerusalem) Germans: 100,000 men Hungarians: 2,000 men (Medieval records of army numbers are unreliable) Unknown The Third Crusade (1189–1192), also known as The Kings' Crusade , was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin (Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb). The campaign was largely successful, capturing the important cities of Acre and Jaffa , and reversing most of Saladin's conquests, but it failed to capture Jerusalem , the emotional and spiritual motivation of the Crusade. After the failure of the Second Crusade , the Zengid dynasty controlled a unified Syria and engaged in a conflict with the Fatimid rulers of Egypt . The Egyptian and Syrian forces were ultimately unified under Saladin, who employed them to reduce the Christian states and recapture Jerusalem in 1187. Spurred by religious zeal, King Henry II of England and King Philip II of France (known as Philip Augustus) ended their conflict with each other to lead a new crusade. The death of Henry in 1189, however, meant the English contingent came under the command of his successor, King Richard I of England (known as Richard the Lionheart, in French Cœur de Lion ). The elderly Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa also responded to the call to arms, leading a massive army across Anatolia , but he drowned in a river in Asia Minor on 10 June 1190 before reaching the Holy Land . His death caused tremendous grief among the German Crusaders, and most of his troops returned home. After the Crusaders drove the Muslims from Acre, Philip and Frederick's successor, Leopold V, Duke of Austria (known as Leopold the Virtuous), left the Holy Land in August 1191. On 2 September 1192, Richard and Saladin finalized a treaty granting Muslim control over Jerusalem but allowing unarmed Christian pilgrims and merchants to visit the city. Richard departed the Holy Land on 2 October. The successes of the Third Crusade allowed the Crusaders to maintain considerable states in Cyprus and on the Syrian coast. However, the failure to recapture Jerusalem would lead to the Fourth Crusade .

From 7,000 to 40,000 from the rest of Europe and Outremer Ayyubids : 40,000 (Saladin's field army, 1189 – estimate) 5,000–20,000 (Acre's garrison, 1189) Seljuks : 22,000+ (Qutb al-Din's field army only, 1190) The Third Crusade (1189–1192) was an attempt led by three European monarchs of Western Christianity ( Philip II of France , Richard I of England and Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor ) to reconquer the Holy Land following the capture of Jerusalem by the Ayyubid sultan Saladin in 1187. It was partially successful, recapturing the important cities of Acre and Jaffa , and reversing most of Saladin's conquests, but it failed to recapture Jerusalem, which was the major aim of the Crusade and its religious focus. After the failure of the Second Crusade of 1147–1149, the Zengid dynasty controlled a unified Syria and engaged in a conflict with the Fatimid rulers of Egypt . Saladin ultimately brought both the Egyptian and Syrian forces under his own control, and employed them to reduce the Crusader states and to recapture Jerusalem in 1187. Spurred by religious zeal, King Henry II of England and King Philip II of France (later known as "Philip Augustus") ended their conflict with each other to lead a new crusade. The elderly German Emperor Frederick Barbarossa also responded to the call to arms, leading a massive army across the Balkans and Anatolia. He achieved some victories against the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm , but he died whilst crossing a river on 10 June 1190 before reaching the Holy Land. His death caused tremendous grief among the German Crusaders, and most of his troops returned home. After the Crusaders had driven the Ayyubid army from Acre, Philip—in company with Frederick's successor in command of the German crusaders, Leopold V, Duke of Austria —left the Holy Land in August 1191. Following a major victory by the Crusaders at the Battle of Arsuf , most of the coastline of the Levant was returned to Christian control. On 2 September 1192 Richard and Saladin finalized the Treaty of Jaffa , which recognised Muslim control over Jerusalem but allowed unarmed Christian pilgrims and merchants to visit the city. The successes of the Third Crusade allowed Westerners to maintain considerable states in Cyprus and on the Syrian coast. The failure to re-capture Jerusalem inspired the subsequent Fourth Crusade of 1202–1204, but Europeans would only regain the city—and only briefly—in the Sixth Crusade in 1229. "A Medieval Siege of Troy: The Fight to the Death at Acre, 1189–1191 or The Tears of Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn".

From 7,000 to 40,000 from the rest of Europe and Outremer, plus some Turcopoles Ayyubids : 40,000 (Saladin's field army, 1189 – estimate) 5,000–20,000 (Acre's garrison, 1189) Seljuks : 22,000+ (Qutb al-Din's field army only, 1190) The Third Crusade (1189–1192) was an attempt led by King Philip II of France , King Richard I of England and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa to reconquer the Holy Land following the capture of Jerusalem by the Ayyubid sultan Saladin in 1187. It was partially successful, recapturing the important cities of Acre and Jaffa , and reversing most of Saladin's conquests, but it failed to recapture Jerusalem, which was the major aim of the Crusade and its religious focus. After the failure of the Second Crusade of 1147–1149, the Zengid dynasty controlled a unified Syria and engaged in a conflict with the Fatimid rulers of Egypt . Saladin ultimately brought both the Egyptian and Syrian forces under his own control, and employed them to reduce the Crusader states and to recapture Jerusalem in 1187. Spurred by religious zeal, King Henry II of England and King Philip II of France (later known as "Philip Augustus") ended their conflict with each other to lead a new crusade. The elderly German Emperor Frederick Barbarossa also responded to the call to arms, leading a massive army across the Balkans and Anatolia. He achieved some victories against the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm , but he died whilst crossing a river on 10 June 1190 before reaching the Holy Land. His death caused tremendous grief among the German Crusaders, and most of his troops returned home. After the Crusaders had driven the Ayyubid army from Acre, Philip—in company with Frederick's successor in command of the German crusaders, Leopold V, Duke of Austria —left the Holy Land in August 1191. Following a major victory by the Crusaders at the Battle of Arsuf , most of the coastline of the Levant was returned to Christian control. On 2 September 1192 Richard and Saladin finalized the Treaty of Jaffa , which recognised Muslim control over Jerusalem but allowed unarmed Christian pilgrims and merchants to visit the city. The military successes of the Third Crusade allowed the Christians to maintain considerable states in Cyprus and on the Syrian coast, restoring the Kingdom of Jerusalem on a narrow strip from Tyre to Jaffa . The failure to re-capture Jerusalem inspired the subsequent Fourth Crusade of 1202–1204, but Europeans would only regain the city—and only briefly—in the Sixth Crusade in 1229. "A Medieval Siege of Troy: The Fight to the Death at Acre, 1189–1191 or The Tears of Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn".