Third Crusade: Saladin and his battle cry Jihad

Now the Muslims felt like they had the upper hand, and Nur al Din continue to rally the Muslims under one ruler. And the Jihad was successful, with all the lands now under his control, Nur al Din focused on Egypt. But Egypt didn't want anything from Muslims or Christians. A remainder of the crusader army however started to slaughter thousands just outside Cairo, and so they called for Nur al Din to protect them. Nur al Din sent his ambitious general Saladin. So ambitious he wanted to take control of the Jihad. From this point people in Saladin's way started to die mysteriously. And so it was also Nur al Din's turn. But on his death he had already decided that his successor would be his 12 year old son, Al Sale. And so Saladin could not take the power. While in Eleppo Al Sale refused to let Saladin in and he had to sleep outside of the city in camps. Aware of Saladins plans, Al Sale hired a group of assassins, known as the Hassassins. They were able to get in the tent of Saladin, but he awoke and got away with just a flesh wound. By spreading chalk on the floor and tightening security he thought he was safe, but still as Hassassin got in, but did not kill him. Instead he left a death note in of the pastries warning him to retried or be killed.

 

In 1181 Saladin owned most of Egypt. Al Sale, now 19 years old, died of mysterious reasons. And in 1183 Saladin grabbed the power.

At the moment Baldwin the Second was king in Jerusalem, but was troubled by lepra and Guy of Lusignan took up the rule. Reynald of Chatillon at his side. There was a treaty for Muslims to be able to trade with Jerusalem, but these route came close to where Reynald resided. All the wealth passing through became to much of a temptation and he attacked a caravan, breaking the treaty. He took al the travelers hostage, not knowing yet that one of them was Saladin's sister.

This was more than an excuse for Saladin to go to war and so he marched to Hattin. Guy had to react. He rallied his man, Hospitlers and Templers and marched. But the seasons was at its hottest and the dessert was dry. Then they spotted a lake and diverted their route. But Saladin had foreseen this and planned a trap. He started a charge right between Guy and the lake. The battle began. Saladin was burning the bushes and the dry grass, making the air even dryer. They made constant sound shouting, stamping, drumming. A torture. Saladin ordered to attack but to leave Guys tent in the middle intact. It was an easy victory and Guy and Reynald were taken hostage. 

Saladin came to see them and offered Guy a drink, but as Guy tried to pass it to Reynald he slapped it away, spilling it on the ground. Saladin took his sword and cut of the head of Reynald. Saladin thought kings should not kill kings and so he let Guy live, the rest was killed.

The army was broken, the king held hostage by Saladin, and the splinter of the holy cross which they had carried with them was paraded and mocked. Tyre, Acre, Caesarea and Jaffa all fell to Saladin.

Saladin marched for Jerusalem, no mercy in mind. The people pleaded with him, but he would not cave. Yet they held the holy musk as a ransom, threatening to destroy it. And so Saladin would let them go for a ransom and entered the city victorious without spilling blood. The crosses were removed and the holy buildings and artifacts restored.

But this could not go unnoticed, a third crusade was called. Pope Gregory the Third started to assemble and army. It was looking good. From Germany 100000 men marched under the great emperor Frederique Barbosa. But he fell during the march and drowned in a river. With this the army turned home. But not all was lost. Richard the First, now king of England, marched.

Richard wanted to be prepared for the crusade and so he spent 14 months collecting the necessary funds to do so. He sold all his properties, royal pardons and his lands. In this time Saladin released former king Guy, thinking he was no more threat. But Guy felt otherwise. He rallied 400 knights and 7000 foot soldiers and went to the harbor city Acre. Hearing of this Saladin rode to Acre. Guy stood his ground for two years, awaiting the army of Richard the First.

In 1191 Richard was marching and arrived in Acre, with his siege towers. But Saladin had not been still and had found a chemical called Greek Fire, or Sticky fire, and took out the siege towers one by one. Richard was put on the defense. But with his battle plans he ordered every man to take stones from the walls and they would receive a gold coin for every stone they took. And so the walls started to crumble and Richard took the city, taking Saladin's men hostage.

With this battle Richard gained the name, Richard the Lion heart, and they could move on to Jerusalem. 

Still the problem was the hostages Richard had taken, and tried to ransom them for 200000 gold and the return of the splinter of the cross. Saladin wasn't about to pay up and stretched negotiations as long as possible, limiting Richard in his plans. Richard saw through his plans, and finally killed all the hostages.

After this they marched for Jerusalem. During the march Saladin kept attacking, but Richard tight formation would not budge. Almost to Jerusalem Richard realized he did not have the materials to take Jerusalem, let alone hold it.  He turned around and went back to the coast, waiting for a new crusade to supply him with the means he needed for taking and holding Jerusalem.

More battles were fought over Acre, and upon the fall of Richard when his horse got killed, Saladin sent a new horse to him, out of mutual respect. 

Around September 1192 a standstill happened between the armies. Saladin's problem was that his soldiers were people from the land, with acres and families to take care of. Richards army was filled with paid mercenaries, who didn't mind staying as long as they needed. And so Saladin called for a truce. The crusaders could keep the coastal towns, but Jerusalem stayed under Saladin's rule, permitting Christian pilgrims to enter.

During the truce Richard refused to enter the city while it was still in Muslim hands. But the time came to go back home, and he left with a note saying he would come back and take Jerusalem. Saladin replied with: "If anyone would take the land from me, I wish it to be you.". Three months after Richard departure Saladin died, which would have been an easy chance for Richard had he stayed.

in 1199 Richard of Lion heart died by an arrow wound in one of the battles fought in Europe.