The Impact of The Third Crusade

Crusades are common events that have been in existence from their inception back in the 11 century. It is crucial to note that from a definition point of view, crusades primarily represented military expeditions that where orchestrated by the Christians, in a bid to response to the conquest of Muslims wars that were at the time nurtured by the desire to expand their influence. Among all of the crusades orchestrated in history, the third crusade emerges to be the most prominent, an aspect that was achieved based on the impact of the crusade. An analysis of Author’s Mack, Edbury, and Nicholson insight within their publications will reveal why the historical event is regarded to be the most impactful and fruitful expeditions to occur in the Muslim Christianity conflict.    

Author Edbury (21), commences of, by asserting that the first wave of the third crusade was executed in 1190, approximately three years after Saladin’s troop overthrew Christianity’s influence, as well as Guy of Lusignan leadership in the city back in 1187. At the time, the first wave was initiated by Western Europe under the influence of Germany’s holy Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Mack, (58), posits that it is vital to note that Barbarossa was the first individual to respond to Saladin’s attack on Jerusalem. Although he was early to respond to the plight of the crusaders, his journey was overwhelmed by violent attacks most of which were initiated by the Turks.

Interestingly Nicholson (36), posits in agreement that Emperor Barbarossa was the first to ignite the third wave of crusades, although while on its way to recapture the holy land, Barbarossa’s troops were overwhelmed by the escalating attacks from the Turks, and of agitation engaged in the Battle of Iconium, an event that enabled them, to capture Iconium, which was the Capital of Rum. The recapture was quite helpful for the emperor together with his soldiers were able to replenish their needs. Unfortunately Mack (60), asserts that the Barbarossa’s army suffered a major challenge which was the demise of its Emperor, and after the death of Barbarossa, most of the German troops were overwhelmed by the death of their leader and opted to return home. Winding up (Edbury 47), there was a remaining squadron of Barbarossa’s forces that was led by his son Frederick of Swabia to Antioch. However, upon reaching Antioch, the Frederick of Swabia’s troops were largely reduced by fever, an aspect that diminished the numbers of the troops. In conclusion, although Barbosa’s expedition did not lead to the holy land, the troop’s quest played a significant role in reducing the number of Turkish forces, given that more than 9,000 soldiers belonging to the Turkish troops were killed in all encounters.

The second wave of retaliation attacks under the leadership of the dashing Richard I of England, also known as the lionhearted marked the main wave of the counter strike under the crusade. According to Nicholson (52), although initial attempts by Richard to attack Jerusalem were frustrated by the uncoordinated arrival of his troops, King Richard was able to reclaim several cities from the hands of Saladin’s rule, including Acre. Before the engagement in the Battle of Arsuf, Edbury (51) asserts that Richard had attempted to request a face meeting with Saladin, a calling that the head of the Abbasid dynasty declined sighting the need first to craft a Peace treaty. With negotiations failing from both sides, Richard proceeded to decapitate most of the Muslim prisoners he had captured during the raid and reclaim of the city of Acre with Jaffa lingering in sight. Angered by his acts, Saladin proceeded to murder all of the prisoners he had captured, setting of war between Richard’s army and Saladin’s troops (Mack 63).

Battle of Arsuf

The Battle of Arsuf marked the first encounter between King Richard and Sultan Saladin in an official capacity. In the event, Nicholson (68), purports that Saladin who was constantly harassing King Richard launched an attack on the King, one that was meant to break down the crusade’s troops. In his attack strategy, Saladin hoped to break King Richard’s formation, an aspect that would have enabled him to defeat the Crusaders' army in detail. Unfortunately, accorsing to Edbury (54), King Richard was able to maintain his army’s defensive position, even in the midst of hot temperatures and overwhelming thirst, elements that had greatly disadvantaged the King’s progression and attack of Jerusalem. While responding to Saladin’s attack, the Hospitallers (an order of Knights) initiated an attack on Saladin’s forces right wing.

Additionally, King Richard ordered for a general counterattack, an aspect that cumulatively resulted in him winning the Battle of Arsuf. Although the Muslim army did not fall, Mack (65) asserts that in the event, the troop did lose a significant number of its soldiers approximated to be around 7,000 noblemen. Additionally, the victory did boost the morale of the crusaders' army at the expense of Saladin’s shamed army, who at the moment perceived King Richard to be a skillful commander and a courageous soldier.

According to Nicholson (73), the occurrences of the Battle of Arsuf significantly dented Saladin reputation, which initially heaped praises on the Sultan, as an invincible warrior. In addition to this, the war enabled King Richard to rightful claim, and defend the control of Jaffa, a region that was regarded to be strategic in securing Jerusalem. Cumulatively, the Battle of Arsuf, culminated in Richard emerging to be a serious threat towards Saladin’s reign, for he had established control over the cost of the Mediterranean Sea, a region that was looked up to by both Saladin’s and Richard’s troops as a transportation channel, and source of replenishment (Edbury 57).  

The final war between Sheikh Saladin and King Richard emerged when Saladin organized a recapture mission, one that was aimed at attaining Jaffa’s control. Orchestrated as a sudden attack, Saladin and his army was successful in Capturing Jaffa, although after conquering it most of Saladin’s troops became overwhelmed by the loss that defined Acre’s massacre (Nicholson 87). Unfortunately, Saladin’s victory was short-lived, as Richard stormed to Jaffa through a naval attack, an aspect that culminated in the release of the imprisoned crusaders.

Cumulatively, although Saladin did try again to recapture Jaffa, according to Mack (72), the mission ended in complete failure, an aspect that nurtured both parties to invoke the need to establish a consensus, one that would leave Jerusalem under Muslim control but would also permit unarmed Christians to visit the holy city as merchants or pilgrims. Additionally, Ascalon which was perceived to be a threat to Saladin’s dominion was returned to the rule of Abbasid’s dynasty control with all of its defenses demolished.           

Work Cited

Edbury, Peter W. The conquest of Jerusalem and the Third Crusade: sources in translation. Routledge, 2017.

Mack, Merav. "A Genoese perspective of the Third Crusade."Crusades. Routledge, 2016. 55-72.

Nicholson, Helen J. The Chronicle of the Third Crusade: The Itinerarium Peregrinorum et Gesta Regis Ricardi. Routledge, 2017.