The Crusades Through Arab Eyes

Contemporary sources critique Saladin for permitting the Franks to take refuge in Tyre as he reconquered cities in Syria and Palestine. This decision was a “serious political and military error” (204) because Jerusalem’s conquest became a rallying cry for another Crusade that could use Tyre as a base. Saladin’s men wondered, “What was the use of piling up conquests if there was no guarantee that a fresh invasion could be effectively discouraged?” (205). Saladin made another grave error when he released Guy of Lusignan from captivity in 1188. Guy soon besieged Acre and “received wave after wave of reinforcements” (205) from the West. Europe’s leading monarchs, including the German king, Frederick Barbarossa, launched the Third Crusade while this battle raged.

Barbarossa, however, died of a heart attack while swimming in an Anatolian stream, thus disintegrating the German contingent. Other Crusaders, however, arrived under the leadership of the French king, Philip IV Augustus, and the English monarch, Richard I the Lionhearted. Acre was at a stalemate. The Arab sources describe the latter as brave and a strong combatant. He was also “flighty” and of few “scruples” (209). Richard wanted to meet Saladin, but this meeting never happened, though the two exchanged numerous letters.