In 1187 The Siege of Jerusalem ended when Saladin’s forces captured the city.
The Muslim Conquest of Levant (632 – 661) led to the capture of the Holy Lands by Muslim forces. French and German Pilgrims visiting the Holy Lands in the late 11th century led to a ‘Holy’ crusade by Christians to recapture the holy lands and the First Crusade (1096 – 1099). England, France and the Holy Roman Empire defeated the Muslim forces and captured the Holy Land, massacring many of the inhabitants. They created four crusader states which were the County of Edessa, County of Tripoli, the Principality of Antioch and the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
On the 28th of November 1144 Muslim forces lay siege to Edessa and the siege lasted until the 24th of December 1144 ending in the collapse of the state. Pope Eugene III called for the Second Crusade (1145 – 1149) against the Muslim states that had toppled the County of Edessa. It was Conrad III of Germany and Louis VII of France that took up arms against them only to be defeated but with the aid of other European powers the Christians managed minor success. After the Second Crusade the forces of Syria and Egypt united under Nur ad-Din and when he died in 1169 the command of these forces fell to his nephew, Salah ad-Din Yusuf or simply Saladin as he became known.
Saladin’s forces defeated a huge crusader army in the Battle of Hattin on the 4th of July 1187. With the bulk of the Crusader army defeated Saladin’s army was free to take back the holy land. One of the Crusader knights in the battle was Balian of Ibelin and upon the defeat in the battle he and many other fled to the stronghold of Tyre (in modern day Lebanon). There Balian aided in the successful defence of the city against Saladin. Balian knew that Jerusalem would be Saladin’s next goal and made a personal request to be allowed safe passage in order to retreave his family from the city before they attacked. Saladin gave his permission and promised his safety if Balian gave his oath not to take up arms against Saladin’s forces once inside the city. Balian gave his oath but when he arrived in the city and found just a few knights and many civilians that would face certain death he broke his oath.
On the 20th of September 1187 Saladin’s forces lay siege to the ultimate prize, the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Balian and his few men were no match for the mighty forces of Saladin and Balian left the city to negotiate the safety of the people within its walls. Saladin offered freedom to seven thousand of the inhabitants for a ransom. On the 2nd of October Balian handed over the keys to the Kingdom of Jerusalem and many who had managed to pay ransom were set free. Those that were unable to pay were placed in slavery but this was preferable to the treatment the Crusaders had shown when they took the city previously.
This led to the Third Crusade (1189-1192).
