Sky Eclat
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 17, 2012
- 57,761
- 216,011
The Siege of Acre - a key battle between Saladin and Richard the Lionheart during the Third Crusade. See the video linked in the comments below for the full story...
For nearly a century, Acre was the most important port city in the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. Then, after Saladin’s conquests, it became the Sultan’s armory, and one of his key bases in Palestine. The first battles of the Third Crusade were waged here. A small crusader army struggled with Saladin’s legions for control of the city. With the arrival of Richard the Lionheart, the warlike Plantagenet King of England, the siege of Acre escalated. For both sides, the stakes were higher than ever.
By the time the fleet of Richard the Lionheart arrived at Acre on June 8, 1191, a crusader army had been battling Saladin for control of the city for nearly two years. The crusaders were positioned in their fortified camp before Acre’s walls, while Saladin sat behind them with his enormous army, besieging the besiegers. The situation had devolved into a virtual stalemate, with the crusaders unable to overwhelm the city, and Saladin unable to dislodge the crusaders.
But in the summer of 1191, King Richard Plantagenet greatly improved the situation of the crusaders. First, he conquered the nearby island of Cyprus from one of Saladin’s allies. Cyprus now provided the crusaders before Acre with an abundance of food and supplies. Then, Richard brought his own fleet to the siege of Acre. Richard’s first act was to destroy one of Saladin’s supply ships as it attempted to bring provisions to Acre’s Muslim garrison. As he disembarked, Richard was greeted by King Philip II of France, and the overjoyed crusader army.
Finally, after two years of struggle, the crusaders felt confident that King Richard and his army would bring them to victory. The celebration lasted into the night, with the Christians singing around bonfires.
Meanwhile, the Muslims of Saladin’s army and inside of Acre looked with dread on the many ships and troops brought by the Lionheart. #RealCrusadesHistory #MedievalWarfare #knight #sword #Crusades #ThirdCrusade #Saladin #RichardTheLionheart #history #Acre #PhilipAugustus
For nearly a century, Acre was the most important port city in the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. Then, after Saladin’s conquests, it became the Sultan’s armory, and one of his key bases in Palestine. The first battles of the Third Crusade were waged here. A small crusader army struggled with Saladin’s legions for control of the city. With the arrival of Richard the Lionheart, the warlike Plantagenet King of England, the siege of Acre escalated. For both sides, the stakes were higher than ever.
By the time the fleet of Richard the Lionheart arrived at Acre on June 8, 1191, a crusader army had been battling Saladin for control of the city for nearly two years. The crusaders were positioned in their fortified camp before Acre’s walls, while Saladin sat behind them with his enormous army, besieging the besiegers. The situation had devolved into a virtual stalemate, with the crusaders unable to overwhelm the city, and Saladin unable to dislodge the crusaders.
But in the summer of 1191, King Richard Plantagenet greatly improved the situation of the crusaders. First, he conquered the nearby island of Cyprus from one of Saladin’s allies. Cyprus now provided the crusaders before Acre with an abundance of food and supplies. Then, Richard brought his own fleet to the siege of Acre. Richard’s first act was to destroy one of Saladin’s supply ships as it attempted to bring provisions to Acre’s Muslim garrison. As he disembarked, Richard was greeted by King Philip II of France, and the overjoyed crusader army.
Finally, after two years of struggle, the crusaders felt confident that King Richard and his army would bring them to victory. The celebration lasted into the night, with the Christians singing around bonfires.
Meanwhile, the Muslims of Saladin’s army and inside of Acre looked with dread on the many ships and troops brought by the Lionheart. #RealCrusadesHistory #MedievalWarfare #knight #sword #Crusades #ThirdCrusade #Saladin #RichardTheLionheart #history #Acre #PhilipAugustus
