The Consequences Of The Third Crusade

Two years after the fall of Jerusalem the Third Crusade was under way. The Third Crusade was lead by King Richard the lionhearted of England (Jordan 10). On the way to Palestine Richard’s ships were blown off course and landed on the island Cyprus. So Richard decided to take the island. Cyprus was invaded, ransacked, and brutalized. (Biel 99). Richard then reached Palestine and took the city of Acre. The inhabitants of the city were taken prisoner. A trade was made between Richard and Saladin. Richard agreed to release his prisoners when he got to Acre and Saladin would give him fifteen hundred Christian prisoners and pay a large sum of gold (Biel 100). Saladin released some prisoners and paid one installment of gold but did
not release any nobles. Richard was furious and ordered twenty-five hundred prisoners to march to a plain outside of Acre. In full view of the Muslims in Saladin’s army every man, woman, and child were hung, stabbed or strangled (Biel 101). Richard’s reaction to Saladin refusal shows how little regard these medieval lords had for human life. Richard then took Ashelon and Jaffa. However when Richard tried to take Jersalem it was too well guarded by Saladin’s army for Richard to conquer it. Then in 1192 they signed a three year truce (Jordan 11). Under the agreement Jerusalem remained in Muslim hands but Christian pilgrims were allowed access to Jerusalem. The Third crusade marked the end of the romantic idealism of the crusades.