“Third Crusade” 820th Anniversary Series: Shipwreck at Acre; Muslim Defenders Lose Resupply

(This post is the ninth of an occasional series of posts following 820th anniversary highlights of what history now calls the “third crusade.” My novel, The Swords of Faith, tells the story of this legendary clash between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin.)

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While Richard the Lionheart celebrated Christmas in comfort in Sicily (see the previous post), the besieged Muslims and the besieging Christians continued to suffer the consequences of stalemate at Acre. Saladin sent his brother to Haifa to organize a winter resupply mission, resulting in seven transport ships full of food and weapons making their way to the beleaguered Muslim position.  But on December 31, 1190, the rough winter season dashed the ships against the rocks, depriving the besieged of the supplies. Western Christian attackers diverted the garrison from offloading six of the ships (the seventh had already been lost), allowing the stormy weather to finish off the remaining ships before the supply-deprived Muslim defenders could get to them. Getting supply ships through to Acre became more and more difficult as the siege wore on. According to Muslim accounts, Saladin’s force resorted to trickery at times, disguising ships as Christian to get through. But small successes were not enough to relieve the misery of the besieged Muslims.

Previous 820th Anniversary Posts:

July 4th – The 820th Anniversary of the Launch of the “Third Crusade”

October 4th – Richard the Lionheart Sacks Messina

November 3rd – Queen Sibylla Dies

November 11th – Richard the Lionheart Signs a Treaty with King Tancred of Sicily

November 15th – Queen Isabella’s Marriage to Humphrey of Toron is Annulled

November 19th – Archbishop of Canterbury Dies

November 24th – Conrad of Montferrat Marries Queen Isabella

December 25th – Richard the Lionheart Feasts at Christmas

To review a comprehensive catalog of historical fiction set during the medieval time period, go to http://www.medieval-novels.com:80/.