“Third Crusade” 820th Anniversary Series: Philip II of France Lands at Acre

(This post is the seventeenth of what will be approximately seventy 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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Three weeks after leaving Sicily, 820 years ago today, Philip II of France and his fleet landed at Acre on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea, eager to join the fight against Muslims over which religion would control Jerusalem. Conrad of Montferrat, Philip’s cousin, Philip’s preferred candidate for King of Jerusalem over Richard the Lionheart’s vassal, Guy of Lusignan, greeted him warmly at his arrival. Philip immediately joined the effort to tighten the siege at Acre, anticipating that soon Richard the Lionheart, with his huge fleet, with the huge siege towers and machines built in Sicily on their way in large pieces for reassembly, would arrive to bring overwhelming force against Saladin’s forces, within and without Acre. Saladin’s chronicler reported that western Christian forces at Acre were disappointed by the small size of Philip’s force. By all accounts, Philip’s force was not going to tip the scales at Acre. Western Christians expected that Richard’s larger force was right behind Philip. But the same Mediterranean climate that brought Philip to Acre on calm spring seas, would not be so considerate to Richard the Lionheart.

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

December 31st – Shipwreck at Acre; Muslim Defenders Lose Resupply

January 5th – A Wall Comes Down, Presenting an Opportunity

January 20th – Frederick of Swabia Dies; Leopold of Austria Becomes Top-Ranked German Royalty at Acre

February 2nd – A Playful “Joust” Gets Out of Hand in Sicily

February 13th – Saladin’s Forces Relieve the Garrison at Acre

March 3rd – Richard the Lionheart Settles the Alice Marriage Controversy—Sort Of

March 30th – Philip II Leaves Sicily; Berengeria Arrives

April 10th – Richard the Lionheart Leaves Sicily for “Outremer”

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