“Third Crusade” 820th Anniversary Series: Saladin’s Troops Nearly Take Richard the Lionheart Prisoner

“Third Crusade” 820th Anniversary Series: Saladin’s Troops Nearly Take Richard the Lionheart Prisoner September 29, 2011

Posted by rwf1954 in crusades, hawking, history, medieval period, Middle Ages, Richard the Lionheart, Saladin, the crusades, third crusade, William of Preaux.
Tags: Crusades, hawking, medieval history, Middle Ages, Richard the Lionheart, Saladin, Third Crusade, William of Preaux
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(This post is the 38th of what will be approximately 70 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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Everyone needs recreation, even a busy king on an important mission for his faith. It was during recreation that the entire complexion of the conflict now known as the “Third Crusade” almost transformed. Richard the Lionheart was out hawking with a small group of companions. They must have lost track of how far they had gone, or did not realize how close Muslim patrols were toJaffa. But they ran right into one of those patrols, and found themselves at a disadvantage. If not for a brave, selfless knight, William of Preaux, Richard might have been taken prisoner. Showing his quick thinking, and his knowledge of Arabic, William shouted out in Arabic that he was the king. The patrol took him into custody and Richard escaped. William was held for the rest of the conflict—obtaining his release was one of the final loose ends Richard the Lionheart would tie up before leaving the area at the conclusion of the “Third Crusade.”

(The date for this event is not the same in all my sources. A majority list the date used today. Some have the event a few weeks later.)

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