Post “Third Crusade” 820th Anniversary Series: The First Christmas After the End of the “Third Crusade” for Richard the Lionheart and Saladin December 25, 2012
Posted by rwf1954 in crusades, history, medieval period, Middle Ages, Richard the Lionheart, Saladin, the crusades, third crusade.Tags: Crusades, medieval history, Middle Ages, Richard the Lionheart, Saladin, Third Crusade
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(This is a bonus post following the series of 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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The first Christmas after the end of the “Third Crusade,” 820 years ago today, did not deliver pleasant gifts to either or the Christian king or the Muslim sultan who had been leaders of the opposing armies. For Saladin, years of war, almost nonstop since 1187, left his empire, extending from Syria across to Egypt and down the Arabian Peninsula, in disarray. Saladin considered going on a pilgrimage to Mecca—he had not yet fulfilled his religious obligation to complete a pilgrimage to Islam’s holiest location. But deteriorating health and issues of reestablishing control over his empire, including the challenge of replenishing a depleted treasury, forced his decision to hold off on the pilgrimage for at least another year. He settled in at Damascus in November for the winter, trying to recover his health and his authority over the lands he ruled.
Richard the Lionheart would have been grateful to experience just a few challenges within his home realm. The first Christmas after the conclusion of the “Third Crusade” did not deliver him home. Richard had decided on a land route for the return home. He hated sea voyages, and a fall/winter sea voyage was more than he could tolerate. He tried to sneak through areas under the control of his enemies, including Leopold of Austria, whom he had insulted at Acre (described in the blog post on Saladin’s surrender of Acre to Christian forces). But just before Christmas, Richard fell into Leopold’s custody. Richard the Lionheart spent the first Christmas after the end of the “Third Crusade” in chains.
Were these post-crusade troubles the result of divine justice of some sort, for shedding blood in the name of religion? I will not attempt an answer to that question here. We will, however, examine an even greater post-crusade irony for these two celebrated leaders during a blog post coming in March on the 820th anniversary of an occasion with immense post-Third Crusade relevance.
Links to every single one of the 820th anniversary posts concerning the “Third Crusade”:
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
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”
April 20th – Philip II of France Lands at Acre
April 22nd – Richard the Lionheart Lands at Rhodes After His Fleet Scatters
May 1st – Richard the Lionheart Leaves Rhodes to Rescue His Sister and Fiancée
May 8th – Richard the Lionheart and His Troops Storm Limassol
May 11th – Crusaders Opposed to Conrad Visit Richard the Lionheart on Cyprus
May 12th – Richard the Lionheart Marries Princess Berengeria
May 30th – Fighting Intensifies at Acre
June 5th – Richard Leaves Famagusta for the Eastern Mediterranean Coast/Saladin Moves his Camp
June 6th – Richard the Lionheart Refused Admittance to Tyre
June 8th – Richard the Lionheart Arrives at Acre
June 11th – Saladin’s Relief Ship Sinks
June 25th – Conrad of Montferrat Leaves Acre; Saladin’s Receives Reinforcements
July 31st – Philip II of France Makes a Promise and Leaves for Home
August 2nd – Envoys Discuss Acre Surrender Terms
August 11th – Date for the First Installment of the Acre Ransom Ends in Stalemate
August 20th – Richard the Lionheart Orders the Executions of the Acre Hostages
August 22nd – Richard the Lionheart Leaves Acre to Move South Toward Jerusalem
September 5th – Richard the Lionheart Meets with Saladin’s Brother al-Adil
September 7th – Christian Forces Win the Battle of Arsuf
September 11th – Saladin Gives the Command to Dismantle Ascalon
Sepember 29th – Saladin’s Troops Nearly Take Richard the Lionheart Prisoner
October 20th – Richard the Lionheart Proposes that His Sister Marry Saladin’s Brother al-Adil
November 1st – Saladin Learns of the Death of his Nephew Taqi al-Din
November 8th – Al-Adil Hosts a Banquet for Richard the Lionheart
November 11th – Saladin’s Council Discusses Recent Negotiations with Western Christian Factions
December 12th – Saladin Falls Back to Jerusalem
December 28th – Richard the Lionheart Moves Into the Judean Hills Unopposed
January 3rd – Richard the Lionheart Moves to Within Twelve Miles of Jerusalem
January 6th – Richard the Lionheart Orders a Retreat
January 20th – Richard the Lionheart Decides to Move on Ascalon
February 20th – Richard the Lionheart Arrives in Acre to Make Peace Between Christian Factions
March 20th – Al-Adil Brings Serious Peace Offer to Richard the Lionheart
April 5th – French Army Leaves the “Crusade” After Easter Feast
April 20th – Conrad of Montferrat Is Designated Undisputed King of Jerusalem
April 28th – Conrad of Montferrat Is Assassinated in Tyre
May 5th – Henry of Champagne Becomes the New King of Jerusalem Designate
May 23rd – Richard the Lionheart Takes Darum
June 7th – Western Christian Forces Start Out from Ascalon for Jerusalem
June 11th – Richard the Lionheart Arrives at Beit-Nuba; Saladin Waits in Jerusalem
June 24th – Richard the Lionheart’s Forces Take a Huge Caravan Bringing Supplies to Saladin
July 1st – Saladin Holds a War Council in Jerusalem
July 4th – Richard the Lionheart Withdraws a Second Time Before Besieging Jerusalem
July 27th – Saladin Moves from Jerusalem to Attack Jaffa
July 31st – Richard Storms the Beaches at Jaffa with a Minimal Force
August 5th – Richard Defends Saladin’s Counterattack at Jaffa with a Minimal Force
August 28th – Al-Adil’s Courier Brings Saladin’s “Final Offer” for a Peace Agreement
September 2nd – A Peace Agreement Between Christians and Muslims is Signed
September 29th – Queen Berengeria and Richard’s Sister Joan (Joanna) Leave for Europe
October 9th – Richard the Lionheart Leaves the Middle East “Holy Land,” Ending the “Third Crusade”
To review a comprehensive catalog of historical fiction set during the medieval time period, go to http://www.medieval-novels.com:80/.
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