Battle of Hattin
Category: Other
Updated: 26 Nov 2018
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Created byRhona Logue
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Edessa FallsSaladin marched to Transjordan to meet Egyptian forcesThe Franks had little reaction to Saladin's spring raidsal Afdal led spying & raiding parties across Jordan, tested Tiberias’s defences.Keukburi led mounted assault force of 7000 to scout Franks muster point at Saffuriya.Small party of Templars & Hospitallers travelling
through Galilee led by their Masters decided to
attack. 130 Latin knights, 300 infantry
killed/captured. Templar Master, Gerard de
Ridefort escaped. Master of Hospital killed.Saladin marched to Hauran. Advanced to
Ashtara, a day’s march from Sea of Galilee.
Joined by Taqi al-Din, returned from N Syria.Saladin drilled for discipline & efficiency,
creating 3 main contingents:
1. Under Taqi al Din (right flank)
2.Under Keukburi (left flank)
3.Under Saladin (central force)Saladin crossed Jordan, invaded Palestine.Saladin set trap: Dawn assault on weakly
defended town of Tiberias. Only citadel held out,
Raymond of Tripoli’s wife, Eschiva, trapped
inside.Saladin left a small force at Tiberias. Marched to
block Franks’ path in open plateau of Kafr Sabt.
Ordered wells in region to be filled in. Ensured
own water supply from spring of Kafr Sabt,
ferried on camelback from Jordan valley below.Saladin’s contingent blocked Franks’ advance.
Keukburi’s & Taqi al-Din took Turan & block a
Latin retreat. Franks now surrounded on Horns
of Hattin.Dawn: Saladin let Franks continue east. Waited
sun to dehydrate them. Burned scrubland.
Harrassed Franks with skirmishersNoon: bombarded with arrows. Opened gaps in
Frankish flanks. Taqi al-Din’s forces parted to
defuse Raymond’s charge.Saladin called Guy & Reynald to his tent. Offered
Guy an iced julep. Guy passed it to Reynald.
Saladin, speaking through interpreter said: ‘You
did not have my permission to give him drink,
and so that gift does not imply his safety at my
hand.’ Then turned to Reynald, berrating him for
sins. Saladin offered conversion to Islam.
Reynald refused. Saladin rose to face him &
struck off his head. Guy was led away to
captivity.100-200 Templars & Hospitallers brought before
Saladin. Some accepted final offer of conversion
to Islam - rest set upon by scholars & Sufis to
murder them (some could not do it, some did a
bad job). Erected triumphal dome on Horns of Hattin.Guy amassed Christian army at Saffuriya (one of
largest hosts ever assembled beneath the True
Cross) Issued general call to arms due to huge
size of Saladin’s army. Left Palestine’s fortresses
garrisoned by bare minimum of soldiers. Yet
heavily outnumbered. If lost battle, Kingdom
undefended.Guy learned of siege of Tiberias.
Raymond advised caution: avoid confrontation
with so large a force even at cost of fall of
Tiberias with his wife inside. Time would make
S’s force dissolve then they could recapture
Galilee and pay ransom for Eschiva.
Reynald & Gerard advised: ignore treacherous
Raymond. Cowardly action shameful.
Immediately move to relieve Tiberias. Some say
Guy initially decided to stay put but was
persuaded overnight by Gerard to change mind.
Main factor in decision to march ouNoon: Franks paused at village of Turan. Minor
spring inadequate to quench thirst of whole
army. Yet Guy continued to march eastwards.
Underestimated Saladin’s manpower.Near dusk, Guy hesitated - Asbridge says a full
frontal assault may have let them break through
to water but Guy pitched camp in entirely
waterless indefensible position. Asbridge calls
this ‘an admission of defeat’. Surrounded so
close by Muslims could talk to them, desperate
thirst.Smoke made some knights & infantry surrender.
Arrows meant panicking infantry lost formation.
Raymond launched charge at Taqi al-Din to NE.
Let through: Raymond, Balian of Ibelin & small
group of knights escaped. Reduced Latins’
morale.
Franks charged in desperation - Guy beat path N
to higher ground on Horns of Hattin. Rallied
troops to True Cross, pitched royal red tent,
prepared knights for charge at Saladin to try to
make his banner fall. Twice came close to
Saladin, but then their red tent felPeriods
Battle of Hattin
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