The Battle Of Hattin 1187 A.D.
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| A depiction of Guy de Lusignan's meeting with Saladin after defeat at Hattin |
Introduction:
Battle
of Hattin was fought in 1187 between armies of Saladin and allied
crusading forces under flag of Jerusalem. The battle was fought at a
place near Tiberias Israel, known as 'horns of Hattin' due to a mountain
having shapes of horns and a Muslim village named as Hittin near that
place.That battle proved to be a heavy blow to Crusaders' ever shaking
morale in the holy land. Around 30,000 Muslim soldiers and 20,000
crusaders took part in that battle. Casualties were very low on Muslims'
side, on the other hand approximately 17,000 crusaders lost their
lives. Saladin was leading his forces while crusaders were led by Guy de
Lusignan King of Jerusalem, Balian de Ibelin, Raynald de Chatillon,
Raymond III of Tripoli and Gerard de Rideford.
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| A map showing positions and strategy of both armies |
Background:
In the year 1095 on call of the Pope Urban II allied crusading forces of Europe went on a journey to regain control of holy lands which were then being controlled by Muslims. In year 1099 the allied crusading forces were on the gates of Jerusalem which was conquered without any big resistance. In coming years crusaders from different countries of Europe occupied key points in holy lands and they constructed huge invincible castles there.
Saladin proved himself a true successor of Noor Al-Din Zangi. He emerged as only hope of Islam against European crusaders and he emerged as the only leader of both Arabs and Turks in holy land. Saladin fought with crusaders from time to time but he signed an uneasy truce with them because he had to pay attention on his empire's domestic affairs.
This situation lasted till the death of King Baldwin IV, the leper king of Jerusalem. After his demise his sister Sibylla's son Baldwin V became king, but he was a sickly child and died soon. In 1186 Guy de Lusignan, Sybilla's second husband became king of Jerusalem in his wife's right. In the same year his ally and a religious zealot Raynald de Chatillon broke that 4 years old uneasy truce with Muslims by attacking a large caravan traveling between Cairo and Damascus. He killed the guards, stole the trade goods and took merchants hostage. Saladin sent envoys to Raynald to return the merchants and goods, on his refusal he sent envoys to Guy de Lusignan. He listened to envoys and acknowledged their case but he could not dare to annoy his closest and most important ally Raynald de Chatillon. War was now inevitable.
In the year 1095 on call of the Pope Urban II allied crusading forces of Europe went on a journey to regain control of holy lands which were then being controlled by Muslims. In year 1099 the allied crusading forces were on the gates of Jerusalem which was conquered without any big resistance. In coming years crusaders from different countries of Europe occupied key points in holy lands and they constructed huge invincible castles there.
Saladin proved himself a true successor of Noor Al-Din Zangi. He emerged as only hope of Islam against European crusaders and he emerged as the only leader of both Arabs and Turks in holy land. Saladin fought with crusaders from time to time but he signed an uneasy truce with them because he had to pay attention on his empire's domestic affairs.
This situation lasted till the death of King Baldwin IV, the leper king of Jerusalem. After his demise his sister Sibylla's son Baldwin V became king, but he was a sickly child and died soon. In 1186 Guy de Lusignan, Sybilla's second husband became king of Jerusalem in his wife's right. In the same year his ally and a religious zealot Raynald de Chatillon broke that 4 years old uneasy truce with Muslims by attacking a large caravan traveling between Cairo and Damascus. He killed the guards, stole the trade goods and took merchants hostage. Saladin sent envoys to Raynald to return the merchants and goods, on his refusal he sent envoys to Guy de Lusignan. He listened to envoys and acknowledged their case but he could not dare to annoy his closest and most important ally Raynald de Chatillon. War was now inevitable.
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| Ghassan Massoud playing role of Saladin |
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| Marton Csokas playing role of Guy de Lusignan |
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| Brenden Gleeson playing role of Raynald de Chatillon |
Kingdom
of
Heaven
(2005)
Important Events:
There are some events which are important to discuss before I jump to the Saturday, July 4, 1187 at Horns of Hattin. Here I give a short brief of those important events;
Disagreement And Reconciliation Among Crusaders: Announcement of Guy as King of Jerusalem caused divide, dissension and disagreement among crusaders. It was high time to realize the threat to Jerusalem from a keen enemy like Saladin but Raymond III of Tripoli the regent for child-king Baldwin V was disgusted by this announcement. At that time a council of nobles was running the state business. Gerard de Rideford, Raynald de Chatillon and the Knights Templar were in favor of King Guy de Lusignan and his queen Sibylla. Raymond III of Tripoli, angered by this decision made a new truce with Saladin.
King Guy de Lusignan, enraged by this truce marched towards Galilee with a big army to besiege Tiberias fortress of Raymond's wife. In the meantime Saladin made his way through Galilee and sent his reconnaissance force according to truce with Raymond. Unwillingly Raymond allowed this and this resulted in a clash of Saladin's forces with Jerusalem's forces which ended on heavy life loss to crusaders. This incident made Raymond III and Guy de Lusignan realize the real threat to crusader occupation. Raymond III renounced the truce and Guy de Lusignan, Raymond III and other noble crusaders gathered an army of 20,000 for a certain war in near future.
Siege Of The Tiberias Fortress: On 30th of June 1187, Saladin crossed the Jordan river and besieged the Tiberias fortress of Raymond's wife on 2nd of July. He occupied the city and fortress except a keep where Raymond's wife and other nobles took shelter. Saladin had much more important tasks on his preference list.
Gathering Of Crusaders In Acre: All the allied crusader army gathered at Acre was approximately having 20,000 warriors and it was being led by Guy de Lusignan, Raymond III, Raynald de Chatillon and others. They were at the springs of Saffuriya when Saladin besieged the Tiberias fortress to lure them into moving their army from safety of Saffuriya to the ambush at Tiberias.
Marching From Saffuriya To Tiberias: At the night of 2nd July a crusader council of nobles discussed the siege of Tiberias and possible strategy to deal with Saladin's growing threat to their rule. Harold Lamb writes that Raymond was all for staying at Saffuriya's springs as he knew that best strategy against Muslim armies was staying safely in well-supplied forts. He even showed his readiness to lose his wife's fortress of Tiberias for safety and survival of crusaders. However reportedly he was condemned by Gerard Rideford and Raynald de Chatillon. At the end of meeting logic was victorious over crusaders' zeal, but in midnight Raynald and his fellows persuaded Guy de Lusignan to march towards Tiberias. King Guy passed orders for march.
March On July 3rd: At the dawn of July 3rd crusaders started marching towards Tiberias. They were fresh and very organized, willing to fight with their enemy. Their religious zeal was leading them towards death and the sight of the piece of the true cross was enough to incite them on sacrificing their lives or taking lives of 'the infidels'. Guy de Lusignan was leading the main army, Raymond III was leading the vanguard and Raynald de Chatillon and religious zealots like him were leading the rearguard. Saracen horse archers were continuously showering arrows on crusaders.
By noon they reached a small village named as Turan, there they stayed at a spring and took a rest for a short time and decided to march further for Tiberias and it's waters. Half day was past and this was a foolish decision but as Saladin said "Satan incited Guy to do what ran counter to his purpose." Saladin took advantage of this stupid decision and as at Suffuriya he left no way to them but to fight , he did the same and sent some army to capture the village of Turan which was crusaders' line of retreat. This made them sure that for life, for victory and for water they had to pave their way towards Tiberias.
The night of 3rd July saw thirsty and tired crusaders at horns of Hattin, far from Tiberias, on top of a hill.They had to settle their camp in hurry. The well was empty so at night when crusaders were tired and thirsty, Muslim soldiers were drinking water in the well-watered valley.
| Crusaders thirsting for water before the battle |
4th July The Battle Day:
"They were closely beset as in a noose, while still marching on as though being driven to death that they could see before them, convinced of their doom and destruction and themselves aware that the following day they would be visiting their graves." Baha Al-Din Ibn Shaddad
20,000 crusaders having approximately 10,000 foot soldiers, a few hundred turcopoles and a large number of mounted knights marched towards Tiberias. There was waiting Saladin with 30,000 of his men.12000 of them were regular cavalry.
On the morning of 4th July crusaders found them on top of hill blinded by smoke from fire set by Saladin's soldiers. They were defeated before proper beginning of the battle. Desperate crusaders organized their battle lines and attacked but they were badly defeated. When they realized that it was impossible they changed their direction for the waters of hattin but it was impossible as they were encircled by Saracen soldiers. Raymond gathered his harassed knights and in a last attempt he made his way through wall of Muslim soldiers to the water of Galilee.Most of the crusaders' infantry deserted to the horns of Hattin, without infantry protection all crusader heavy cavalry was forced to fight on foot and then they were forced to retreat to horns of Hattin like their infantry. Soon the King Guy's camp on top of the hill fell to the continuous attacks of Saracen soldiers. This signified crusaders' defeat. According to Saladin's son Al-Afdal's account, Saladin dismounted, thanked God and wept for joy.
"They were closely beset as in a noose, while still marching on as though being driven to death that they could see before them, convinced of their doom and destruction and themselves aware that the following day they would be visiting their graves." Baha Al-Din Ibn Shaddad
20,000 crusaders having approximately 10,000 foot soldiers, a few hundred turcopoles and a large number of mounted knights marched towards Tiberias. There was waiting Saladin with 30,000 of his men.12000 of them were regular cavalry.
On the morning of 4th July crusaders found them on top of hill blinded by smoke from fire set by Saladin's soldiers. They were defeated before proper beginning of the battle. Desperate crusaders organized their battle lines and attacked but they were badly defeated. When they realized that it was impossible they changed their direction for the waters of hattin but it was impossible as they were encircled by Saracen soldiers. Raymond gathered his harassed knights and in a last attempt he made his way through wall of Muslim soldiers to the water of Galilee.Most of the crusaders' infantry deserted to the horns of Hattin, without infantry protection all crusader heavy cavalry was forced to fight on foot and then they were forced to retreat to horns of Hattin like their infantry. Soon the King Guy's camp on top of the hill fell to the continuous attacks of Saracen soldiers. This signified crusaders' defeat. According to Saladin's son Al-Afdal's account, Saladin dismounted, thanked God and wept for joy.
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| A depiction of the Battle of Hattin in a medieval manuscript |
Battle of Hattin was a severe blow to crusaders' morale as every Christian man able to fight joined King Guy at Suffuriya and got killed. Now crusader citadels and forts had a little to no defending soldiers available. All crusader nobles were now prisoners of war. Saladin himself slaughtered Raynald de Chatillon with his scimitar. Raymond III died in Tripoli soon after this defeat. Saladin was kind and merciful to crusader prisoners. By mid-September Saladin's forces took cities of Acre, Nablus, Jaffa, Toron, Sidon, Beirut and Ascalon with little to no resistance. On September 20, 1187 Saladin was on the gates of Jerusalem with a strength of 30,000 soldiers. On October 2, 1187 Balian de Ibelin surrendered city to Saladin. Saladin allowed citizens, knights, Patriarch Heraclius of the Jerusalem and Queen to leave Jerusalem peacefully. He payed ransom of those who were poor. News of the defeat at Hattin and subsequent defeat at Jerusalem shocked the Europe and people were in deep mourning. Pope Urban III died of shock. Saladin tithe was imposed in England and France. Pope Gregory VIII called for the third crusade which was joined by King Richard the Lionheart of England, King Frederick Barbarossa of Holy Roman Empire and King Philip Augustus of France.
A scene depicting execution of Raynald de Chatillon after the defeat at Hattin
Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Conclusion:
I would conclude by saying that battle of Hattin is an example of the art of war strategy. Saladin's invasion of Tiberias shows that he took the offensive stance. Best for him was to lure crusaders into a field battle where his relatively big number of forces could slaughter crusaders. Best strategy for crusaders was to stay safe in their forts as they did before and defeated Saladin, but they took the bait. They left the city of Acre and then their last defense in Saffuriya. They were eventually thirsty and tired at the Horns of Hattin and thus they lost war before its beginning. Hattin's battle was going to have important effects. As the battle resulted in favor of Saladin, this caused severe blow to crusaders' morale and they lost one after another cities and castles with little or no resistance at all. When this news was heard in Europe, Pope Urban III died of shock and third crusade was launched after news of subsequent defeat at Jerusalem, but in Saladin's life crusaders were never able to take back Jerusalem or to avenge the defeat at Hattin though they had success in taking back the city of Acre.
