How the Leper King Outmaneuvered Saladin: Battle of Belvoir Castle, 1182 AD

In the aftermath of the battle of Montgazard, the kingdom of Jerusalem celebrates a most unlikely and miraculous victory in almost a century. King Baldwin arrives in Ascalon in late November 1177 as a conquering hero and he is acclaimed for his bravery, endurance, and faith. Tales of his few hundred heroic knights are told across the land. Their opponent, Saladin, wens his way back across the Sinai. Torrential rains scatter his remaining forces. He endures bedwin attacks and revenge ambushes of Franks, whose lands he raided just weeks earlier. But once in Egypt, Saladin consolidates his position against the remnants of the Shia Fatimid dynasty who were eager to overthrow him after the setback at Montgazard. The tenacious sultan then turns his gaze towards Jerusalem again. Both Saladin and Baldwin know that Montgazard was not the end. The situation in the kingdom of Jerusalem is complicated by a variety of factors, both as pressing as the other. Firstly, there is the matter of Baldwin's advancing illness. His days are tragically numbered. The succession of the kingship must be determined, though there is hope at this time. Also, the king's sister, Sibila, gives birth to a boy she names Baldwin. But it will be some years before the infant is of age, and Jerusalem will need a monarch, or at least a regent, sooner rather than later. There is no shortage of contenders alongside Rainald of Chation, the brothersin, and the recently arrived Gee of Lusen. There is also Raymond III of Tripoli and Bowman III of Antioch. All five jockeying, plotting and vying for power in one way or another as King Baldwin's condition sees daily deterioration. There is also the question of the kingdom's strategic situation. Until the end of the reign of Baldwin's father, King Amalrich, just 3 years ago, Jerusalem was still very much on the offensive. There would always be a great disparity in resources between Egypt and the Latin states, but civil conflict and general bad governance in Cairo allowed the king of Jerusalem to launch repeated raids and invasions to the south. Latin chronicers still like to recall that Amalrich came close to conquering Egypt on a number of occasions. Those with a knowledge of history will recall that the ancient Romans managed to hold the Levant for near seven centuries, almost certainly because their rule always included the territory from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates. But the rise of Saladin has consolidated Egypt, and his competence has only grown through the 1170s as he acquired lands in southern Syria, effectively beginning the process of surrounding the crusader states. It is his control of Damascus particularly that gives him a vital foothold in the region and the Latins are unable to seal the crossing from Sinai or dominate the Red Sea to bottle up the Sultan in one region or the other. the failure of the second crusade and its massive army of 50,000 men to take Damascus in a siege that devolved into a fiasco 30 years ago marked the turning point. Since then, the rulers of cities like Mosul and Aleppo, Zeni and then Nuradin have gradually increased and amalgamated their holdings. And from Nuradin's death in 1174 onward, Saladin looks to be completing their work. Much of the fighting of this period devolves into back and forth violent raids across what is a very porous frontier both north and south. Each side will vi to capture and loot as much as possible to wear down the enemy just as the Christian and Islamic forces are doing in Spain. But while the kingdoms of Castile, Aragon, and Portugal command large swaths of territory, generous coastlines and formidable allies at their back in the shape of the French, Germans, English, and Italians, the crusader states have only a largely poor strip of

agricultural earth, and their backs are to the sea. Nevertheless, the young king's victory has given them hope that the days of strength will return. And around the kingdom, there are signs of assertive offensive. At Jacob's Ford near the vital river Jordan, the Templars begin building a new fortress to impede the movement of armies between Egypt and the Assyrian interior. But Saladan still manages to make the crossing with a strong host in March 1178, just months after the reversal of Montgard. While he takes the opportunity to send out looting and ravaging parties once more, he also makes an offer of 60,000 dinars to Baldwin to halt the construction of the new bastion. Not only will it impede his movement, but operatives within the castle will be able to raid and extort Saladin's land and the traders in the nearby Banayas plane. Baldwin is personally against the placement of the fortress, for he has pledged to Saladin in a previous agreement not to build there, but the Templars are largely independent of his commandments. Saladin ups the offer to 100,000 dinars, but still it makes no difference. He continues to harms to reassert his authority over his northern possessions. Baldwin moves to the Jacob's Ford site, which is now called Leastle, so as to guard it from attack. In spite of the earlier reports regarding his reservations at building the fortress, now that he has made it clear he will defy Saladan and back the Templars, Baldwin supports the cause without reservation. Work accelerates with the royal presence and patronage and materials flow in by cart from around the kingdom while work and foraging teams are sent out into the countryside to ploin all the craftsmen's needs. Raids are also conducted into the realm of Egypt from multiple directions. The better to keep the enemy off balance and always on the defensive. Shastile will be the largest Frankish fortress in the Levant, exceeding even Krak Shiovalier in its breadth and dimensions. Meanwhile, Saladan reclaims Homs after a short battle, and his forces also capture a raiding crusader party in the vicinity of Hammer. Saladin has the prisoners beheaded as a marker of his intent to deal brutally with his enemies, as well as reaffirm his own marshall credentials and superiority over the Franks. Over the coming year, the Sultan and his advisers make new plans to attack Jerusalem from the north. And when the break in the cold weather ceases in the spring of 1179, Saladan dispatches his nephew Faruk Sha to reconoi to the ground and spread fear and despolation amongst the Franks. Hearing of this and other Razers that have assailed Sidon, Beirut and the domains on the coast, Baldwin and Odo of St. Arman, Grandmaster of the Templars, along with Raymond of Tripoli, set out in force from Tiberius to intercept the Marauders. They pass through Sadas and Torin and then ascend the mountains where they can look down on Marayun and the Latani River and Gorge. In the distance they can see the sariss tents and dust on the horizon from the west. It is Faruk Sha and his heavily laden baggage burdened down with the spoils of war. Immediately the order is given to move into the plane and engage them in battle. Mongazar proved that boldness was the greater tactic and there will be no escape for the raiders once they arrive in the killing ground. As the crusader army moves down the hill, the cavalry moves forward with marshall enthusiasm, leaving behind the infantry, which struggles to keep the pace. Once they reach the bottom, the lines form up, but there is unmistakable fatigue on the part of the men and animals, particularly the foot soldiers. Nevertheless, when Farukshar's force arrives and attempts to ford the river, unaware of the crusader presence, the swift charge and follow-up assault is a complete success. The Aubid force is completely scattered and the rich treasure it carries is

scooped up with glee by the marauding Latins. With the enemy dispersed, killed or captured, a portion of the force pushes on and pursues them over the river ford toward the camp while the foot soldiers set themselves to finding the last remnants of the spoil and then begin to lay out and recuperate from the stresses of the march and the battle. Raymond and Dodo leading their forces ride toward a slope between the Mar Jayun and the gorge likely to identify what appears from a distance to be a fugitive band of riders. It is their intention to obliterate all strands of the raiding party. It is only when they are far from the rest of their comrades and begin to pick up speed for the charge do they realize that the blurred outline before them is not some isolated gang of refugees. Like the first terrifying blast of magma from a volcano, the standard of Saladin himself is unfurled and thousands of Aubid warriors ride forth, powering toward them under a storm of razor sharp arrows. Any sensible person would flee and regroup, but Odo of the Templars is no ordinary man, and he leads no ordinary force. The Templars are not just elite knights. They are summoned to a higher divine calling. The Grandmaster gives the order to charge. The Templars launch their mounts forward. Lances raised and Saladin's riders press on with no intention in their turn of shying from a fight long savored. The clash is terrific, but the Templars and those of Raymon's force that made the charge with them are too few in number to achieve the necessary destructive collision. Quickly, too quickly, they are in danger of envelopment, and they fight their way out while giving and taking casualties. The remnants of the Templars and the forces of Tripoli ride to open some ground between them and the oncoming mass, but calamity awaits them. Baldwin and his own units are rushing forward to help their comrades, but their path is suddenly impeded by the scrambling units of the Templars and Raymond. The crusader army devolves into confusion with the line losing all cohesiveness and the infantry and cavalry unable to support one another. The arrows of Saladin's army drop down like sheets of lethal spring rain. And then the riders and camels are upon them. Baldwin himself is unhorsed and has to be carried to safety. Odo is captured along with more than 250 other knights. A grievous toll to the kingdom and orders that are constantly short of manpower. Among those taken prisoner are Baldwin of Ibelin and Raymond of Tripoli stepson Hugh of Stomare. The king and Raymond managed to cross the river and arrive in safety at the castle of Bowour. While Rainald of Chation launches a relief force from Siden to pick up what survivors he can, Saladan realizing that Baldwin is temporarily weakened and unable to operate in the field makes immediately for Shastle. There the Aubid sappers go to their work when the garrison refuses to surrender. And after bringing down the wall, as well as setting fire to the internal timber stockade of the half-finished bastion, Saladin's army begins a general massacre. In the aftermath, while Odo the Grandmaster refuses to be ransomed, the Aubid army throws the bodies of up to a thousand residents of the castle into the fortress's well and begins to dismantle the strong point down to its foundations. From Tiberius, Baldwin attempts to gather another army to confront Saladin, but his nobles and followers are reluctant and slipshot in their arrival. Meanwhile, an epidemic has broken out in Saladin's camp, possibly due to the fact that his army has flung putrifying corpses into their water supply. And this hobbles his ability to venture further into crusader territory. Also, both the Crusader and Aubid causes suffer further shocks as autumn wears on. Firstly, when a fleet from Saladin's now formidable navy appears off the coast of Acra and launches a violent

attack on the ports. And secondly, when the Nile fails to rise in Egypt and Saladin's domain is threatened with famine. A ceasefire and peace agreement is put together and by 1180 there is amity between the kingdoms. Saladan dedicates himself to returning to Egypt and dealing with bedawin unrest and corruption there along with courting Syrian and Mesopotamian amirs like Noradin Muhammad. While Baldwin is concerned with the steadily deteriorating state of his health and the pressing question of his succession, he settles for the moment on naming his sister Cibila as his heir. With a view to her young son, eventually wearing the crown. But trouble is not long on appearing from the horizon. Aleppo and Mosul remain outside Saladin's control and the closely dated deaths of their Amirs in middle and late 1181 arouses Saladin's ambition. Though the Sultan ostensibly honors his earlier agreements with the city states and the crusaders, Varuk Sha is ordered to use a strong force and begin probing the area for weaknesses. Meanwhile, Saladan begins to gather another strong host in Cairo. On the crusader side, there is concern at these developments, but the king is inclined to stay out of external affairs. There have been improvements and reinforcement since the debacle at Marayun, but the kingdom is still far weaker numerically than Saladin's combined Egyptian and Syrian holdings. and a strategic conundrum of multiple fronts is an unavoidable weakness. Reald of Chation, Lord of Ultra Jordan and master of the lucrative caravan trade routes that pass through those territories, is not content to allow matters fall where they may. When he is convinced that Farukq Sha intends to seize Aleppo by force, he conducts a sizable raid to the south into the portions of Arabia under Saladan Suzaranti and whips up dust and fire before the gates of Tabuk. Alarmed at this development, for it seems to the Aubids that Reol is threatening to storm Medina and even Mecca itself, Faruk Sha makes his own incursion into Reol's domain to force his return. And a rumored operation against Aleppo is abandoned. Reol returns to protect his lands, bringing with him the booty of caravans looted along the way. Saladin immediately demands the release of these valuables under the terms of the ceasefire agreement and Baldwin sends a message to Rainald to comply for the sake of peace. The lord of Ultra Jordan defies the monarch however and Baldwin is left in much the same position as he faced when the Templars refused to halt their construction of Shastle. Arguably, Saladin himself broke the truce when he imprisoned more than500 Christians the previous spring and refused Baldwin's appeal to release them. But with his own pretext in place, Saladin and his army begin the march from Cairo once more, where a voice from the crowd calls out to him that he will die before he again sees Egypt. A prophecy that will prove to be the truth. Unperturbed, the Sultan marches around the crusader defenses. The crusader army moves to Karak to head him off and protect the valuable farmland in which the fields are coming close to harvest time. At Alat, Saladan separates the large number of traders and other followers from his host to go to Damascus through the pilgrim route of man while he leads the army on Razers from Montreal and then on Karak itself. Baldwin and his army refuse to take the field against him. And without wishing to linger, Saladan moves to Alazra, makes rendevous again with the second column of civilian followers from his army and then proceeds to Damascus. There is now war once more and the strategic weakness of the crusader state is made clear when Faruk Sha rampages into Galilee and from there captures the magnificent cave fortress of Alhabis Jaldac.

Jaldac. Baldwin and the other great men of the kingdom are powerless to assist. Focused as they are on watching Saladan in the spirit of danger manifest everywhere. Reald of Chation is welcomed back into the royal fold and adds his forces to Baldwin's. They now must await Saladin's next move. Their eyes turned toward Damascus from the end of June. Baldwin moves the army to Safaria in readiness. Action is not long in coming. A little over a fortnight after Saladin's arrival in Damascus in the last week of June, he moves to put Bethson under siege, Baldwin must act, and he moves the army to engage the enemy. Finding from scouts and their intelligence network that Saladin has crossed the Jordan onto the west bank, they arrive at the castle called by some Leor and by others Belvoir. and there pitch a fortified camp. After taking their meals and saying their prayers, they sleep for the night. The next morning, Saladan has arrived and his forces stretch far out into the distance before the Christian perimeter. The heat of the sun is broiling, but the knights and their perhaps 9,000 or so infantry comrades put on their armor and prepare to set forth. Saladin's horse archers are already milling, kicking up the swirls of dust amid the heat shimmers. Baldwin, still a young man in age, slightly past his 20th year, can no longer ride in the ranks as he did at his great victory at Mont Gazard. But he orders his captains to value discipline above all else. There will be no repeat of the fiasco at Marun, where victory was snatched by carelessness. What happens next is thus hazy to the king as he hears reports from breathless heralds. The captains, Gee, Rainald, Balion, and others gallop forth, keeping their formation behind the infantry, riding and marching into the very eye of the Aubid arrow storm. Then when Saladan and his amirs are waiting for the advance and the thunderous charge of the Latin knights and their holy order brethren, it does not come. Instead, mindful of their king's plea to keep their discipline, the crusader army advances slowly in perfect order. Then they wait, forcing the Sultan to bring the fight to them. This is of course a torturous ordeal. The arrows rain down and the men are forced to stand in their path. But eventually it becomes clear that the crusaders are resolved to hold the ground, limit their casualties, and wait out the enemy. From the Aayub command center, the order goes forth to advance and attack. Saladin's army is composed of his own cavalry positioned behind the horse archers, plus a negligible number of infantry. The crusader infantry with their long spears stand ready, and the charge peters before it reaches the line. Saladan's cavalry is magnificent, composed mostly of men from Kurdish and Turic origin, as well as freeborn and Mamlook officers. but it lacks the destructive power of the Latins. His infantry similarly fails to break through the Latin line. Desultry fighting breaks out along the fields where certain tribal collections and amirs look to gain glory for themselves and find a breakthrough that will bring victory for their sultan. But the Latin line holds and once more the larger contingents of the Aubid force move back and the horse archers go to work again. When there is an attempt at envelopment, the crusaders extend their line and send out the waiting mounted units to head it off. And then they are back to waiting under the now incessant arrow fire. More assaults, more resistance and defense. The day wears on and the heat causes as many casualties as the blades and arrow points. The crusaders will not break.

They are staying in place and gently advancing when needed, gradually pushing the Aubids from the field. And finally, with the sun beginning to slant and the still fresh crusader cavalry appearing as though it is readying for the charge on his now fatigued troops, Saladin gives the order and the Aubids vacate the field. They have weathered the storm and handed defeat to the sultan who now must return to the campaign of attrition. The details of the numbers dead are murky. William of Ty records that many of the Sarissens were killed in the fight, implying that there were thousands who lay lifeless on the field. But the fact is that the young dying King Baldwin, with the strength, if not the spirit taking leave of his body, has triumphed one last time over the man who is on the road to uniting the ancient lands of Syria and Egypt against the Latins. The battle at Lefor in the shadow of Belvoir Castle confirms that Jerusalem remains a power capable of standing toeto- toe with Saladan in the field. But it does nothing to amend the strategic situation assailing the kingdom from fighting a war on two fronts. For all that Rainald of Chation faces criticism from his monarch for his unilateral attacks on Saladin's forces, soon the Kurdish Sultan will complete his annexation of Aleppo. And with its resources added to his own, the road to Hertin will be open. By that time, the leper king will have long left the stage. His legacy being one of bravery, piety, and the utmost tragedy. I appreciate you being here for the video. Please give that subscribe button a gentle medieval slap and tickle the like button to appease the almighty algorithm. It will help out the channel greatly. Cheers.