![]() The First Crusade and the formation of the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem became one of the best documented events in medieval history and provides a rich trove of sources for historians today. Songs were written, as well as stories, poetry, and perhaps most importantly, histories as well. The crusade became the stuff of legend to those Europeans left at home. Legends of the questing knights in shining armour who had led the First Crusade abounded in Europe, feeding into the outpouring of Arthurian literature of the High Middle Ages. Meanwhile, the Christian states of Outremer had grown from a rag-tag group of sequentially secured principalities and counties, centring on the kingdom of Jerusalem. Out of the blood and ashes of the First Crusade, the kingdom of Jerusalem had been forged. The Christians had held Jerusalem for 88 years. Queen Sibylla's husband, Guy de Lusignan, was captured in the fight and her army was destroyed. Sibylla’s freedom was guaranteed, and the Christians within the city’s walls were allowed to purchase their freedom.įor all this, Jerusalem was lost, and Sibylla was a queen without a kingdom.Ī 15th-century miniature showing the battle of Hattin. He did not have much choice: when he initially refused, Balian swore not only to fight to the death, but also to destroy the Dome of the Rock, one of the most sacred sites of Islam, if the sultan did not offer terms. On the brink of defeat, they were not in a strong bargaining position.ĭespite this, Saladin did agree to the offer of surrender. The best that Sibylla, Balian and Heraclius could hope for was the survival and freedom of the Christians within the city, and Sibylla’s personal safety. When the walls began to collapse and resistance became hopeless, the commanders decided to negotiate terms of surrender. ![]() All the men who could fight in Jerusalem were knighted to boost their confidence and galvanise them in their fight against the enemy. As Jerusalem’s citizens fought to repel the attackers from the walls, inside the city women shaved their heads, repented and begged for salvation. ![]()
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