In 1187, Saladin and his troops defeated the Christians (under King Guy of Lusignan) at the Battle of Hattin and by the end of the year Saladin had taken Acre and Jerusalem.
In particular the news of the Fall of Jerusalem aroused immense feelings among Christians in Europe and had still greater reverberations than the Conquest of Jerusalem in 1099.
The Papacy reacted immediately to the Fall of Jerusalem by making it a duty for the clergy to preach a new crusade and thus influenced the public opinion significantly.
Consequently, no king could evade the duty of going on a crusade in order to recapture the Holy Land from Saladin. Nevertheless, the King of France (Phillip II) and the King of England Henry II (who was succeeded by his son Richard I in 1189) did not show much enthusiasm to go on a crusade at first, as they both feared a foreign invasion during their absence. In contrast to them, the German Emperor, Frederick of Hohenstaufen (also known as Barbarossa), responded to the call for help immediately. He took the cross at Mainz Cathedral at the end of March in 1188 and was the first of the three monarchs to set out for the Holy Land.
As public pressure grew, Richard I and Phillip II were urged to renounce their own quarrels and it was finally agreed that they both go on the Third Crusade. After final arrangements were made on the continent, the two kings departed from Vezelay on July 4th 1190 in order to retake the Holy Land from Saladin.
After military successes (Fall of Acre and the Battle of Arsuf), Richard I established his headquarters in Jaffa where he believed to be in a good strategic position to launch an attack on Jerusalem.
But when Richard I realized that his position in England was threatened by his absence, he offered negotiations to Saladin in order to be able to withdraw soon.
On September 2nd 1192, Saladin and Richard I signed the Treaty of Jerusalem and Richard I finally returned to England in 1194.
Richard I s decision to go on the Third Crusade led to profound changes within society and affected the English people in various ways.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2. On the Eve of the Third Crusade
2.1. Richard I and his preparations for the Third Crusade
3. The Third Crusade (1189 – 1192)
3.1 Barbarossa´s Crusade
3.2 Richard´s and Phillip´s crusade
3.3 Siège of Acre and Battle of Arsuf
3.4 Negotiations with Saladin and aftermath
4. Impact of the Third Crusade on England
5 Conclusion
Research Objective and Core Themes
This paper examines the military progression of the Third Crusade and analyzes how King Richard I's foreign policy decisions regarding his participation in the campaign significantly influenced England's internal political stability and the welfare of its population.
- The historical context and political pressures leading to the Third Crusade.
- Military strategies and key figures including Richard I, Phillip II, and Barbarossa.
- Economic consequences, specifically taxation and the "Saladin Tithe" on the English people.
- The challenges to domestic stability caused by the prolonged absence of the English monarch.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Barbarossa´s Crusade
Beside King Phillip II and King Richard I there was a third Monarch, Frederick of Hohenstaufen (known as Barbarossa), who decided to go on a crusade when the news of the fall of Jerusalem had reached Europe. Whereas the other two Monarchs didn´t show great enthusiasm to go on a crusade at first, the elderly emperor, Barbarossa, responded to the call for help immediately – although the political situation of his Empire was anything but favourable.
Nevertheless, Barbarossa took up the Cross at Mainz Cathedral on March 27th 1188 and was the first of the three Monarchs to set out for the Holy Land.
Barbarossa was said to be a good organizer. Forty – two years earlier he had taken part in the second great Crusade with his uncle, the Emperor Conrad. Thus, he was the only of the three Monarchs who had experienced a crusade himself and as Oldenbourg (1966: 447) points out “this time he was determined to avoid the mistakes which had led to the loss of the German army in 1147.” He was convinced that if the crusade succeeded it would unquestionably make him the dominating figure in Europe.
With the help of his vassals and the German bishops Barbarossa had fitted out an army of over 100, 000 men.
The emperor decided to take the land – route (probably due to the shortage of ships) and moved off with his army from Regensburg on May 11th 1189.
Whereas their march through Hungary went without any bigger trouble, Barbarossa soon realized that it was impossible to pass through the Byzantine territory in peace as he had planned it. Barbarossa occupied Philippopolis and threatened to also take the capital and to destroy the whole Byzantine Empire. As the Empire had lost much of its strength it finally gave in in February 1190.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter provides the background of the conflict between the Zengid dynasty and the Christian forces, culminating in Saladin's capture of Jerusalem and the subsequent European call for a new crusade.
2. On the Eve of the Third Crusade: This section details the life of Richard I, his upbringing, and his turbulent relationship with his father, King Henry II, leading up to his ascension to the throne.
3. The Third Crusade (1189 – 1192): This chapter covers the military campaign, starting with Barbarossa’s expedition, the joint efforts of Richard I and Phillip II, the siege of Acre, and the strategic negotiations with Saladin.
4. Impact of the Third Crusade on England: This part analyzes the domestic repercussions, focusing on the financial strain caused by heavy taxation and the political instability resulting from the King's four-year absence.
5 Conclusion: The final chapter reflects on whether the Third Crusade served as a curse or a blessing, balancing economic hardship and political instability against the potential benefits of cross-cultural knowledge exchange.
Keywords
Third Crusade, Richard I, Saladin, England, Middle Ages, Jerusalem, Holy Land, Barbarossa, Phillip II, Taxation, Saladin Tithe, Crusader army, Medieval warfare, Political history, Plantagenet
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
This work focuses on the Third Crusade and specifically assesses how King Richard I’s decision to participate in the conflict impacted the political and economic state of England.
What are the central thematic areas covered in the document?
The document covers the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the leadership dynamics of European monarchs, the financial methods used to fund the war, and the domestic challenges faced by England during the King's absence.
What is the main research question of this study?
The research explores whether the Third Crusade was ultimately a curse or a blessing for the English people by weighing its diverse socio-political consequences.
Which scientific methodology is employed in this work?
The study utilizes a historical-analytical approach, drawing upon existing historical sources, academic literature, and scholarly interpretations of the Crusades to reconstruct events and analyze their effects.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the paper?
The main body examines the military preparations, the march of the different monarchs, key battles like Acre and Arsuf, the diplomatic negotiations with Saladin, and the specific impact on English domestic policy.
Which keywords best characterize this historical study?
The work is best characterized by terms such as Third Crusade, Richard the Lionheart, Saladin, Crusader taxation, and the internal political consequences for the English crown.
Why was the "Saladin Tithe" so significant for the English population?
The Saladin Tithe was a landmark tax that placed a heavy burden on both clergy and laypeople to fund the Crusade, creating significant resentment and internal societal tension.
How did Richard I's personality influence the course of the Crusade and his kingdom?
The paper highlights that while Richard was admired for his courage and military prowess, his focus on the Crusade and his perceived indifference to domestic governance led critics to view him as a "bad king" who treated his kingdom merely as a financial resource.
What role did the death of Emperor Barbarossa play in the outcome of the Third Crusade?
Barbarossa's accidental death while crossing the Saleph River caused the German Crusader army to lose cohesion, significantly altering the power balance and scale of the military effort.
- Quote paper
- Maxi Hinze (Author), 2007, The Third Crusade and its impact on England, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/69058
