The Battle of Hattin, 1187 A.D. Saladin Ends European Dominance in the Holy Land, Crusaders Die of Thirst and Battle.

With Saladin’s decisive triumph, the era of European dominance in the Holy Land came to a crashing halt. His victory not only shattered the crusader kingdoms but also extinguished any lingering hope of Christian supremacy in the region. What had begun with the fire and zeal of the First Crusade, now ended in humiliation and loss. Saladin’s conquest marked the final shift in power, as the Holy Land, soaked in centuries of blood, was returned to Muslim hands, leaving Europe defeated, its dream of control over Jerusalem forever broken.

Hattin. July 4, 1187.
Crusader Forces: 1,200 Knights and 18,000 Infantry.
Muslim Forces: ~ 18,000 to 20,00 Soldiers.

Additional Reading and Research:

• Regan, Geoffrey. Saladin and the Fall of Jerusalem.
• Smith, Jonathan. The Crusades.
• Armstrong, Karen. Holy War: The Crusades and Their Impact on Today's World.

For Additional Addendum Info on the Crusades, Click Here.

Some Historical Notes:

1. The Eighth Crusade (1270): I mentioned that Louis IX laid siege to Tunis based on "mistaken information that the ruler there was interested in converting to Christianity." This is broadly correct, but historical sources differ on how seriously Louis believed this. Some suggest it was a pretext for the invasion, as his ultimate goal remained the conquest of Egypt or the Holy Land.
2. The Aragonese Crusade (1269): I described King James of Aragon launching this crusade under pressure from the pope. While this is true, it’s worth clarifying that this campaign, while labeled a "Crusade," wasn’t aimed at the Holy Land. It was more a political-military campaign against Moorish lands and their allies. The use of "Crusade" here reflects its religious framing by the pope, but it diverged from the more traditional goals of Crusades in the Holy Land.
3. The description of Saladin’s mercy and conquest: I stated that Saladin "returned the Holy Land to Muslim hands," which is accurate for Jerusalem and other key territories, but the entirety of the Crusader states didn't immediately fall after Hattin. Coastal cities like Tyre, for example, remained in Christian hands, and subsequent Crusades did briefly regain some territory, though without lasting impact. Additionally, the Treaty of Ramla in 1192 allowed Christians to retain access to their religious sites in Jerusalem, even though Saladin held political control.
4. The Fourth Crusade (1202-1204): I said this Crusade "never saw the Holy Land" and instead sacked Constantinople, which is correct, but the decision to attack Constantinople was also deeply tied to internal Byzantine politics, including the deposed Byzantine prince Alexios IV promising money and military aid to the Crusaders in exchange for restoring him to the throne.
5. Teutonic Knights shaping Poland and Germany: While it's accurate to say the Teutonic Knights had a significant role in shaping eastern Europe, particularly in Prussia, their influence on "Germany" and "Poland" as modern entities is complex. Their activities contributed to the formation of the state of Prussia, which later became a key player in German unification. Their role in Poland, however, was adversarial—they frequently clashed with the Polish crown rather than laying the groundwork for its development.

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