Then a meeting between Saladins brother Al-Adil and King of England took place, which ended bitterly, as they quarreled on their demands. After this the battle of Arsuf took place in which Muslim forces sustained heavy losses after initial victory and most of them fled. Sultan finally managed to gather them around him and hold his ground. The Franks fearing an ambush did not pursued them. Sultan later camped at al-Auja. After a couple of days the sultan again rode back to Arsuf but the Franks did not come in open. The next day he set out for Ramla and after holding councils with his emirs, he decided to demolish Ascalon to prevent the Franks to take control of it. The demolition started at 12 September and continued in a hurry.
Franks on the other hand requested peace talks and the sultan allowed the talks to continue to gain some time. The Franks were on the other hand restoring Jaffa. During this time clashes and skirmishes continued between both forces. On 23 September he ordered to burn the tower of Ascalon, which was the only building left. Later the sultan moved towards Ramla and made a long-term camp there. He then ordered the demolition of Lydda and the castle of Ramla. He then set out secretly for Jerusalem, in order to observe affairs there. On 30 September the Lord of Malatiyya came seeking sultans help against his brothers and father. Sultan returned to his army in October 1 and met Lord of Malatiyya there. The envoy of the marquis also came to negotiate peace on conditions if Beirut and Sidon are given to him. The sultan demanded him to besiege Acre and capture it first. On 5 October sultan departed from Ramla and demolished Latrun. During this time several envoys between AlAdil and King of England came back and forward. Later AlAdil went to Jerusalem to investigate affairs. He came back on 14 October. The same day Bedouin robbers attacked camp of Acre and took prisoners, who later gave away important information. Later the King of England sent a letter to the Sultan demanding to give up Jerusalem and return the Holy Cross. Sultan declined all the demands in his reply.
On October 18th Shirkoh ibn Bakhil managed to escape from Acre and reached the Sultan bearing news about the situation there. On 21 October King of England made a proposal of piece if Al-Adil marries his sister. The sultan accepted but the kings sister showed her displeasure on that and turned down the request. Later came the news that the Muslims has seized a Frankish fleet among with was the prized ship The Armoured. This cheered up the Muslims greatly. On 29 October the Franks marched out of Jaffa and the Muslim army charged against them but which was repulsed back by the Franks. On 1 November came the news of death of al-Muzaffar. The next day came the letter from the Caliphate court demanding reply on issues regarding some easter provinces. After a couple of days the Lord of Sidon came as an envoy of the marquis who wanted to join the Muslims and cut off his support of the Franks. On 8 November al-Adil met the king of England who sent a letter to the sultan regarding settlement of peace. Lord of Sidon came the next day. The sultan held council with his emirs discussing both the proposals. On November 16 the sultan sent two envoys with the kings envoys with his reply. The sultan proceeded to Tell al-Jazar, and then he set for Jerusalem. In March al-Adil set out for Jordan Valley and returned on 1st of April. The envoy of the marquis came later in April to restart peace talks, but the marquis was later assassinated by his two men on the order of king of England. Later in May the Franks seized Darum and then attacked Madal Yaba. Summary of Edburys Account Narrating the events of the battle of Hattin, the author wrote that the Muslim army surrounded the host and killed many men horses. The king prepared to join the battle and Saladin came against him. The count of Tripoli took the forward position and charged against the Saracens. They surrounded him slaughtered all his forces. The count managed to escape and went for Tyre. After this defeat Saladin vanquished the field quickly and captured the king, the master of Temple, Prince Reynald and other nobles. This disastrous defeat befell on the Christian world on the Horns of Hattin on July 4, 1187. After this the prisoners were brought forward to the sultan. He gave a cup of syrup to the King, but when he handed it to Reynald the sultan became angry. He thrust his sword in his body and a mamluk beheaded him. The king and other prisoners were taken to Damascus. On the third day the sultan sent lord of Hamah to Acre. The governor of Acre sent his keys to the emir asking safe passage and their wives and possessions. But the inhabitant disagreed and put the city on fire. Saladin came and gave them again a chance of safe passage if they put out the fire.
They finally agreed and handed over the city. After securing the city he besieged Tyre. Balian of Ibelin request Saladin a safe conduct to Jerusalem and then to Tripoli. He swore to leave Jerusalem but instead stayed there until evacuation. Finding the siege of Tyre futile, Saladin went to Sidon, and then he seized Beirut and then Jubail. He passed through Tripoli and then went to Cilicia. Saladin gave his nephew in the hands of a knight name John Gale and brought him to Aleppo. But he sold the boy to the Templars. Reynald of Sidon sent message to Saladin to surrender Tyre, but later refused to raise Saladins banners in the city. Saladin then left Tyre and went to besiege Ascalon. The marquis even refused to exchange Tyre for his father. Later the Sultan besieged Ascalon and it surrendered in exchange of King Guys freedom. All the surrounding castles also surrendered. The burgesses refused Saladins offer of a peaceful surrender of Jerusalem and he swore to take it by force. Next Saladin besieged Jerusalem. He once again gave them an offer of peaceful surrender but they refused. The battle began and the siege continued for 8 days. Then Saladin besieged the area between Saint Stephens gate and Mount of Olives. He erected several petraries and mangonels and started bombarding the walls. His forces soon undermined fifteen toises and blew the wall.
The people of Jerusalem were now exhausted and the nobles held council and later agreed to surrender. When Balian was talking with Saladin he saw his men on the city walls so he refused to accept the surrender. Later the attack was repulsed so he sent Balian back to the city with his message. Saladin set a ransom for the people of Jerusalem to free themselves. The people used the money of King of England to free some ordinary people. Later Saladin reduced the ransom. When all the terms were settled Saladin gave them 50 days to depart. The nobles of Jerusalem then took the keys and handed to Saladin who was rejoicing with this moment. Saladin protected the people of the city in an affective way then no one was harmed. Saladins brother set 1,000 slaves free for the sake of god. Saladin then handed 12,000 more people to the nobles of Jerusalem. 11,000 remaining people were held prisoners. Saladin also freed husbands and fathers of many Jerusalem women at their plea. Saladin made three groups of the leaving people and sent an escort with each of them. The Lord of Nephin later robbed these people. Many of them later went to Alexandria. Saladin then washed the temple with rose water that his sister sent from Damascus and worshiped in the temple. Then he besieged Tyre. Works Cited Edbury, Peter W., The Conquest of Jerusalem and the Third Crusade. Ashgate Publication Limited. Ibn Shaddad, Baha al-Din. The Rare and Excellent History of Saladin. Ashgate Publishing Limited.
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