What part of the Holy Land did the Third Crusade win back?
The Third Crusade, led by Richard the Lionheart of England,
Philip II of France, and Leopold of Austria, recovered the
coastline of modern Syria, Israel, and Lebanon that had been lost
to Salah-al din in the previous years. In fact, Saladin had been so
successful that only the metropoli of Tyre, Antioch, and Triploli
remained in Christian hands. When Pope Innocent III called the
Third Crusade, the first man to respond was the Emperor Frederick
I. Frederick crossed into Asia Minor and captured the city of
Iconium before tragically drowing in a river. He was succeeded on
the crusade by Leopold of Austria. Richard and Philip arrived next
at the coastal city of Acre, whose Muslim inhabitants were under
siege by former King Guy de Lusigan of Jerusalem. With the soldiers
of Richard, Philip, and Leopold, the crusaders retook the city.
Leopold and Philip both left at that point, put off by Richard's
predominant role in the endevour. Richard and Saladin began their
legandary march down the coast, with Richard hugging the shoreline
keeping time with his fleet. Saladin and his emires tailed them,
attempting to catch Richard in battle and therefore destroy the
Christians once and for all. They did finally meet at the forest of
Arsuf, where Richard used his heavy cavalry to annhiliate Saladin's
ranks and scatter his army. Next Richard loaded up his forces onto
his navy and proceeded to Jaffa, a port city to the south. There
Richard again beseiged Saladin and again defeated him taking the
city. At that point it was agreed that neither king could continue
to fight, and it was agreed that the Christians would be given
control of the entire coastline from Tyre to Gaza, while Saladin
and the Muslims retained the rest of the Holy Land, including
Jerusalem.
