Battle of Hattin

The Battle of Hattin took place on 4 July 1187, between the Crusader states of
the Levant and the forces of the Ayyubid sultan Saladin (Salah ad-Din). It is
also known as the Battle of the Horns of Hattin, due to the shape of the nearby
extinct volcano of Kurûn Hattîn.
The Muslim armies under Saladin captured or killed the vast majority of the
Crusader forces, removing their capability to wage war. As a direct result of the
battle, Muslims once again became the eminent military power in the Holy Land,
re-conquering Jerusalem and many of the other Crusader-held cities. These
Christian defeats prompted the Third Crusade, which began two years after the
Battle of Hattin.

Location

Horns of Hattin, 2005, as viewed from the east

The battle took place near Tiberias in present-day Israel. The battlefield, near
the town of Hittin, had as its chief geographic feature a double hill (the "Horns
of Hattin") beside a pass through the northern mountains between Tiberias and the
road from Acre to the east. The Darb al-Hawarnah road, built by the Romans,
served as the main east-west passage between the Jordan fords, the Sea of Galilee
and the Mediterranean coast.

Background
Guy of Lusignan became king of Jerusalem in 1186, in right of his wife Sibylla,
after the death of Sibylla's son Baldwin V. The Kingdom of Jerusalem was at this
time divided between the "court faction" of Guy, Sibylla, and relative newcomers
to the kingdom such as Raynald of Châtillon, Gerard of Ridefort and the Knights
Templar; and the "nobles’ faction", led by Raymond III of Tripoli, who had been
regent for the child-king Baldwin V and had opposed the succession of Guy.
Raymond III of Tripoli had supported the claim of Sibylla's half-sister Isabella
and Isabella's husband Humphrey IV of Toron, and he led the rival faction to the
court party. Open warfare was only prevented when Humphrey of Toron swore
allegiance to Guy, ending the succession dispute. The Muslim chronicler Ali ibn
al-Athir claimed that Raymond was in a "state of open rebellion" against Guy.
In the background of these divisions Saladin had become vizier of Egypt in 1169,
and had taken Damascus in 1174 and Aleppo in 1183. He controlled the entire
Southern and Eastern flanks of the Crusader states. He united his subjects under
Sunni Islam, and convinced them that he would wage holy war to push the Christian
Franks from Jerusalem. Saladin often made strategic truces with the Franks when
there was a need to deal with political problems in the Muslim world, and one
such truce was made in 1185. It was rumoured amongst the Franks that Raymond III
of Tripoli had made a deal with Saladin under which Saladin would make him King
of Jerusalem in return for peace. This rumour was echoed by Ibn al Athir, but it
is unclear whether it was true. Raymond III was certainly reluctant to engage in
battle with Saladin.
In 1187 Raynald of Châtillon raided a Muslim caravan when the truce with Saladin
was still in place. Saladin swore that he would kill Raynald for violating the
truce, and sent his son Al-Afdal ibn Salah ad-Din and the emir Gökböri to raid
Frankish lands surrounding Acre. Gerard de Ridefort and the Templars engaged
Gökböri in the Battle of Cresson in May, where they were heavily defeated. The
Templars lost around 150 knights and 300 footsoldiers, who had made up a great
part of the military of Jerusalem. Jonathan Phillips states that "the damage to
Frankish morale and the scale of the losses should not be underestimated in
contributing towards the defeat at Hattin".
In July Saladin laid siege to Tiberias, where Raymond III's wife Eschiva was
trapped. In spite of this Raymond argued that Guy should not engage Saladin in
battle, and that Saladin could not hold Tiberias because his troops would not
stand to be away from their families for so long. The Knights Hospitaller also
advised Guy not to provoke Saladin. Gerard de Ridefort advised Guy to advance
against Saladin, and Guy took his advice. Norman Housley suggests that this was
because "the minds of both men had been so poisoned by the political conflict
1180-87 that they could only see Raymond's advice as designed to bring them
personal ruin", and also because he had spent Henry II of England's donations in
calling the army, and was reluctant to disband it without a battle. This was a
gamble on Guy's part, as he left only a few knights to defend the city of
Jerusalem.

Siege of Tiberias
In late May Saladin assembled the largest army he had ever commanded on the Golan
Heights, around 40,000 men including about 12,000 regular cavalry. He inspected
his forces at Tell-Ashtara before crossing the River Jordan on June 30. Saladin
had also unexpectedly gained the alliance of the Druze community based in
Sarahmul led by Jamal ad-Din Hajji, whose father Karama was an age-old ally of
Nur ad-Din Zangi. The city of Sarahmul had been sacked by the crusaders on
various occasions and according to Jamal ad-Din Hajji the crusaders even
manipulated the Assassins to kill his three elder brothers. Saladin's army was
organised as a centre and two wings: Gökböri commanded the left of the army,
Saladin himself commanded the centre and his nephew, Al-Muzaffar Umar (Taki ad-
Din), the right.
The opposing Crusader army amassed at La Saphorie; it consisted of around 18,000–
20,000 men, including 1,200 knights from Jerusalem and Tripoli and 50 from
Antioch. Though the army was smaller than Saladin's it was still larger than
those usually mustered by the Crusaders. The usual levy of those who owed feudal
service was extended, on this occasion of extreme threat, to include a call to
arms of all able-bodied men in the kingdom.
After reconciling, Raymond and Guy met at Acre with the bulk of the crusader
army. According to some European sources, aside from the knights there were a
greater number of lighter cavalry, and perhaps 10,000 foot soldiers, supplemented
by crossbowmen from the Italian merchant fleet, and a large number of mercenaries
(including Turcopoles) hired with money donated to the kingdom by Henry II, King
of England. The army's standard was the relic of the True Cross, carried by the
Bishop of Acre, who was sent on behalf of the ailing Patriarch Heraclius.
Saladin decided to lure Guy into moving his field army away from their secure
fortified encampment, located by the springs at La Saphorie (an important local
source of water). He calculated the Crusaders could be defeated more easily in a
field battle than by besieging their fortifications. On 2 July Saladin personally
led an assault on Raymond's fortress of Tiberias, while the main Muslim army
remained at Kafr Sabt. The garrison at Tiberias tried to bribe Saladin to leave
the castle undisturbed, but he refused, later stating that "when the people
realized they had an opponent who could not be tricked and would not be contented
with tribute, they were afraid lest war might eat them up and they asked for
quarter...but the servant gave the sword dominion over them." Within a day, one
of the fortress' towers was mined and collapsed. Saladin's troops stormed the
breach, killing the opposing forces and taking prisoners. Raymond's wife Eschiva
held out with the surviving Frankish troops in the citadel.
As the Muslim troops began to construct a second mine to attack the citadel on 3
July, Saladin received news that Guy was moving the Frankish army east. The
Crusaders had taken the bait. Guy's decision to leave La Saphorie was the result
of a Crusader war council held on the night of 2 July. Records of this meeting
are biased due to personal feuds among the Franks, but it seems Raymond argued
that a march from Acre to Tiberias was exactly what Saladin wanted while La
Saphorie was a strong position for the Crusaders to defend. Raymond also claimed
Guy shouldn't worry about Tiberias, which Raymond held personally and was willing
to give up for the safety of the kingdom. In response to this argument, and
despite their reconciliation (internal court politics remaining strong), Raymond
was accused of cowardice by Gerard and Raynald. This led Guy to resolve on an
immediate counter-attack against Saladin at Tiberias.

Battle

Movement of troops to the battle (Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem in black and

Muslim in green). Fontaine- (Spring). Djebel- (Mount). Tiberiade- (Tiberias). Lac
de Tiberiade- (Lake Tiberias). Cafsarsset- (Kafr Sabt).
On July 3 the Frankish army started out towards Tiberias, harassed constantly by
Muslim archers. They passed the Springs of Turan, which were entirely
insufficient to provide the army with water. At midday Raymond of Tripoli decided
that the army would not reach Tiberias by nightfall, and he and Guy agreed to
change the course of the march and veer to the left in the direction of the
Springs of Kafr Hattin, only 6 miles (9.7 km away). From there they could march
down to Tiberias the following day. The Muslims positioned themselves between the
Frankish army and the water so that the Franks were forced to pitch camp
overnight on the arid plateau near the village of Meskenah. The Muslims
surrounded the camp so closely that "a cat could not have escaped". According to
Ibn al Athir the Franks were "despondent, tormented by thirst" whilst Saladin's
men were jubilant in anticipation of their victory.
Throughout the night the Muslims further demoralized the crusaders by praying,
singing, beating drums, showing symbols, and chanting. They set fire to the dry
grass, making the crusaders' throats even drier. The Crusaders were now thirsty,
demoralized and exhausted. The Muslim army by contrast had a caravan of camels
bring goatskins of water up from Lake Tiberias (now known as the Sea of Galilee).

Battle of Hattin (Gustave Doré)

On the morning of July 4, the crusaders were blinded by smoke from the fires set
by Saladin's forces. The Franks came under fire from Muslim mounted archers from
the division commanded by Gökböri, who had been resupplied with 400 loads of
arrows that had been brought up during the night. Gerard and Raynald advised Guy
to form battle lines and attack, which was done by Guy's brother Amalric. Raymond
led the first division with Raymond of Antioch, the son of Bohemund III of
Antioch, while Balian and Joscelin III of Edessa formed the rearguard.
Thirsty and demoralized, the crusaders broke camp and changed direction for the
springs of Hattin, but their ragged approach was attacked by Saladin's army which
blocked the route forward and any possible retreat. Count Raymond launched two
charges in an attempt to break through to the water supply at Lake Tiberias. The
second of these enabled him to reach the lake and make his way to Tyre.
After Raymond escaped, Guy's position was now even more desperate. Most of the
Christian infantry had effectively deserted by fleeing in a mass onto the Horns
of Hattin where they played no further part in the battle. Overwhelmed by thirst
and wounds, many were killed on the spot without resistance while the remainder
were taken prisoner. Their plight was such that five of Raymond's knights went
over to the Muslim leaders to beg that they be mercifully put to death. Guy
attempted to pitch the tents again to block the Muslim cavalry. The Christian
knights and mounted serjeants were disorganized, but still fought on.
Now the crusaders were surrounded and, despite three desperate charges on
Saladin's position, were broken up and defeated. An eyewitness account of this is
given by Saladin's 17-year-old son, al-Afdal. It is quoted by Muslim chronicler
Ibn al-Athir:
When the king of the Franks [Guy] was on the hill with that band, they made a
formidable charge against the Muslims facing them, so that they drove them back
to my father [Saladin]. I looked towards him and he was overcome by grief and his
complexion pale. He took hold of his beard and advanced, crying out "Give the lie
to the Devil!" The Muslims rallied, returned to the fight and climbed the hill.
When I saw that the Franks withdrew, pursued by the Muslims, I shouted for joy,
"We have beaten them!" But the Franks rallied and charged again like the first
time and drove the Muslims back to my father. He acted as he had done on the
first occasion and the Muslims turned upon the Franks and drove them back to the
hill. I again shouted, "We have beaten them!" but my father rounded on me and
said, "Be quiet! We have not beaten them until that tent [Guy's] falls." As he
was speaking to me, the tent fell. The sultan dismounted, prostrated himself in
thanks to God Almighty and wept for joy.

Surrender of crusaders

Modern interpretation of Saladin accepting the surrender of Guy of Lusignan

Prisoners after the battle included Guy, his brother Amalric II, Raynald de
Chatillon, William V of Montferrat, Gerard de Ridefort, Humphrey IV of Toron,
Hugh of Jabala, Plivain of Botron, Hugh of Gibelet, and other barons of the
Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Guy of Lusignan and Raynald of Chatillon were brought to Saladin's tent. Saladin
offered Guy a drink, which was a sign in Muslim culture that the prisoner would
be spared, although Guy was unaware of this. Guy passed the goblet to Raynald,
but Saladin struck it from his hands, saying "I did not ask this evil man to
drink, and he would not save his life by doing so". He then charged Raynald with
breaking the truce. Some reports, such as that of Baha al' Din, claim that
Saladin then executed Raynald himself with a single stroke of his sword. Others
record that Saladin struck Raynald as a sign to his bodyguards to behead him. Guy
assumed that he would also be beheaded, but Saladin assured him that "kings do
not kill kings."

Aftermath

Crusader battle losses

The True Cross was supposedly fixed upside down on a lance and sent to Damascus.
The Crusader king, Guy of Lusignan, was taken to Damascus as a prisoner granted
release in 1188, while the other noble captives were eventually ransomed.
After executing Raynald of Chatillon, Saladin ordered that the other captive
barons were to be spared and treated humanely. All 200 of the Templar and
Hospitaller Knights taken prisoner were executed on Saladin's orders, with the
exception of the Grand Master of the Temple. The executions were by decapitation.
Saint Nicasius, a Knight Hospitaller later venerated as a Roman Catholic martyr,
is said to have been one of the victims. Imad ed-Din, Saladin's secretary, wrote:
Saladin ordered that they should be beheaded, choosing to have them dead rather
than in prison. With him was a whole band of scholars and sufis and a certain
number of devout men and ascetics, each begged to be allowed to kill one of them,
and drew his sword and rolled back his sleeve. Saladin, his face joyful, was
sitting on his dais, the unbelievers showed black despair.
Captured turcopoles (locally recruited mounted archers employed by the crusader
states) were also executed on Saladin's orders. While nominally Christian, these
auxiliaries were regarded as renegades who had betrayed Islam.
The rest of the captured knights and soldiers were sold into slavery, and one was
reportedly bought in Damascus in exchange for some sandals. The high ranking
Frankish barons captured were held in Damascus and treated well. Some of
Saladin's men left the army after the battle, taking lower-ranking Frankish
prisoners with them as slaves.

Crusader kingdom falls to Saladin

On Sunday, July 5, Saladin marched the six miles (10 km) to Tiberias, and
Countess Eschiva surrendered the citadel of the fortress. She was allowed to
leave for Tripoli with all her family, followers, and possessions. Raymond of
Tripoli, having escaped the battle, died of pleurisy later in 1187.
In fielding an army of 20,000 men, the Crusaders states had reduced the garrisons
of their castles and fortified settlements. The heavy defeat at Hattin meant
there was little reserve with which to defend against Saladin's forces. Only some
200 knights escaped the battle. The importance of the defeat is demonstrated by
the fact that in its aftermath fifty-two towns and fortifications were captured
by Saladin's forces. By mid-September, Saladin had taken Acre, Nablus, Jaffa,
Toron, Sidon, Beirut, and Ascalon. Tyre was saved by the arrival of Conrad of
Montferrat, resulting in Saladin's siege of Tyre being repulsed with heavy
losses. Jerusalem was defended by Queen Sibylla, Latin Patriarch Heraclius of
Jerusalem, and Balian, who subsequently negotiated its surrender to Saladin on
October 2 (see Siege of Jerusalem).

Significance in crusading history

According to the chronicler Ernoul, news of the defeat brought to Rome by
Joscius, Archbishop of Tyre caused Pope Urban III to die of shock. Urban's
successor, Pope Gregory VIII, issued the bull Audita tremendi calling for a new
crusade within days of his election. In England and France, the Saladin tithe was
enacted to raise funds for the new crusade. The subsequent Third Crusade did not
get underway until 1189, but was a very successful military operation through
which many Christian holdings were restored. Nonetheless, Christian control over
territories in the Holy Land remained vulnerable for decades until the Battle of
La Forbie of 1244, 57 years after the Battle of Hattin, which marked the genuine
collapse of Crusader military power in Outremer.

In popular culture
Kingdom of Heaven (film) briefly depicts the battle along with the capture of Guy
of Lusignan and the execution of Raynald of Châtillon by Saladin
The battle is prominently featured in the children's historical novel Knight
Crusader by Ronald Welch