STEP 4-The Third Crusade
The defeat of the Crusading Army in the Second Crusade set back the Christian cause severly and introduced a new Muslim leader, Saladin. Saladin's forces moved with incredible swiftness and deadly efficiency, capturing Jerusalem and many other Crusader strongholds including Acre. The Crusading Army sent to deal with Saladin was led by three able military leaders, King Richard the Lionhearted of England, Phillip II of France and Emperor Fredrick Barbarossa of Germany. However, Phillip II of France returned to his country after the succession of his relative to a position of power in the Crusader kingdoms of the North African coast. Emperor Fredrick Barbarossa drowned before reaching the Holy Land. Only Richard the Lionhearted and the Duke of Burgundy remained to lead the army. The initial results were excellent with the capture of Acre being the first success. However, over two-thousand prisoners were beheaded after the victory. The main military action of the Crusade was yet to come. King Richard with the assistance of the Knights Templar and the Knights of St. John, defeated Saladin's army at Arsuf. Despite this victory, Jerusalem was not recaptured and only an agreement concerning the safe passage of Christian pilgrims was reached. In addition, the Latin kingdoms along the coast of North Africa and Asia Minor would be maintained for some years as a result of Richard's victories.