Question

Summary of third crusades

Answer 1

The Muslims under Saladin had recaptured Jerusalem in 1187.The Third Crusade was the European response,a military expedition to the Holy Land to retake Jerusalem for Christianity.

Main leaders:
Richard I of England.
Philip II of France.
Emperor Frederick I. However,he died en route and command of the German contingent devolved to his son,Frederick VI of Swabia,but most of the German army went home after the death of the emperor.

Despite having the best of the battles,the Crusaders were frustrated by Muslim scorched earth tactics which prevented them reaching and attacking Jerusalem.There was also a lot of infighting between the Crusader leaders,local Christian rulers not necessarily having the same long term objectives as Richard, Philip,and Frederick.The campaign petered out into a negotiated peace - Richard and Philip had internal threats to deal with in their own kingdoms that required they return home.

The main effect was to show that even a combination of the most powerful Christian states of Europe was unable to mount an expedition large enough to the Holy Land to decisively defeat the Muslims.