Finally picking up where I left off with my last posts in regard to Christendom, and in defense of the First Crusade, I would like to continue between that of the Second and Third Crusades. I’ve written about WHY the Crusaders marched to the Holy Land to liberate it from the Muslims, the Seljuk Turks. But over the period of time between the capture of Jerusalem, and the fall of Edessa (Which I will cite in a few moments) the Muslims in the area gradually shifted to the Saracen (Fatmid) peoples. The Second Crusade was sparked by the fall of Edessa in 1144, into Muslim hands, from which it was never reclaimed. The Crusader movement seemed to be slowly dying out, as the men were beginning to grow few, and the Islamic forces were being united under the banner of the Saracen leader, Saladin. With their borders being tightened with threat of enemy invasion, the Crusader states gathered in confusion and power struggles, namely the issue of Baldwin IV’s successorship to the throne. The crown passed to 7 year old Baldwin V, who was too young to assume full control. He died about a year later, and the crown passed to Baldwin’s sister, Sybilla, who chose as King her husband Guy de Lusignan. Guy proved to be the downfall of the Crusader Kingdom, as it was he who decided to march the army across the desert without sufficient supplies of water, to confront Saladin’s forces. This resulted in a thirst crazed army, and a quick victory for Saladin at the Horns of Hattin. The Saracen Leader ordered the beheading of all Members of the Military Orders that were captured in the battle.

It was here that Balian of Ibelin made an oath to no longer fight against Saladin, and he was granted permission to journey back to Jerusalem to gather his wife and family. At Jerusalem, the bishop Eraclius petitioned Balian to stay and help in the defense of the city, saying that the need of Christendom was greater than his oath to a non-Christian. Which is essentially true, for with Jerusalem’s army being conquered at Hattin, there were barely any soldiers left to defend the population of the city. So Balian stayed and helped the bishop in preparing the defenses of the city against the invaders. The siege began and the defenders were enclosed within the walls. After a while, Saladin was able to knock down portion of the walls, but was unable to gain entry into the city. So, seeing that there was only a small amount of time before Saladin would gain entrance to the Holy City, Balian rode out to meet with the leader of the Saracens. It was here that Balian made one of the boldest movements to secure the safety of the peoples of Jerusalem, by stating that the defenders would tear down the Dome of Rock, and fight to the last man, rather than to surrender to their enemies, and face certain death.

Saladin took this into consideration, and devised plan with which he could gain control of Jerusalem, and satisfy the defenders’ demands. He offered an opportunity, where all those in the city, could ransom themselves. Paying for men, for women, and for children; those who could not meet these demands were sold into slavery. It is known that both Balian and the Bishop of Jerusalem gave much of their money to help ransom the women and children of the city, even going so far as to offer themselves in exchange. Saladin refused this, but in the actions of these men, we get a clear understanding of true chivalry in defending the poor and defenseless.