Read Online A History of the Crusades-Vol 3 by Steven Runciman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Steven Runciman
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Richard and Philip had been
complicated by the death on 1 June of Philip, Count of Flanders, the reluctant
Crusader of 1177. He left no direct heirs; and while the King of France had
some claim on the inheritance, the King of England was unwilling to let so rich
and strategically placed a province fall into his rival’s hands. When Philip,
citing the terms made at Messina, demanded half of the island of Cyprus,
Richard countered by demanding half Flanders. Neither side pursued the demand,
but each was left with a grievance.
On 3 July, after Saladin’s nephew Taki had
vainly tried to break through into the city, the French made a serious breach
in the wall, but were forced to retire. Eight days later the English and
Pisans, using a moment when the other Crusaders were at dinner, tried their
luck with the same initial success but ultimate failure. By this time the
garrison had already decided to give up the struggle. They had sent envoys to
the Crusader camp on 4 July, but Richard rejected their proposals; though that
same day his ambassadors visited Saladin, asking to be allowed to buy fruit and
snow, and hinting that they were ready to discuss peace terms. Saladin was
shocked to hear that his men inside Acre had given up hope. He promised them
immediate help; but he could not stir his army into making the great attack on
the Christian camp that he had planned for 5 July. On 7 July a swimmer brought
him a last appeal from the city. Without aid the garrison could hold out no
longer. The battle on the 11th was the final effort of the besieged. Next day
they offered to capitulate; and their terms were accepted. Acre was to be
surrendered with all its contents, its ships and its military stores. Two
hundred thousand gold pieces were to be paid to the Franks, with an extra four
hundred for Conrad in person. Fifteen hundred Christian prisoners, with a
hundred prisoners of rank, to be specifically named, were to be liberated and
the True Cross was to be restored. If this were done the lives of the defenders
would be spared.
A swimmer left the harbour to tell Saladin
what was agreed, for it was for him to implement the clauses. He was horrified.
As he sat in front of his tent composing an answer forbidding the garrison to
submit to such terms, he saw the Frankish banners being unfurled on the city
towers. It was too late. His officers had made the treaty in his name, and as a
man of honour he abode by it. He moved his camp to Shafr’amr on the road to
Sephoria, further from the city, now that he could do nothing more to help it,
and he steeled himself to receive the ambassadors of the victorious Franks.
1191: The Crusaders enter Acre
No sooner had the capitulation been
accepted than the Saracen garrison marched out of Acre. The conquerors were
moved to see it pass by into captivity, for they admired its courage and
tenacity, worthy of a better cause. When the last Saracen had left the Franks
moved in, headed by Conrad, whose standard-bearer carried his personal standard
and the standards of the Kings. King Richard took up his residence in the
former Royal Palace near the north wall of the city, King Philip in the former
establishment of the Templars, on the sea near the tip of the peninsula.
Unseemly quarrels marred the assignment of quarters in the city. The Duke of
Austria, as head of the German army, claimed a position equal to the Kings of
France and England and set his standard up beside Richard’s, only to see it
taken down by the English and hurled into the fosse below. It was an insult
that Leopold of Austria never forgave. When he returned home a few days later,
it was with hatred for Richard in his heart. The Frankish merchants and nobles
who had previously held property in Acre asked for their possessions to be
given back. They were nearly all of them supporters of Conrad, and therefore
appealed to King Philip when the visiting Crusaders tried to displace them. He
insisted that their claims should be honoured.
The
complicated by the death on 1 June of Philip, Count of Flanders, the reluctant
Crusader of 1177. He left no direct heirs; and while the King of France had
some claim on the inheritance, the King of England was unwilling to let so rich
and strategically placed a province fall into his rival’s hands. When Philip,
citing the terms made at Messina, demanded half of the island of Cyprus,
Richard countered by demanding half Flanders. Neither side pursued the demand,
but each was left with a grievance.
On 3 July, after Saladin’s nephew Taki had
vainly tried to break through into the city, the French made a serious breach
in the wall, but were forced to retire. Eight days later the English and
Pisans, using a moment when the other Crusaders were at dinner, tried their
luck with the same initial success but ultimate failure. By this time the
garrison had already decided to give up the struggle. They had sent envoys to
the Crusader camp on 4 July, but Richard rejected their proposals; though that
same day his ambassadors visited Saladin, asking to be allowed to buy fruit and
snow, and hinting that they were ready to discuss peace terms. Saladin was
shocked to hear that his men inside Acre had given up hope. He promised them
immediate help; but he could not stir his army into making the great attack on
the Christian camp that he had planned for 5 July. On 7 July a swimmer brought
him a last appeal from the city. Without aid the garrison could hold out no
longer. The battle on the 11th was the final effort of the besieged. Next day
they offered to capitulate; and their terms were accepted. Acre was to be
surrendered with all its contents, its ships and its military stores. Two
hundred thousand gold pieces were to be paid to the Franks, with an extra four
hundred for Conrad in person. Fifteen hundred Christian prisoners, with a
hundred prisoners of rank, to be specifically named, were to be liberated and
the True Cross was to be restored. If this were done the lives of the defenders
would be spared.
A swimmer left the harbour to tell Saladin
what was agreed, for it was for him to implement the clauses. He was horrified.
As he sat in front of his tent composing an answer forbidding the garrison to
submit to such terms, he saw the Frankish banners being unfurled on the city
towers. It was too late. His officers had made the treaty in his name, and as a
man of honour he abode by it. He moved his camp to Shafr’amr on the road to
Sephoria, further from the city, now that he could do nothing more to help it,
and he steeled himself to receive the ambassadors of the victorious Franks.
1191: The Crusaders enter Acre
No sooner had the capitulation been
accepted than the Saracen garrison marched out of Acre. The conquerors were
moved to see it pass by into captivity, for they admired its courage and
tenacity, worthy of a better cause. When the last Saracen had left the Franks
moved in, headed by Conrad, whose standard-bearer carried his personal standard
and the standards of the Kings. King Richard took up his residence in the
former Royal Palace near the north wall of the city, King Philip in the former
establishment of the Templars, on the sea near the tip of the peninsula.
Unseemly quarrels marred the assignment of quarters in the city. The Duke of
Austria, as head of the German army, claimed a position equal to the Kings of
France and England and set his standard up beside Richard’s, only to see it
taken down by the English and hurled into the fosse below. It was an insult
that Leopold of Austria never forgave. When he returned home a few days later,
it was with hatred for Richard in his heart. The Frankish merchants and nobles
who had previously held property in Acre asked for their possessions to be
given back. They were nearly all of them supporters of Conrad, and therefore
appealed to King Philip when the visiting Crusaders tried to displace them. He
insisted that their claims should be honoured.
The
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