لنستخرج كنوزا من المعرفة و الإبداع و العلم و الأفكار
The Battle of the Springs of Cresson marked the beginning of the end for the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
The Battle of the Springs of Cresson was a devastating and perplexing battle in the history of the Crusader States. Its proximity to the Battle of Hattin, which occurred a month later with consequences that were more keenly felt both within the Holy Land and Europe more generally, has resulted in Cresson being overlooked. Nevertheless, the events of 1 May 1187 were born from the political challenges faced by the Kingdom of Jerusalem and served as a portent for the events that came to define the Crusader States in the late 12th century.
By the end of April 1187 the Kingdom of Jerusalem was in a state of turmoil. It was deeply divided over Guy of Lusignan’s ascension to the throne, which in turn resulted in the political isolation of Raymond, Count of Tripoli, Guy’s vocal opponent. Jerusalem also faced an existential crisis as Saladin had unified both Egypt and Syria, effectively encircling the kingdom; his was a threat that could not be ignored.
Raymond was one of the most powerful barons in the kingdom and was consequently an enemy Guy could ill afford. It was therefore decided that a delegation consisting of Gerard de Ridefort, master of the Templars, Roger des Moulins, master of the Hospitallers, Joscelin, the archbishop of Tyre, Balian of Ibelin and Raynald of Sidon would be sent north to Tiberias, where Raymond was staying, with the aim of retrieving him from the political wilderness.
Unaware of these events, the delegation left for Tiberias on 29 April. It was only when they arrived at the Templar castle of La Fève that they received word of Saladin’s force in the area.
Incensed by the news, Gerard de Ridefort quickly mobilised all the support he could. Despite his best efforts, though, the total strength of the Christian force numbered only 110-140 knights and 300-400 infantrymen. Needless to say, this was wholly insufficient to take on 7,000 Muslim troops.
It is possible that Gerard was unaware of the size of the force they faced. According to the anonymous author of the Libellus de Expugnatione Terrae Sanctae per Saladinum, the Muslim force had set up a decoy, which meant Gerard believed he was only attacking 3,000 soldiers, while the remaining 4,000 laid in wait to ambush the unsuspecting Christians. Even if Gerard were under the misapprehension that this smaller contingent was the sum total of the Muslim army, this was still a substantial force, which vastly outnumbered his own modest company.
Upon seeing the 3,000-strong enemy, Gerard was determined to charge and, according to the Continuation of William of Tyre, dismissed the more pragmatic advice of those around him, all of whom advised restraint. He accused the Templar brother Jakelin de Mailly of loving his blond head too much and suggested that he was ‘speaking like someone who wanted to flee’. Gerard gave an impassioned speech, imploring his men not to fear death and to remember their duty to defend Christ’s patrimony.
