Siege of Jerusalem (1187)

Lore & Background

The siege began on 20 September 1187, when Saladin's army arrived outside Jerusalem. The city was filled with refugees but had fewer than fourteen knights. Balian of Ibelin, who had been granted safe passage to retrieve his family, was persuaded by Patriarch Heraclius and Queen Sibylla to take charge of the defense. He created sixty new knights from squires and burgesses and prepared food and money for the siege. Saladin's forces assaulted the walls for six days, suffering heavy casualties, but a breach was made on 29 September. The defenders could not push the Muslims back, and the civilian population despaired. Balian rode out to offer surrender; Saladin initially demanded unconditional surrender but eventually agreed to a ransom: 10 dinars per man, 5 per woman, 2 per child. Balian negotiated a total of 30,000 dinars to free 7,000 of those unable to pay.

Reader's Guide

The fall of Jerusalem in 1187 was a pivotal event in the Crusades, marking the end of nearly 90 years of Crusader rule over the holy city. The siege demonstrated the effectiveness of Saladin's military strategy and his willingness to negotiate a peaceful surrender to avoid bloodshed, contrasting sharply with the Crusader massacre of 1099. The loss of Jerusalem prompted the launch of the Third Crusade in 1189, led by Richard the Lionheart, Philip Augustus, and Frederick Barbarossa. Though the Kingdom of Jerusalem survived by shifting its capital to Tyre and later Acre, the city remained under Muslim control. Saladin restored Muslim holy sites and allowed Orthodox and Eastern Christian pilgrims free entry, while Frankish pilgrims paid a fee. The siege's legacy includes the relatively humane treatment of captives and the preservation of Jerusalem's multi-religious character under Ayyubid rule.

Did You Know?

• Balian created 60 new knights from squires and burgesses because fewer than 14 knights were in the city.
• Saladin allowed Queen Dowager Maria and Queen Sibylla to leave without paying ransom.
• After the surrender, 15,000 of those who could not pay the ransom were sold into slavery.
• The large golden Christian cross placed over the Dome of the Rock by the Crusaders was pulled down.