Autumn

Baldwin de Ramla departs the kingdom; Raymond de Tripoli refuses homage to Guy and signs separate peace with Saladin.

1187

1 May

Saracen reconnaissance-in-force destroys a small force of Templars, Hospitallers and secular knights at the Springs of Cresson;

May

Tripoli reconciles with Lusignan;

27 June

Saladin begins his fourth invasion of the Kingdom of Jerusalem;

3-4 July

Saladin decisively defeats the army of the kingdom at the Battle of Hattin;

8-10 July

Saladin captures Acre; citizens spared;

14 July

Arrival of Conrad de Montferrat in Tyre;

ca. 20 July

Al-Adil captures Jaffa followed by sack, slaughter and enslavement;

29 July

Sidon surrenders to Saladin; citizens spared;

6 August

Beirut captured by Saladin; slaughter and plunder follow;

4 September

Saladin captures Ascalon;

20 September2 October

Siege of Jerusalem; surrender on 2 October followed by forty days to pay ransoms;

October

Pope calls for the Third Crusade;

November-December

Richard of Poitiers, later King Richard I of England, takes the cross;

Saladin unsuccessfully besieges Tyre.

1188

January

Pope Clement III preaches the Third Crusade;

July

Timely arrival of the Sicilian fleet prevents the fall of Tripoli; Saladin ends his siege;