History of the Crusades

the Crusades The Episode 106 the fall of Tripoli.

Hello again.

Last week we saw more Latin Christian territory in the Middle East fall into Muslim hands.

It was pretty clear to everyone by now, Latin Christians, Native Christians, Muslims and

Mongols, that without a massive crusade from the West, the days of the remaining Crusader states were numbered.

It was also pretty clear to everyone that there would be no massive intervention by the West.

Not only had the Latin Christians of the Holy Land tried to muster support for a crusade,

even the Mongols had attempted to do so.

Dangling the very tempting and sensible, you would have thought,

offer of joining the mighty Mongol forces to the Latin Christian forces of Europe

before the kings of the West, the Mongol's efforts came to nothing.

With no major outside assistance forthcoming, the days of the

crusader states were numbered. Now you may recall from last week's episode that in 1283 the Egyptian Sultan Kala 1

signed a treaty with the kingdom of Acre, proclaiming peace for a period of 10 years, 10 months,

10 days and 10 hours. Importantly, the northern port of Lattakia, which is all that remains of the Principality

of Antioch and the county of Tripoli are not covered by this peace treaty.

And it is these Latin Christian possessions which will be the subject of our episode today.

In early 1287, the Port of Latakia was still being used by the Latin Christians as a trading outpost.

Goods from the city of Aleppo were taken to Latakia to be shipped across the Mediterranean. It occurred to the merchants of Aleppo that,

all things considering, it would be better if Latakia was in Muslim and not Christian hands.

Sultan Kalawun agreed.

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