History of the Crusades. Episode 56 the Third Crusade Roman numeral 4.

Hello again.

Last week we examined the failed crusade of the German monarch Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.

This week we are back in the crusade estates looking at the events in the kingdom of Jerusalem

prior to the arrival of the French and English armies.

Now, remember back in episode 53 when Josias, the Archbishop of Tyre, set out on his journey to Europe in 1187 to drum up support for a crusade.

His first port of call was Sicily, and after King William II of Sicily had recovered from the shock of the news that Jerusalem had fallen, he sent a fleet of ships to the Holy Land.

Those ships comprising around 50 vessels and 200 knights arrived in 1189 and immediately made themselves useful protecting Antioch and Tripoli while patrolling up and down the northern Syrian coastline, constantly on the lookout for Muslim vessels.

Small contingents of crusaders were beginning to arrive from Europe at this time.

While the German army is making its way through Byzantine territory and the English and French armies are still at home preparing to set out on crusade,

any Christian fighters who made their way to the Holy Land were welcomed, and most ended

up in Tyre, where they fell under the command of Conrad of Monfara. At this time the cities of Tripoli, Antioch and Tyre are the only ones

remaining in Latin Christian hands. Tripoli was playing host to Queen Sebilla, who had fled there after the fall of Jerusalem.

Count Riemann of Tripoli died in the autumn of 1187 and the city was now under the rule of his

successor Prince Boamon the third of Antioch. Following the Queen to Tripoli were all the supporters of the Royal Family of Jerusalem.

Boelmond was also ruling Antioch at this time, and Tyre, well, Tyre was still a thorn in Saladin's

side and a magnet for Latin Christian resistance. remaining Latin Christian castles in the Holy Land, which was understandable, and releasing

high-profile Latin Christian prisoners, which was less understandable. been imprisoned after the Battle of Hatin.

With her husband having been executed, Stephanie, understandably, was keen to have her son back

by her side and was willing to trade one of the kingdom's most formidable

castles to secure his release. The garrison at Kerak, however, was having none of

it.

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