Arsuf (Apollonia): The Battle of Arsuf (1191)

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Image links:  image 1: CrusaderMap1;   image 2: Arsuf1;  image 3: from Arsuf2;  image 4: from Arsuf3;  image 5: from Arsuf4;  image 6: from Arsuf5.

The Battle of Arsuf is widely referenced, and serves as inspiration for video and board games, television documentaries, and discussions of military strategy and technologies.

The battle took place on September 7th, 1191.  While Saladin's forces were defeated on this day, it is difficult to know who really won in the larger context. Richard went on to take and hold Jaffa, but he never made it to Jerusalem.  Saladin learned that Richard was a very able commander, and opted to shift strategies, relying more on harassment and wearing down the Crusaders, playing rope-a-dope, rather than engaging in a pitched battle.  Richard returned to England in October of 1192 concerned over the news of his brother John's shenanigans back home.  Saladin agreed to a truce, and agreed to allow free Christian access to their Holy Sites.

An interesting back story to the Third Crusade was the reported respect and admiration shared by the two commanders toward each other.  By example, before his departure from the Holy Land, Richard sent messengers to Saladin proposing a truce.  The legates explained that once completing some business back home, Richard's intent was to return and kick Saladin's butt, if Saladin chose to resist.  In reply, Saladin remarked that "he thought King Richard so pleasant, upright, magnanimous, and excellent that, if the land were to be lost in his time, he would rather have it taken into Richard's power than to have it go into the hands of any other prince whom he had ever seen"  (from Itinerarium Peregrinorum et Gestes Regis Ricardi).  Sweet.

The battle was well-chronicled, from both sides.  It's great reading:  a study in hyperbole, fanatical faith, and mythic heroes.  

A nice counterpoint and context to this rather self-serving, inflated source material is Terry Jones' The Holy Crusades, available for viewing on youtube.  

For other media links, see:

Battle of Arsuf (introduction to a video game)

Battle of Arsuf (in Arabic)

Batala de Arsuf (in Spanish)