WHEN Philip Augustus had sailed for Europe, and the crusaders had repaired the battered works of Acre, King Richard, issuing from the gate pitched his tent outside the walls, and gave orders that the whole army should leave the captured city, and prepare to march to Jerusalem. The behest of the English King was not very readily obeyed. Acre, in fact, was full of choice wine and captivating women; and the soldiers of the cross were in no haste to leave quarters where such luxuries abounded.
Coeur de Lion, however, was resolute in his purpose; and the crusaders, gradually tearing themselves from their pleasures, quitted the city," but," says the chronicler, "slowly and peevishly, as if they did it against their will." Leaving the two Queens -- Joan and Berengaria -- with the Emperor Isaac's little daughter, at Acre, and giving orders that no women, save washerwomen, should accompany the army, Richard commenced his march along the coast, having the sea on his right, and on his left heights from which the Saracens watched his movements and awaited a favorable opportunity to attack. The army, however, marched in formidable order: the Templars leading the van; the King of England, with his standard towering conspicuously, in the centre; and the Knights of St. John bringing up the rear. Every evening, when the crusaders halted under the shade of palm-trees, the heralds of the several camps three times cried aloud -- "Save the Holy Sepulchre! " and every soldier bent his knee, and said "Amen!"
In the meantime, Saladin was not inattentive to the movements of his foes. Day by day the great Sultan infested the crusaders' line of march, and, at the head of an army infinitely superior in numbers, caused them the utmost annoyance. Sometimes their van was attacked; at other times, the rear was harassed; and every soldier who strayed, was carried off as if by magic. The crusaders, however, pursuing their march, succeeded in keeping the enemy at bay; and in the many skirmishes which took place, deeds of valor were wrought on both sides.
While advancing towards the city of Assur, and entering a narrow plain, on the left of which rose the steep mountains of Naplouse, the crusaders were exposed to the most severe attacks. On one occasion, the Saracens descending from the heights upon the pack horses, carried off much baggage, and, charging in the midst of the confusion which their attack had created, scattered all who opposed. The crusaders, however, exhibited high courage, and offered a desperate resistance. One man, named Everard, a follower of the Bishop of Salisbury, particularly distinguished himself. Happening in the fray to have his right hand cut off by a Saracen, Everard, without even changing countenance, clutched the sword with his left, and defended himself courageously against a host of assailants.
While Edward was thus occupied, Richard being made aware of the attack, came galloping to the rescue. Shouting out "St. George! St. George!" the King cut down all who crossed his path; and the Saracens, amazed at such prowess, bore back, and escaped to their mountains. But their absence was merely temporary. Scarcely had Richard restored order, when his van and rear were again assailed. Every opportunity was seized on by the Sultan and his soldiers. At length a battle became inevitable.
It was Saturday, 7th September, 1191, and Saladin, "with his main army, and his camels and dromedaries and baggage, had got in advance of the crusaders, and determined, if possible, to arrest their progress. With this object, the Sultan selected his post on the verge of a forest of oaks, which extended along tho declivities of the mountains of Naplouse, and hard by a torrent, which crosses the plains of Assur and flows into the sea near the ramparts of the city. Part of the Moslem army covered the heights; while the main body awaited the foe on the margin of the river.
At the early dawn of a Syrian morning, on the eve of the Virgin's nativity, the crusaders armed for the conflict. Richard, aware of having to encounter a superior force, marshalled the Christian host with great care, and in five divisions. The first was formed by the Knights of the Temple, who led the van; the second comprised the men of Anjou and Brittany, marching in good order; the third was formed of the warriors of Poictiers, under Guy de Lusignan; the fourth was composed of the warriors of England and Normandy, led by such barons as the Earl of Leicester, Hugh Neville, and Hugh de Gourney, and surrounding their national standurd; and the fifth consisted of the Knights of St. John, who "kept together so closely, that an apple, if thrown, would not have fallen to the ground without touching a man or a horse."
The crusaders, thus arrayed, were moving onwards, and the Count of Champagne, the Duke of Burgundy, and the King of England, who was mounted on a magnificent bay steed he had brought from Cyprus, rode up and down narrowly watching the movements of the foe, when a body of Moslem warriors, on steeds of wondrous flcetness, charged suddenly down at full speed, and, mingling their voices in one fearful yell, commenced the attack by discharging arrows and darts. It was clear * that Saladin intended to offer battle; and soon the appearance of white turbans and long pikes, visible through clouds of dust, announced to the crusaders the presence of the Sultan's mighty army. Ere long the Saracens advanced, divided into troops and companies, and preceded by clarions, trumpets, drums, and every species of musical instrument, likely to nerve the hand and fire the blood.
The crusaders soon saw that they were surrounded on all sides; and the Knights of St. John found themselves so hard pressed, that they could scarcely refrain from charging upon the foe. Being entreated, however, to keep in a close body, they marched on for a while without retaliating. At length their plight became intolerable; and angry gestures indicated that the patience of the military monks was rapidly giving way.
"Oh, good St. George!" exclaimed one of the Knights, "are we thus to be put to confusion without striking a blow on the impious race?"
"No," said the Grand Master, "it must not be so;" and he spurred towards the English King.
"My Lord King," said the Grand Master, approaching Richard, "we are violently pressed by the enemy, and in danger of eternal infamy if we return not their blows. We are losing our horses, one after another, and why should we bear with them any further?"
"Good Master," said the King, "it is your duty to sustain their attack;" and the Grand Master had scarcely rejoined his knights, when the enemy assailed them more fiercely than before.
"Why do we not charge them at full gallop?" said one of the knights.
"Yes," cried a hundred voices; "unless we defend ourselves by charging, we shall incur everlasting scandal, and so much the greater the longer we delay."
As this conversation was taking place, the marshal and another knight, wheeling round, rode lance in rest upon the Saracens; and the Knights of St. John, turning their horses' heads, prepared to charge. Almost as they did so, Saladin passed through the Moslem ranks, and roused the courage of his soldiers, who shouted -- "God is powerful!"
Matters having reached this stage, the battle was begun by Sir James d'Avennes, who, at the head of European cavalry, penetrated twice into the Saracenic ranks. At the third charge, his leg was severed by the stroke of a Turkish sabre, and surrounded by countless foes, he expired sword in hand. Falling in the midst of Saracens, of whom he is said to have killed no fewer than fifteen, the gallant knight called loudly on King Richard to avenge his death.
Scarcely had Sir James d'Avennes breathed his last, when Coeur de Lion advanced with the main army of crusaders, and the shock was terrific. Breaking into the Moslem ranks, with his ponderous battle-axe in his hand, Coeur de Lion swept the Saracens before him, dispersing them right and left, and chasing them across the torrent. But meanwhile the crusaders, assailed on all hands by the crowd of foes, who poured down from the heights, were giving way; and the King was under the necessity of retracing his steps to come to their aid.
A conflict of the most sanguinary character then took place; Christian and Moslem fighting hand to hand and steel to steel. Cries of rage and despair mingled with the clash of sword and shield. In tho midst of the battle, Richard, brandishing his axe and shouting "St. George!" figured prominently: and woe to the unfortunate wight who crossed the King's path. "Wherever the contest was keenest, and the carnage most sanguinary, the Cyprian steed and the stalwart rider appeared. The very sight was terrible to foes. The bravest of Moslems watched with apprehension the Cyprian steed's furious rush; the bravest of Moslems recoiled in terror before the swing of Coeur de Lion's battle-axe. In vain, if we are to credit historians, Saladin threw himself into the battle, and crossed weapons with the mighty Plantagenet. Saracen after Saracen reeled to the ground: and it became impossible for them, notwithstanding their numbers, to withstand the onslaught of thousands of knights, headed by such a hero-king. Broken and beaten on all sides, the Moslem warriors abandoned the field, and retreated to the forest of oaks.
The result of the battle, being such as he had not anticipated, mortified Saladin; and, calling together the emirs, he addressed them in anger.
"Are these," asked the Sultan, "the deeds of my brave troops, once so boastful, and whom I have so loaded with gifts? It is a disgrace to our nation, thus to become as nothing in comparison with their glorious ancestors."
"Most sacred Sultan," answered one of the emirs, "this charge is unjust, for we fought with all our strength against the Franks, and did our best to destroy them. But it was of no avail; for they are cased in impenetrable armor, which no weapon can pierce. And further, there is among them one superior to any man we have ever seen. They call him Melech Ric; and he seems a king bom to command the whole earth. He always charges before the rest. slaying our men; no man can resist him or escape out of his hands. What more could we have done against a foe so formidable?"
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From John G. Edgar
The Crusades and the Crusaders, 1860
