Jerusalem 1187: Saladin's Siege and the Fall of the Crusader Kingdom

In September 1187, after the disastrous Battle of Hattin, Saladin's Ayyubid army surrounded Jerusalem. The city's defense was led by Balian of Ibelin, who negotiated a surrender that spared most inhabitants from massacre. This episode explores the siege's key moments: the breach near St. Stephen's Gate, the frantic ransom of thousands, Saladin's display of chivalry versus earlier Crusader brutality, and the immediate aftermath including the fate of the True Cross relic. We also examine how Saladin handled the city's holy sites, restoring the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa as Islamic sanctuaries while allowing Christian pilgrims continued access. The episode draws on eyewitness accounts from Imad al-Din al-Isfahani and the anonymous chronicler of the De Expugnatione Terrae Sanctae per Saladinum, highlighting the contrast between Crusader and Islamic conduct during conquest. A pivotal moment in Jerusalem's long history, the 1187 siege reshaped the region for centuries.

#Saladin #Jerusalem #Crusades #SiegeOfJerusalem1187 #BalianOfIbelin #Ayyubid #BattleOfHattin #TrueCross #DomeOfTheRock #AlAqsa #ImadAlDin #DeExpugnatione #CrusaderKingdom #MedievalHistory #IslamicHistory #Siege #MiddleEast #FexingoHistory

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