The Battle of Jacob's Ford was fought in 1179 between the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the forces of Saladin. This article is about the medieval crusades. ... Events Third Council of the Lateran condemned Waldensians and Cathars as heretics, institutes a reformation of clerical life, and creates the first ghettos for Jews Afonso I is recognized as the true King of Portugal by Portugal the protection of the Catholic Church against the Castillian monarchy Philip II is... Official language Latin, French, Italian, and other western languages; Greek and Arabic also widely spoken Capital Jerusalem, later Acre Constitution Various laws, so-called Assizes of Jerusalem The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a Christian kingdom established in the Levant in 1099 by the First Crusade. ... The Ayyubid Dynasty was a Muslim dynasty of Kurdish origins which ruled Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Diyar Bakr, Mecca, Hejaz and northern Iraq or Iraqi Kurdistan in the 12th and 13th centuries. ... Baldwin IV (1161 – 1185), called the Leper or the Leprous, the son of Amalric I of Jerusalem and his first wife Agnes of Courtenay, was king of Jerusalem from 1174 to 1185. ... Saladin, from a 12th-century Arab codex. ... Combatants Kingdom of Jerusalem Ayyubids Commanders Baldwin IV Raynald of Chatillon Knights Templar Saladin Strength 500 knights 80 Templars Several thousand infantry About 30,000 Casualties Unknown About 20,000 The Battle of Montgisard was fought between Saladin and the Kingdom of Jerusalem on November 25, 1177. ... The Siege of Kerak took place in in 1183 between the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem and Saladin at Kerak Castle, stronghold of Raynald of Chatillon. ... The Battle of Cresson was a small battle fought on May 1, 1187, at the springs of Cresson, or Ain Gozeh, near Nazareth. ... Combatants Ayyubids Kingdom of Jerusalem Commanders Saladin Guy of Lusignan Raymond III of Tripoli Strength Est. ... The Siege of Jerusalem took place from September 20 to October 2, 1187. ... Events Third Council of the Lateran condemned Waldensians and Cathars as heretics, institutes a reformation of clerical life, and creates the first ghettos for Jews Afonso I is recognized as the true King of Portugal by Portugal the protection of the Catholic Church against the Castillian monarchy Philip II is... Official language Latin, French, Italian, and other western languages; Greek and Arabic also widely spoken Capital Jerusalem, later Acre Constitution Various laws, so-called Assizes of Jerusalem The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a Christian kingdom established in the Levant in 1099 by the First Crusade. ... Saladin, from a 12th-century Arab codex. ...

In October 1178, King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem began building a castle at the site of Jacob's Ford, the only crossing place of the Jordan and the main route from Saladin's Empire to the Kingdom of Jerusalem. The castle was only a days march away from Damascus, Saladin's capital, and would severely undermine his authority there. The castle was set to rival the size of Crac des Chevaliers. At the beginning of constructions Saladin was away quelling a rebellion in Lebanon. When Saladin returned the castles first ring of walls was finished, standing ten metres high, but the rest of the castle was still unfinished. In the Spring of 1179 several skirmishes took place, mainly with Saladin victorious. Baldwin retreated to Tiberias and later Jerusalem to regroup, while Saladin summoned reinforcements from northern Syria and Egypt. By August 1179 Saladin was ready to assault Jacob's Ford. Baldwin was now stationed at Tiberias, only a half-days march away. Saladin began by bombarding the castle with arrows from the east and west and then sending specialist miners to sap the walls, causing a breach through which Saladin poured his men, killing 800 of the garrison and taking a further 700 captive. Saladin ordered his men to fill the castle well with the bodies of slain men and horses, spoiling the water source for many years to come and detering reconstruction on the site. Baldwin arrived six hours later, but seeing his castle in flames turned back. Saladin dismantled the castle, but not before a "plague" ravaged his army killing ten of his commanders. Baldwin IV (1161 – 1185), called the Leper or the Leprous, the son of Amalric I of Jerusalem and his first wife Agnes of Courtenay, was king of Jerusalem from 1174 to 1185. ... Official language Latin, French, Italian, and other western languages; Greek and Arabic also widely spoken Capital Jerusalem, later Acre Constitution Various laws, so-called Assizes of Jerusalem The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a Christian kingdom established in the Levant in 1099 by the First Crusade. ... Damascus by night, pictured from Jabal Qasioun; the green spots are minarets Damascus (Arabic: ‎ translit: Also commonly: الشام ash-Shām) is the capital and largest city of Syria. ... Krak des Chevaliers Krak des Chevaliers (also Crac des Chevaliers, fortress of the knights in a mixture of Arabic and French) was the headquarters of the Knights Hospitaller in Syria during the Crusades. ... Events Third Council of the Lateran condemned Waldensians and Cathars as heretics, institutes a reformation of clerical life, and creates the first ghettos for Jews Afonso I is recognized as the true King of Portugal by Portugal the protection of the Catholic Church against the Castillian monarchy Philip II is... Tiberias in 1862, the ruins reminiscent of its ancient heritage. ... Events Third Council of the Lateran condemned Waldensians and Cathars as heretics, institutes a reformation of clerical life, and creates the first ghettos for Jews Afonso I is recognized as the true King of Portugal by Portugal the protection of the Catholic Church against the Castillian monarchy Philip II is...

• The Crusaders' Lost Fort - BBC Timewatch
• The Templar Castle of Vadum Iacob

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