Today in Military History: May 1, 1187: Battle of Cresson: Saladin's Ayyubid Force Defeats Crusaders

 by Siggurdsson

 »

"Battle of Cresson Springs;" digital artwork by wraithdt
Image courtesy of http://coolvibe.com/2010/springs-of-cresson/
(Unless otherwise indicated, all illustrations are courtesy of Wikipedia)

My historical mini-lecture for today takes us to the Middle East, during the period just before the Third Crusade. This conflict did not involve large numbers of men (perhaps no more than 2000 men combined), but it foreshadowed an even more important event: the devastating Christian loss at the Horns of Hattin two months later.

Background

In 1186, there was a difference of opinion between the Knights Templar and Hospitallers over who should rule the Kingdom of Jerusalem after the death of the child-King Baldwin V. The Templars believed that the crown should rest on the head of Baldwin's mother Sibylla and her new husband, Baldwin's step-father Guy of Lusignan, while the Hospitallers favored Raymond III of Tripoli, who had been regent for the leper King Baldwin IV, a man who despite his frailties had been victorious at the battle of Montgisard in 1177. [That conflict will be the subject of a future post…]

Raymond of Tripoli refused to accept Guy of Lusignan as king-consort to Queen Sibylla; he temporarily left the rarefied political atmosphere of Jerusalem and returned to his own holdings near the city of Tiberias. Raymond had negotiated a truce with Saladin, the Muslim emir of Syria and Egypt, which did not endear him to his Frankish contemporaries. There is also speculation that Raymond was attempting to forge an alliance with Saladin against his dynastic rivals in Jerusalem.

Prelude to the Battle

In fact, in late 1186 Saladin had gathered an army which was encamped near Tiberias, threatening an invasion of the Frankish kingdom. In an attempt try to bring Raymond of Tripoli back into the Christian fold, an embassy of a number of notable Christian leaders were sent to the city of Tiberias to negotiate with Raymond. They included: Gerard de Ridefort, master of the Knights Templar; Roger de Moulins, master of the Knights Hospitaller; Balian of Ibelin; Soscius, Archbishop of Tyre; and Reginald Grenier, lord of Sidon. They were escorted by a small force of mounted men-at-arms or turcopoles and infantryman. This embassy and its escort – perhaps about 500-600 men strong – marched north toward Tiberias on April 29.

Meanwhile, Saladin had sent a small raiding force towards Tiberias led by Muzaffar ad-Din Gökböri, seeking revenge for an attack on a Muslim caravan by Raynald of Châtillon. He sent a message to Raymond informing him of the raiding force passing through his territory – more as a courtesy than anything, as the truce between Saladin and Raymond allowed it. However, it did not prohibit the count from warning his co-religionist's embassy. But what should have been a well-heeded friendly warning soon turned to unnecessary bloodshed. On April 30, the Christian diplomatic group received Raymond's message concerning the Muslim raiding party. Upon receiving word that Muslims were afoot, de Ridefort moved immediately into action by summoning as many of his Templars as he could quickly gather from nearby Templar castles.

Ayyubid Army

One of the Christian sources for this battle stated that the Ayyubid army was a vast host of 7000 men, which most modern scholars believe is a gross exaggeration. They believe the Ayyubid force was closer to about 700 men, all mounted. We have no breakdown of their troop types, but I would venture to guess they were half heavy cavalry and half horse archers, but they were all bow-armed, giving them a great advantage.

Ayyubid Egyptian cavalryman, 1171-1250
Image courtesy of http://www.dbaol.com

Kingdom of Jerusalem Army

The Christian force consisted of 90 knights from the Templar and Hospitaller brotherhoods, about 40 local knights, about 300 mounted men-at-arms, 400 foot soldiers, and possibly a number of turcopoles. These last were local horsemen – possibly born of intermarriage between Westerners and local women – who functioned as messengers, scouts, and mounted archers for the Crusader armies. They were among the leaders in pursuing a defeated foe.

Battle of Cresson

Miniature of the battle of Cresson, late 15th century by Jean Colombe
From the manuscript "Les Passages fait Outremer" (1494)
Currently in the French National Library, Paris

By about noon on May 1, 1187 the Christian force approached the Spring of Cresson, located in a valley near Nazareth. To their surprise, they discovered the Ayyubid raiding force about which they had been warned. A quick war council was held. Believing themselves greatly outnumbered, de Moulins and the Templar Marshal James de Mailly urged de Ridefort to retreat. However, the Templar Master would have no part of that recommendation. Instead of taking his Marshal's council, he taunted the man, telling him that he was too fond of his own blonde head to risk losing it. The Marshal responded that he would die in battle a brave man, while his master would flee the field of battle like a traitor. [This is probably a bit of historical embellishment.] It was a prophecy that would come true sooner than de Mailly would hope.

Gerard, insulted by the insubordinate comments of his Marshal, gave the order for the knights and men-at-arms to attack, spurred his horse at once, and led the charge down into the valley where the Muslims were waiting. This impetuous charge by the Christian cavalry left the infantry isolated and disordered, have received no orders.

As the Christian horsemen approached the Ayyubid encampment, the Muslims quickly mounted and galloped away in apparent disorder and panic. Unfortunately for the Latins, this was the classic "feinted retreat" which had been used innumerable times against the Franks. It should not have fooled the experienced de Ridefort, who urged his kniights to follow the fleeing enemy. Without warning the Ayyubids turned about suddenly, and delivered a ferocious volley of arrows which brought down a number of the Crusaders' horses. The Muslims then counter-charged the disordered Christian knights, and the battle quickly became a massacre.

In the space of an hour or so, nearly all the Christian knights were killed, save three Templars that managed to escape, riding back to the still-disordered infantry. Soon afterwards, the victorious Ayyubids descended upon the Christian foot soldiers, and just as quickly slaughtered them, for lack of a leader or a defensible position. By late afternoon, the Christian force ceased to exist, and the battle of Cresson was over.

Aftermath

The Christian force was completely wiped out, with the exception of the three Templar knights mentioned above, and Gerard de Ridefort, master of the Knights Templar. Casualties for the Ayyubids was probably light.

Footnote #1: As part of his agreement to allow the Ayyubid raiding party to cross his lands, Raymond of Tripoli had stipulated that they had to cross his land and return to their base in a single day, and not molest any towns or homes in his territory. Near nightfall on May 1, the Ayyubid raiding force rode past Tiberias, where Raymond was then residing. He could clearly see the severed heads of the dead Templars and Hospitallers stuck on the spears of the Muslim horsemen.
 Siggurdsson's blog

Footnote #2: As a result of the Ayyubid victory at the spring of Cresson, Raymond made his peace with the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and reversed his treaty with Saladin. He later participated in the disastrous battle of the Horns of Hattin.

Footnote #3: By the end of 1187, the city of Jerusalem was back in the hands of the Muslims, provoking another crusade (the Third) beginning in 1189. With the exception of a 15-year period between 1229 and 1244, Jerusalem would remain under Muslim control until 1917, when the British drove the Ottoman Turks from the city during "The Great War."