Siege of Tiberias Battle of Hattin

in late may saladin assembled largest army had ever commanded, around 30,000 men including 12,000 regular cavalry. inspected forces @ tell-ashtara before crossing river jordan on june 30. opposing crusader army amassed @ la saphorie; consisted of around 20,000 men, including 1,200 knights jerusalem , tripoli , 50 antioch. though army smaller saladin s still larger mustered crusaders. after reconciling, raymond , guy met @ acre bulk of crusader army. according claims of european sources, aside knights there greater number of lighter cavalry, , perhaps 10,000 foot soldiers, supplemented crossbowmen italian merchant fleet, , large number of mercenaries (including turcopoles) hired money donated kingdom henry ii, king of england. army s standard relic of true cross, carried bishop of acre, there in place of ailing patriarch heraclius.

on july 2, saladin, wanted lure guy moving field army away encampment springs @ la saphorie, led siege of raymond s fortress of tiberias while main muslim army remained @ kafr sabt. garrison @ tiberias tried pay saladin off, refused, later stating when people realized had opponent not tricked , not contented tribute, afraid lest war might eat them , asked quarter...but servant gave sword dominion on them. fortress fell same day. tower mined and, when fell, saladin s troops stormed breach killing opposing forces , taking prisoners.

holding out, raymond s wife eschiva besieged in citadel. mining begun on structure, news received saladin guy moving frank army east. crusaders had taken bait.

guy s decision leave secure base provided well-watered assembly point @ la saphorie, result of crusader war council held night of july 2. though reports of happened @ meeting biased due personal feuds among franks, seems raymond argued march acre tiberias saladin wanted while la saphorie strong position crusaders defend. furthermore, guy shouldn t worry tiberias, raymond held , willing give safety of kingdom. in response argument, , despite reconciliation (internal court politics remaining strong), raymond accused of cowardice gerard , raynald. latter influenced guy attack immediately.

guy ordered army march against saladin @ tiberias, indeed saladin had planned, had calculated defeat crusaders in field battle rather besieging fortifications.

saladin had unexpectedly gained alliance of druze community based in sarahmul led jamal ad-din hajji, father karama age-old ally of nur ad-din zangi. city of sarahmul had been sacked crusaders on various occasions , according jamal ad-din hajji crusaders manipulated assassins kill 3 elder brothers.