Siege of Jerusalem (1187) facts for kids
The Siege of Jerusalem was a major battle that took place from September 20 to October 2, 1187. It was a very important part of a big series of wars called the Third Crusade. During this siege, the city of Jerusalem was defended by a knight named Balian of Ibelin. He was fighting against the large army led by Saladin, a powerful Muslim leader.
A made-up story about this siege can be seen in the movie Kingdom of Heaven, which was directed by Ridley Scott.
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What Was the Siege of Jerusalem?
A siege happens when an army surrounds a city or a castle. They try to cut off supplies and attack until the people inside give up. The Siege of Jerusalem in 1187 was a fight for control of one of the most important cities in the world. Jerusalem is a holy city for Christians, Jews, and Muslims.
Why Was Jerusalem So Important?
Jerusalem has many holy sites for different religions. For Christians, it's where Jesus lived and died. For Muslims, it's where the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have gone to heaven. For Jews, it's their ancient capital and home to important temples. Because of this, many groups wanted to control the city.
Who Were the Main Leaders?
Saladin: The Muslim Leader
Saladin was a famous Muslim general and sultan. He led the Ayyubid army. Saladin was known for his military skills and for being a fair leader. He wanted to take Jerusalem back from the Christian Crusaders.
Balian of Ibelin: The Defender
Balian of Ibelin was a Frankish knight. He was one of the most important Christian nobles in the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Balian was in charge of defending the city. He had to protect the people inside, even though his army was much smaller than Saladin's.
What Happened Before the Siege?
Before the siege, Saladin's army had won a huge victory. This was at the Battle of Hattin in July 1187. In that battle, Saladin defeated the main Crusader army. He captured many important Christian leaders and knights. This left Jerusalem almost undefended.
How Did the Siege Unfold?
On September 20, 1187, Saladin's army arrived at Jerusalem. They began to attack the city walls. Balian of Ibelin knew his forces were weak. He had to arm every man who could fight, even young boys. They also had to break down churches to get stone for repairs.
The Attacks on the Walls
Saladin's army used large siege engines. These were machines like catapults that threw big rocks at the walls. They also tried to dig tunnels under the walls to make them collapse. The defenders fought bravely, but they were tired and outnumbered.
A Desperate Defense
The people of Jerusalem were very scared. Many women and children were inside the city. Balian tried to negotiate with Saladin. At first, Saladin refused to let the city surrender peacefully. He wanted to take it by force.
The Surrender of Jerusalem
After several days of heavy fighting, the city's defenses were breaking. Balian of Ibelin told Saladin that if they could not surrender, they would destroy the city. They would also kill all the Muslim prisoners and their own families before fighting to the death.
Saladin did not want to see Jerusalem destroyed. He agreed to let the people leave peacefully. On October 2, 1187, Balian of Ibelin surrendered Jerusalem to Saladin.
What Was the Outcome?
Saladin kept his promise. He allowed most of the Christian people to leave Jerusalem safely. They had to pay a ransom, but many poor people were allowed to leave without paying. This was different from how the Crusaders had treated the city when they captured it in 1099. Saladin's actions were seen as very merciful for the time.
The fall of Jerusalem shocked Europe. It led to the start of the Third Crusade. This crusade was a big effort by European kings to try and take Jerusalem back.
See also
In Spanish: Sitio de Jerusalén (1187) para niños
