The Probert Encyclopaedia of Warfare

THIRD CRUSADE

The third Crusade was undertaken after the capture of Jerusalem by Saladin in 1187, the monarchs Frederick I (Barbarossa) of Germany, Philip Augustus of France, and Richard I (Coeur de Lion) of England, leading their armies in person. Frederick, marching by way of the Danube and crossing from Gallipoli, defeated the Turks at Philomelium (now Finiminum), and penetrated to Seleucia, but was drowned in the Selef. His son Frederick led the small remains to Acre and took part in the siege, but after his death in 1191 the German army dwindled away. The other monarchs - Richard and Philip Augustus - had in the meantime met at Vezelai in June, 1190, and agreed to unite their forces at Messina in Sicily, where they spent six months at the end of 1190 and beginning of 1191. Philip joined the other Crusaders before Acre on April 13, 1191; but Richard, whose fleet was separated by a storm, went to Cyprus, and, dispossessing Isaac Oomnenus, made himself king. It was not until the 8th of June that he reached Acre, which surrendered a month later. Jealousies, however, arose between the monarchs, and within a few weeks after the fall of Acre the French king returned to Europe. Richard, now sole leader of the expedition, defeated Saladin and occupied Jaffa or Joppa; but having twice vainly set out with the design of besieging Jerusalem, he concluded on September the 2nd,1192 a truce of three years and three months with Saladin, who agreed that pilgrims should be free to visit the Holy Sepulchre, and that the whole sea-coast from Tyre to Jaffa (including the important fortress of Acre) should belong to the Crusaders.
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