On 18 June 1191, soon
after Richard's arrival at Acre, he sent a messenger to Saladin requesting a
face to face meeting. Saladin refused, saying that it was customary for kings
to meet each other only after a peace treaty had been agreed, and thereafter
"it is not seemly for them to make war upon each other". The two therefore
never met, although they did exchange gifts and Richard had a number of
meetings with Al-Adil,
Saladin's brother. Saladin tried to negotiate with Richard for the release of
the captured Muslim soldier garrison, which included their women and children.
On 20 August, however, Richard thought Saladin had delayed too much and had 2,700
of the Muslim prisoners decapitated in full view of Saladin's army, which tried
unsuccessfully to rescue them. Saladin responded by killing all of the
Christian prisoners he had captured.
Massacre
at Ayyadieh
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Part of Third
Crusade
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Massacre
of the saracen prisoners, ordered by King Richard the Lionheart (Alphonse de Neuville).
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Date
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August 20, 1191
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Target
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Attack type
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Deaths
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2,600
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Non-fatal injuries
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2,000
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Perpetrator
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The
Massacre of Ayyadieh occurred
during the Third Crusade after the fall of Acre when Richard I of England had more
than two thousand Muslim soldiers and civilians from the captured city killed
in front of the Saracen
armies of Saladin
on August 20, 1191. Despite attacks by Muslim forces during the killings, the Christian
Crusaders were able to retire in good order.
INTERNET SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_at_Ayyadieh
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| Richard the Lionheart marches towards Jerusalem. James William Glass (1850). |
Massacre
After
the fall of Acre, Richard I wanted to exchange a large number of Muslim
prisoners from the city for the True Cross,
a large ransom and Christians held captive by Saladin.
However,
the Saracen leader stalled for time because he hoped a fresh Muslim army would
reach him and help recapture Acre. When Richard I asked for a list of important
Christians being held captive by the Muslims, Saladin refused. The English king
realised he was being stalled so he demanded that a ransom payment and prisoner
exchange should occur within one month.
When
the deadline was not met, an infuriated Richard I ordered that all the
prisoners from Acre should be taken to a small hill called Ayyadieh. There in
full view of the Muslim army and Saladin's own field headquarters, around 3000
soldiers, men, women and children from the city (according to Muslim sources)
were put to the sword. Although Christian sources do not mention any
non-combatants, Richard I estimated around 2,600 captives were killed.
Parts
of the Muslim Army became so enraged by the killings that they attempted to
charge the Crusader lines but were repeatedly beaten back, allowing Richard I
and his forces to retire in good order.
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King Richard the Lionheart & Saladin
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