A Brief History
On October 2, 1187, one of history’s most significant sieges ended: The Siege of Jerusalem in which Saladin captured Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule.
Digging Deeper
Jerusalem must hold some kind of record for the number of times a city has been besieged or at least sought after by so many different people over such a long expanse of history. Long before the Crusades, the originally Hebrew city had been besieged by Egyptians in 925 B.C., Assyrians in 701 B.C., Babylonians in 597 B.C. and again in 587 B.C., Romans in 63 B.C., Herodians in 37 B.C., Romans again in 70 A.D., Persians in 614 A.D., and Arabs in 637 A.D. During that time, control of Jerusalem switched around among monotheistic Jews, Christians, and Muslims in addition to various polytheists. In 1099, during the First Crusade, Christian forces successfully recaptured the city from Muslims after nearly five hundred years of Islamic control of one of the world’s purportedly holiest cities.
Unfortunately for the Christians, not a hundred years would pass before the surrounding Islamic forces would find a skillful and formidable commander named Saladin to challenge the much maligned new Christian king of Jerusalem, Guy of Lusignan. In the campaign leading up to the siege, Guy suffered a catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Hattin on 4 July 1187. The king himself was captured by Saladin who next set his sights on Jerusalem. The siege began in September of that year, but it did not end as rapidly as Hattin, for commanding the Christian forces was a brave defender named Balian of Ibelin. Despite a gallant defense, Saladin triumphed once again.
What makes the siege significant is that it shocked the Christian monarchs in Europe into sending a much more extensive Crusade (the Third!). This time, not mere counts would command the Christian forces, but rather three of the most powerful monarchs in Europe would personally lead this next crusade: King Richard Lionheart of England, King Philip Augustus of France, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa (aka “red beard”) of the Holy Roman Empire. Their names alone are among the most badass in history! Yet, fate just did not seem to be with the Crusaders. Frederick drowned on route to the Holy Land and Richard and Philip were not exactly best friends. Not surprisingly, they failed in their objective.
The Christians did briefly reclaim Jerusalem in 1229 via treaty under another Holy Roman Emperor named Frederick, only to have the city recaptured once again in 1244. The city continued to be fought over and even in the present day remains a major source of conflict, this time especially between Israelis and Palestinians, each of whom claim the city.
Indeed, one of the great tragedies of human history is that one city has been fought over by so many over matters of religion, perhaps ironically if not frustratingly, when the scripture of these religions suggest such things as “You shall not murder” and “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”
Question for students (and subscribers): Why is Jerusalem so important to both Christians and Muslims? Should it be Israel’s capital today or should it be an “international” or “free” city belonging to no one country? Please let us know in the comments section below this article.
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Historical Proof
To learn more about this siege, a rather fascinating way to understand it is to consider the History vs. Hollywood approach to our past. Professional historian Cathy Shulz offers a nice summary of the factual inaccuracies of the film Kingdom of Heaven
Although I greatly prefer the extended version of the movie, the regular version’s DVD release contains two excellent documentaries on the history behind the movie: “Movie Real: Kingdom Of Heaven” as seen on The A&E Network and “History vs. Hollywood: Kingdom Of Heaven” as seen on The History Channel.
The featured image in this article, Balian of Ibelin surrendering the city of Jerusalem to Saladin, from Les Passages faits Outremer par les Français contre les Turcs et autres Sarrasins et Maures outremarins, c. 1490, scanned from Terry Jones and Alan Ereira, Crusades (New York: Facts on File, 1995), 161, is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author’s life plus 100 years or less.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="26 http://crackedhistory.com/?p=26">138 Comments
Anthony Bourdain, one of my favorite TV personalities, said about Jerusalem “it’s easily the most contentious piece of real estate in the world”.
Its like kids at a party fighting over who gets to ride the new Big Wheel bike next lol
I guess I would not want to live in Jerusalem then. I would have to ask every day whether this is a good day for a siege. Why would anyone want to live in a city where you could be killed.
With Kingdom of Heaven being one of my favorite movies I really enjoy learning about and discussing the Crusades! Very interesting times in terms of the relational aspects between Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
Kingdom of Heaven, the Director’s Cut, rightly portrays both sides — giving a more-understanding view of Saladin and Islam. How pointless and horrible were the Crusades? :/
Kingdom of heaven was a really good movie. It would be a very scary thing to live in Jerusalem around this time. The fact that you don’t know if you’re gonna live to the next day, or if you’re gonna die.
To pick life or religion is a horrible thought to think.
I would of packed up my belongings and left the city the first chance I could. I would not like to live in this city.
I would have to agree with SGower, I would not live in that city. You should not have to pick between religion or life.
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It is ironic that I was just speaking of this at work the other day. I was asked by a co-worker what I thought about what is going on with ISIS- and my response was that there has been a war in the “Holy Land” for so long that there should be need for concern when all fighting stops. Wars have been fought with religious pretense for many centuries, and I think it makes it hard to really get frantic about how terrible these tragedies are.
It’s interesting to see how many different groups of people wanted this territory.
wow it’s scary that this kind of thing happened back then and even now. A choice that will determine your fate
it is amazing to me that many cultures all wanted one are. This area was sacred to multiple groups… so why not share it?
I find it weird how everyone wanted that territory.
They kept trying and kept failing to take back Jerusalem from Saladin. There has to come a point where you stop, scratch your head, and just turn around and go home.
People seem to want what they do not have. — DAVID
WARDLE
I was just asked at work what I thought about the war in the middle east right now and ISIS. I replied that so long as there has been land there to fight over, there have been fights. And I said I would be more concerned when no one was fighting for that territory. So this reinstates the claim I made only a week ago to a customer of mine.
The Crusades were not well thought out. Most of the events that take place seem like they were running around like chickens with their heads cut off. The situations where they managed to get close to reclaiming the city, they just completely failed. Better planning was definitely needed.
It is hard to believe that people who are supposedly men of God would be willing to kill each other over a holy city. At least, that is what I would like to say but history has taught us otherwise as conflicts over religion that result in violence have been a part of our world for thousands of years.
Not even combining the three greatest rulers of the time could reclaim Jerusalem. That is a defeat that history will not forget.
I honestly couldn’t have imagined how awful it would have been to live in this time period (especially if you compare it to our rather secular, modern lives). The restriction must have been awful, and the idea of traveling thousands of miles to go fight a foreign threat and then losing after all of that effort. The most interesting part about this entire ordeal is that it is probably one of the main reasons as to why Christian fundamentalists and radical Islam people have a lot of distaste for each other. Another example of how violent conflicts like this resonate into our modern world even thousands of years after the fact.
It is obvious how much power the holy city held, especially people of God were killing themselves at this holy site. I believe that this is a main reason why Christians and Islam people have a strong dislike for one another.
The history vs. Hollywood sections are very interesting. It’s amazing how many historical facts have been changed by production in Hollywood. Movies are not good references!
It is interesting to read that Jerusalem holds a record for being a city that has been besieged or sought after.
I agree with the final quote of the article from the scriptures. If the city is as holy as they say, shouldn’t the numerous Crusaders have respect for it to not continuously ruin it by all the attacks. Even if they are not the rulers, they should not result to 9 Crusades to conquer an area they consider holy.
I find it interesting that the center of so many religions is Jerusalem.
I think it is extremely puzzling that so many different groups have been fighting over a piece of land that is extremely small and insignificant compared to other countries that have a lot of power and wealth. The fact that there have been countless number of wars over Jerusalem is simply baffling.
I previously had not realized how many times Jerusalem was besieged! It is quite surprising to me.
Its interesting to think if you had a handful of people, the majority of them would probably trace back to Jerusalem because of all the different cultures and religions that was centered
It is amazing that Jerusalem was such Holy City that people would spend all this time fighting for it.
Wow, incredible how the Holy City has generated so much battle and bloodshed
They shouldn’t take it out on the city for all this by battling on it’s land if it’s holy.
Weird, that they call it the Holy City but yet so many people were killed and battles were fought on the land..
Greed is never satisfied… Holy city or not! — DAVID WARDLE
Ina perfect world religions would be able to share the city and live in harmony, but this is not a perfect world and probably never will be. The city will probably be fought over until humans are extinct.
People always find ways to take the beauty out of things!
Last paragraph is exactly what i think about the whole situation as well
I believe that times have definitely changed between then and now in the fact that we are a world that tries to keep more peace. I am one who strongly believes that fighting over religion is the last thing any follower of god should do.
The corruption of religion is still costing lives in this region. Unbelievable that a conflict can last so very long.
it is surprising how much fighting has gone on throughout history just one city.
It really is hard to believe how many wars have been fought and how many atrocities have been committed in the name of religion.
I always found it ironic how people would go to war and kill eachother in the name of religion. They talk about “what God wants” yet disobey him when he says not to kill
Biblical passages without context can be used to justify or refute just about anything; even war, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
I suggest caution when using them.
It is ironic that this land is supposed to be the “holy” land however it has just been a land filled with war for years. I seems there are much more holy places on this earth.
I agree with Lauren that it is ironic the holy land is a war zone.
There has been so much blood shed and lives lost for this city over religion that I find it hard to still be considered holy.
I’m pretty sure the ten commandments given to Moses before Jesus’ birth, states thou shall not kill…I find it ridiculous that people are still arguing and consider this holy ground. There is so much blood shed over this city, it’s crazy that people still are hasty about it.
I was not aware this city was still being fought over but as others have mentioned, if it is truly a religious place, why is so much violence taking place there?
So much bloody history focused around one city, it stands to reason it remains a point of contention tragic as it may be.
The crusades were such an interesting idea that you could go kill people and get into heaven for doing so. Doesn’t make much sense to me
The crusades are perfect examples of how religious people don’t really follow their own religion by killing another group of religious people who simply believe something else in order to claim a holy land for their religion. It seems a bit backwards.
I find it very interesting that so much war has taken place in Jerusalem. One would think that a city so affiliated with being holy and religion would not be the epicenter of war and battle. But it is, which is very odd to me.
Is the era of crusades officially over? Or is there a possibility of Jerusalem being a battle ground for religious purposes in the future?
It is weird to see that such a holy city is so violent! Also, it is weird to see that religion, something so peaceful, has caused so many wars and so many deaths.
It’s sad that there is so much violence when it comes religion
It’s sad people of religion have to fight over land like this. Couldn’t they all share and have claim to the land as there own holy land instead of fighting for it.
It is so sad that two religions that have peace at the center of their beliefs would wage wars over one city.
It does not make sense because all of the religions preach anti-violence, yet there is constantly violence
I didnt know that he Christians did briefly reclaim Jerusalem in 1229
Never got violence between peaceful religions
It’s crazy that the city was taken over so many times. I thought it was a holy city not a war city
Trying to understand how three similar religions built on more or less the same foundation, could fight and kill each other over a city that they all should share is just crazy. The desire of these religions to “take what is theirs” is so far from the fundamental teachings which they “follow” that it does not even make sense.
It’s amazing that the city is still a point of contention in the Middle East. Though inside the actual city itself, at least when I was there, there was a good deal of harmony amongst its inhabitants.
Many
The Holy City has always been a place of battle, since this area is so reach with religious history it is easy to see why so many would want to call this area their own. That being said it seems that there will never be a complete resolution for peace in this area.
Definitely one of the most interesting places in the ancient and modern world.
I never realized how many times the city of Jerusalem has been taken over or how many different groups of people have controlled it. One thing that is surprising about it is the fact that the majority of those who fought to take control all claim to be “Holy” people, yet they kill in order to claim the city.
I always thought Jerusalem was suppose to be a lot of believers of god, sounds like it was just a place of war. That’s crazy how many times it switched to someone else’s control.
It’s pretty crazy how they shed blood, and sweat for there city and risk death to have the city in there control.
I think that it is crazy to think that these people who are so religious, and supposed to be about love and peace, are so “evil” and how they would hurt so many people. If their religions are supposed to be expansive and for everyone than why do they hurt so many people? They should be speaking the word to these people instead of hurting them. Or they could find a different city.
I have always thought those who are super religious are a bunch of fakes. Occasionally you get those who are not but they are a rare breed. This article proves that just because you claim to be religious does not mean you are. War is not what God would approve of.
The sad truth is it doesn’t matter what the reason is someone somewhere will find a reason to go to war if not for religion then something else.
I agree with Loren Deck, it is so weird to claim to be a man of God, then go around killing people.
I honestly cannot believe how many reasons people go to war over. Amazing…
The city of Jerusalem was a lot more interesting than I thought
I could not even imagine how on edge or worried someone living in Jerusalem must feel knowing the constant struggle to occupy it.
I find it ironic that a Holy city such as Jerusalem could be the site of so much violence and killing.
I personally believe that as a holy city to multiple different religions it should not necessarily be owned by one religion. anyone from any religion should be able to visit the holy city given they do not harm this holy cite.
Claiming the name of God and then doing things such as murder is horrendous. I thought it was supposed to be a peaceful, loving religion?
It is so ironic that Jerusalem is the most fought after city in the world.
Not very hard to believe that one of the most iconic and important cities in history and religion is the site for some of the most rampant occurrences of violence ever.
I grew up a catholic learning that Jerusalem was the most holy place in the world, now this place is a war zone for religion. very sad.
Jereusalem use to be such a holy center and where christ was now it is almost a waste land
I will never understand the violence over religion, why cant people be free to believe in what they want.
People killing each other over different beliefs is ridiculous, everyone should have their right to believe in what they want.
If these men were so religious, why kill others for a city and those who are different.
That list of all the people who have besieged Jerusalem blew my mind. Also the fact that when the crusaders went back the third time Frederick drowned! You cannot make this stuff up! Some of this is just so amazing.
This city will always be fought over to many religions that differ greatly cal this there holy city. There’s even fighting today there between them and Palestine.
Religious zeal at its finest
I thought religion brought people to peace, not war.
People pervert religion like they pervert everything else. “People are no damn good!” (Michael Nesmith, in Elephant Parts, and a cartoon by William Steig available on Art.com)
I find it funny that people who are so proud of their religion(s) have blatantly gone against it throughout history.
Jerusalem is a sacred place, and which it holds much emotion to some, but its vacant and i think before hand is why so many people fought over it.
I had always thought all of the crusades had been failures. I never knew the First Crusade was a success which resulted in the Christians ruling Jerusalem for 88 years.
Nowadays Christians are sought to follow God along with the ten commandments, they are seen so peacefully as what God expects of them. To think of them killing people to have power of the city for 88 years in mind blowing to me.
I think it is really sad that such a holy place has had so much blood shed through out history. I fail to understand the perspective of each group that has tried to take over Jerusalem. I personally believe that the city should be shared by all religious groups. All living together in harmony to worship their monotheistic god.
Goes to show how long fights over religious land in the middle eest have been occuring
It just makes me sad that people today are still fighting over that one city. I think they should just share the city by dividing it equally.
So much fighting back then, and King Richard, King Philip, and Emperor Frederick names were known as badass in history.
Its interesting to think about how big the impact of religion was back then. We still have killings over it today but back then it was almost a daily occurrence that someone got killed because they didn’t believe in the same ideas
I think it would be interesting to travel to Jerusalem and look for signs of the different religion through the architecture and the surroundings.
I did not know how many wars were fought truly based on religion.
Couldn’t they just share? Like you rule that half, I’ll rule this half kinda thing.
It’s interesting that religion was so importmant that even wars have been fought over it..
So, in the crusade the Christians had three people in command instead of just one person.
I find it interesting that out of everywhere on earth this one spot is holy to so many religions.
The titles of your articles make me smile every time.
so much fighting over what a person believes in
It’s amazing that there is still conflict over Jerusalem even after all this time.
in some places there are still feuds and disagreements over beliefs but i dont know if it would be taken as far as death
Interesting article. I would like to go and visit Jerusalem and see what it’s like now
the back and forth and back and forth of the crusades would have been so stressful for all of the people living there in jerusalem. im sure that it still is to this day.,
Would love to visit Jerusalem now, not so much then.
Contested forever and always it seems.
This was a great article, I have always wanted to visit Jerusalem my entire life since I was raised Catholic
It is crazy that so many people would fight over a single city for so long.
Ive always wondered why so much fighting came over people disagreeing.
I never got why people always had to go to war or the littlest fight or disagreement. People were just as petty then as they are now a days.
There are so many religious wars, and it is so ugly and sad
Jerusalem is one of the main reasons I feel lucky to have been born in the U.S.A. when I was. I would not want to live in a time or place where you can only be friends with people of the same religion.
Back then all people knew was religion and that is what guided their lives. Then the start of science opened up the world to them and the church lost power throughout the world.
I find that it is ridiculous that so many wars were fought over religion.. I guess some things never really change that much….
I was unaware that before the crusades many different religions and ethnic groups took over Jerusalem, like the Assyrians and Babylonians.
It’s kinda like capture the flag on Halo…all jokes aside, king Richard probably wouldn’t have been much help anyway, British hate the heat…that’s why they saw Australia as a great prison continent.
I feel that with three of the greatest Kings in history working together that really should have done a better job at reclaiming Jerusalem. It is hard to believe that they all failed, and they failed together.
It’s crazy what people will do just for a city. The interesting thing is that taking Jerusalem always fails. You’d think they’d get a clue.
Its crazy that the most holy city was the most violence attracted over religion