There have been countless Crusades over the centuries. In todays world, the word crusade has been used several times by extremist groups who wish to profit from the emotion and extreme connections to that word. Read on to learn more about the battles of one particular crusade that have made it the most famous of all: the Third Crusade.Background on the CrusadesThe Crusaders Reach Jerusalem, designed by Domenico Paradisi, woven 1732-39. Source: The MET, New YorkFrom todays perspective, it is difficult to fully comprehend the Crusades impact on the world and the people of the Middle Ages. One way to grasp its significance is to liken it to some individuals fervor and dedication to their favorite celebrity. The appeal of the Crusades extended not only to nobles and kings but also to ordinary individuals who were driven by their passion to fight for Christ.Map: Third Crusade (1189-1192). Source: TheCollector.comJoining the Crusades meant that your earthly sins would be forgiven and your journey to Heaven would be easier. For many, this reason was enough to abandon their life and loved ones and travel thousands of miles away to join the cause.The purpose of the Third Crusade was to retake Jerusalem, which the Muslim ruler Saladin had recently conquered. Jerusalem held great importance to Christians as a pivotal location throughout Jesus Christs life. Now that it had been conquered by the enemies of God, convincing the masses to go and reconquer the city proved to be an easy task.1. The Siege of AcreRichard the Lionheart Embarks on the Third Crusade, by Glyn Warren Philpot, 1927. Source: Art UKAcre was a strategically vital port city along the Mediterranean coast, crucial to controlling access to the Holy Land. Two years before the Siege of Acre began, the Muslim leader Saladin had conquered Jerusalem and, as a result, conquered Acre and put his defenders around the city. The city of Acre was in desperate need of rescuing by Christians.The Siege of Acre began in 1189, led by the former King of Jerusalem, Guy de Lusignan. Unfortunately for Guy, he did not have a large garrison force to help him retake the city, and Saladin had thousands of soldiers at his disposal and was well-supplied, ensuring his forces could stay in position for a long time. Due to the small size of Guys army, the siege of Acre lasted two long years before reinforcements from the West began to arrive. Among the leaders from the West were King Richard I of England, Philip II of France, and Leopold V of Austria.The arrival of help from the West meant that the incoming ships could create a naval blockade of Acre, cutting off supplies and reinforcements to the city defenders and eventually weakening their forces. After two long years of siege, Acre finally fell to the Crusaders on July 12, 1191. The Crusaders were able to take large amounts of treasure and many Muslim prisoners.The capture of Acre gave the Crusaders another crucial foothold in the Holy Land, allowing them to continue reconquering it from Saladin. The capture also revitalized the Crusader cause, providing a much-needed success. However, the ultimate goal of recapturing Jerusalem still needed to be fulfilled.2. The Battle of ArsufBattle of Arsuf, by Gustave Dore, 19th century. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe Battle of Arsuf, fought on September 7th, 1191, was crucial during the Third Crusade. Following the capture of Acre in July of 1191, Richard the Lionheart started to advance his troops south along the coast to recapture the city of Jaffa, which would serve as a starting point for a future attack on Jerusalem. Arsuf was located between Acre and Jaffa, and this would be the point where Saladin began to confront Richards advancing army. This battle would be crucial as the victor could control the coast, which would secure the supply lines for the troops.Richard led an army of 10,000 soldiers, including heavy cavalry, infantry, and crossbowmen. They marched in a disciplined formation along the coast, with the sea and the Crusader fleet providing protection. Saladin, on the other hand, continuously bothered the Crusaders with light cavalry and skilled horse archers in an attempt to wear them down and demoralize them before a confrontation.Saladin hoped to lure Richard into a hasty attack or scatter his forces. However, Richard demonstrated patience and maintained strict discipline among his troops, holding them back until the time was right.Richard the Lionheart on a Medieval floor tile, 1250s. Source: The British MuseumFinally, after hours of enduring harassment from Saladins troops, Richard signaled for the attack to begin. Richards heavily armed knights quickly broke through Saladins lines, with Richard leading the charge. The shock of Richards forces proved too much for Saladins troops, who were swiftly routed. The victory at Arsuf uplifted the Crusaders morale and secured control of the coastal route to Jaffa. However, this would not be the end of Saladin, as his forces remained intact following their defeat at Arsuf. Saladin was able to avoid an absolute defeat by promptly retreating from Arsuf.The Battle of Arsuf is unique in that it was one of the few total victories for the Crusaders during the Third Crusade. It demonstrated the importance of maintaining discipline in the face of harassment and the effectiveness of heavy cavalry in medieval warfare.3. The Battle of JaffaSaladins Cavalry Charging the Crusaders, by Richard Canton Woodville, 1892. Source: Art UKAfter Richard and his troops had won the Battle of Arsuf, Richard led his troops to the coastal city of Jaffa and conquered it. However, the victory was short-lived when Saladin launched a surprise attack on Jaffa in July 1192.Saladins forces overwhelmed the citys defenses, and all that remained under Crusader control was a small garrison in the citadel. The Crusaders inside the citadel were able to hold off Saladins forces and send word to Richard, who was in Acre, to come and relieve them.Richard wasted no time answering the call of his fellow Crusaders in trouble. He hurried to Jaffa to assist in retaking the city despite his small army of just 2,000 men. Perhaps knowing the risk he was taking attacking Jaffa with just 2,000 men, Richard did something daring: he led his forces in an amphibious landing directly onto the beaches near Jaffa. Understandably surprised by this tactic, Saladins troops were caught off guard by this sudden appearance of Richard and his forces.Richard I at the Battle of Jaffa, 1873. Source: The British LibraryRichard led a fierce charge against Saladins forces, driving them back from the city and causing significant casualties. The heavily armored and disciplined Crusader knights broke through Saladins lines, ultimately forcing the Muslim forces to retreat. Much of the fighting occurred in the streets of Jaffa, where the Crusaders engaged in close-quarters combat and successfully reclaimed Jaffa under Crusader control. Realizing the difficulty of holding Jaffa against Richards determined assault, Saladin ordered a strategic retreat, withdrawing his forces smartly to avoid complete defeat.Although Jaffa was a significant victory for Richard, both rulers knew a decisive victory in the overall conflict was improbable. After all, they had both been fighting this conflict for five years, with neither side winning more than the other. Jaffas outcome led to subsequent negotiations between Richard and Saladin for peace. These talks would lead to the eventual Treaty of Jaffa.End of the Third Crusade: The Treaty of JaffaKing Richard I and Soldan Saladin, by Soloman Alexander Hart, 19th century. Source: Art UKTwo primary reasons for drafting the Treaty of Jaffa were stalemates and mutual exhaustion. It is a testament to both leaders, Richard and Saladin, that neither could totally defeat the other throughout the Third Crusade. When Richard won one battle, Saladin won another; on and on, this was the pattern. That pattern led both rulers to become exhausted with the entire conflict. Richard also faced problems back home in England while Saladins resources were stretched thin after years of continuous warfare.There were three terms to the Treaty of Jaffa:1.) The Status of JerusalemJerusalem would remain under Muslim control, but unarmed Christian pilgrims were allowed to visit the city and other holy sites without harassment from Muslims.2.) Territorial ArrangementsThe Crusaders would keep their control over key cities along the coast, such as Acre. A neutral zone would be created between Jaffa and Jerusalem, and both Crusader and Muslim forces agreed not to occupy or fortify this area.3.) Truce and PeaceThe treaty established a three-year peace between the Crusaders and Muslims, which allowed both sides time to recover from the lengthy and costly conflict.With both Saladin and Richard agreeing to these terms, the Treaty of Jaffa was signed, and the Third Crusade ended. While the primary purpose of the Third Crusade was to retake Jerusalem from Saladin, Richard did get the next best thing: ensuring that Christian pilgrims had guaranteed safe passage throughout the Holy Land.