Introduction: Who's Who?
King Baldwin of Jerusalem made a point of respecting agreements and keeping the peace with the local Muslim population. The Christians lacked the forces to outright control the Holy Land; therefore, they had to rely on making peace agreements and truces with the surrounding Muslim population.

In 1186 AD, Baldwin died and his brother-in law, Guy of Lusignan, succeeded him as king of Jerusalem. Guy was not at all like Baldwin. He was cruel, ambitious and despised the Muslims. He was anxious to end the peaces. To start a war Guy launched an attack on a group of Muslim shepherds. The shepherds had previously paid the local Christian authorities to gain access to grazing lands near Jerusalem. Guy and his men massacred the shepherds. News of Guy's attack eventually made its way to Saladin.

The Battle of Hattin
On July 4th, 1187, a battle took place between Saladin's army and the Crusaders at the so-called Horns of Hattin. The area was called the Horns of Hattin because of two rockey peaks that rose above the ground on either side of the battlefield. Hattin was a two day march from Jerusalem.

Guy unwisely led his army away from his water supply towards Hattin; it is likely he believed God was on his side and he could not be defeated. For example, he possessed a special relic called the "True Cross." The True Cross was allegedly the beam that Jesus was crucified upon. The Crusaders were confident of victory.

As the Christians marched in the hot desert sun they found no water to relieve their thirst. The desert sun combined with their heavy armour made the march virtually unbearable. The Crusaders stopped for the night (July 3rd) between the Horns of Hattin. They still lacked water.

The Christian knights could not sleep for lack of water. Some knights gave in to their thirst and left the safety of numbers to search out a local stream. Saladin's men lay in wait and captured the knights and beheaded them. The Muslims then set fire to the dry grass covering the surrounding hills. The heat of the fire tormented the Christians further.

By morning Saladin's army had completely encircled the Crusader Army. The tired crusaders were outnumbered ten to one. As the sun rose, the Muslims blew war horns signalling they were about to attack. The Christians, mad with thirst, charged at the Muslims.

The Saracen forces then returned the charge with one of their own. The Christians fought back but were overwhelmed by the Muslims. As the day wore on, there remained only a few hundred Christian knights huddled around King Guy's tent. Saladin's son, seeing the small pack of crusaders rallied around Guy's tent cried out to his father that the infidels had been routed. His father, who said as long as the tent stood the battle had not been won, chastised his son. In the tent, the trembling Guy held on to the True Cross. Another Muslim charge soon brought the tent to the desert dirt.

As for the Templars, Saladin spared none except for their Grand Master, Gerard de Ridefort. Each Templar and Hospitaller was forced to his knees while Muslim soldiers beheaded them. Many other soldiers wishing death rather than living a life of slavery in the service of the Saracens rushed forth claiming to be Templars.

In Saladin's tent he spared the Barons by setting a high ransom on all of them. King Guy of Jerusalem parched of thirst and riddled with fear lay on the ground of the tent when Saladin offered him a bowl of water. Guy began drinking the water quenching his dryness. Guy offered the water to one of his subordinates, Reynald Prince of Antioch. Reynald took the water and drank. This was a great insult to Saladin. He knocked the bowl from Reynald's grasp.

Reynald upset at Saladin's behavior said something nasty about the Islamic prophet Muhammed mother. Saladin then drew his sword and in one blow severed Reynald's arm. One of the Saladin's soldiers then decapitated Reynald. At this point Saladin turned to King Guy of Jerusalem and said, "Have no fear. For it is not the custom of kings to kill kings." King Guy was released the following year from a prison in Nablus a broken man.