Battle of Arsuf
The Battle of Arsuf, fought on September 7, 1191, was a significant encounter during the Third Crusade, which aimed to recapture Jerusalem from Muslim forces. Led by Richard I of England, the Crusaders faced the army of Sultan Saladin, which greatly outnumbered them. Richard's tactical approach demonstrated a careful arrangement of his 25,000 troops, with cavalry positioned strategically to withstand the harassment of Saladin’s horse archers. When the moment was right, Richard ordered a powerful cavalry charge that caught the enemy off guard, leading to a decisive victory for the Crusaders. Saladin’s forces suffered heavy casualties, with over 7,000 soldiers lost, while the Crusaders experienced around 700 losses. The battle is noted for its effective coordination of infantry and cavalry tactics, influencing both the immediate military situation and the broader context of the Crusades. Following Arsuf, Saladin agreed to a truce, allowing the Crusaders to secure control of the coastal regions in the Holy Land, which set the stage for further military campaigns in the years to come.
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Battle of Arsuf
Type of action: Ground battle in the Third Crusade
Date: September 7, 1191
Location: Arsuf, ten miles north of Jaffa
Combatants: 25,000 crusaders vs. 35,000 Turks
Principal commanders:Crusader, King Richard I of England (1157–1199); Turkish, Sultan Saladin (1138–1193)
Result: Regained the coastline of the Holy Land for the crusaders
On August 22, 1191, Richard I of England marched south from Acre toward the city of Jerusalem, which was the objective of his crusade. With Sultan Saladin’s army of 35,000 shadowing his line of march, Richard arrayed his 25,000-man force with military precision. He placed his cavalry between two columns of infantry to protect the knights’ horses from enemy arrows during the long fifty-mile march.
From the start, enemy horse archers harassed the crusader army from a distance, but Richard refused to launch a retaliatory cavalry charge until circumstances were in his favor. As he approached Arsuf on September 7, Richard felt the time had come. On order, the infantry opened its ranks, and the crusaders’ heavy cavalry charged into the startled enemy. Saladin briefly rallied his troops, but two subsequent charges forced Saladin’s army from the field. By nightfall, Saladin had lost more than 7,000 soldiers, and the crusader army lost perhaps 700.
Significance
The Battle of Arsuf in the Third Crusade (1187–1192) was a model example of a well-coordinated use of medieval infantry and cavalry. It was also a tactical victory with strategic implications for the crusaders. It helped convince Saladin to accept a truce with the crusaders, who had regained control of the coastline of the Holy Land. The need to defend these conquests led Europe to organize further crusades well into the thirteenth century.
Bibliography
Gore, Terry L. Neglected Heroes: Leadership and War in the Early Medieval Period. Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 1995.
Nicholson, Helen J. Chronicle of the Third Crusade. Brookfield, Vt.: Ashgate, 1997.
Oakeshott, R. Ewart. A Knight in Battle. Chester Springs, Pa.: Dufour Editions. 1998.