Hattin, Battle of
Hattin, Battle of
(hättēn`), battle on July 4, 1187, in N Palestine, where SaladinSaladin, Arabic Salah ad-Din, 1137?–1193, Muslim warrior and Ayyubid sultan of Egypt, the great opponent of the Crusaders, b. Mesopotamia, of Kurdish descent.
..... Click the link for more information. 's Muslim forces defeated the Christian armies of Guy de LusignanLusignan
, French noble family. The name is derived from a castle in Poitou, built, according to legend, by Mélusine. The family was powerful in the Middle Ages and ruled (13th–14th cent.) the county of Marche. One branch was prominent in the history of the Crusades.
..... Click the link for more information. . When Saladin attacked TiberiasTiberias
, town (1994 pop. 36,400), NE Israel, on the Sea of Galilee, 682 ft (208 m) below sea level. It is one of the four holy cities of Judaism and a trade center for agricultural settlements. A resort town, Tiberias has hotels, a hot springs spa, and a lake port.
..... Click the link for more information. in July, 1187, Christian forces attempted to aid the besieged city but were roadblocked; they waited on a plateau near the town of Hattin. The Muslims quickly surrounded the camp, cutting off their enemies' water supply and then attacking. The majority of Christian soldiers were killed; King Guy, however, was spared.