Siege of Acre in the Crusades

The Siege of Acre took place August 28, 1189 to July 12, 1191, during the Third Crusade and saw Crusader forces capture the city. Following the loss of Jerusalem in 1187, efforts were made to launch a new crusade to retake the city. As a first step, Guy of Lusignan commenced a siege of Acre. Unable to take the city quickly, he was later joined by arriving Crusader forces led by Duke Leopold V of Austria, King Richard I of England, and King Philip II Augustus of France. This combined force succeeded in defeating Saladins relief force and compelled the garrison to surrender. Background In the wake of his stunning victory at the Battle of Hattin in 1187, Saladin swept through the Holy Land capturing Crusader garrisons. This culminated with the successful Siege of Jerusalem that October. One of the few Crusader cities to withstand Saladins efforts was Tyre which was administered by Conrad of Montferrat. Unable to take Tyre by force, Saladin attempted to obtain it through negotiation and treaties. Among the items he offered was the King of Jerusalem, Guy of Lusignan, who had been captured at Hattin. Conrad resisted these entreaties, though Guy was ultimately released. Approaching Tyre, Guy was refused admission by Conrad as the two had argued over the formers ascension to the throne. Returning with his wife, Queen Sibylla, who held legal title to the kingdom, Guy again was refused entry. Lacking options, Guy established a camp outside of Tyre to await reinforcements from Europe who were responding to the call for a Third Crusade. These arrived in 1188 and 1189 in the form of troops from Sicily and Pisa. Though Guy was able to sway these two groups into his camp, he was unable to come to an accord with Conrad. Requiring a base from which to attack Saladin, he moved south to Acre. Siege of Acre Conflict: Third Crusade (1189-1192)Date: August 28, 1189 to July 12 ,1191Armies Commanders:CrusadersGuy of LusignanRobert de SableGerard de RidefortRichard the LionheartPhilip AugustusDuke Leopold V of AustriaAyyubidsSaladin Opening Stages One of the most heavily fortified cities in the region, Acre was located on the Gulf of Haifa and was protected by large double walls and towers. Arriving on August 28, 1189, Guy immediately moved to assault the city despite the fact that the garrison was twice the size of his army while Sicilian ships began a blockade offshore. This attack was easily defeated by the Muslim troops and Guy began a siege of the city. He was soon reinforced by a variety of soldiers arriving from Europe as well as by a Danish and Frisian fleet which relieved the Sicilians. Battle of Acre Among the arrivals was Louis of Thuringia who convinced Conrad to provide military aid. This development concerned Saladin and he moved to strike Guys camp on September 15. This attack was repulsed though the Muslim army remained in the area. On October 4, Saladin again approached the city and began the Battle of Acre. In a day of bloody fighting, the strategic situation changed little as he was unable to dislodge the Crusaders from in front of the city. As the autumn passed, word reached Acre that Frederick I Barbarossa was marching to the Holy Land with a large army. Siege Continues Seeking to end the standoff, Saladin increased the size of his army and laid siege to the Crusaders. As the double siege ensued, the two sides contested control of the waters off Acre. This saw both sides exert control for period which allowed additional supplies to reach the city and the Crusader camp. On May 5, 1190, the Crusaders attacked the city but achieved little. Responding, Saladin launched a massive eight-day attack on the Crusaders two weeks later. This was thrown back and through the summer additional reinforcements arrived to bolster the Crusader ranks. Though their numbers were increasing, conditions in the Crusader camp were deteriorating as food and clean water were limited. Through 1190, disease ran rampant killing both soldiers and nobles. Among those who died was Queen Sibylla. Her death reignited the succession debate between Guy and Conrad leading to increased dissension in the Crusader ranks. Sealed in on land by Saladins army, the Crusaders suffered through the winter of 1190-1191 as the weather prevented receiving reinforcements and supplies by sea. Attacking the city on December 31 and again on January 6, the Crusaders were again turned back. King Philip II Augustus of France arrives in Palestine. Public Domain The Tide Turns On February 13, Saladin attacked and succeeded in fighting his way through to the city. Though the Crusaders ultimately sealed the breach, the Muslim leader was able to replenish the garrison. As the weather improved, supply ships began reaching the Crusaders at Acre. Along with fresh provisions, they brought additional troops under the command of Duke Leopold V of Austria. They also brought word that King Richard I the Lionheart of England and King Philip II Augustus of France were en route with two armies. Arriving with a Genoese fleet on April 20, Philip began constructing siege engines for assaulting Acres walls. He was joined on June 8 by Richard who landed with 8,000 men. Richard initially sought a meeting with Saladin, though this was cancelled when the English leader fell ill. Effectively taking control of the siege, Richard pounded away at Acres walls, but attempts to exploit the damage were thwarted by diversionary attacks by Saladin. These allowed the citys defenders to make needed repairs while the Crusaders were otherwise occupied. Richard I the Lionheart. Photograph Source: Public Domain On July 3, a major breach was created in Acres walls, but the subsequent assault was repulsed. Seeing little alternative, the garrison offered to surrender on July 4. This offer was refused by Richard who rejected the terms offered by the garrison. Additional efforts on Saladins part to relieve the city failed and following a major battle on July 11, the garrison again offered to surrender. This was accepted and the Crusaders entered the city. In victory, Conrad had the banners of Jerusalem, England, France, and Austria raised over the city. Siege of Acre. Public Domain Aftermath: In the wake of the citys capture, the Crusaders began quarreling among themselves. This saw Leopold return to Austria after Richard and Philip, both kings, refused to treat him as an equal. On July 31, Philip also departed to settle pressing issues in France. As a result, Richard was left in sole command of the Crusader army. Crushed by the citys surrender, Saladin began gathering resources to ransom the garrison and conduct a prisoner exchange. Displeased by the exclusion of certain Christian nobles, Richard refused Saladins first payment on August 11. Further talks were broken off and on August 20, feeling that Saladin was delaying, Richard ordered 2,700 prisoners executed. Saladin retaliated in kind, killing those Christian prisoners in his possession. Departing Acre on August 22 with the army, Richard moved south with the intention of capturing Jaffa. Pursued by Saladin, the two fought the Battle of Arsuf on September 7 with Richard achieving a victory.

The Penal and Judiciary System The High Cost of...

Although prisons have a few positive aspects such as keeping felons off the streets and being less final than the death penalty, they have many negative aspects as well such as tearing families apart, causing severe psychological harm to the children of inmates, costing 47,102 dollars a year in California alone (California Judicial website), and causing many problems for the inmates in the long run. Fundamentally the use of incarceration is intended to reform and rehabilitate offenders of society’s laws; however, America’s prison system usually makes matters much worse for the offender, his or her family, and society as a whole. The illustrations below show that there is a severe need for reform in the penal system. There are several†¦show more content†¦After all, nothing is more final than death, and if more evidence comes forward that proves the innocence of the convict he or she cannot be brought back to life. Even if prisons act as a boot camp for criminals, while in prison the inmates cannot commit crimes against the wider populace. Incarceration is usually used for punishment as main motives of society’s acceptance or desire for offenders to be â€Å"thrown in jail. If the punishment exceeds a reasonable correlation to the offense (i.e. punishment fits the crime) then the punished will resent the punishment and will hold ill will toward the punisher. With negative attitudes and feelings of bitterness, the incarcerated are not likely to learn their lesson, repent or go and sin no more. They are more likely to learn more efficient ways to break society’s laws from other convicts. Incarcerations as retribution tend to create a polarization between â€Å"us† (outlaws, outsiders) and them (those in power, the insiders). A high proportion of inmates came from the â€Å"outsiders† (i.e. poverty, lower class, or marginalized) in the first place. So, they view the police, the courts, and the prison as the instruments of those in power who control the systems of the dominate culture or  "the man.† There needs to be major reform in the area of the type of criminals incarcerated in state and federalShow MoreRelatedThe Tragedy Of The Commons1871 Words   |  8 Pagesapplies to, though indirectly, is the contemporary problem of misuses and abuses of the prison system. This paper describes a way of looking at this problem through the lens of the Tragedy of the Commons. Viewed in this way, there is a tacit agreement between judicial (and to some extent legislative) aspects of government, on one hand, and the public, on the other. The agreement is roughly that the prison system will be used, and only used, for two purposes: to deter criminals or would-be criminals fromRead MoreA New Penology? Considerations On Correctional Reform Within New Zealand Essay1728 Words   |  7 Pagesand the expansion of law enforcement. Adoption of neo-liberal policies has produced an unrehabilitative ‘underclass’, seemingly perpetuated in poverty and futility. These factors have led to ex ponential increases in incarceration. It constitutes a shift in how the criminal justice system is policed, operated and understood. Therefore the new penology is an innovative way framing these new related developments that shape the way we punish people. It can be split into three key elements: a new discourse;Read MorePrison Reform : The United States2438 Words   |  10 Pagesmean and why is it necessary? To answer these questions we must look at a number of interrelated social areas. These include the motivations for and against prison reform, and where they come from. To this end, we must explore the American political system, public perception, prisoner rights, disenfranchisement among parolees, the social justice movement, and efforts to lower recidivism among convicted felons. As seen throughout the history of the United States, there has always been a degree of exploitationRead MoreIncarceration: Prison and Inmates10532 Words   |  43 Pages state, and local lawmakers to arrest and confine persons suspected of crimes. The judicial system is authorized to confine persons convicted of crimes. This confinement, whether before or after a criminal conviction, is called incarceration. Incarceration is one of the main forms of punishment for the commission of illegal offenses. Juveniles and adults alike are subject to incarceration. Incarceration is the detention of a person in a jail or prison. The federal, state, and local governmentsRead MorePrison Reform Topic Paper : Prisons6604 Words   |  27 Pageseducators, and even prisoners are divided about the right answers. There is disagreement in the US about the purpose of the prison system. On the one hand, the regulations of the prison system may seek deterrence, incapacitation, or retribution to avoid appearing too soft on criminals (Zyl Smit, 2010; Rossum, 2003). On the other hand, the regulations of the prison system may seek to opportunities to resocialize prisoners or to effect changes in the character, attitudes, or behavior of the convictedRead MoreThe System Of Criminal Trial Essay2843 Words   |  12 Pages4.6(2) Adversary system The system of criminal trial as mentioned or directed by the Code is the adversary system based on the accusatorial method . In this system the prosecutor representing the State (or the people) accuses the defendant (the accused person) of the commission of some crime; and the law requires him to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt. The law also provides fair opportunity to the accused person to defend himself. The judge, more or less, is to work as an umpire between theRead MoreCorrectional Administration Reviewer18383 Words   |  74 Pagesconsidered the golden age of penology because of the following significant events: ï  ± 1870- the National prisons Association organized in Cincinnati, Ohio. ï  ± 1872- the First International Congress was held at London w/c established the International Penal and Penitentiary Commission; 1875- its headquarters was established at Hague, Netherlands. ï  ± 1876- the Elmira Reformatory was established in New York. ï  ± the First separate institution for women were established in Indiana and Massachusetts. DIVISIONSRead MoreThe Growing Problem of White Collar Crimes in India19963 Words   |  80 Pagessubstantive offenses, significantly enhances financial and incarceration penalties, and relaxes some procedural evidentiary requirements for prosecutors. White Collar Crime is not only a crime but a very serious crime with wide and often gory repercussions. Its seriousness can be gauged from the fact that effect of even a few White Collar Crimes on the economic fabric of society can be far more devastating. This paper outlines that it is high time for the Indian corporate sector to draw lessons from

Candide Free Essays

While reading Voltaire’s Candide, I sensed a touch of detachment on the part of the narrator regarding the violence occurring in the book. He began the story by short, hardly imaginative descriptions of the characters, ending the 1st chapter with an account of the brief lover’s tryst between Candide and Miss Cunegonde which was perturbed by the latter’s father having a fit and without seeming ado, deals Candide with some â€Å"kicks on the breech†, and driving him out the door. This then makes Cunegonde faint but when the girl wakes up, she is met with a boxing of her ears by her mother. We will write a custom essay sample on Candide or any similar topic only for you Order Now The recounting was fast-paced so much so that by the end of the chapter, I felt as though the master of the castle had shut the door to my face also: after such fleeting events—fleeting descriptions, fleeting meetings, fleeting allusions to the depth of the characters’ relationships with each other (or rather, shallowness thereof)—the author ends without so much as a description of how the people felt. We are not given an insight as to how Candide felt about being abruptly separated from his beloved, or how all their love came to be in the first place, although regarding the former, Candide is shown to not have fought for his love nor his home and went about all wretched, for god knows how long, before he naively gets recruited into ranks of the enemy. He then proceeds with another curt account of Candide’s subsequent inclusion into the Bulgarian army, and how, merely because he chose to take a leisurely walk that soldiers (or â€Å"heroes†) were apparently supposed, he was made to run the gauntlet after choosing that over being shot in the head. The atrocity of the actions are rendered impotent to the reader because Voltaire treated them with such a detached air of someone who is merely observing events. Then again a normal observer would not be as indifferent as he was. To an extent, his description of the events became a cruel comedy: the naivete and foolishness of the â€Å"young metaphysician†, a phrase so obviously paradoxical; and, the apparent lack of political and moral judgment on the part of the Bulgarians prior to killing someone who merely took a walk when he was not supposed to, or in other words, the lack of hesitation to commit unjust execution, which might as well be murder. This attitude towards the characters—like that of a cruel god who plays with his own creations/followers like a mean child—continues throughout the first 15 chapters my most favorite being the part where the cowardly Candide makes his way around heaps of dead or dying people, and sees the victims of war: Voltaire gives me the impression that he has a fascination for the morbid, the gruesome, and the morally offensive. No, I do not share this â€Å"fascination†, I just meant to say that it was in this Chapter that Voltaire appeared less indifferent. He gives little value to the emotions and thoughts of his characters, but he has an eye for detail of the surroundings. Personally I find the narration quite humorous, the characters are rendered absurd, the punishments for their absurdity severe and exaggerated. As I said earlier, it is a cruel comedy, full of wit and an undercurrent of intellectual criticism perhaps of the society in which Candide dwelt. However, I also find it morally offensive, as if it were real life and not just a satirical account of a foolish boy, the characters, what with the atrocities, cruelties and hardships they were put through, were treated in an inhumane manner by the narrator: there is a lack of compassion on his part, a quality which I think necessary in this story. Or at least to prove that the narrator has a piece of humanity in him. The lackluster account of the events; the focus on the gruesome and the morbid— all of these leave an air of innate cruelty, of cynicism, of paganism or atheism, of blasphemy, and deep hatred of the lives the characters had. I am given the impression that the author wishes to enlighten us on the perspective of men who care less for others and more for themselves—indifferent of other’s suffering, or if they harbor any feeling, it is that of sheer cruel amusement. How to cite Candide, Papers