Battle of Montgisard - Wikipedia
It is November 25, 1177 and Saladin — while still a decade away from his more well-known victories at Hattin and Jerusalem — has laid siege to several crusader armies with the intention of forcing them into submission without a pitched battle.
Believing that with the winter season setting in that no more major actions would commence until the next year, Saladin is already on his way home with an army of anywhere between 30–50,000 men (mostly light cavalry) by his side.
Above: Artist Impression Of Baldwin IV On Horseback
Baldwin IV of Jerusalem - Wikipedia
A few thousand of his troops were left behind to continue the siege of the settlements of Gaza and Ascalon, which were being defended by the likes of the sixteen-year-old Baldwin IV, who was known to suffer from leprosy.
Despite being outnumbered, the crusaders are able to slowly force the besieging Muslims away from their settlements through both constant attacks, as well as the eventual reinforcements of other men.
With an army of no more than 6,500 infantry and 400–600 cavalry at his disposal, Baldwin nonetheless decides to pursue Saladin and challenge him into an open field battle; knowing that Jerusalem itself was now under siege.
Above: Saladin Forcing Guy Of Lusignan And Reynald Of Chatillon Before Him
One of his accompanying officers was none other than Raynald of Chatillon, who would himself be allegedly executed by Saladin’s own sword after the Battle of Hattin on July 4, 1187.
The crusader army was able to catch up to the tail-end of Saladin’s cavalry forces, resulting in losses on both sides (the crusaders mainly losing infantry at this point).
Above: Crusader Knight On Foot
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However, Saladin himself — along with anywhere between 20–30,000 of his men — were reportedly miles ahead and were very unlikely to be forced into battle at the rate that the crusader infantry were marching.
Reportedly, Baldwin IV then ordered his few hundred cavalry to follow him while his infantry continued to cut their way through the rearguard units.
The exact site that Baldwin finally gazed upon Saladin and his mamluk bodyguard is about as uncertain as the exact spot where the most dramatic episode of the whole battle was to take place.
Above: Saladin In Drawing
Saladin - Wikipedia
While the battlefield itself stretched for many miles in all directions, the most decisive action seems to have been lost to history.
Regardless, while the story itself has since become legendary in its own right, we know that the battle itself did happen, as neither side has ever denied its occurrence.
With no more than 600 cavalry at his disposal (some sources put the numbers at under 400) the sixteen-year-old Baldwin IV — with his right hand reportedly bandaged from his leprosy — took out his spear and proceeded to charge.
Above: Artist Impression Of The Crusader Charge At Montgisard
Later on, the young warrior king was to acknowledge that even he believed he had made a colossal mistake in charging forth when he saw the huge numbers of Muslim cavalry waiting for him in the valley below.
Meanwhile, Saladin believed that the number of attacking cavalry was too insignificant to be of much concern. Rather, he permitted his men to dispose of the attackers without giving much thought to preparing his men for the onslaught that was about to come.
According to surviving crusaders of the battle, the Spirit of Saint George himself personally appeared in the sky above their heads at that very moment to lead them into the fray of battle.
As soon as the crusaders made contact with the first line of Muslim cavalry, Saladin was said to have become instantly shaken as he witnessed the impact it had on his men, who were instantly thrashed about or cut down where they stood, due to the sheer impact of the crusader charge, mixed with the fact that the Muslim light cavalry were no match for a heavy cavalry assault under these conditions.
Above: Artist Impression Of Saint George On Horseback
It was then that Saladin knew of the blunder he had made in not giving his men more adequate preparation. He ordered all his officers to retrieve units far beyond eyesight of the battlefield, and bring them all back in haste to try and suppress the disaster that was now breaking out before him.
The withdrawal of his rearguard army was also met with the near instantaneous collapse of the cavalry who had been trying to slow down the crusader infantry from reaching Saladin’s position; allowing the crusader infantry to continue making their way to the scene of the main fight at a faster rate without opposition.
Above: Crusader Infantry Arriving On The Battlefield Of Montgisard
Just a few miles away from where the main crusader infantry army were hurrying over, the cavalry under Baldwin’s command were still hacking away at the light cavalry, who found themselves stuck in thick blobs of men; completely incapable of mobilising or defending themselves against the relentless spears of the crusader cavalry.
Saladin’s bodyguards knew by then that the battle was lost, and they eventually persuaded Saladin himself to flee by camel. By the time their leader had proceeded to depart, the cloud of cavalry dust only a few hundred feet in front of them was billowing ever closer at a frightening rate.
Above: A Helpless Saladin Looks On As His Army Is Slaughtered Before Him
Several crusader cavalry reportedly saw Saladin fleeing by himself, and proceeded to give chase. In one story, the lead crusader got so close to capturing Saladin that he was able to place his hand over his shoulder.
Ultimately, however, his camel proved faster than the tired out horses that the crusaders had spent the entire day marching, fighting, and then chasing.
Saladin’s bodyguards, however, would die fighting to the last man, as would the overwhelming majority of other cavalry in the area who found themselves sandwiched before the ferocious crusader cavalry charge, as well as the steadily advancing wall of crusader infantry, who were also backed by hundreds of archers.
An encirclement commenced, and only a few thousand Muslims who had started off the day were able to somehow break free from the battlefield with their lives and follow their shattered leader through the mountains, where many more would die before reaching friendly territory.
Above: Crusader Infantry Proceeding To Butcher The Remaining Encircled Muslim Cavalry
Feeling that this humiliating loss could jeopardise both his military and political career, Saladin prohibited his surviving men from telling their folks back home the truth of what had transpired. He also tried to convince his citizens that they had won an astonishing victory.
However, once it became apparent that he had little to show for — including an intact army — he was silently, though begrudgingly, forced to concede the truth.
Baldwin IV would die in 1185 when he was either 23 or 24 years old.
Saladin, however, would later recover himself from the tatters of his disastrous campaign of 1177 to become one of the more renowned military leaders of the Islamic world.
