The crisis of Outremer: the consequences of Saladin’s capture of Jerusalem

The idea

Saladin’s capture of Jerusalem in October 1187 was the culmination of an existential crisis for Outremer, following the destruction of the field army at Hattin. The immediate consequence of this campaign was the near-total collapse of the Crusader states. Cities like Acre and Ascalon had already fallen rapidly before Jerusalem itself was taken. The Kingdom of Jerusalem was reduced to isolated coastal strongholds, notably Tyre. This territorial devastation crippled Outremer's economy and administration. Furthermore, the loss of the Holy City sent shockwaves through Christendom, prompting Pope Gregory VIII to issue the bull Audita tremendi. This ideological blow necessitated the Third Crusade, shifting Outremer’s survival to a desperate reliance on European military intervention.

What earns the marks

• Assess the scale of territorial loss in Outremer during Saladin's 1187 campaign, culminating in the capture of Jerusalem.
• Evaluate the economic and political impact of losing Jerusalem and its hinterland on the viability of the remaining Crusader states.
• Analyse the significance of the survival of Tyre under Conrad of Montferrat as a bridgehead for future crusading efforts.
• Explain the ideological impact of the loss of Jerusalem on Western Europe and its role in triggering the Third Crusade.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Assuming the Crusader states were completely wiped out.

  Put it right: Highlight that key coastal strongholds like Tyre, Tripoli, and Antioch remained in Christian hands.

• Stating that the fall of Jerusalem was the sole cause of the Third Crusade.

  Put it right: Explain that the destruction of the field army at Hattin and the loss of the True Cross were also major catalysts.

• Confusing the chronology of territorial loss.

  Put it right: Acre and Ascalon fell to Saladin before the capture of Jerusalem in October 1187, not after.

Exam tips

• Emphasise the interconnected nature of the crisis: military defeat led to territorial loss, which caused economic collapse and necessitated external intervention.
• Use the papal bull Audita tremendi as primary evidence of the psychological and religious shock experienced in the West.
• Consider how the loss of Jerusalem fundamentally changed the strategic objectives of the Crusader states from expansion to mere survival.