Spring – A German expeditionary force (some 15,000 men) led by Emperor
Frederick I (Barbarossa) marches towards
Constantinople, on the way to the
Holy Land. Emperor
Isaac II (Angelos), suspicious that Frederick is planning to conquer Constantinople, attempts to stop him by attacking the Crusaders. The German forces are too strong and they capture
Adrianople. A peace treaty is signed by both Isaac and Frederick, that ensures the Germans are given supplies, and free passage through to
Palestina.[1]
Isaac II starts a campaign against the Bulgarians, who claim their independence. After passing the
Balkan Mountains, Isaac marches westward to besiege
Tarnovo, the new Bulgarian capital. Meanwhile, the Byzantine fleet reaches the
Danube River in order to block the way of
Cuman reinforcements from the North. The defense of Tarnovo is led by
Ivan Asen I, emperor (
Tsar) of
Bulgaria. After spreading rumors of the arrival of a Cuman army to relieve the city, Isaac orders to retreat to
Stara Zagora.
Battle of Tryavna: Byzantine forces under Isaac II are ambushed and defeated by the Bulgarians in a mountain pass, near
Tryavna. In panic, the Byzantines break up and begin a disorganized retreat. Isaac barely escapes, his
Varangian Guard has to cut a path through their own soldiers, enabling their emperor's flight from the rout. The
Bulgarians capture the imperial treasure, including the golden helmet of Isaac, his crown, and the Imperial Cross which contains a wooden piece of the
Holy Cross.
Third Crusade
March – Frederick I leaves Adrianople to
Gallipoli at the
Dardanelles to embark, with the help of Byzantine transports, to cross into
Asia Minor. On
April 25, he enters territory of the Seljuk
Sultanate of Rum under the rule of Sultan
Kilij Arslan II. Although promised to let the German Crusaders pass peaceably through his domains, Kilij Arslan harasses Frederick's forces with hit-and-run attacks. On
May 7, a Turkish army (some 10,000 men) is defeated at the
Battle of Philomelion, by 2,000 Crusaders.[2]
March 25 –
Conrad of Montferrat sails south with a Crusader fleet (some 50 ships) from
Tyre. As Conrad's fleet approaches the harbour of
Acre, an equally sized Muslim fleet sorties out to meet the Crusaders in open battle. Eventually, the
Ayyubid fleet is blockaded (supported by Danish and Pisan ships) in the port. Acre is again cut off from reinforcements; the city's supplies are exhausted, and the Muslim garrison has to resort to eating their own beasts. In the event, troops are driven to
cannibalism.[3]
April – After a long siege Muslim forces under
Saladin capture
Beaufort Castle from
Reginald of Sidon who has offered to hand over the castle to Saladin on the condition that he has three months to remove his family to a place of safety. At the end of the three months, Saladin expects the castle to be handed over but finds that Reginald has used the time to strengthen the castle against a siege. He is imprisoned at
Damascus – the castle's garrison finally surrenders in return for Reginald's release.[4]
May 5 –
Siege of Acre: A Crusader force under King
Guy of Lusignan attacks the city with three siege engines, but all are destroyed by the Muslim defenders with
Greek fire, a highly flammable liquid. An Egyptian flotilla is able to avoid the Pisan fleet (some 50 ships) and resupply the city with new provisions. Saladin launches a massive eight-day attack on the Crusaders two weeks later. Meanwhile, in the Crusader camp the conditions are deteriorating by disease and
famine, among the soldiers.[5]
May 18 –
Battle of Iconium: German forces under Frederick I defeat the Seljuk army (40,000 men) in a pitched battle. They are routed, leaving the city at the mercy of the German Crusaders. Frederick does not pursue the Seljuks, because his forces have been weakened by food shortage for the previous weeks. His 23-year-old son,
Frederick VI, takes Iconium (modern-day
Konya) and proceeds to massacre the citizens. The Germans take booty amounting to 100,000 marks in the Turkish capital.[6]
June 10 – Frederick I drowns while crossing (or bathing in) the
Göksu River near Selucia (modern-day
Silifke) in
Armenian Cilicia. The German Crusaders are demoralized and exhausted by the summer heat, Frederick VI takes over the command of his father, carrying with him the emperor's body preserved in a barrel of
vinegar. Some of the German nobles decide to return home with their followers; Frederick continues with his army (some 5,000 men) and eventually reaches
Antioch, on
June 21.[7]
September 24 – A Crusader fleet attempts to destroy the Tower of Flies at Acre, which guards the city's harbour, by ramming vessels loaded with combustibles into it. At a critical moment, the ships collide with one another and are badly damaged. A specially built Pisan vessel resembling a floating castle and outfitted with
mangonels, is set afire during a sortie from the harbour by a Muslim flotilla.[8]
The
Teutonic Order is founded at Acre by German knights of
Lübeck and
Bremen. The Order is formed to aid Christians on their
pilgrimages to the Holy Land and to establish hospitals (approximate date).
Europe
July 4 – King
Richard I (the Lion Heart) and
Philip II (Augustus), meet at
Vézelay and agree to divide the spoils of the Crusade equally between themselves. They march to the coast and then make their way across the
Mediterranean, taking different routes. Richard travels with an expeditionary force (some 17,000 men) via
Marseille and Philip travels with a smaller contingent (some 15,000 men) via
Genoa. Richard has some 100 ships at his disposal, several of which are from Norman ports, others from
Shoreham and
Southampton.[9]
September – Richard I arrives in
Sicily at the head of a Crusader army and demands the release of his sister
Joan of England, queen of Sicily, who is held hostage by the usurper
Tancred of Lecce. He also demands that Tancred fulfill the financial commitments made by the late King
William II (the Good) to the Crusade. Tancred refuses the financial demand but he agrees to release Joan, on
September 28.[10]
October 4 – Richard I captures
Messina, after looting and burning the city he establishes his base there. Richard insists that his own banner be erected over the city, but this creates tension between Richard and Philip II, who has joined him with his forces. Tancred accepts a peace agreement, and pays Richard 20,000 ounces of gold. Friendly relations are restored, Richard agrees to split the gold with Philip.[11]
King
Henry VI, eldest son of Frederick I, grants
Henry I (the Brave) the title of
Duke of Brabant. Henry tries to expand his power and soon quarrels with Count
Baldwin V, duke of
Hainaut.
December – Richard I and Philip II stay in Sicily over the winter months waiting for the weather to improve before continuing their journey to the Holy Land.
London adopts the
Cross of St. George, the red cross on a white background. The flag is also used by the fleet of
Genoa, and allows the ships from London to use the flag for protection when they enter the Mediterranean on trading missions.
^Loud, G. A. (2010). The Crusade of Frederick Barbarossa: The History of the Expedition of Emperor Frederick and Related Texts, p. 104. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate Publishing.
ISBN978-0-75466-575-5.
^Alan Ambrisco (1999). Cannibalism and Cultural Encounters in Richard Coeur de Lion, pp. 105–106. Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies.
^Kennedy, Hugh (1994). Crusader Castles, pp. 43–44. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
ISBN0-521-42068-7.
^Pryor, John H. (2015). A Medieval Siege of Troy: The Fight to the Death at Acre, 1189–1191, p. 108. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate Publishing.
ISBN978-1-47241-958-3.
^Loud, G. A. (2010). The Crusade of Frederick Barbarossa: The History of the Expedition of Emperor Frederick and Related Texts, pp. 110–111. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate Publishing.
ISBN978-0-75466-575-5.