But people wanted kings who were strong and compassion was easily confused with weakness. In a dramatic move Baldwin IV, who had been bed-ridden for months, rode to the rescue of Ascalon with just 367 knights, reaching the city shortly before the Sultan’s army enveloped it. But Baldwin soon found himself trapped inside while the road to Jerusalem lay open and Jerusalem itself was practically defenseless. The succession might have been secure, but the Kingdom was not. Salah al-Din had invaded a second time in 1179 and Baldwin had been unhorsed in the engagement, an indication of his deteriorating condition. When Salah al-Din invaded a third time in 1182, Baldwin could no longer ride and commanded his army from a litter — but still fought the Saracens to a stand-still, forcing them to withdraw.
Comments