Third Crusade 1189-1192

Third Crusade Routes

This map shows the principle routes of the Third Crusade which was prompted by the fall of Jerusalem to Saladin in 1187. A German contingent under Frederick Barbarossa did attempt to cross using the traditional route through the Balkans and Anatolian but Barbarossa died en route and his forces later suffered an ambush. The important routes therefore were those take by the French under Philip Augustus and the English led by Richard I. Both expeditions travelled by sea stopping for the winter at Messina.

The French arrived close to Acre in April 1191 and the English in June, having already captured Cyprus. Acre itself fell on 12th July but the Crusaders were not able to take Jerusalem.