Downfall of the Crusaders
The Battle of Hattin actually led to the downfall of the Crusaders. The Crusaders were ruthless and strong and had won almost every battle they ran into. The only person who might beat them was Saladin, the Kurd from Syria who united the Muslims and became their leader. Saladin had a clever mind, and even though, in 1185, he had made a truce with one of the Crusaders, Guy of Lusignan, not to attack each other, he wanted to. Finally, he got his chance when a foolish prince named Reynald of Chattilion attacked a group of Muslim pilgrims traveling to Mecca and kept them as prisoners. Saladin and his men attacked by lighting fires around the Crusader's camp in the Horns of Hattin (mountains), making the Crusaders, who were not properly equipped for the burning desert itself, too weak and thirsty to fight. Once the Crusaders surrendered, Saladin brought Reynald and Guy before him. He offered water to the weak and terrified Guy and to Reynald, but was angered when Reynald refused his kind hospitality. He then asked Reynald what he would do if Saladin were his prisoner and Reynald responded "So help me God", "I would cut off your head" (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1187ernoul.asp) and so Saladin promptly cut off Reynald's head in retaliation. Afterwards, the Muslims took Jerusalem, the Holy Land, for themselves, which prompted Richard the Lionheart, the soon to be king of England, to come to the Middle East to help retake Jerusalem. If Richard hadn't come, a differant leader would have come and what happened next might not have happened.