"Battle of Arsouf ." Topic

"Richard, having taken Acre in July 1191, was marching to Joppa (Jaffa), but the Muslim army under Saladin slowed down the crusaders' progress when they advanced from Caesarea, which they left on September 1. On September 7, after the crusaders had left Arsûf, the Muslim attacks became more intensive and were concentrated against the Hospitalers, Richard's rear guard, whom Richard forbade to counterattack until the evening. He then launched a general charge that overwhelmed Saladin's army and inflicted heavy losses on the forces attacking to the rear. Seven hundred crusaders and several thousand Muslims were killed. The victory at Arsûf enabled the crusaders to occupy Joppa but was not a crushing blow to the Muslims. Saladin was able to regroup his forces, which the crusaders had not pursued for fear of ambushes. From September 9 the Muslims renewed their harassing tactics, and Richard did not dare to push on to Jerusalem."
From Encyclopedia Britannica

This is a quite interesting diorama.

From main page with more.
soldados-viejos.blogspot.com.ar

For translation you can used.
translate.google.com/#es/en

Hope you enjoy!.

Amicalement
Armand

Some very nice looking minis and models in that collection.

I notice that the leading crusader infantry stand is marching backwards! :)

Arsuf is one of my favorite battles and makes a very fun refight on the gaming table….

the Muslim attacks became more intensive and were concentrated against the Hospitalers, Richard's rear guard, whom Richard forbade to counterattack until the evening. He then launched a general charge that overwhelmed Saladin's army and inflicted heavy losses on the forces attacking to the rear.

Not quite. This version reads as if Richard eventually permitted the Hospitallers to attack. However, in the accounts I've read, the Hospitallers attacked on their own impulse, frustrated by the harassment. The result could have been disastrous, but Richard took advantage of the situation, sounding a general charge that surprised Saladin (or Salah Al-din) and caused his own forces to break. Though not decisive, this victory and Richard's previous successes convinced Saladin that direct confrontation with the Crusaders would likely be devastating for his own forces, making him as willing to negotiate a treaty as was Richard.

Glad you had enjoy the dio my friend.

Amicalement
Armand

One of my favorite Medieval battles, and fun to wargame.

If you read the account of Ibn Al Athir, who was on Saladin's side it looks as though the Christian charge is quite controlled. The infantry lines open out, the knights and sergeants form up and then attack. When they have hit the Muslims hard they regroup on a hill and, spotting another formed group of Turks they charge againa nd then reform againa nd retire to the protection of the infantry.
This business of uncontrollable knights is nonsense if we are using Arsuf as an example.
Even at Hattin the knights stay with the infantry until it becomes hopeless and then charge unsuccessfully.
The Military Orders and most knights with experience of war in Palestine understand that uncontrolled charges just leave you exposed so they do not do that!!
I quote Ibn Al Athir's yext in full on the Forums section of the SoA website at spa.org.uk
I think its in the 'Battles" section
Roy

Thanks for share Lewisgunner.
Quite interesting.

Amicalement
Armand

I wasn't familiar with that account. Thanks, Lewisgunner!