"The Odyssey of Richard the Lionheart" Topic

"On the night of October 9, 1192, two dozen men stealthily navigated through the ancient streets and alleyways of Acre towards the harbor. King Richard the Lionheart and a select group of his most trusted knights were leaving under the dark canopy of a moonless night. After the men entered the port of Acre, they boarded small boats that would ferry them to the massive buss that awaited just outside the harbor. Their secret departure had been planned for many days, and the people of Acre would awaken to find the fearsome crusader-king and his men gone, much to their dismay.

The previous month, on September 2, 1192, King Richard had signed a three-year truce with the leader of the Saracens, Saladin, ending hostilities and ensuring Christian pilgrims access to the holy sites of Jerusalem, which remained under Saracen control. The Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem was renamed the Kingdom of Acre. Although Richard had announced his intention to leave the Holy Land and return home, the people of Acre believed that the king would never risk sailing so late in the year. In truth, the people did not want him to leave; having such a skilled military leader in residence was a comfort to them, and many had begged him to remain until spring. They had underestimated King Richard's resolve to return home by Christmas…"

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