The Kingdom of Jerusalem

A History of the Crusades II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem

by Steven Runciman

ISBN: 978-0-241-29876-3

First published 1952

385 pages

Cover: British Library Board

Publisher: Penguin Modern Classics

5/5 Stars

If the ‘hero’ of the first was crusade was Baldwin I, the first King of Jerusalem, then the ‘hero’ of the second crusade (and the second book) was Saladin. The Muslim leader was able to unite Syria, Palestine,  and Egypt, and wrestle Jerusalem from Christian hands in 1187.

The writing is fast paced and well-researched. Some of the best pages are when Runciman describes the glamour and decadence of a life in the near east in the 1100’s.

This is a time of the decline of Byzantium. The rise of the Italian merchant city states, and the rise of near civil war in the crusader states. The county of Edessa was lost to the Crusaders first in 1144.

The Franks best weapon was Muslim disunity. But when Frankish unity split apart then this became the Muslim’s best weapon. With Saladin unifying the Muslim near east, the Franks lost their best weapon. In addition division among them affected the quality of their decision making, and poor decision making lost men and armies (see Kingdom of Heaven by Ridley Scott).

Both sides were cruel. Saladin was judicious. He was a man to whom keeping one’s word meant a great deal. He allowed the people of Jerusalem to buy their freedom, and prevented looting and violence when he took the holy city.

However, not every christian could afford to buy his freedom. Christian bishops and church leaders, Christian leaders of the Knights Templars and the Knights Hospitallers kept their gold to themselves. It was transported safely out of the city and through the Arab army. Balian (who lead the defense of Jerusalem) could not afford to free all of the population. This resulted in many thousands of Christians being put into slavery – for wont of compassion from their own countrymen.