On This Day

Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa and 100,000 crusaders depart Regensburg for the Third Crusade

The Third Crusade (1189–1192) was an attempt led by King Philip II of France, King Richard I of England, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa to reconquer the Holy Land following the capture of Jerusalem...

The Third Crusade (1189–1192) was an attempt led by King Philip II of France, King Richard I of England, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa to reconquer the Holy Land following the capture of Jerusalem by the Ayyubid sultan Saladin in 1187. For this reason, the Third Crusade is also known as the Kings' Crusade.

It was partially successful, recapturing the important cities of Acre and Jaffa, and reversing most of Saladin's conquests, but it failed to recapture Jerusalem, which was the major aim of the Crusade and its religious focus.

After the failure of the Second Crusade of 1147–1149, the Zengid dynasty controlled a unified Syria and engaged in a conflict with the Fatimid rulers of Egypt.

Historical Significance

The Third Crusade (1189–1192) was an attempt led by King Philip II of France, King Richard I of England, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa to reconquer the Holy Land following the capture of Jerusalem by the Ayyubid sultan Saladin in 1187.

Key People

Frederick Barbarossa

Holy Roman Emperor from 1155 to 1190

Holy Roman Emperor from 1155 to 1190

Events Before

  1. Battle at Danoura: Yoshitsune Minamoto's fleet beats the Taira during Japan's Genpei War

    Battle at Danoura: Yoshitsune Minamoto's fleet beats the Taira during Japan's Genpei War

  2. Henry VI, the son and heir of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, weds Constance of Sicily

    Henry VI, the son and heir of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, weds Constance of Sicily

  3. Sultan of Egypt Saladin captures Jerusalem from the Crusaders

    The siege of Jerusalem lasted from 20 September to 2 October 1187, when Balian of Ibelin surrendered the city to Saladin.

  4. Alberto de Morra is elected as Pope Gregorius VIII (12/17/1187)

    Alberto de Morra is elected as Pope Gregorius VIII (12/17/1187)

  5. Antoku ascends the throne as the 81st Emperor of Japan

    Antoku ascends the throne as the 81st Emperor of Japan

Events After

  1. Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa drowns while crossing the Saleph River in modern-day Turkey, leading an army t

    Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa drowns while crossing the Saleph River in modern-day Turkey, leading an army to Jerusalem during the Third Crusade

  2. Isabella of Jerusalem marries Conrad of Montferrat at Acre, making him de jure King

    Sibylla (Old French: Sibyl; c. 1159 – 25 July 1190) was the queen of Jerusalem from 1186 until her death in 1190.

  3. York (England) Pogrom: Jews seek refuge in Clifford's Tower, which is then besieged by a mob; about 150 people are massa

    York (England) Pogrom: Jews seek refuge in Clifford's Tower, which is then besieged by a mob; about 150 people are massacred or commit suicide rather than submit to Christian baptism

  4. Crusades complete the massacre of Jews in York, England

    The first-recorded Jews in England arrived after the Norman Conquest of the country by William the Conqueror (the future William I) in 1066, and the first written record of Jewish settlement in...

  5. Crusaders kill 57 Jews in Bury St Edmunds, England

    Crusaders kill 57 Jews in Bury St Edmunds, England

More from the 1180s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on May 11, 1189?
The Third Crusade (1189–1192) was an attempt led by King Philip II of France, King Richard I of England, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa to reconquer the Holy Land following the capture of Jerusalem by the Ayyubid sultan Saladin in 1187. For this reason, the Third Crusade is also known as the Kings' Crusade. It was partially successful, recapturing the important cities of Acre and Jaffa, and reversing most of Saladin's conquests, but it failed to recapture Jerusalem, which was the major aim of the Crusade and its religious focus.
Why is Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa and 100,000 crusaders depart Regens... significant?
The Third Crusade (1189–1192) was an attempt led by King Philip II of France, King Richard I of England, and Emperor Frederick Barbarossa to reconquer the Holy Land following the capture of Jerusalem by the Ayyubid sultan Saladin in 1187.
Who was involved in Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa and 100,000 crusaders depart Regens...?
Key figures include Frederick Barbarossa (Holy Roman Emperor from 1155 to 1190).

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