Battle of Al-Fule

Part of the Crusades

Date	September 1183
Location	By Merhavia in the Jezreel Valley, about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) southeast of present-day Afula, Israel and 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of the Green Line towards the West Bank.
Result	Indecisive

Belligerents

Kingdom of Jerusalem

Ayyubids

Commanders and leaders

Guy of Lusignan

Saladin

Jorduk an-Nuri

Jawili

Farukh-Shah

Dolderim al-Yaruki

Nur ad-Din Ortoki

Qutb ad-Din Ghazi Ortoki

Strength

Unknown

Casualties and losses

Unknown

In the campaign and Battle of Al-Fule (in Crusader terms La Fève, Latin Castrum Fabe), a Crusader force led by Guy of Lusignan skirmished with Saladin's Ayyubid army for more than a week in September 1183. Tactically the battle was a draw, but the Crusaders prevented Saladin from capturing any strongholds and caused him to retreat. However, the Muslim leader's soldiers inflicted serious damage on farms and villages.

In May 1182, Saladin invaded the Kingdom of Jerusalem by way of Eilat, the Transjordan and Galilee. During the summer, he was successfully resisted by King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem in the campaign and Battle of Belvoir Castle; however, the Crusader lands were badly damaged by Saracen raiders. By September 1183, Baldwin, crippled by leprosy, could no longer function as monarch. Guy of Lusignan, who had married Baldwin's sister Sibylla of Jerusalem in 1180, was appointed regent.

On August 24, 1183, Saladin returned to Damascus, having conquered Aleppo and several cities in Mesopotamia for his empire. In September, he mounted a major invasion of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Crossing the Jordan River, the Ayyubid host plundered the abandoned town of Baisan. Continuing west, up the Jezreel Valley, Saladin established his army near some springs about 8 km southeast of Al-Fule. At the same time, the Muslim leader sent out numerous columns to damage as much property as possible. The raiders destroyed the villages of Jenin and Afrabala, attacked the monastery on Mount Tabor and wiped out a contingent from Kerak that was trying to join the Crusader field army.

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Wikipedia