Battle of Marj Ayyun

Part of the Crusades

Date	10 June 1179
Location	Marjayoun, Lebanon
Result	Ayyubid victory

Belligerents

Kingdom of Jerusalem

Knights Templar

Ayyubids

Commanders and leaders

Baldwin IV of Jerusalem
Odo de St Amand (POW)
Raymond III of Tripoli

Saladin
Ibn Jender
Sabek ad-Din
Izz ad-din

Strength

Unknown

Casualties and losses

Heavy

Unknown

In the Battle of Marj Ayyun, alternately Marj Ayyoun, an Ayyubid army commanded by Saladin defeated a Crusader army led by King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem on 10 June 1179. The Christian king, who was crippled by leprosy, narrowly escaped being captured in the rout.

In 1177 Saladin's Ayyubid army invaded the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem from Egypt. In that year King Baldwin surprised and defeated the Saracen host at the Battle of Montgisard.

In 1179 Saladin again invaded the Crusader states, from the direction of Damascus. He based his army at Banias and sent raiding forces to despoil villages and crops near Sidon and the coastal areas. Farmers and townpeople impoverished by Saracen raiders would be unable to pay rent to their Frankish overlords. Unless stopped, Saladin's destructive policy would weaken the Crusader kingdom.

In response, Baldwin moved his army to Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. From there he marched north-northwest to the stronghold of Safed. Continuing in the same direction, he reached Toron castle (Tebnine), about 13 miles (21 km) east-southeast of Tyre. Together with the Knights Templar led by Odo of St Amand and a force from the County of Tripoli led by Count Raymond III, Baldwin moved northeast.

From the eastern side of the coastal range, the Crusaders saw Saladin's tents in the distance. Baldwin and his nobles decided to descend to the plain and attack at once. As the Frankish army moved downhill, the mounted troops soon outstripped the foot soldiers. After a few hours' delay, the Crusader army reassembled, then encountered and easily defeated the Saracen raiding forces, who were returning from their forays.

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Wikipedia