1197–1198 · Levant
German Crusade
Troops of the German Crusade prepared by Emperor Henry VI reached Acre in autumn 1197. They recovered the coast of Beirut and Sidon, but while they were besieging the castle of Tibnin (Toron), news came that the emperor had died in Sicily in September 1197, and the crusade broke up in early 1198.
RESEARCH DOSSIER
Historical analysis of the event
Background
Henry VI, son of Frederick Barbarossa, had seized the kingdom of Sicily and become a great power in the Mediterranean. He took the cross in 1195 to complete his father's unfinished crusade and to put pressure on Byzantium. The army was sent East by sea from ports in Sicily and southern Italy; the emperor himself was to follow.
Course of the crusade
The troops began arriving at Acre in September 1197. By then al-Adil had taken Jaffa, and Count Henry of Champagne, ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, had died in an accident in September 1197. The German forces, led by figures such as Duke Henry of Brabant and the imperial chancellor Conrad, turned north and took Sidon and Beirut in October.
In November 1197 the castle of Tibnin (Toron) was besieged. As the castle was preparing to surrender, disputes among the crusade leaders and news that Henry VI had died at Messina on 28 September 1197 broke up the army. The siege was lifted in February 1198, and most German leaders returned because of the struggle for the throne in Europe.
Outcome and significance
The crusade's lasting gain was Beirut, which restored the coastal link between Acre and Tripoli. During the crusade Aimery of Cyprus married Isabella and became king of Jerusalem. The transformation of the German hospital brotherhood into a military order in March 1198 is also linked to the crusade's presence at Acre.
A new truce was made between the Kingdom of Jerusalem and al-Adil in 1198.
Sources and debates
The main sources are German annals, the chronicle of Arnold of Lübeck and the continuations of the account attributed to Ernoul. Ibn al-Athir and Abu Shama give the Muslim view. On why the siege of Toron was abandoned, the sources variously stress the irresponsibility of the German leaders and disputes with the local barons.
Dates, places and figures in this record compare the principal narrative sources with modern scholarship. Where the sources disagree this is stated in the text; for a thesis or publication, consult the relevant edition and page reference.