Defence of Tyre

Background

After Hattin the coastal cities were surrendering to Saladin one after another. Conrad, son of the marquis of Montferrat, had sailed from Constantinople to Acre, but finding the city surrendered he turned to Tyre. When he arrived in mid-July 1187, the city was about to surrender.

Course of events

Conrad agreed to take over the defence on condition that surrender talks stop and he be recognised as ruler of the city. After a brief attempt on the city in summer, Saladin began a major siege in November 1187.

According to the sources, Saladin brought Conrad's father, Marquis William V of Montferrat, captured at Hattin, before the walls and asked his son to surrender; Conrad refused. On 30 December Conrad's galleys launched a surprise attack on the Muslim fleet and captured many ships. Unable to sustain the land and sea siege, Saladin withdrew on 1 January 1188.

Outcome and significance

Tyre remained the Latins' last great stronghold in the Holy Land and became the first base for the forces coming for the Third Crusade. Conrad regarded the city as his own and in 1188 refused to admit King Guy, who had been released from captivity. This dispute led Guy to begin the siege of Acre and caused a long rivalry among the crusade leaders.

Saladin's failure to take Tyre was judged by later historians to be one of his most important strategic mistakes.

Sources and debates

Imad al-Din al-Isfahani and Baha al-Din ibn Shaddad describe the siege from the Muslim side; Ibn al-Athir criticises Saladin for releasing prisoners and sending them to Tyre, which strengthened its defence. The scene with Conrad's father appears in Latin sources and its details are disputed.