Saladin and the Battle of Jacob's Ford 1179

In 1179, seven years before Hattin, Saladin faced a critical test: the Frankish fortress of Chastellet, built at Jacob's Ford on the Upper Jordan River. This episode unpacks the fortress's strategic importance, the Templars' role in its construction, Saladin's relentless siege, and the devastating collapse that killed hundreds. We explore the military engineering, the political stakes between Baldwin IV and Saladin, and how this victory set the stage for later triumphs. Drawing on Baha ad-Din and Imad ad-Din, we examine why a single battle at a river crossing reshaped the balance of power in the Latin East. #JacobFord #Chastellet #Saladin #BaldwinIV #KnightsTemplar #Ayyubid #Crusades #1179 #SiegeWarfare #BattleOfJacobFord #UpperJordan #Franj #BahaAdDin #ImadAdDin #ThirdCrusade #MilitaryHistory #MiddleEast #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo