Saladin's Forgotten Victory: The Battle of Jacob's Ford 1179

Long before Hattin, Saladin faced a formidable threat: a massive Templar fortress rising at Jacob's Ford, a strategic crossing of the Jordan River. In 1179, the young sultan laid siege to Chastellet, the Templars' castle, in a brutal contest of sappers, mango-nels, and sheer will. This episode dives into the construction of the fortress, Saladin's determined assault, and the tragic relief attempt by King Baldwin IV, already ravaged by leprosy. We explore the military tactics—how Saladin's miners tunnelled under the walls, the use of Greek fire, and the fate of the defenders. The battle ended with the castle destroyed, Templar knights slain or captured, and Saladin's reputation soaring. It's a story of ingenuity, desperation, and the shifting balance of power in the Holy Land before the great clash of 1187. Join us for a gritty, overlooked episode in the long war for Jerusalem. #Saladin #JacobFord #Chastellet #VadumJacob #Templars #BaldwinIV #Crusades #Siege #MedievalWarfare #JordanRiver #Ayyubid #KnightsTemplar #1179 #HolyLand #MilitaryHistory #Siegecraft #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo