Saladin's Lost Army: The Battle of Jacob's Ford

While the Battle of Hattin and the capture of Jerusalem dominate the historical narrative, Saladin’s early military career was defined by a grueling, decade-long struggle along the northern borders of the Crusader states. This episode explores the construction and eventual fall of Jacob’s Ford in 1179, a fortress built by the Templars to control the Jordan River crossings and threaten Saladin’s supply lines. Lucas and Luna examine how this seemingly minor outpost became a flashpoint for regional warfare, drawing in Syrian princes, Egyptian troops, and European crusaders. We look at the specific engineering challenges faced by both sides, the tactical brilliance of Saladin’s siege tactics, and the personal vendetta that fueled Raymond III of Tripoli’s betrayal. Beyond the battlefield, we uncover how this conflict reshaped the political landscape of the Levant, forcing alliances that would later prove crucial at Hattin. Through the eyes of contemporary chroniclers like Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani and Baha ad-Din ibn Shaddad, we reconstruct the dust, mud, and political maneuvering that turned a river crossing into a symbol of resistance. Join us as we peel back the layers of this forgotten war to understand the man who would soon become the Sultan of Egypt and Syria. #JacobSFord #Saladin #CrusadesHistory #Templars #HattinPrequel #MiddleEastHistory #AyyubidDynasty #RaymondIII #JordanRiver #MilitarySiege #ImadAdDin #BahaAdDin #LevantHistory #KnightsTemplar #12thCenturyWarfare #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #SaladinBiography Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo