Third Crusade

In this episode, we explore the Third Crusade through the turbulent career of Guy of Lusignan, the former King of Jerusalem whose defeat at the Battle of Hattin and subsequent capture helped set the stage for Saladin’s conquest of Jerusalem. We examine Guy’s release, his attempt to reclaim power during the Crusade, and his bitter rivalry with Conrad of Montferrat over the crown of Jerusalem. The episode also looks at how the arrival of major European leaders and shifting political alliances transformed the struggle for the Holy Land, ultimately leaving Guy without his Jerusalemite throne but establishing him as ruler of Cyprus, where his legacy continued beyond the Third Crusade.