Jerusalem between Sultan Salah Al-Din and King Richard I: Search for Peace
Dr Maher Y. Abu-Munshar

Abstract
Jerusalem is no ordinary place; its significance reaches far beyond its physical stones. During its turbulent history, the followers of the different religions made strenuous efforts to conquer the city by any means and at any cost. This important status of the city clearly manifested during the long peace negotiations between the most known sole leaders during the Third Crusade (1189-1192 CE): Sultan Salah al-Din and Richard I (The Lion-Heart) the King of England. In this paper, an attempt is made to verify the accounts of the communication between Salah al-Din and the Crusaders and analytically discusses the peace negotiations between Salah al-Din and Richard. The paper covers, also, the outcomes of these negotiations. The paper concludes with how at the end of the Third Crusade, that lasted nearly five years, Richard and Salah al-Din, the two of the greatest warriors and statesmen of the medieval age, parted on good terms. They held each other in great respect, and both were unusual in attracting the admiration of their enemies. Finally, this paper will prove that the outcome of the Third Crusade had negated the idea of the Crusading, as the terms of the peace agreement stipulated that Jerusalem should remain in the hands of Muslims alone.

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