battle battle crusade richard defeated founder dynasty sultan egypt syria palestine forces crusade taken city acre prolonged siege strategic target christian army secure city facilitate ultimate goal recapture city jerusalem following series attacks forces battle joined morning september richard army successfully resisted attempts disrupt broke ranks charged richard committed forces attack army initial success led victory battle resulted coastal area southern palestine including port returning christian control capture jerusalem feasible south acre following capture acre richard aware needed capture port making attempt jerusalem richard began march coast acre august main objective prevent recapture jerusalem army attempt stop advance richard organized advance attention detail large egyptian fleet captured fall acre threat quarter march south coast sea protecting right flank lessons disaster richard knew army greatest need water heat exhaustion greatest danger pressed time proceeded relatively slow pace marched army morning heat day making frequent rest stops sources water fleet sailed coast close support source supplies refuge wounded aware present danger enemy raiders possibility hit run attacks kept column tight formation core mounted regiments knights infantry marched flank covering flanks horsemen protection missiles ranks infantry composed baggage units infantry rested continuous harassment inflicted forces richard rotated infantry units relatively fresh provoked skirmish tactics richard ensured order discipline maintained difficult circumstances muslim chronicler eyewitness describes march discharged arrows sides force charge unsuccessful men exercised wonderful self control went way hurry whilst ships followed line march coast manner reached halting place described difference power bows army saw arrows sticking armoured backs marching apparent hurt whilst struck horse man muslims strategy army pace dictated infantry baggage train army largely mounted advantage superior mobility efforts burn crops deny countryside army largely ineffective continuously fleet moved south parallel august rearguard crossing cut closed muslim forced flee august richard army respite attack coast gone round shoulder army struck country arrived vicinity longer road august september striking distance waiting opportunity attack exposed early september realised army limited portion troops going stop advance order needed commit entire army attack traverse forested regions palestine wood ran parallel sea shore miles woodland mask disposition army allow sudden attack launched traversed half forest little incident rested september camp protected marsh lying inland mouth river south camp miles needed march gaining ruins forest inland create narrow plain miles wide wooded hills sea intended decisive attack threatening length column reserved sustained direct assault rear plan appears allow van centre proceed hope fatal gap created heavily engaged units gap thrown reserves order defeat detail battle organisation deployment opposing armies dawn september richard forces began moving camp enemy scouts visible directions army lay hidden woodland king richard took pains disposition army probable posts greatest danger especially rear column given military orders experience fighting east arguably disciplined formations included cavalry fought like turkish horse army van army consisted followed units composed richard subjects including titular king jerusalem lastly english charge great standard mounted seven corps french barons small contingents lands forming rearguard led corps organised larger formations precise distribution unknown additionally small troop leadership henry_ii champagne detached scout hills squadron picked knights king richard hugh leader french contingent detailed ride column checking movements ensuring ranks kept order attack come left camp moving army burst woodland army composed dense horse foot lighter types turkish horse ordered squadrons armoured heavy cavalry termed troops contingents princes egypt syria army divided parts left right wings centre directed army beneath banners surrounded bodyguard accompanied implies army outnumbered inflated numbers respectively described attack attempt destroy army resolve onslaught accompanied blowing men screaming war cries truth people number means escape tried sufficient withstand foes shut like flock sheep jaws wolves sky enemy repeated attacks followed pattern foot launched arrows enemy lines parting allow mounted advance attack wheel practiced technique responded possible chief task simply preserve ranks face sustained attacks failed desired effect weight attack switched rear column coming greatest pressure right wing army desperate attack squadron knights infantry corps covering attacked rear flank infantry walk backwards order faces shields enemy eager urge soldiers closer combat personally entered accompanied pages leading spare horses brother engaged actively encouraging troops brothers exposing considerable danger fire break ranks best efforts column halt advance direction richard determined hold army forcing enemy exhaust repeated charges intention holding knights concentrated counter attack right moment risks army marching severe enemy troops suffering heat killing horses richard knights began wonder counter strike possible knights joined infantry vanguard entered middle afternoon rear having load fire walking backwards inevitably lost enemy quick advantage opportunity moving gap wielding swords entered critical stage repeatedly pleaded richard allowed attack refused master ordered maintain position await signal general assault clear trumpet richard knew charge knights needed reserved army fully committed closely engaged horses begun tire endurance master knight thrust way infantry charged ranks cry george followed rest knights moved example french knights corps immediately preceding charged counterattack action caused richard strategy recognised counterattack started supported army ordered signal general charge sounded rear units involved initial breakout overwhelmed superior numbers enemy infantry opened gaps ranks knights pass attack naturally developed rear van soldiers army noted sudden change ferocious activity appeared result plan having engaged close combat rear column right wing army compact formation close enemy avoid impact charge cavalry wing order fire bows effectively result suffered great numbers casualties knights taking bloody revenge endure earlier battle noted rout complete centre division army turned flight looked join left wing found rapid flight noting right wing finally sought personal banners found seventeen members bodyguard lone drummer aware pursuit greatest danger fighting armies trained fluid tactics turks richard halted charge mile covered right flank units formed van column including english heavily engaged close combat formed reserve rest freed pressure actively pursued troops turned cut knights drawn ahead rest commander french units prominent killed episode leaders rallied quickly returned fight nephew led men sultan bodyguard richard left flank squadrons order richard led knights second charge forces broke leading example richard heart fighting describes king fierce extraordinary king cut turks direction escape force arm turned sword carved wide path advanced gave repeated strokes sword cutting like rest warned sight dying gave ample space corpses dead turks lay face earth extended half mile alert danger presented scattered ranks richard halted forces pursuit cavalry turned showing stomach renew fight final charge caused woodland dispersed hills directions showing continue conflict richard led cavalry infantry pitched camp night dead looted aftermath medieval battles losses difficult assess precision christian claim force lost men possible true number fewer mentions deaths leaders army richard dead said numbered leader note killed james important victory army destroyed despite considerable casualties suffered rout considered muslims boosted morale contemporary opinion stated richard able choose moment knights having react actions unit commander victory decisive rout able attempted resume method warfare little effect shaken sudden effective counterattack longer willing risk scale attack reputation invincible warrior proved richard courage soldier skill commander richard able defend hold strategically crucial securing jerusalem evacuate demolish fortresses southern palestine realised hold richard took fortress sole fortress garrisoned household troops low morale reduced coast richard seriously threatened hold jerusalem crusade end failed retake jerusalem year truce eventually negotiated truce known treaty ensured christian pilgrims west allowed visit jerusalem recognised control coast far south sides exhausted struggle richard needed return europe order protect aggression palestine state fiction film battle featured climax
Battle of Arsuf