Conrad of Montferrat and the Crusades.

He arrived in Palestine in 1187, shortly after the battle of Hattin. Acre had already fallen, so he went to Tyre where he re-organized its defenses and prevented it from falling to Saladin. WI: He had arrived at Acre earlier, before it fell to Saladin? Could he have prevented its fall? How would this have affected the outcome of the Third Crusade, if the crusaders had not spend a long time besieging Acre.
 
Well. Uh, Tyre probably falls. I hear the fortifications were very good, so maybe not. I'll assume that Conrad can hold Acre. IIRC, it was a close match anyway. If both Tyre and Acre fall, the Crusade is pretty much over. If he holds, the Crusaders probably won't bother to retake Tyre right away. I see a march on Jerusalem, a force left behind to cover the flank 'cuz Tyre is so close to Acre.

Big difference is that, without the siege, the Crusaders won't lose so many to sickness. I think there won't be anyone who can outrank Richard, but maybe he won't feel as free to humiliate a higher-ranking German leader. If so, the Germans don't go home angry like OTL and hold Richard for a ruinous ransom.

Not sure what long range difference, but Richard won't massacre the captured defenders because there won't be any defenders to capture.

Other than the above, there's so many ways this could go. Several guesses follow.

Maybe the German leader (i should remember the name, i think it was another Frederick) could keep Philip and Richard from fighting as much and Philip won't go home angry and start laying siege to English castles.

If Saladin is still besieging Acre when the Crusader armies arrive, that puts them at a disadvantage as they will have to break out.

I forget just how much earlier Philip got there than Richard, but maybe the combined French and German forces can get in a major battle. Obviously, degree of victory or loss influences what's next. If either Philip or {Frederick} get killed, Richard is left in control, probably with about the same forces that he had OTL. If it's a victory, i'm not sure who would in control, but at some point Richard will get ticked at somebody and go off on his own.

Assuming neither Philip nor {Frederick} bite the dust 'till then, Conrad becomes the next King of Jerusalem. IIRC, the Germans backed him, while Richard was the only one who backed Guy.

Like i said, there's so many ways this could go, it's kind of hard to speculate.
 
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