And since I want to get through the Third Crusade and get it over with, an update! First things first, though.
Chapter II, Part II (continued)
On May 1st 1191, Kilij Arslan, Sultan of the Seljuks of Rum died. With his sons quarreling over the succession, the Byzantines consolidating their position in the old Anatolic theme in the west, and formerly subject beys as well as the independent emirs to the east; the last remains of Seljuk unity died with the sultan. For Alexius, much remained to be done before Anatolia would fully be returned to the empire, but that the Turkish statelets could be picked off one by one was now assured.
For the crusaders, another year of fighting lay ahead before Jerusalem would finally be theirs, retaken almost a century after it had first fallen to them. By this point their ranks would be badly depleted, and their ability to press on not much better off than the ability of Saladin to deny them further advance. Negotiations, in which Balian of Ibelin would play a crucial part as a figure trusted equally by both the crusaders and the sultan, would occupy the better part of two months before it was finally agreed what exactly the crusaders would regain in the Holy Land and on what terms. In addition to possession of a narrow strip along the coastline from Jaffa in the south to Beiruit in the north, the crusaders would regain the city of Jerusalem and a corridor connecting the city to the coast. Certain conditions involving respecting the Dome of the Rock were also placed within the treaty. In addition, the lands taken from the principality of Antioch would be turned over directly to the Byzantine Empire.
Finally, a truce for five years between Richard, Frederick, the kingdom of Jerusalem, and Saladin was signed. The heirs of the parties so named would be bound by the terms of the truce as well - mostly done as a gesture towards the ailing sultan and the aged emperor, neither of which would likely last the next five years - indeed, Frederick would only live three days after it had been signed, dying peacefully in his sleep.
While hardly the liberation of the whole of the kingdom as had been fondly hoped for, it was still a fantastic success for the crusaders and a devastating reversal of fortune for Saladin, who had held the city of Jerusalem for less than five years.
More troubling for the crusaders was the issue of the succession to the the kingdom of Jerusalem. While Guy had graciously bowed out, recognizing both his total lack of support from the barons of the kingdom and his inadequacy for the task, Conrad had been killed by unknown assassins in April, and some - such as Conrad's cousin Leopold V, duke of Austria - suspected Richard's involvement, which would prove to have dire consequences for the English king. Nevertheless, Henry of Champagne, Richard's nephew, would be accepted by the majority of the barons, although he would not become officially king until his coronation in September.
Questions, comments, nitpicks on my grammar/spelling/syntax?
