What if Richard the Lionheart spent the winter of 1192 in the Holy Land?

Dreadnought

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WI:Richard the Lionheart spent the winter of 1192 in the Holy Land?

IOTL, the Third Crusade ended on September 2, when Richard the Lion heart and Saladin made a treaty which ended the Third Crusade and imposed a 3 year cease fire. One reason Richard made this treaty, was because he needed to get back to England to stop plots against him by his brother John, and the French King Phillip II.

Richard the Lionheart left the Holy Land on October 9, and eventually made it back to England in 1194, after being captured several times, and held for ransom. Saladin would die in March of 1193, a few months after Richard departed. In the aftermath of Saladin's death, his empire fragmented and fell into Civil War, with Richard away from the Holy Land, unable to exploit it.

However, what would have happened had Richard remained in the Holy Land over the winter? (Perhaps in this Timeline, Richard and (most or all) of his army wants to avoid the bad weather currently occurring in the Mediterranean). With Saladin's lands fragmented and fighting each other, and no strong force to oppose him, could Richard have taken advantage of the situation and capture Jerusalem, or even Damascus or Aleppo? Or would Richard have been forced to return to England to stop his brother John, and Phillip II of France plots against him, before capturing more cities for the Crusader states?

When Richard returns to England eventually, will he try to launch another Crusade, or will he have his hands full dealing with Phillip II in England's French lands?
 
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Richard would have take advantage of Saladin's empire falling apart if his army was stillin good shape. Then he wpuld have returned to England to deal with his brother and Philip.
 
Richard the Lionheart

I don't think that Saladin's empire would collapse immediately after his death. It would be difficult to hold Jersusalem anyhow, since most of the crusading army would have returned to western Europe, and the Jordanian castles which were so vital to it's defense were already in Muslim hands. Perhaps Saladin's successors would offer better peace terms to Richard, fearing civil war and the inevitable break up of Saladin's empire.
 
Richard would have take advantage of Saladin's empire falling apart if his army was stillin good shape. Then he wpuld have returned to England to deal with his brother and Philip.

But neither Richard personally or his army are in "good shape" - and even if Saladin's empire is crumbling, any one of the factions are stronger than Richard.

Richard had nothing to gain by staying except martyrdom.
 
Richard was a fighter, a mentally tough leader who wasnt going to let his brother succeed to the throne. Regardless of weather, he would have found a way back.
His armies were indeed too tired to continue fighting. I'm not sure whether Richard could have found a way to exploit this when you consider that these troops were dog tired and ineffective by this point.
 
Richard the Lionheart

Maybe if he had stayed and his wife was with him, then he could have gotten to know her better and even consummate the marriage? Or is that getting a little too off the main point? Perhaps even have conceived an heir?
 
I think the more interesting question is by staying longer, waiting out the bad weather or whatever the reason, would he still be captured and ransomed. If he is not the financial difference in England will be huge.
 
I think the more interesting question is by staying longer, waiting out the bad weather or whatever the reason, would he still be captured and ransomed. If he is not the financial difference in England will be huge.

As long as he crosses Austria, Leopold will do his damnedest to capture him, I think.
 
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