Imperial regalia were kept safe in a coffer with three locks. The keys were held one each by the patriarch, by the master of Templars, and by the master of the Hospital, Roger. And when Roger was asked to produce his key, he would not. The patriarch and the Templar went to see him. But when he heard of their approach he concealed himself. Not until noon could he be found, clutching the key because he was afraid somebody might give it to the patriarch. They stood outside the Hospital wheedling and threatening until Roger flung his key out a window, but said he would not attend the coronation nor would any Hospitaler. So the master of the Temple and Heraclius proceeded to the treasury where they unlocked the coffer and got two crowns.
And when it came time for the ceremony Heraclius placed one crown on the altar. With the second he crowned Sibylla, Queen of Jerusalem. Lady, said he, because you are a woman it is not fit that you reign alone. Take this crown that you see beside you. Give it to such a man as you would have govern the kingdom.
Sibylla beckoned forth her lover, Guy de Lusignan. Sire, the queen addressed him, I would have you wear this. I do not know where better to bestow it.
Guy de Lusignan knelt and she placed the crown on his head. Then the patriarch anointed him. This occurred on a Friday in the merciful year 1186. Never had a king of Jerusalem been crowned on Friday, nor with gates to the Holy City shut.
Thus it happened that a piddling courtier with the mind of a goat was expected to contain Saladin.
King Guy ordered Reynauld de Chatillon to release the Muslim lord’s sister. Reynauld answered that by virtue of marriage to Lady Étienne he was master of Kerak and had made no pact with Saracens. By this insubordinate response, by refusing to acknowledge the sovereignty of Guy de Lusignan, it may be that he hastened the fall of the Holy City.
No one knew what Saladin might do next. King Guy despatched messengers to Count Raymond at Tiberias, since Raymond was highly experienced at warfare. While these messengers were en route it chanced that Saladin’s son, al-Afdal, requested leave for seven thousand mameluks to ride through the fief of Tiberias. Why they wished to enter Christian territory is much debated. Some think they were bent on pillage, others think they wished to vaunt their strength. Raymond gave permission, stipulating that they must not appear before dawn and must depart before sunset. And when these mameluks rode by Tiberias they found the gates closed, indicating that Count Raymond would respect the truce. However, news reached the castle of La Fève and ninety Templars with various other knights resolved to attack these enemies of Christ. But the Templars hesitated when they saw this multitude of Saracens watering their horses in a valley behind Nazareth. Jakeline de Maille, who was Marshal, advised retreat.
Gérard de Ridfort, who was Grand Master, challenged him. Do you so love your blond head that you wish to keep it?
Marshal Jakeline replied with disgust. I shall die a knight, but you will flee.
What the Templar prophesied came true. Gérard de Ridfort escaped.
Marshal Jakeline, seeing all around him dead or dying, faced the enemy by himself. The mameluks, admiring such valor, were filled with compassion. They shouted earnestly at him to give up his sword so they might spare his life. He would not. According to the narrative of Geoffrey de Vinsauf he was with difficulty slain, falling beneath a load of javelins, stones, and lances. Then his soul fled in triumph bearing the palm of martyrdom.
These Templars gained eternal bliss on a field that had been planted with corn and reaped, hence it was thick with stubble, and so many Saracens rushed to fight that the field was trampled to dust. Once the battle ended here they were sprinkling dust on the corpse of Marshal Jakeline, afterward sprinkling dust on their own heads to honor his courage. It is said that one chopped off the private member to keep, as though a poor scrap of flesh might generate a son of equal fortitude. And because Marshal Jakeline rode a white horse and dressed in white armor, Turks with knowledge of Saint Gregory boasted they had vanquished the greatest knight in Christendom.
Late that afternoon al-Afdal again rode past Tiberias, his knights exhibiting on lances the heads of Templars they had killed. They crossed the river Jordan before sunset, as agreed. But who would counsel peace after God’s enemies rode through Christian land flaunting the severed heads of Christian soldiers? Still, has not a sword two edges? Did not these Templars vex the Turk? How does our Creator adjudicate?
Now it became apparent that a decisive battle must take place, as the Bible foretells conflict on the plains of Armageddon. And the infidel lord, as if he were Antichrist spreading impenetrable darkness, called upon the armies of Damascus, Aleppo, Egypt, and Syria. Various in name or sect or birthplace, they assembled swiftly to annihilate the living army of God. Bedouin. Arab. Parthian. Cordian. Babylonian. Mede. According to the chronicle of Abu Shama, camel skin tents surrounded Lake Tiberias like the ocean. Muslim banners fluttered in the sunlight. Here or there stood pavilions of bright fabric embellished with verses from the Koran.
Soldiers of Christ assembled near Saphori close by Nazareth. Lords of the great fiefs arrived, leaving only a few knights and sergeants to defend each castle. Mercenaries hastily enrolled. Pilgrims. Mariners. Hospitalers and Templars gathered. Patriarch Heraclius, when invited to join the host, replied that he did not feel well enough to go but would send the True Cross. Some muttered aloud what others thought, that
