Among those seized with the Frankish king were his brothers Geoffrey and Amalric, Gérard de Ridfort, Reynauld de Chatillon, and the aged marquis William de Montferrat. Muslims boast there were so many captives that one could scarce believe any were slain, yet so many lay on the slope that one could scarce believe any were captured. Imad al-Din relates that when Franks saw the True Cross was taken they quit fighting, for to venerate the Cross was their obligation, to which their mouths sang hymns of worship, before which they touched their heads to the earth and talked of nothing else if it was displayed. But when it was lost they sank into despair. Turks claimed they could not find ropes enough. They claim that fifty naked Franks submitted to a single rope like domestic animals to be led away unprotesting. How many once proud men were seized?
They allege that Saladin now encamped on the plain of Tiberias like the moon in splendor or a lion on the desert. Throughout the army it was cried that captive nobles should be brought to his pavilion. Yet he would receive only two. King Guy de Lusignan. Reynauld de Chatillon. Arab chronicles say this pusillanimous king of Jerusalem seemed about to faint, head dangling, unable to speak, intoxicated with terror. I have heard he claimed descent from the water fairy Mélusine, for such does the house of Lusignan believe. Whatever the truth, Saladin addressed him gently, trying to assuage his fright, and offered him a goblet of rose water cooled with snow from Mount Hebron. So the king, having eased his thirst, handed the goblet to Reynauld whom Saladin hated beyond any man on earth, who took his sister. Reynauld drank. Then to the interpreter Saladin addressed these words.
Tell the king that he, not I, has given the man a drink.
He spoke in this manner because infidels have a custom that prohibits taking the life of a captive who has eaten or drunk at the table of his captor and Saladin had vowed to Allah that with his own hands he would kill Brins Arnat. Now he fell upon Reynauld with a scimitar and slashed off an arm which plopped in the dust. Then as King Guy watched in horror the stump of Reynauld was dragged away. Others have it that Saladin lopped off Reynauld’s head and the corpse tumbled at King Guy’s feet while Saladin tried to comfort him, saying that kings do not kill one another. Or it could be that Reynauld disdained the goblet, saying arrogantly that as it pleased God he never would eat or drink anything of a misbeliever. At this Saladin called him a pig, drove a sword through his body and dipped his fingers in the blood to prove he had consummated the vow to Allah. However it came about, Reynauld’s head embellished the point of a lance and was dragged behind a camel through Damascus.
As to knights of the Temple and Hospital, numbering almost three hundred, Saladin ordered them held apart. Some now belonged to Muslim warriors but he purchased them all, giving fifty gold pieces for each. When they were his property he assembled them outside the walls of Tiberias and spoke.
You see that I have taken the Holy Cross and have taken your king. I have killed or captured most of the high lords. I have retaken lands that in earlier days Christians took from us. I have pitied you because you are brave knights who may live to profit greatly. Here is what I will do if you accede to my wish. I will provide you with wives, with fiefs, with gold. I will give you lands that I have conquered. So much will I do for you.
They asked what they must do in return. He said they must supplant their faith in Jesus Christ with the faith of Mahomet. To this the knights responded that they would not ever forsake Jesus, saying that as He suffered for them on the Cross, so would they suffer death for Him, knowing the faith of Mahomet to be false.
When these words had been interpreted for Saladin he gave orders to behead the knights.
Imad al-Din records how there were present numerous ascetics, Sufis, austere men versed at law, savants, all requesting permission to slay a Frank. Those granted the honor rolled back their sleeves and approached with sword in hand, anxious to demonstrate their skill. Some cut or slashed proficiently and were congratulated. Others who sought clumsily to behead a knight heard themselves jeered. Some were excused by reason of blunt swords. Saladin watched indulgently, smiling, for to his mind the butchery pleased Allah. By causing Christian heads to fall he thought he earned great merit. He thought to glorify pagan misbelief by assaulting the Trinity. So was it prophesied. A time shall come when those that kill you may think they render God a service.
How eagerly these knights flocked to the executioner, joyously offering their necks to the blade. What ardor and faith they exhibited. Among them a Templar called Nicholas who so inspired others to martyrdom that, by virtue of their wish to be first, he could hardly obtain the stroke he wanted. And for three nights afterward celestial glory shone on these
