Battle of Cresson

Battle of Cresson
Part of the Crusades

The Battle of Cresson, miniature by Jean Colombe, in Passages d'outremer ca. 1474
Date1 May 1187
Location
Between Tiberias and Nazareth, Principality of Galilee
32°44′6.3″N 35°21′16.3″E / 32.735083°N 35.354528°E / 32.735083; 35.354528
Result Ayyubid victory
Belligerents
Knights Templar
Knights Hospitaller
Kingdom of Jerusalem		 Ayyubids
Commanders and leaders
Gerard de Ridefort (WIA)
Roger de Moulins †
Robert Fraisnel †		 Gökböri
Qaymaz al Najmi
Dildirim al Yaruqi[1]
Strength
Approx. 130 knights (including the Grand Master of both, Templars and Hospitallers)
400 infantry
Unknown numbers of turcopoles[2]		 700–7,000[3]
Casualties and losses
Almost all killed or captured, only 3 knights survived including a wounded Gerard.
Roger de Moulins killed		 Unknown
[4]
Battle of Cresson is located in Israel
Battle of Cresson
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Location within Israel

The Battle of Cresson was a small battle between Frankish and Ayyubid forces on 1 May 1187 at the "Spring of the Cresson." While the exact location of the spring is unknown, it is located in the environs of Nazareth.[5] The conflict was a prelude to the decisive defeat of the Kingdom of Jerusalem at the Battle of Hattin two months later.

  1. ^ The Chronicle of Ibn Al-Athīr for the Crusading Period from Al-Kāmil Fīʼl-taʼrīkh: The years 541-589 ʻIzz al-Dīn Ibn al-Athīr, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2007, p. 319
  2. ^ David Nicolle pg.59
  3. ^ David Nicolle pg.59
  4. ^ David Nicolle pg.57
  5. ^ Pringle, Denys; et al. (2001). "The Spring of Cresson in Crusading History". In Balard (ed.). Die gesta per Francos: Etudes sur les croisades dediees a Jean Richard. Routledge. p. 234.