083.Battle of Jaffa_b - WDS Crusades Book II
0 - 0 - 0
| Rating: | 0 (0) |
| Games Played: | 0 |
| SM: | 2 |
| Turns: | 25 |
| Type: | Stock |
| First Side: | Crusader Alliance (CB2) |
| Second Side: | Anti-Crusader Alliance (CB2) |
Date: August 8th, 1192 - Size: Small - Location: City of Jaffa
Crusade: The Third Crusade
Scenario Briefing: During the months following King Richard's victory at Arsuf, several plans were discussed that would address the "elephant" in the room. When do we attack Jerusalem and complete our vows? This was a question that Richard was not willing to immediately answer. Why? Unlike Acre and Arsuf, both being on the coast with easy access to critical supplies, marching on Jerusalem would be marching through rugged terrain, all of which Saladin controlled. In many cases, the watering wells had been poisoned in preparation for a Crusader attack on the Holy City. Marching under these conditions was a recipe for disaster. And this was not a risk Richard was prepared to take. At least not now.
Richard's plan was to isolate Jerusalem from its primary base, Egypt. Egypt was the Sultan's primary source for money, men and supplies. Its loss would be catastrophic for all of Islam and most especially to Saladin himself.
Fortunately for Saladin, there were many in the Crusader camp that did not agree with this plan to take Egypt and wanted to immediately retake Jerusalem. The most vocal of this Jerusalem first policy was the leader of the French Contingent, Henry Duke of Burgundy.
With no consensus on what would be the most expedient option to retake Jerusalem, The Crusaders only made half-hearted efforts to retake the Holy City. None came within sight of the city.
In the meantime, Richard set about repairing the walls of the coastal ports. These included Ascalon and Jaffa.
Richard knew that Saladin would not just wait out the lack of Crusader planning. Instead, the Sultan planned to take the offensive. He needed a victory that would rejuvenate the sagging spirits of the Ayyubid army and his own reputation. His first target was Jaffa. With Richard and most of the remaining Crusader army returned to Acre, Jaffa was left with only a small garrison to hold the city. Richard reasoned that if Saladin attacked, it could hold out long enough for a relief force to raise the siege.
This scenario depicts the main battle between Saladin's numerically superior Ayyubid army and the vanguard of Richard's relief force. Not long before this battle, Richard had indeed raised the siege. A siege that was only a few hours from total success. By the time Richard arrived, the garrison of Jaffa had abandoned the greater part of the city and retreated to the relative safety of its citadel. Less than a day before, the garrison's commander, Aubrey de Riems, made an agreement with Saladin that if Richard did not arrive within 24 hours, he and the garrison survivors would surrender the citadel, and Jaffa would be wholly in Ayyubid control. Thankfully for the Crusaders, Richard did arrive and in dramatic fashion. He and others leapt from his boat into waist high water, armed with a crossbow and sword, charged the Ayyubids defending the beach. Shocked by this act of crazy heroism, the Muslims broke from their formations and took refuge in the city. Unfortunately for them, the gate was still a pile of rubble from the earlier Ayyubid attack and Richard was able to pursue them out of the city as they ran past the gate on its southern side. In this effort, Richard and his Crusaders were joined by the garrison men from inside the citadel.
With this victory, Richard had again proved himself, Coeur de Lion. Or as was said in old Norman, "Quor de Lion."
Now, in this final battle of the Third Crusade, you can choose to become the Quor de Lion, or Saladin, the greatest and most remembered Muslim leader from the middle ages.
Recommended Rules: [Default]
Intended to be played as either side against the AI or play Head-to-Head.
Suggested Reading: Asbridge, Thomas, The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land (Part III - Chapter 18 ).
Crusade: The Third Crusade
Scenario Briefing: During the months following King Richard's victory at Arsuf, several plans were discussed that would address the "elephant" in the room. When do we attack Jerusalem and complete our vows? This was a question that Richard was not willing to immediately answer. Why? Unlike Acre and Arsuf, both being on the coast with easy access to critical supplies, marching on Jerusalem would be marching through rugged terrain, all of which Saladin controlled. In many cases, the watering wells had been poisoned in preparation for a Crusader attack on the Holy City. Marching under these conditions was a recipe for disaster. And this was not a risk Richard was prepared to take. At least not now.
Richard's plan was to isolate Jerusalem from its primary base, Egypt. Egypt was the Sultan's primary source for money, men and supplies. Its loss would be catastrophic for all of Islam and most especially to Saladin himself.
Fortunately for Saladin, there were many in the Crusader camp that did not agree with this plan to take Egypt and wanted to immediately retake Jerusalem. The most vocal of this Jerusalem first policy was the leader of the French Contingent, Henry Duke of Burgundy.
With no consensus on what would be the most expedient option to retake Jerusalem, The Crusaders only made half-hearted efforts to retake the Holy City. None came within sight of the city.
In the meantime, Richard set about repairing the walls of the coastal ports. These included Ascalon and Jaffa.
Richard knew that Saladin would not just wait out the lack of Crusader planning. Instead, the Sultan planned to take the offensive. He needed a victory that would rejuvenate the sagging spirits of the Ayyubid army and his own reputation. His first target was Jaffa. With Richard and most of the remaining Crusader army returned to Acre, Jaffa was left with only a small garrison to hold the city. Richard reasoned that if Saladin attacked, it could hold out long enough for a relief force to raise the siege.
This scenario depicts the main battle between Saladin's numerically superior Ayyubid army and the vanguard of Richard's relief force. Not long before this battle, Richard had indeed raised the siege. A siege that was only a few hours from total success. By the time Richard arrived, the garrison of Jaffa had abandoned the greater part of the city and retreated to the relative safety of its citadel. Less than a day before, the garrison's commander, Aubrey de Riems, made an agreement with Saladin that if Richard did not arrive within 24 hours, he and the garrison survivors would surrender the citadel, and Jaffa would be wholly in Ayyubid control. Thankfully for the Crusaders, Richard did arrive and in dramatic fashion. He and others leapt from his boat into waist high water, armed with a crossbow and sword, charged the Ayyubids defending the beach. Shocked by this act of crazy heroism, the Muslims broke from their formations and took refuge in the city. Unfortunately for them, the gate was still a pile of rubble from the earlier Ayyubid attack and Richard was able to pursue them out of the city as they ran past the gate on its southern side. In this effort, Richard and his Crusaders were joined by the garrison men from inside the citadel.
With this victory, Richard had again proved himself, Coeur de Lion. Or as was said in old Norman, "Quor de Lion."
Now, in this final battle of the Third Crusade, you can choose to become the Quor de Lion, or Saladin, the greatest and most remembered Muslim leader from the middle ages.
Recommended Rules: [Default]
Intended to be played as either side against the AI or play Head-to-Head.
Suggested Reading: Asbridge, Thomas, The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land (Part III - Chapter 18 ).
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