Battle of Ḥattin
An eclipse
of the Sun took place on September 4th 1187 it was a long eclipse
lasting for 4 minutes and 5 seconds. At its widest the path of totality was 276
kilometres wide.
Stars were
said to have been seen from Jerusalem.
A partial eclipse of the Sun was
recorded in England. According to Gervase of Canterbury there was a sign in the
Sun at midday, it was like the Moon, and grew dim, but after a little time it
filled and shone out again.
Many things
astronomical are linked to historical events and this is no exception. It was
on July 4th 1187 that in northern Palestine near the village of Hattin
that the Christian crusader armies of Guy de Lusignan who was king of Jerusalem
from 1186-92 were defeated by the Muslim forces of Saladin.
Jerusalem
was recaptured by Saladin in October 1187 and many of the gains made by the
early crusades were lost.
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