Dark5 | 5 Most Brutal Last Stands in Military History @dark5tv | Uploaded 3 years ago | Updated 1 day ago
The Fall of Acre was a month-long siege in 1291 that pitted a small number of knights from Christian military orders against the numerically superior Mamluk forces. The battle marked the end of the Crusading period and the decadence of the famous monk-warriors. But the defenders’ bravery would inspire generations of Christian knights.
The Mamluks, under the command of Sultan Al-Mansur Qalawun, captured Laodicea in 1278, Tripoli in 1289, and isolated the port-city of Acre from other inland fortresses in 1290 to commence the siege. By then, Muslim leaders had turned to the West to finally expel the Franks from their tiny forts along the coasts of Palestine.
After Qalawun passed away, his son Al-Ashraf Khalil took command and refused any peace treaties with the Christians.
Khalil's army numbered about 35,000 men, and they had over 100 catapults to destroy Acre's walls. In contrast, the population of Acre was approximately 40,000 people, of which barely 12,000 were fighting men led by 1,000 knights.
The biggest garrisons were the knights of the military orders, including the Templars, Hospitallers, Teutonic Knights, and the Order of Saint Lazarus.
Still, they were insufficient to defend the outer and inner walls of the city despite the 12 towers that were built to add another layer of defense.
The siege began on April 6, 1291, when the Muslims fully encircled the city. It is said that the horizon was entirely covered by the Mamluk forces.
From morning to midnight, the fire of the 100 Mamluk catapults only ceased for prayers.
The Crusaders attempted to evacuate as many civilians as possible, but their efforts were futile and thousands perished while they waited for a ship at the port.
The Templars launched desperate cavalry charges at moonlight to destroy the catapults in the Muslim camp, but the Mamluks kept bringing reinforcements.
By May 18, most towers had fallen, and the outer wall had succumbed. The Mamluks poured in and attacked any Christian they encountered, including women and children.
The survivors retreated to the Templar seaside fortress. They held out for ten more days until only one tower was left standing. The few Templars defending it lost their lives when the tower collapsed as they faced the enemy.
Most of the remaining population did not survive after they refused to deny Christ and join Islam, and the heroism of the Crusaders became an inspiration for generations to come.
The Fall of Acre was a month-long siege in 1291 that pitted a small number of knights from Christian military orders against the numerically superior Mamluk forces. The battle marked the end of the Crusading period and the decadence of the famous monk-warriors. But the defenders’ bravery would inspire generations of Christian knights.
The Mamluks, under the command of Sultan Al-Mansur Qalawun, captured Laodicea in 1278, Tripoli in 1289, and isolated the port-city of Acre from other inland fortresses in 1290 to commence the siege. By then, Muslim leaders had turned to the West to finally expel the Franks from their tiny forts along the coasts of Palestine.
After Qalawun passed away, his son Al-Ashraf Khalil took command and refused any peace treaties with the Christians.
Khalil's army numbered about 35,000 men, and they had over 100 catapults to destroy Acre's walls. In contrast, the population of Acre was approximately 40,000 people, of which barely 12,000 were fighting men led by 1,000 knights.
The biggest garrisons were the knights of the military orders, including the Templars, Hospitallers, Teutonic Knights, and the Order of Saint Lazarus.
Still, they were insufficient to defend the outer and inner walls of the city despite the 12 towers that were built to add another layer of defense.
The siege began on April 6, 1291, when the Muslims fully encircled the city. It is said that the horizon was entirely covered by the Mamluk forces.
From morning to midnight, the fire of the 100 Mamluk catapults only ceased for prayers.
The Crusaders attempted to evacuate as many civilians as possible, but their efforts were futile and thousands perished while they waited for a ship at the port.
The Templars launched desperate cavalry charges at moonlight to destroy the catapults in the Muslim camp, but the Mamluks kept bringing reinforcements.
By May 18, most towers had fallen, and the outer wall had succumbed. The Mamluks poured in and attacked any Christian they encountered, including women and children.
The survivors retreated to the Templar seaside fortress. They held out for ten more days until only one tower was left standing. The few Templars defending it lost their lives when the tower collapsed as they faced the enemy.
Most of the remaining population did not survive after they refused to deny Christ and join Islam, and the heroism of the Crusaders became an inspiration for generations to come.
