The knights decided to build a new castle on the Jordan River.
King Baldwin said, ‘Don’t build at Jacob’s Ford! Franks and
Muslims live on both sides of the river and everyone can cross
the Jordan freely there. We’ll have trouble if we change things.’
But the knights didn’t listen and built the castle there, and
in 1179 there was a fight about the land. During the battle, a
small group of Saladin’s soldiers nearly caught King Baldwin.
Old Humphrey of Toron helped his king escape, but the knight
was badly wounded and died. Saladin, now forty-one, was sad.
‘Humphrey was my good friend in Alexandria after that terrible
siege finished. He was a chivalrous man and a brave knight. I
wish that more Franks could be like him!’
After the battle of Jacob’s Ford, Saladin sent his army in small
groups to attack Palestine. ‘It’ll be easy to catch Saladin’s men
when they come back,’ Baldwin said. ‘They’ll be tired and we
can fight small groups of soldiers and win!’ Near the Litani
River, they met some of Saladin’s men on their way home.
Baldwin’s knights quickly won the battle, but before they knew
it, Saladin and the rest of his army arrived. Saladin’s soldiers
killed hundreds of Franks, and caught many of their important
knights.