Editing Baldwin IV of Jerusalem (section)

===Initial conflicts with Saladin===
[[File:Baldwin_IV_in_battle.jpg|thumb|alt=A crowned man battling another man, both on horseback|13th-century depiction of Baldwin toppling an enemy at the [[Battle of Montgisard]]]]

Philip left the Kingdom of Jerusalem with his troops in late October 1177 to help Raymond of Tripoli attack the Muslim-held city of [[Hama]].{{sfn|Runciman|1952|p=415}} With the Frankish army in northern Syria, Saladin seized the opportunity to invade Baldwin's kingdom on 18 November.{{sfn|Runciman|1952|p=416}} Though still recovering from malaria, Baldwin rode to meet the sultan,{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=133}} while the [[Knights Templar]] hurried to defend [[Gaza City|Gaza]].{{sfn|Runciman|1952|p=416}} The king took his humble host to Ascalon, where in desperation he issued an ''[[arrière-ban]]'', summoning all able-bodied men. Saladin reached Ascalon on 22 November and Baldwin led the troops out to meet him. Seeing how drastically outnumbered he was, the king retreated into the city. Saladin too saw the strength in his numbers and confidently proceeded towards Jerusalem.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=134}} Baldwin managed to contact the Templars, however, and ordered them to abandon Gaza and join him.{{sfn|Runciman|1952|p=417}} Contrary to the sultan's expectation, Baldwin and Raynald then rode out of Ascalon, joined up with the Templars, and attacked his dispersed army at [[Battle of Montgisard|Montgisard]].{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|pp=135–136}} The young king was in the forefront.{{sfn|Runciman|1952|p=417}} Saladin, who barely survived, suffered a crushing defeat.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|pp=135–136}}

[[File:Ateret-S-164.jpg|thumb|left|Ruined fortress of Le Chastellet]]

Not having enough men to launch an offensive on the retreating Muslims, Baldwin decided to fortify the Damascene frontier. The Templars convinced him to build a castle, [[Chastellet]], on the upper [[Jordan River]]; he was reluctant because the Franks had promised not to mark that part of the border. After protests of local Muslims, Saladin offered money to Baldwin in exchange for aborting the construction, but the king refused.{{sfn|Runciman|1952|p=418}} In 1178, Baldwin hosted the patriarch of the [[Syriac Orthodox Church]], [[Michael the Syrian]], in Jerusalem and won his lasting loyalty to the Frankish cause.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|pp=238–239}}{{sfn|Runciman|1952|p=422}}

In April 1179, Baldwin intended to round up the sheep passing from Damascus to [[Banias]]. Saladin's nephew [[Farrukh Shah]] was sent to investigate the king's movement but suddenly ran into him, and a skirmish followed.{{sfn|Runciman|1952|p=419}} The elderly but exceptionally able constable, [[Humphrey II of Toron]], sustained fatal wounds while protecting the king. Weeks later Baldwin rode out to intercept [[Bedouin]] raids of [[Lordship of Beirut|Beirut]] and [[Lordship of Sidon|Sidon]], and in June Saladin's raiding party [[rout]]ed Baldwin's. The king was unhorsed and carried to safety on a knight's back because he could not remount on his own.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=143}} In late August, Baldwin summoned a host to [[Tiberias]] to respond to Saladin's [[siege of Le Chastellet]], but the castle fell before the relic of the [[True Cross]] could be fetched from Jerusalem to accompany the Christian troops.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=146}}