Editing Raynald of Châtillon (section)

=== Fights against Saladin  ===

[[File:Karak Castle 2.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.3|alt=A castle built of stones on a cliff near a settlements|[[Kerak Castle]], a major fortress in the [[Lordship of Oultrejordain]] (present-day [[al-Karak]] in [[Jordan]])]]

Raynald was the only Christian leader who fought against Saladin in the 1180s.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=276}}{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=102}} The contemporary chronicler Ernoul mentions two raids that Raynald made against [[Caravan (travellers)|caravans]] travelling between Egypt and Syria, breaking the truce.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=103 (note 39)}} Modern historians debate whether Raynald's military actions sprang from a desire for booty,{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=431}} or were deliberate maneuvers to prevent Saladin from annexing new territories.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=102}} After as-Salih died on 18{{nbsp}}November 1181, Saladin tried to seize Aleppo, but Raynald stormed into Saladin's territory, reaching as far as [[Tabuk, Saudi Arabia|Tabuk]] on the route between [[Damascus]] and [[Mecca]].{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|pp=170–171}} Saladin's nephew, [[Farrukh Shah]], invaded Oultrejordain instead of attacking Aleppo to compel Raynald to return from the [[Arabian Desert]].{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=171}} Before long, Raynald seized a caravan and imprisoned its members.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=171}} On Saladin's protest, Baldwin{{nbsp}}IV ordered Raynald to free them, but Raynald refused.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|pp=171–172}} His defiance annoyed the king, enabling [[Raymond III of Tripoli]]'s partisans to reconcile him with the monarch.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=103 (note 42)}} A close relative of Baldwin, Raymond had assumed the regency in 1174 but was banned from the kingdom for allegedly plotting against the ailing king.{{sfn|Lock|2006|pp=61, 66}} Raymond's return to the royal court put an end to Raynald's paramount position. After accepting the new situation, Raynald cooperated with the king and Raymond during the fights against Saladin in the summer of 1182.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=103}}

Saladin revived the [[Fatimid navy|Egyptian naval force]] and tried to capture [[Beirut]], but his ships were forced to retreat.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=278}} Raynald ordered the building of at least five ships in Oultrejordain. They were carried across the [[Negev]] desert to the [[Gulf of Aqaba]] at the northern end of the [[Red Sea]] in January or February 1183.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=284}}{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=180}}{{sfn|Mallett|2008|p=142}} He captured the fort of Ayla (present-day [[Eilat]] in Israel), and attacked the Egyptian fortress on [[Pharaoh's Island]]. Part of his fleet made a plundering raid along the coasts against ships delivering [[Hajj|Muslim pilgrims]] and goods, threatening the security of the holy cities of Mecca and [[Medina]].{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=284}}{{sfn|Mallett|2008|pp=142–143}} Raynald left the island, but his fleet continued the siege.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=437}} Saladin's brother, [[Al-Adil I|al-Adil]], the governor of Egypt, dispatched a fleet to the Red Sea. The Egyptians relieved Pharaoh's Island and destroyed the Christian fleet. Some of the soldiers were captured near Medina because they landed either to escape or to attack the city. Raynald's men were executed, and Saladin took an oath that he would never forgive him.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=437}}{{sfn|Mallett|2008|p=143}} Though Raynald's naval expedition "showed a remarkable degree of initiative" according to Hamilton, most modern historians agree that it contributed to the unification of Syria and Egypt under Saladin's rule.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=181}} Saladin captured Aleppo in June 1183, completing the encirclement of the crusader states.{{sfn|Baldwin|1969|p=599}}

Baldwin IV, who had become seriously ill, made Guy of Lusignan regent in October 1183.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=281}} Within a month, Baldwin had dismissed Guy, and had Guy's five-year-old stepson, [[Baldwin V of Jerusalem|Baldwin V]], crowned king in association with himself.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=282}} Raynald was not present at the child's coronation, because he was at the wedding of his stepson, Humphrey, and Baldwin{{nbsp}}IV's sister, Isabella, in Kerak.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=440}} Saladin unexpectedly invaded Oultrejordain, forcing the local inhabitants to seek refuge in Kerak.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=440}} After Saladin broke into the town, Raynald only managed to escape to the fortress because one of his retainers had hindered the attackers from seizing the bridge between the town and the castle.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|pp=440–441}} Saladin [[Siege of Kerak|laid siege to Kerak]].{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=441}} According to Ernoul, Raynald's wife sent dishes from the wedding to Saladin, persuading him to stop bombarding the tower where her son and his wife stayed.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=441}} After envoys from Kerak informed Baldwin{{nbsp}}IV of the siege, the royal army left Jerusalem for Kerak under the command of the king and Raymond{{nbsp}}III of Tripoli.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=441}} Saladin abandoned the siege before their arrival on 4{{nbsp}}December.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=441}} On Saladin's order, [[Izz al-Din Usama|Izz ad-Din Usama]] had a fortress built at [[Ajloun]], near the northern border of Raynald's domains.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=225}}