Massacre at Ayyadieh
| Massacre at Ayyadieh | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Third Crusade | |
Massacre of the Saracen prisoners, ordered by King Richard the Lionheart (Alphonse de Neuville). | |
| Date | 20 August 1191 |
| Target | Prisoners of war from Saladin's army Prisoners of war from King Richard I's army |
Attack type | Massacre |
| Deaths | c. 2,700 Ayyubid prisoners Unknown number of Crusader prisoners of war |
| Injured | 2,000 |
| Perpetrator | King Richard I's army Saladin's army |
The Massacre of Ayyadieh occurred during the Third Crusade after the fall of Acre when King Richard I had more than two thousand Muslim prisoners of war from the captured city beheaded in front of the Ayyubid armies of sultan Saladin on 20 August 1191. Despite attacks by Muslim forces during the killings, the Christian Crusaders were able to retire in good order. Saladin subsequently ordered various Crusader prisoners of war to be executed in retaliation.