Battle of Arsuf - Losses and Consequences

Losses and Consequences

As always with medieval battles, losses are difficult to assess with any precision. The Christian chroniclers claim the Muslims lost 32 emirs and 7,000 men, but it is possible that the true number may have been less. Richard's own dead are said to have numbered no more than 700, which included James of Avesnes.

Arsuf was an important victory. The Muslim army was not destroyed, but did rout, which was considered a shame by the Muslims and a boost of morale for the Crusaders. After the rout Saladin was able to regroup and attempted to resume skirmishing, startled back by the Crusaders' quick and agile response he was now even less willing to risk a full scale attack. The onset of the winter meant it could not be resumed. Arsuf had dented Saladin's reputation as an invincible warrior and proved Richard's courage as soldier and his skill as a commander. Richard was able to take, defend and hold Jaffa - a strategically crucial move toward securing Jerusalem. By depriving Saladin of Jaffa, Richard seriously threatened Saladin's hold on Jerusalem, since Jaffa was the nearest port to the Holy City.

There are descriptions of the battle in the Itinerarium Regis Ricardi, the Old French continuation of William of Tyre called Estoire d'Eracles and, from the Kurdish and Arab side, in Baha ad-Din ibn Shaddad's Rare and Excellent History of Saladin, Abu Shama and Ibn al-Athir.