A History of the Crusades-Vol 3 by Steven Runciman

and was shocked on his arrival at the gate of the city to see Reynald
of Sidon and Balian of Ibelin emerging. Saladin’s negotiations with Conrad had
not been broken off; and Balian’s presence was sinister, for he was a knight
whom the Sultan greatly esteemed. However, on 20 March al-Adil rode down to
Richard’s camp with a definite offer. The Christians should keep what they had
conquered and have the right of pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where the Latins could
maintain priests. The Holy Cross should be restored to them. They might annex
Beirut also, if it were dismantled. The embassy was well received by the King.
Indeed, as a mark of peculiar honour, one of al-Adil’s sons was girded with the
belt of knighthood, though doubtless the usual Christian elements in the
ceremony were omitted. When al-Adil rejoined his brother early in April it
seemed that a settlement had at last been reached.
    The need for the settlement was emphasized
a few days later, when the Prior of Hereford arrived from England, to tell
Richard that things were going ill in England. The King’s brother John was
usurping more and more authority, and the Chancellor, William, Bishop of Ely,
begged Richard to come home at once. Richard had spent Easter, 5 April, in the
camp, furious because the remaining Frenchmen had just left him, summoned north
by Hugh of Burgundy. Now, more than ever, the quarrels of the Crusaders must be
stilled. A Council of all the knights and barons of Palestine was called by the
King. He told them that he soon must leave the country, and that the question
of the crown of Jerusalem must be decided; and he offered them the choice of
King Guy and the Marquis Conrad. To his shocked surprise no one spoke up for
Guy. It was Conrad whom everybody wanted.
    Richard was wise and magnanimous enough to
abide by the decision. He agreed to recognize Conrad as King. A mission, headed
by his nephew Henry of Champagne, set out for Tyre to give the good news to the
Marquis.
    When Henry arrived at Tyre, on about 20
April, there was great rejoicing. It was decided that the coronation should
take place within a few days at Acre; and then it was understood that Conrad
would at last consent to join the camp at Ascalon. Henry left Tyre for Acre at
once, to prepare the city for the ceremony.
    On hearing the news Conrad had fallen on
his knees and asked God that if he were unworthy of the kingship it should not
be granted to him. A few days later, on Tuesday, 28 April 1192, he was kept
waiting for his dinner by his wife, the Princess Isabella, who was lingering
too late in her bath. He decided to go round and dine with his old friend, the
Bishop of Beauvais. He found that the Bishop had finished his meal, so, though
he was pressed to stay while food was prepared for him, he walked gaily
homeward. As he passed round a sharp corner two men came up, and while one of
them gave him a letter to read, the other stabbed him in the body. He was
carried dying to his palace.
    1192: Murder of Conrad
    One of the murderers was struck down on
the spot. The other was taken and confessed, before he was executed, that he
and his comrade were Assassins sent to do the task by the Old Man of the
Mountains, the Sheik, Sinan. The Assassins had preserved a quiet neutrality
throughout the Crusade, which had given them an opportunity to strengthen their
castles and amass greater wealth. Conrad had offended Sinan by an act of piracy
against a merchant ship, laden with a rich cargo that the sect had bought.
Despite Sinan’s remonstrances, he had not returned the goods or the crew, who,
indeed, had all been drowned. It is possible that Sinan also feared that the
establishment of a strong Crusader state on the Lebanese coast might eventually
endanger his territory. It was said that the two murderers had been for some
time in Tyre awaiting their chance, and that they had even accepted baptism,
with Conrad and Balian of Ibelin as their sponsors. But public opinion sought
deeper causes.