The last book in Runciman's survey of the Crusading Movement. The final chapter of this volume has the title the summing up. He ends with a judgement that the Crusades were "A tragic and destructive episode." Runciman has presented, in these three volumes, a balanced and clear picture of the European side of the period. The appendix dealing with the sources is a very good summary. there are very useful genealogical tables, and the maps are reasonably clear. I recommend this book for the ideal medieval library. ( )

My reaction to reading this book in 1994.

A fascinating history of the fall of Outremer and the later Crusades.

Highlights: Richard the Lion Hearted’s exploits (a Crusader with true military talents who helped the Christian presence in the Middle East by taking Cyprus), Saladin’s personality (I particularly liked the story where Saladin, after Richard the Lion Hearted’s horse was killed in a battle against Saladin, sent him three of his own horses in the midst of battle), the desperate stand of the Crusaders at Acre in 1292 (and the interesting siege of Acre in 1190 where both sides fraternized extensively) with both heroics by the Military Orders and profiteering by Templars selling passage out (things also came full circle at Acre’s fall – that time the Moslems were brutal in their conquest), the politics of the Fourth Crusade (attempts by Genoa and Venice to control trade via Outremer or the Mongols respectively) and how it was from the start designed to subjugate Byzantium, the bizarre visions (a parting Mediterranean) and young charismatics that launched the Children’s Crusades and their horrible fate (sold into slavery by the people supposedly transferring them to Outremer and not heard from fro 18 years), the interesting – and failed – attempts to enlist the Mongols to the Christian side (the Mongols had a simple foreign policy – pay homage or be conquerored – and they were not to the concept of equal allies), the failure of Emperor Frederick’s bloodless capture of Jerusalem (via diplomacy) to win him applause, friends, or a reversal of his excommunication.

1308. A History of the Crusades Volume III The Kingdom of Acre and the Later Crusades, by Steven Runciman (read 16 Dec 1974) This completes Runciman's history of the Crusades. I was tremendously stirred even though the story is a dismal one. The Crusaders did so much wrong, but still the faith and gallantry sometimes evidenced cannot but inspire and enthrall. The reading of these volumes was a great experience which I am glad I had. ( )