Customer Reviews

Hattin 1187: Saladin's greatest victory (Campaign)

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All in all, an excellent account of the battle of Hattin and the events leading up to it. The author seems to spend more time on the size, composition, weapons, and organization of the opposing forces than on the actual battle itself. Nevertheless, this is useful information in understanding the events of that fateful 4th of July in 1187. After eventually discussing the battle, the author spends time describing the follow on events that lead to the fall of Jerusalem. In essence, this book covers much more than the battle itself. The results of this battle still echo through history. Also, Saladin is an historic figure who continues to influence the perceptions of modern day Muslims. This book is a good way to obtain a quick understanding of that battle. The chapters are organized in the traditional Osprey style. Also, the maps and illustrations are excellent. Like all Osprey books, it is a short read, coming in at less than a hundred pages. Bottom line: this is a good little book that provides an outstanding description of one of Islam's greatest military commanders and the famous battle that paved the way for the Muslim re-conquest of Jerusalem.

Hattin 1187: Saladin's Greatest Victory (Campaign, No. 19)by David Nicolle is a splendid history not only of the battle, but of the events leading to the destruction of the Crusader Army and eventually to the fall of Jersuleum. It is written using the standard Ospery model, with the difference being a greater emphasis on the events leading to the battle and the aftermath. While like most Ospery books it only covers the basics, Nicolle gives broader insights then are usual. The book is very readable and the maps are first rate. If you are interested in the crusades or the history of the middle east, this book is for you.

Hattin 1187 is a very good account of the famous battle that defeated the Crusader Army and led to the recapture of Jerusalem by Saladin and the Muslim forces. The book covers the basics of the battle from the leaders, the opposing armies, the battle itself and the aftermath. Everything is contained in a very compact 100 pages.

It's a good read.

Probably not even a third of this volume actually discusses the climatic Battle of Hattin (4 July 1187 AD) - most of the text is devoted to describing the organization of both armies, and the book is concluded with one of the better accounts I have encountered of Salah al-Din's siege and capture of Jerusalem - as is portrayed, fairly accurately in the movie `Kingdom of Heaven'. Nonetheless this is a valuable book for anyone with a particular interest in the Crusader era, and it is supplemented by numerous photographs, several Angus McBride paintings of the contemporary Islamic soldiers, and three bird's eye view maps of the battlefield and troop movements.