Page "Saladin" Paragraph 70

However, Crusader attacks provoked further responses by Saladin.

Raynald of Châtillon, in particular, harassed Muslim trading and pilgrimage routes with a fleet on the Red Sea, a water route that Saladin needed to keep open.

In response, Saladin built a fleet of 30 galleys to attack Beirut in 1182.

Raynald threatened to attack the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

In retaliation, Saladin twice besieged Kerak, Raynald's fortress in Oultrejordain, in 1183 and 1184.

Raynald responded by looting a caravan of pilgrims on the Hajj in 1185.

According to the later thirteenth century Old French Continuation of William of Tyre, Raynald captured Saladin's sister in a raid on a caravan, although this claim is not attested in contemporary sources, Muslim or Frankish, instead stating that Raynald had attacked a preceding caravan, and Saladin set guards to ensure the safety of his sister and her son, who came to no harm.