Sultan Saladin executes Reynald de Châtillon

Sultan Saladin of Egypt and Syria inflicted a crushing defeat on the crusaders in the Battle of Hattin on 4th July 1187. Most commanders of the Christian army including the King of Jerusalem, Guy de Lusignan and the Lord of Oultrejordain, Reynald de Châtillon were captured in the battlefield.

Guy de Lusignan and Reynald were among the prisoners who were brought before Saladin. Saladin handed a cup of iced rose water to Guy. After drinking from the cup, the king handed it to Reynald. The 12th-century chronicler, Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani (who was present) recorded that Reynald drank from the cup. Since customary law prescribed that a man who gave food or drink to a prisoner could not murder him, Saladin stated that it was Guy who had given the cup to Reynald. According to Imad ad-Din and Ibn al-Athir, Sultan Saladin called Reynald to his tent. He accused him of many crimes (including brigandage and blasphemy), offering him to choose between conversion to Islam or death. After Reynald flatly refused to convert, Saladin took a sword and struck Reynald with it. As Reynald fell to the ground, Saladin beheaded him. Guy de Lusignan assumed that he would also be beheaded, but Saladin assured him that “kings do not kill kings.”

Clip taken from the 2005 film 'Kingdom of Heaven', directed by Ridley Scott.