Instead, he turned his attention to the south and led three invasions of Egypt.Recent historians have argued that given the situation and resources available, Amalric made an appropriate decision. A spring (Hittin) flows there all year long, and was the place where the thirsty Crusaders tried to get to during the battle.
No one was spared. By the end of June, Guy had amassed approximately 1,200 knights and 18,000 to 20,000 other troops of widely varying quality.

Over the preceding century, the furor of a Frankish charge had turned the tide of many a desperate battle.

Ruins of an ancient Mameluke khan (caravanserai)  are located nearby, once servicing this ancient road.The following photo shows a view of the valley of Hittin from the east. The Muslims positioned themselves between the Frankish army and the water so that the Franks were forced to pitch camp overnight on the arid plateau near the village of Meskenah.

The enemy hugely outnumbers the Arab army, but they are demoralized, as they are tired and starving. The olive trees are planted along the eastern rim of the extinct volcano, where traces of ancient walls are found.Another view of the site is from the south side. After the battle, Guy and Reynald were taken prisoner to Saladin. Most of the Christian infantry had effectively deserted by fleeing in a mass onto the Horns of Hattin where they played no further part in the battle.

The city, commanded by Balian of Ibelin since his successful breakout from Hattin, surrendered on October 2.The Kingdom of Jerusalem had largely ceased to exist, and tales of the defeat struck the Western world like a thunderbolt, galvanizing it for yet another great crusade. After three charges against the Muslim lines failed, the survivors were forced to surrender. With that truce due to end in April 1187, Guy sent two of his most trusted advisers, Templar Grand Master Gerard and Hospitaller Grand Master Roger des Moulins, to Tripoli to try to bring Raymond back into the Christian fold.

Under a storm of arrows and incessant attacks his army managed to inch its way toward the ragged rim of an extinct volcano known as the Horns of Hattin. Below the hill was the Roman and Arabic village of Hittin, now in ruins. Heavy losses since the end of the Second Crusade in 1149 had greatly reduced their options.These strategic challenges were magnified by other setbacks in the 20 years leading up to the Battle of Hattin. in response, Saladin declared war against Guy and Reynald. At midday Raymond of Tripoli decided that the army would not reach Tiberias by nightfall, and he and Guy agreed to change the course of the march and veer to the left in the direction of the Springs of Kafr Hattin, only 6 miles (9.7 km away). It is also known as the Battle of the Horns of Hattin, due to the shape of the nearby extinct volcano of Kurûn Hattîn. The Horns of Hattin are a steep double-hill outside of Tiberias which were the location of a decisive Crusader battle in 1187 when Saladin’s forces defeated the Crusader army.

I again shouted, "We have beaten them!"

The Muslim armies under Saladin captured or killed the vast majority of the Crusader forces, removing their capability to wage war. From there they could march down to Tiberias the following day. If the knights remained behind their walls until the Muslim army faded away at the end of the campaign season, they would likely see their fields wrecked, further reducing their resources for the following year. Guy, knowing that Saladin’s army was already forming for a renewed assault on the kingdom, could not afford to let this internecine quarrel continue and welcomed Raymond with open arms.
James Lacey.

The road along the valley is where the Crusaders were heading towards Tiberias, in an effort to remove the siege. I looked towards him and he was overcome by grief and his complexion pale. It was either a tomb or a cistern. He offered Guy some water, which the beaten king drank greedily.

All 200Saladin ordered that they should be beheaded, choosing to have them dead rather than in prison. On the left side of the hill is the southern “horn”. King Guy and Reynald gathered their forces to meet Saladin in battle. The Muslim horse archers kept up a continual harassing fire while looking for any weaknesses that would allow their heavy cavalry to split the Crusader column.