Outremer
Conrad of Montferrat
Of all these strongholds, Tyre proved to be the key to a Frankish resurgence. This is another one of those amazing Crusader tales. Tyre was an ancient and powerful city. It had once been an island city, but Alexander the Great had conquered it by building an isthmus from the mainland out to the island. That isthmus still remained, but now there was a great wall across it to protect the city from a land assault. Saladin had been at the gates in July 1187. Reynald of Sidon, recently fled from Hattin, was actually negotiating the surrender when a ship sailed into the harbor.
On board was Conrad of Montferrat, who had a number of connections with the Holy Land. He was younger brother to William Longsword, Queen Sybille's first husband. Conrad himself had delayed two years in Constantinople, but had gotten into trouble there and had sailed away in the company of some other Frankish knights. They were going to go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. They had no idea of what was happening.
When they arrived at Acre, the captain of the vessel, an experience sailor, refused to put in at the harbor because he did not hear the harbor-bell rung. That bell was always rung when a sail was sighted. Soon after, a Muslim ship came along side with a Muslim harbor-master. Conrad, pretending to be a merchant, asked for news and was told that Saladin had captured the city four days previously. Conrad thanked him, then made sail for Tyre.
As soon as he arrived, he took command. The surrender terms were rejected and the city prepared for a defense. A few days later, Saladin paraded old William of Montferrat before the city walls, threatening to kill him if Conrad did not surrender. Conrad held firm, and of course Saladin did not kill the old man. Ascalon still stood. Jerusalem still stood. Saladin raised the siege of Tyre and went south.
Tyre began to serve as an assembly point for those who still were determined to defend Outremer and recover Jerusalem. Conrad's vigorous defense of Tyre, along with his decisive bearing, soon made him the leader of the Franks. Even after Guy was released by Saladin, Conrad was much preferred by the Palestinian barons. Saladin made a second attempt on the city in October 1187, but by then Conrad had used his own money to strength the land walls, and Saladin failed in that attempt as well.