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Despite Philip spent a considerable amount of money on the siege of Acre, the King of France resolved to return home forthwith.

As Richard oversaw the reconstruction the Acre's defences the Muslim dragged out fulfilling the terms of surrender.

Several weeks passed, Richard believed that Saladin was simply playing for time.

With every passing day the King could see the impetus from his victory ebbing away.

Around 19 August Richard called a council, and the following day hundreds of Muslim prisoners were marched out in front of Saladin's camp ...and beheaded in cold blood.

While the struggle at Acre had been extraordinarily hard there is not doubt that the massacre of so many prisoners in such a terrible fashion ratcheted up the religious intensity of the conflict considerably.

This need for vengeance demanded an outlet...

On 22 August the crusader army set out along the coast in immaculate formation, on road to Jerusalem.

King Richard was in the vanguard, King Guido were in the centre, with the french contingent at the rear.

The conditions on the march were terrible, the heat was oppressive and there were constant short assaults from the Muslims with bows and arrows on fast horses.

Yet the Crusaders trudged onwards and as the army moved past Haifa, Saladin realised that he needed to halt its progress sooner rather than later.

Just through the forest north of Arsuf lies a plain and there Saladin massed his forces.