A small party of 140 Crusaders, mostly from the Templars and Hospitallers launched a suicidal attack on a 7000-strong Saracen force and were annihilated.

The Springs of Cresson, Syria. (Syria)

On 29th April 1187 Count Raymond of Tripoli gave permission for a large reconaissance force sent by Saladin to enter his territory. It is believed that Raymond may have hoped that in return Saladin would help him overthrow his rival for the throne of Jerusalem, King Guy de Lusignan. Outraged by this move, and bearing a personal grudge against Raymond from his secular days, the Templar Grand Master Gerard de Ridefort led a predominantly Templar force, with Hospitaller and secular elements, against the Saracen force under Al-Adfal. The Marshal of the Temple, Jaques de Mailly, and the Hospitaller Grand Master, Roger de Moulins, advised against engaging the enemy but Gerard berated them, implying that they were cowards and betraying their oaths. The result was a suicidal charge from which only de Ridefort and two other Templars emerged alive.

Shocked by his part in the massacre, Raymond of Tripoli recognised that a united front was needed amongst the Crusaders and was reconciled with King Guy. However, the death of the voice of reason that was Roger de Moulins, and the survival of the reckless, hawkish Gerard de Ridefort, was to have disastrous consequences for the Hattin Campaign a couple of months later.