Keagan Brewer Livres

The Libellus de expugnatione Terrae Sanctae per Saladinum (or Little Book about the Conquest of the Holy Land by Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn) is the most substantial contemporary Latin account of the conquest of the Kingdom of Jerusalem in 1187. Seemingly written by a churchman who was in Jerusalem itself when the city was besieged and captured, the Libellus fuses historical narrative and biblical exegesis in an attempt to recount and interpret the loss of the Holy Land, an event that provoked an outpouring of grief throughout western Christendom and sparked the Third Crusade. This book provides an English translation of the Libellus accompanied by a new, comprehensive critical edition of the Latin text and a detailed study in the introduction.

The exploration of medieval society's varied responses to marvels and the supernatural reveals a spectrum of belief and skepticism. The book delves into the reasons behind the believers' faith and the skeptics' doubts, highlighting how the epistemological framework of the time fostered a culture inclined toward belief. By analyzing these contrasting perspectives, it sheds light on the complex interplay between wonder and skepticism during the Middle Ages.

The book features an English translation of a historical account detailing the conquest of the Holy Land by Saladin, complemented by a new critical edition of the original Latin text. Additionally, it includes a comprehensive introduction that offers an in-depth study of the context and significance of the work, enhancing the reader's understanding of this pivotal moment in history.