High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Battle of Arsuf was a battle of the Third Crusade in which Richard I of England defeated Saladin at Arsuf. Following a series of harassing attacks by Saladin`s forces, battle was joined on the morning of 7 September 1191. Richard`s forces resisted attempts to disrupt its cohesion until the Hospitallers broke ranks; he regrouped his forces and led them to victory.