CASAL MAEN / BAYT DAJAN

On the evening of the third day, since Knight Yosef and Captain Gallo Francis's squad set off from Jaffa, they reached Casal Maen. The weather along the way had not been good, on the second day it rained heavily making some of the designated route paths impossible.

Casal Maen was a small town along the Crusade route taken by King Richard the Lionheart in the late part of 1191 on his way to Jerusalem.

Originally it was known as Bayt Dajan by the Muslim inhabitants before being renamed Casal Maen by Richard the Lionheart during his campaign. This was a town with a population of 100,000 inhabitants. Relying on pilgrimages to Jerusalem for its trade and commerce.

In the pink to the yellow glow of the setting sun over the horizon, ruins of what was formerly a small Crusader castle could be seen at the entrance to the town. Only a mound composed of unusable broken stones remained.

This was a castle built by Richard the Lionheart one year ago to secure the passage to Jerusalem from Jaffa, unfortunately, it was destroyed by Sultan Saladin in 1192 after he was unsuccessful in his efforts to retake Jaffa, ending with him signing the ceasefire treaty of Jaffa in September 1192. In anger and frustration, he ransacked and destroyed the Castle at Casal Maen.

"Yosef, did you know that in ancient times of the Kingdom of Israel, this land belonged to the Philistines and it was named Beth Dagon. The birthplace of the god Dagon?" Commander Gallo asked.

"Wow, I was not aware of it, most of my studies of Israel were concentrated around Jerusalem," Yosef replied.

Commander Gallo nodded his head, "that's understandable and a big mistake made by most Crusaders. Not looking at the whole land as a whole but with a pinpoint focus on Jerusalem." Gallo said.

"It is the major reason as to why we have not been able to hold on to the Holy Land and the Kingdom of Jerusalem despite our earlier success. Take this example.

From 1099 when Jerusalem was taken over by the Knight Templars in a horrific battle costing over 3000 souls of Muslims, Jews, and Christians, then we turned the Temple Mount into our headquarters of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, nine decades later in 1187 we lost Jerusalem to Saladin. Even if we are allowed to go there on pilgrimage at a fee.

In my opinion, we should not focus a lot on conquering Jerusalem as a city but first, consolidate our control over the Holy Land from the Mediterranean Sea to Lake Galilee and finally retaking Jerusalem. That's the only way we shall keep securely." Gallo gave his wise opinion.

"You make sense Commander Gallo, but you forget that the majority of the warriors who volunteer or are drafted to fight in the Crusade besides the Knight Templars and Knight Hospitallers are on a pilgrimage. They don't care about the other areas such as this Casal Maen or Jaffa as long as they can go back and recount how they conquered Jerusalem from the Muslim troops." Yosef told Gallo.

"You make a good point, with such troops being of a temporal mindset, we lack the manpower to hold on to the Holy Land wholesomely. Hope to live to see the day such a change happens." Gallo affirmed Yosef's thoughts.

Knight Moses Potter heard what Yosef and Commander Gallo were discussing, he drew close on his horse.

"Commander, what if His Holiness the Pope passed an Edict requiring Christian soldiers to serve and be stationed in the Holy Land for at least five years on a crusade compared to just participating in a one- or two-year campaign?" Moses Potter asked.

"Moses Potter, that's a good question, but I hate to disappoint you. His Holiness the Pope can not pass such an edict because of two main factors.

Firstly, maintaining a large troop of soldiers requires a lot of gold and silver and we all know how the Vatican loves receiving more than giving. It's the reason why the Knights Templars had to find alternative sources of income to keep the Crusade going but also have coins for the daily upkeep of the brothers. Just because we have taken the vow of poverty does not mean we should starve or lack robes to put on the backs of our faithful brothers.

Secondly, most of the powerful Christian nations which can contribute sizeable troops to the Crusade such as England and France are directly or indirectly in a war and as such cannot contribute large troops to the Crusade campaign for long.

Why do you think King Richard the Lionheart did not stay for long in the Holy Land after his handsome gains, he feared King Philip of France and his brother Prince John overthrowing him in his absence." Gallo stated.

"Okay Commander, I now see that the Crusade is not just a Holy War but also a political game amongst the Christian monarchs." Moses Potter replied.

"That's the bitter truth, my lad. It's not a simple white and black affair but with lots of greys or reds in it." Commander Gallo concluded as they got off their horses and looked for lodging for the night.

They arrived in front of a lodging constructed partly of stones for the floor and lower part of the wall, the upper part of the wall and roof were pure of wood. A signpost was placed at the front door reading-

'72 Janna Promise'

Commander Gallo opened the short door and bent a bit to enter as he was taller than the door's height. As if the proprietor had targeted dwarves as the main clients for his lodging hence the short door.

Moses Potter saw the look of disdain on Yosef's face when faced with this short door and explained. "Knight Yosef, worry not about the short door. Mr. Adam the owner said he was forced to make the door short because of a shortage of wood in Casal Maen."

"Moses Potter, is this the only lodging we can find in this little town?' Yosef asked.

"Yes Sir, ever since Saladin was defeated in Jaffa and came to attack Casal Maen, no business belonging to Christians, Templar Knights or Knight Hospitallers was spared." He explained to Yosef the bitter reality.

"Previously, there were several lodgings in the castle which you saw lying in ruins on our way here." Moses Potter added.

"When were you and the squad last in this small town?" Yosef asked.

"That was two weeks after Saladin had destroyed the Castle and moved on, we were sent to see its' status and if anything from the destroyed castle was salvageable, unfortunately, it wasn't. It is just recent that Christian and some Jews merchants have returned to this town, but they are in the minority. It will take some time before Knight Templars can officially be seen having businesses in this area" He explained.