In July of 1187 the Christian city of Hattin had fallen to the forces of Saladin, with Jerusalem surrendering to the Sultan in early October. It was claimed that the shock of losing Jerusalem to the Muslims caused Pope Urban III to die of a broken heart on October 20 of the same year. Yet this is likely a myth as crusades scholar Dr. James Brundage notes that information concerning the Muslim capture of Jerusalem had not reached the West by this time. This was the backdrop against which Alberto Di Morra was elected as Pope Gregory VIII, only one day after Urban III's death.
Prior to Gregory's pontificate, he had an interesting a varied career in the service of the Church. He had been one of the two papal legates dispatched to England to investigate the death of Thomas a Becket and had personally crowned Alfonso II of Portugal on behalf of the Pope. During his brief reign as Pope his major efforts were dedicated to launching a new crusade to the Holy Land, which he did even before he heard of Jerusalem's downfall. For this he sought peace between western Christians, as well as reconciliation between western rulers and the Church. The Pope hoped that through their cooperation the Third Crusade might be launched. In doing so he traveled to Pisa where he died of fever while seeking peace between the city and its rival Genoa.
Third Crusade- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Primary Sources of the Third Crusade-Crusades-Encyclopedia
Crusader Popes- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Pope Urban III- Crusades-Encyclopedia
James Brundage- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Saladin- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Battle of Hattin- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Jerusalem- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Alfonso II- Crusades-Encyclopedia
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