The Third Crusade was launched in response to Saladin's capture of Jerusalem in 1187. Major European powers like the Holy Roman Empire, England, and France sent armies to retake the Holy Land. Frederick Barbarossa led the German forces but drowned in 1190. Richard the Lionheart and Philip II of France then took over, capturing key ports like Acre and defeating Saladin's forces at Arsuf and Jaffa. After being unable to retake Jerusalem, Richard negotiated a three-year truce with Saladin before returning to Europe in 1192.