A kind of “court party” has formed…

A kind of “court party” has formed at Jerusalem around the queen mother, Agnes of Courtenay, her daughter Sibylla, and Agnes' brother, Joscelin III, titular ruler of Edessa, and now includes the Lusignans.

Another group composed mostly of the so-called native barons—old families, notably the Ibelins, Renaud of Sidon, and Raymond III of Tripoli, who through his wife is also lord of Tiberias—often opposes it.

In addition to these internal problems, the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem is more isolated than ever.

Urgent appeals to the West and the efforts of Pope Alexander III have brought little response.

Relations with the locals are hindered further by the actions of the belligerent Guy de Lusignan, who in 1184 attacks a tribe of Bedouin shepherds who had paid a tribute to the Latins for allowing them the privilege of grazing their sheep.

Guy and his men massacre as many of the tribe as they can and drive away the rest along with their flock.