On 7th September, 1191, at Arsuf, the armies of Richard and Saladin clashed in battle. Richard's outnumbered army rose at first light in attempt to seize Arsuf. The Crusaders formed their army, estimated at around 1, 200 horse and 10,000 foot in three columns. Saladin commanded about 20,000 men, which included 10,000 cavalry. Richard at first progressed towards Arsuf unhindered, at about 11 a.m., Saladin's cavalry began to launch attacks on the Crusading army's left flank. Richard endevoured to keep the army moving forward and maintain formation, but as the afternoon progressed, the terrible heat and growing casualties led the Knights Hospitallers and several squadrons of French knights to charge the Moslems, who drove back the Moslem right wing. RIchard reacted quickly to this breach of orders and ordered the Knights Templar, the Bretons and Angevins to advance in a further charge that repelled Saladin's left wing. Richard's military brilliance had prevailed, forcing the Moslems, who sustained heavy losses, estimated at around 7,000, which included 32 emirs, into retreat, the Crusaders suffered only slight casualties. Saladin, his prestige having suffered a terrible blow, was never again to risk open battle with Richard. The Crusader army proceeded to Jaffa, and began to strengthen it as a garrison for Jerusalem. He went on to re-establish Christian control of the coast and refortified Ascalon to the south. The army arrived at the foothills of the Holy City on 3rd January, 1192. They were, however, exhausted , short of supplies and sickness was rife in their ranks, they were consequently obliged to return to the safety of the coast. A truce was negotiated with the Moslems. A superlative general but a poor politician, Richard proposed that Saladin should give the Holy Land to his nephew Saphadin, whom he suggested should marry his sister Joanna, forming a peaceful alliance between Christian and Moslem. The bemused Saladin, unable to believe his luck, accepted. Joanna, however, possessed the famed Plantagenet temper in full measure and refused outright to contemplate marriage with a Moslem, resulting in a heated family dispute.