Acre became the capital of the remaining Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem after 1187.
Saladin’s victory at the Battle of Hattin in July 1187 opened the way for the Ayyubid reconquest of much of the kingdom. Jerusalem surrendered later that year, and Acre, along with Beirut and Sidon, capitulated to Saladin. The loss of Jerusalem forced the Crusader state to reorganize around its surviving coastal territories.
Acre remained under Muslim control until King Guy of Lusignan began a siege in August 1189. The city was finally captured in July 1191, after Richard the Lionheart, Philip II of France, and other forces of the Third Crusade arrived. Its excellent harbor made it the kingdom’s principal gateway for soldiers, pilgrims, merchants, and supplies.
By 1192, Acre served as the de facto capital of the reduced Kingdom of Jerusalem. It became a crowded political and commercial center, even though Jerusalem remained the kingdom’s religious heart and ultimate symbolic goal. Tyre was also an important Crusader stronghold, but Acre’s port, defenses, and international trade made it the practical seat of government until its fall in 1291.