The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat

HIST 30049/23/13

Siege of Antioch

• Oct. 21, 1097 – June 2, 1098• Well fortified• Access to outside world• Crusaders left without food

Crusader Politics and Antioch

• Jealous of Baldwin• Raymond urges immediate attack• Bohemond urges long siege• Where is Alexius I?• What does Stephen of Bloishave to do with it?• Race to claim the city

Seljuq Politics and Antioch• Yaghi Siyan – Emir of Antioch• Shams al-Dawla – his son• Ridwan – Sultan of Aleppo• Duqaq – Sultan of Damascus• Dec. 1097 – Duqaq marches north• Dec. 31 – turn around after skirmish with crusaders• Feb. 10 – Ridwan’s forcesrouted

Seljuq Politics and Antioch

• Karbuqa – Atabeg of Mosul• April, 1098 – Karbuqa leaves Mosul for Antioch• May – Redirects towards Edessa• June 3 – Firuz gives crusaders access to Antioch• Shams al-Dawla takes citadel• June 5 – Karbuqa arrives…

The Holy Lance• Crusaders besieged in Antioch• No spoils or supplies• Peter Bartholomew and St. Andrew• Raymond supports vision• Adhemar has seen lance in Constantinople• June 15 – Lance uncovered• June 28 – Karbuqa’s army dissolves

Competing Views

Anselm of RibemontVs.

Ralph of Caen

Aftermath of Antioch

• Alexius’ failure to arrive forfeits Byzantine claims.• Bohemond becomes Prince of Antioch• Raymond fears crusaders will not fulfill vows• Adhemar of Le Puy killed by plague• Threat to dismantle Antioch if Bohemond and Raymond cannot come to an agreement

Moving on…

• Raymond declared leader of the crusade• Bohemond given Antioch, if he will march to Jerusalem• Jan. 13, 1099 – crusaders march south• Raymond takes on pilgrim’s garb, marches barefoot

Meanwhile…

• Aug. 26, 1098 – Jerusalem captured by Fatimids• Villages and towns between Antioch and Jerusalem

along frontier between Fatimids and Seljuqs• Local leaders interested in paying tribute over fighting• Alliances to avoid Fatimidterritory• Are the crusaders’motivations clear?

The Cannibals of Ma’arra

What?Why?How?

Siege of Jerusalem

• Can you take Jerusalem… in the summer… with a Fatimid army coming from Egypt… and no reliable supply lines?

• Can you tell the rank and file in June 1099 (2.5 years after Claremont) that Jerusalem has to wait?

• June 6: Bethlehem captured, lunar eclipse, first sight of Jerusalem…