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Why did Edessa fall to Zenghi in 1144 (Increased Muslim Unity and Military…
Why did Edessa fall to Zenghi in 1144
Long Term Weaknesses of Edessa
Geographical isolation
Frontier city: mountains of Anatolia met Fertile Crescent
Lay across 2 trade routes (Antioch to Mediterranean coast + Mesopotamia to Central Anatolia) --> rich
Furthest away from jerusalem, closest to Muslim Territory
Close to Harran
On the border of Aleppo and Mosul
Lack of Manpower
Dependent on the support of Antioch
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Most citizens were different faiths than to christianity
During battle of Harran 1104, Edessa Contingent in attack was captured and destroyed, Antioch managed to escape
Latins retreated into castles --> Countryside, with armenian peasantry (backbone of field army) ravaged making county almost indefensble
Increased Muslim Unity and Military Strength
Due to the concept of Jihad
Mujahid
A good Mujahid is to have his main aim to force franks out of the holy land because they have massacred: Jerusalem, Marrat, Caesarea, Antioch (gave impression of cannibalism)
Need to have support of Sultan and caliph (puppet for the sultan) b/c only caliph can call Jihad
Must not ally with Franks
Must not attack fellow muslims
Zengi tried to take Damascus
spends 26 years attacking damascus instead of franks.
Does this through diplomacy, marriage alliances and sieges
Helped ruler of Damascus against people trying to overthrow him in 1135
1136: restored Marrat to those who had lost it during Massacre (could have taken it for himself)
Killed Muslim Captives at city of Baalbek in 1139 even though he said he wouldn't if they surrendered
Damascus allied with the franks = scared of Zengi/ do not find him a convincing Jihadi leader
They do not want him to be in charge of Damascus because he is compared to a tyrant (baalbek)
Not very good a shari'ah law
fucks women that aren't his wife
has parties with Alcohol
Dependent on Muslim Disunity
Success of first crusade in establishing states owed much to the Muslim Disunity
Zengi had Mosul and Aleppo so he had far more troops than Edessa
Strength of Zengi
Having Aleppo and Mosul by 1128 = biggest army ever amongst Muslims
Has Aleppo from birth father, Mosul from step dad and Sultan confirms him
Mamluks = Muslim slave soldiers
Kurdish and Turcoman troops joined Zengi voluntarily meaning that he was able to convice them.
Frankish Weaknesses
Death of Fulk and John Comnenus
Melisende was weak
But Melisende does do the best she can, as regent she ordered troops north to help edessa as soon as she heard the news of its capture but they are 600 miles away and don't arrive in time
Looks like a more opportunistic attack
Joscelin was away when he chose to attack and took all his army
Factionalism between Antioch and Edessa
Ruled by rival normans
Antioch had greater prestige
Should have united against Aleppo and Mosul but often did not
1108: Tancred (Antioch) fights with Baldwin of Bourg (Edessa) - they ally with Muslim neighbours against each other.
Antioch did not help when Edessa was captured
Raymond refused to come to Edessa's aid even though there was time to as the siege lasted a number of weeks
When Raymond became in charge of Antioch, Patriarch pissed off and Joscelin supported the Patriarch