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The First Crusade (The Course of the first crusade (Seige of Jerusalem,…
The First Crusade
The Course of the first crusade
Seige of Nicaea 1097
Motives
Alexios wanted Nicaea back but wouldn't lead the campaign himself
appointed military leader + sent commander w/ 2000 troops once he saw victory was possible
Gain control of Sultanate of Rum + destroy power of Kilij Arslan by taking his main city
Now able to use Nicaea as supply base
Outcomes
Crusaders gained deeper distrust of Byzantines
Byzantines regained Nicaea and undermined Kilij Arslan's power
Chronology
After defeating the People's crusade easily Kilij Arslan went to fight Danishmends in the East
Danishmends claiming territory in the area after Malik Shah's death
Crusaders were able to land unmolested in Asia Minor and Prepare to attack Nicaea
Early June = walls encircled
One side protected by a lake and couldn't be surrounded
Two parts: starving garrison into submission and attack using siege engines
Were able to defeat Kilij Arslan (good military leadership from Godfrey + Bohemond) = no longer a threat + could now focus on getting into the walls
Supplies still getting in through lake
Alexios supplied boats arrived at lake shore to launch 2 prong attack
Turks sued for peace 18th June 1097
Byzantines took the surrender = crusaders couldn't plunder the city
Alexios distribute gifts to pacify crusaders
Battle of Dorylaeum 1097
Chronology
Group split into two
Vanguard lead by Bohemond + Robert of Normandy
Godfrey, Robert of Flanders + hugh lead rear few days behind to forage for food + supplies
Bohemond's camp attacked by mounted Turkish archers = element of surprise
Were able to hold men together + wait for reinforcements
sent riders to get reinforcements
made makeshift camp to offer some protection
tight formation + told not to break (morale boosting religious phrase kept them together)
Relief army arrived just after midday
More troops, led by Adhemar, Godfrey, Hugh + Raymond = too much for Kilij Arslan
Cavalry charge too much
Outcomes
Crusaders able to do a bit of pillaging
Kilij Arslan's power further undermined
Gave crusaders experience = learnt not to charge prematurely
Crossing Anatolia
Chronology
Suffered lack of water and food as well as intense heat
Armenian Christians willing to offer advice
Baldwin asked for help from Thoros (Edessa) against Kerboha of Mosul --> was adopted and made heir
within a few days Baldwin ousted Thoros and started to expand his territory (was originally held for Alexios but not anymore)
Outcomes
Tancred's seiges in Armenia
left the main army w/ Bohemond of Taranto
Number of Turkish-held but Armenian populated lands taken
Alexandretta = port that would be useful in the Siege of Antioch
The Siege of Antioch
Chronology
arrived in October but Had to forage for food first
Bohemond + Robert's foraging party ran into Duqaq of Damascus = fought them off but didn't find any food
By January were starving + desperate
Byzantine Commander, Taticius left to find food but never came back + Alexios didn't come to help crusaders either = strain on relationship
Ridwan of Alepppo lead relief force of 12000 to Antioch in February
Bohemond, Robert, + Stephen faced Ridwan's forces + were successful
Aleppo and Damascus both neutralised but still couldn't get in
Supplies in March boosted morale
Firuz = guard that made agreement w/ Bohemond and let him in
Able to attack at night = Antioch was now Bohemond's
Once in Antioch Yagi Siyan still had Citadel + asked Kerbogha for help
Peter Bartholomew found holy lance = boost in Morale
Stephen of Blois deserted
told Alexios not to come
Wife ashamed of him
Crusaders held out for help from Byzantines to fight Kerbogha but this didn't come so defeated him themselves
Motives
Needed to take Antioch to secure path to Jerusalem
outcomes
Almost destroyed crusaders = formed more unity between them
Epidemic broke out in Antioch + Adhemar died
Creates tension between crusader leaders e.g. Bohemond + Raymond squabble about whether Bohemond should keep oath to Alexios
Seige of Jerusalem
1300 knights + 12,500 infantrymen arrived
At first not able to do much because of strong walls protecting Jerusalem
Arrival of Genoese fleet = siege engines made
Visions of Adhemar boosted religious morale
News of Egyptian relief force made Crusaders need to attack soon
8 July: = Procession in Mount of Olives w/ Holy Relics after fast
Godfrey constructed siege engine in north western corner in full view of defenders, then at night move it a few hundred metres East at a weak spot so could start attackining in the morning
15 July: Godfrey's men breached the wall + made bridge
More crusaders able to swarm the city
Jerusalem had been successfully taken
Outcomes
March to Jerusalem
Adhemar died
Tensions between leaders especially Raymond and Bohemond over who should have Antioch
Leaving for Jerusalem delayed for 3 months
Raymond became leader after Bohemond decided to stay in Antioch
associated himself w/ Holy lance = seen in good light
Difficult Journey
in winter
Food was an issue
some turned to cannibalism
crusaders were very tired
The Motives of the First Crusaders
Religious motives
social
sanctified violence
Feudal obligations
Economic motives
The Impact of the first crusade by 1099
The Latin West
Return of crusaders
Crusaders came back w/ relics
Most crusaders went home after visiting holy sites + were welcomed as heroes
Catholic church
said victory was God smiling on Catholic church
didn't end Investiture Controversy but raised prestige of Church
Crusade of 1101
reluctant non-participants of first crusade signed up
surge of enthusiasm
returning cowards (Stephen of Blois) signed up as well
The Muslim Near East
Syria
Baghdad didn't want to help them b/c didn't care about Jerusalem
Ridwan + Duqaq had just been defeated by Crusader's = couldn't retaliate
Kerbogha returned to Mosul + wouldn't bother crusaders
Preacher in Damascus called for response but was not listened to
Fatimids
Peed off that they had lost Jerusalem
made immediate response by gathering troops in Ascalon
Godfrey launched preemptive attack on Ascalon garrison in defense
Defeated them by surprise + sent them back to Egypt
Why they wouldn't be bothered
saw crusaders as Byzantine force + not different religious army
The Byzantine Empire
Relations w/ crusaders
Was suspicious of them from the start
too many volunteers
Bohemond had fought for land against the empire
took oaths of allegiance from crusader leaders
Provided for them during the crusade
This stopped at Antioch (Stephen of Blois told him to turn back)
This would create dispute over ownership of Antioch w/ Bohemond
Land
went after crusaders in Anatolia taking previously owned lands
meant more stability during his reign b/c of income
Return of Southern Anatolian coast