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Why did Muslim opposition to the 1st Crusade fail?, Muslim divide main…
Why did Muslim opposition to the 1st Crusade fail?
Sunni Shi'ah divide
Muslim world split in two by the different traditions who both wanted control of the entire Muslim world. Shi'ah Fatimids and the Sunni Seljuk Turks
Both divides were undergoing a succession crisis during the start of the crusade
Fatimids and the Turks both fighting over Jerusalem themselves, Fatimids able to retake Jerusalem from the Seljuks in 1098
Death of Malik Shah in 1092 (Seljuk leader) v.significant as land now divided into individually owned, thus infighting and decline of Seljuk Empire , previously v.strong and would've easily toppled the Crusaders
No co-operation against the crusaders instead using the crusade as an opportunity for one to gain power over the other, could've easily defeated if united or even left another alone
Kilij Arslan's defeat at Nicaea,May 1097
Crusaders needed to take Nicaea as a critical foothold on the road to Asia Minor, stopping them now would result in the crusade failing before even reaching the holy land
Godfrey arriving a week earlier than Bohemond so v.good opportunity for Kilij to defeat as contingents seperated
Instead Kilij was fighting the Danishmend Turks (importance of divide) thus arriving at Nicaea once both contingents had arrived and already started besieging
Had to break through the crusader army that was surrounding the city, heavily outnumbered so forced to retreat, loss of his capital city and his money
Kilij Arslan's defeat at Dorylaeum, June 1097
Alliance with his former enemy the Danishmend to defeat the crusaders
Danishmend and Kilij's men attacked Bohemond's contingent who had marched on ahead, however before they could be defeated, Godfrey's contingent caught up and the Muslims were heavily outnumbered, surrenders
Kilij's reputation was shattered and the Crusader's strengthened. Many cities on the way surrendered without a fight from fear, crusaders could march on easily without many losses
Byzantines used the weakened state of Kilij to take control of all of Asia Minor, no more Muslim threat from the West
Kerbogha's defeat at Antioch Oct 1097 to June 1098
Kerbogha could not command absolute loyalty of the fragmented Seljuks, retreat once first wave fell
Made poor leadership choice of spreading troops out rather than concentrating
Fatimid peace deal with Crusaders in Feb 1098, no support of Fatimids for the Seljuks and crusaders could now concentrate forces on the Seljuks
Reasons for failure:
Fall of Jerusalem, July 1099
Crusaders able to arrive in Jerusalem with little delays or losses due to fragmentation
Fatimids only taken control year before, thus little time to refortify and the crusaders found the same siege machines the Fatimids had used to take Jerusalem
Fatimids believed that there peace negotiations would work so were able to be caught off guard
By the time the Fatimid Vizier arrived with a relief force it was too late and the crusade cavalry fought them off at Ascalon
Muslim divide main cause for everything