Baldwin II & Pons of Tripoli arrived in Antioch to stabilise the situation after death of Roger

Summary:
As Baldwin II and Pons of Tripoli approached Antioch, they met and defeated some of Ilghazi's men at Mt Hingro. After camping at Laitor, Baldwin advanced in front with Pons behind, Baldwin asking to be summoned if the enemy appeared. However it was only in camp at Casabella that he learned that Pons had been worsted in a skirmish. After lamenting that he could not pursue those reaponsible, he decided, as senior Christian ruler, to comfort the people of Antioch and take counsel there. The Turks who had raided Antioch were too far away for pursuit. He realised how much the people had suffered both physically and psychologically, so he entered the city amidst universal joy, prayed in Hagios Petros, made a speech and listened to the advice of Bernard the patriarch. He was made ruler of the city, promising at a formal council to transfer Antioch to Bohemond (II) when he arrived there, together with the hand of his daughter Alice; otherwise property ownership should not change. This was confirmed by a royal charter. He quickly assembled troops from far and wide, arming them well; they included Alan and his troops from al-Atharib, other Antiochene survivors, and men from Edessa. Ilghazi, hearing that Alan was at Antioch, ignored Artah and 'Imm, but attacked al-Atharib. He assaulted the town in all possible ways, till the small garrison surrendered and were sent shamefacedly to Antioch, telling Baldwin where his enemy was. Just before the battle, Ilghazi attacked Zerdana, at first without success. But as the defenders weakened they were lured with false promises till they gave in. Despite the promises, they were all killed. As Baldwin left Antioch, Bernard celebrated Mass in Hagios Petros, blessed him and the army, signed them with the True Cross and followed them for a time before turning back 
Dates:
1119 
Alan, lord of al-Atharib (Alan 4002)
  • Had been summoned from al-Atharib to Antioch when Ilghazi 4001 attacked it, and so it fell the more easily (: ) William of Tyre bk. 12, 11.15-31
  • He and his men were summoned by Baldwin 52 to join his general expedition against the Turks; Ilghazi 4001 heard rumours of this, and so attacked al-Atharib, which was only lightly defended (:) Walter the Chancellor 2.10
Turkish-speaking Frankish kinght (from a moral story) (Anonymus 866)
  • As the story goes, he was approached before the second battle of Danith by Anonymus 867, who claimed that the Muslims would win, because the Christians had come to ignoring their own law completely - a moral point made by Fulcher 101 (:) Fulcher of Chartres 3.4.4
Turkish critic of Christian morality (from a moral story) (Anonymus 867)
  • As the story goes, he told Anonymus 866 before the second battle of Danith that the Muslims would win, because the Christians had come to ignore their own law completely - a moral point made by Fulcher 101 (:) Fulcher of Chartres 3.4.4
Baldwin of Bourcq, Baldwin II, king of Jerusalem (Baldwin 52)
  • Arrived in Antioch area with Pons 4002 soon after Field of Blood; defeated part of the army sent against him by Ilghazi 4001, and reached Antioch, amidst universal joy; consulted widely over the right course to take (: ) William of Tyre bk. 12, 1.1-14
  • As he rode to Tall Danith via Rugia and Hab, he met the garrison of al-Atharib who had surrendered, and grieved for the irreparable disgrace; as he camped at Danith, he heard that the enemy were besieging Zerdana; the next day skirmishing began, and he had his troops in rigid formations (:) Walter the Chancellor 2.11
  • At Antioch, he realised how much the people had suffered on both physical and psychological levels, so he prayed in Hagios Petros, made a speech, listened to the advice of Bernard 4001, then set out against the Turks (:) Walter the Chancellor 2.9
  • He prepared to attack the Turks who had raided Antioch, sending out scouts and following in battle order; but messengers told him that the Turks were far away (beyond Corbara), so he returned to Antioch to rest from his journey, being named prince (:) Walter the Chancellor 2.9
  • He quickly assembled troops from far and wide, from wherever he could, arming them appropriately; they included Alan 4002 and the men of al-Atharib, and Edessene troops; Ilghazi 4001, hearing rumours that Alan had been summoned to Antioch, ignored Artah and ´Imm, making an attack on al-Atharib (:) Walter the Chancellor 2.10
  • At Casabella, after lamenting that he could not pursue those who had harmed Pons 4002's men, he decided, as the senior Christian ruler, to go to comfort the people of Antioch and take counsel; meanwhile Ilghazi 4001's men reached St Symeon, from which the Franks escaped by ship [text unclear] (:) Walter the Chancellor 2.9
  • At a formal council [in which court?] it was decreed that he would transfer the principality of Antioch to Bohemond 17001, if and when the latter arrived there, together with the hand of his daughter Alice 4001; otherwise property ownership should not change; this was confirmed by a royal charter (:) Walter the Chancellor 2.10
  • Approaching Antioch, he met and defeated some of Ilghazi 4001's men at Mt Hingro; after camping at Laitor, he advanced in front with Pons 4002 behind, asking to be summoned if the enemy appeared; however it was only in camp at Casabella that he learned that Pons had been worsted in a skirmish (:) Walter the Chancellor 2.9
  • He learned that Ilghazi 4001 was besieging al-Atharib; as the army was ready, he underwent purification, barefoot with a woolen garment, attended mass in Hagios Petros, was blessed by Bernard 4001 and left in solemn procession behind the True Cross (:) Walter the Chancellor 2.10
  • As soon as he arrived in Antioch after the Field of Blood, he sent a message to the people of Edessa [was he still their ruler?] to come to help with forced marches; he also gathered all the Antiochenes who had escaped the massacre (:) Fulcher of Chartres 3.4.3
Bernard of Valence, Latin bishop of Artah, later patriarch of Antioch (Bernard 4001)
  • His advice was welcomed by Baldwin 52 on his arrival in Antioch after the Field of Blood; later, he told Baldwin that victory would not be difficult if the army fought lawfully with righteousness on their side; Baldwin and his commanders adopted this programme (:) Walter the Chancellor 2.10
  • As Baldwin 52 left to fight the second battle of Tall Danith, Bernard celebrated Mass in Hagios Petros, blessed him and the army, signed them with the True Cross offering some kind of indulgence, followed them for a distance, then went back devoutly to Antioch (:) Walter the Chancellor 2.10
Najm al-Din Ilghazi, the Urtuqid (Ilghazi 4001)
  • As Baldwin 52 gathered and armed his troops from far and wide, Ilghazi heard that Alan 4002 and his men had left al-Atharib; he therefore ignored Artah and ´Imm, concentrating on al-Atharib, which was only lightly defended (:) Walter the Chancellor 2.10
  • He assaulted al-Atharib with siege-machines, mining and intense showers of missiles, till the small garrison lost heart; they surrendered and were allowed to go shamefacedly to Antioch, thus informing Baldwin 52 of the whereabouts of his enemy (:) Walter the Chancellor 2.10
  • Just before the second battle of Tall Danith, he attacked Zerdana, but was unable at first to force capitulation; but as the defenders weakened, Ilghazi lured them with false promises, till they gave in; despite the promises, he had them all killed (:) Walter the Chancellor 2.11
Pons, count of Tripoli (Pons 4002)
  • Arrived in Antioch area with Baldwin 52 soon after Field of Blood; was welcomed at Antioch (: ) William of Tyre bk. 12, 11.1-12
  • Setting out from Laitor towards Antioch, he followed Baldwin 52, with orders to call him if he saw the enemy; but on meeting an enemy column laden with booty his army attacked and seized it on their own, only to be defeated by an enemy counter-attack; Baldwin only learned of this in camp at Casabella (:) Walter the Chancellor 2.9