First battle of Tall Danith: the Frankish victory & its consequences

Summary:
As Roger's army approached Tall Danith, Bursuq did not realise in the dazzling sunlight that it was the princely army; he took up position with his brother Zanki and strong forces on the top of the hill, leaving the amir Tamirak hidden behind the hill in reserve. Baldwin of Edessa had the privilege of striking the first blow: he and Guy Le Chevreuil attack up the hill towards Bursuq, apparently with freedom to choose the angle; he attacked straight up the hill, Guy from the side. After breaking their lances, they fought well with swords, bringing out Tamirak with the enemy reserves on disadvantageous terms against the coningent of Robert fitzFulk. Two knights, Robert of Sourdeval and Bochard, plunged valiantly into the enemy lines and were killed, and a hard-fought struggle erupted around their bodies, as Alan of al-Atharib and Guy Fresnel urged their comrades to protect their corpses and avenge them. After much more savage fighting, Roger was left the victor on the field at the first battle of Tall Danith, with quantities of booty so great that it made it difficult to pursue the defeated. Antiochene casualties were light in comparison with those of the enemy. The spoils were gathered and divided according to custom. Some of the fugitives were later captured or killed by Tughtakin, losing him still more credit among those Muslims who remembered that he had been implicated in the murder of Mawdud. Roger sent on treasures and prisoners to Antioch, dismissing his men with reminders of the need to meet on November 1, as the patriarch had ordained. He then returned to Antioch and received a hero's welcome, with the patriarch leading the clergy, climaxing in the basilica of Hagios Petros 
Dates:
1115, September 15 
Alan, lord of al-Atharib (Alan 4002)
  • Together with Guy 26105 encouraged the Antiochenes to protect the bodies of the dead Robert 4005 and Bochard 101 and their living comrades; a fierce struggle ensued, which led to a Christian victory (:) Walter the Chancellor 1.7
Baldwin of Bourcq, Baldwin II, king of Jerusalem (Baldwin 52)
  • He and Guy 26104 began the attack up the hill towards Bursuq 4001, apparently with freedom to choose the angle; he attacked straight up the hill, Guy from the side; after breaking their lances, they fought well with swords, bringing out Tamirak 101 with the enemy reserves (:) Walter the Chancellor 1.6
  • At the first battle of Tall Danith, his company was given by Roger 4001 a privileged position in the van of the Antiochene army to strike the first blow (:) primi ictus in bello primatum obtinentis Walter the Chancellor 1.5
Bernard of Valence, Latin bishop of Artah, later patriarch of Antioch (Bernard 4001)
  • He led the clergy in celebrating in Antioch the victory of Roger 4001 at the first battle of Tall Danith (:) Walter the Chancellor 1.7
Bochard, knight in first battle of Tall Danith (Bochard 101)
  • He died at the same time as Robert 4005, gallantly charging the enemy in the first battle of Tall Danith Walter the Chancellor 1.6
Bursuq b. Bursuq, isbasalar of the Seljuq Sultan (Bursuq 4001)
  • As Roger 4001's army approached Tall Danith, he did not realise in the dazzling sunlight that it was the princely army; he took up position with Zanki 101 and strong forces on the top of the hill, leaving Tamirak 101 hidden behind the hill in support (:) Walter the Chancellor 1.6
Guy Le Chevreuil (Guy 26104)
  • He and Baldwin 52 began the attack up the hill towards Bursuq 4001, apparently with freedom to choose the angle; he attacked up the hill from the side, Baldwin straight up the slope; after breaking their lances, they fought well with swords, bringing out Tamirak 101 with the enemy reserves (:) Walter the Chancellor 1.6
Guy Fresnel (Guy 26105)
  • Together with Alan 4002 encouraged the Antiochenes to protect the bodies of the dead Robert 4005 and Bochard 101 and their living comrades; a fierce struggle ensued, which led to a Christian victory (:) Walter the Chancellor 1.7
Robert fitzFulk, Lord of Sihyawn, Balatunus etc. (Robert 104)
  • In the first battle of Tall Danith, he attacked from the right, a line that brought him into head-on confrontation with the Turkish reserves under Tamirak 101 (:) Walter the Chancellor 1.6
Robert of Sourdeval (Robert 4005)
  • At the first battle of Tall Danith, he charged the enemy forces and died heroically in their midst (:) Walter the Chancellor 1.6
Roger of Salerno, prince (regent?) of Antioch (Roger 4002)
  • As a result of fierce fighting he was left the victor on the field at the first battle of Tall Danith, with quantities of booty so great that it made it difficult to pursue the defeated; Antiochene casualties were light in comparison with those of the enemy; the spoils were gathered and divided according to custom (:) Walter the Chancellor 1.7
  • He sent on treasures and prisoners to Antioch, dismissing his men with reminders of the need to meet on November 1, as Bernard 4001 had ordained; he then returned to Antioch and received a hero's welcome, with Bernard leading the clergy, climaxing in the basilica of Hagios Petros (:) Walter the Chancellor 1.7
  • Deciding not to recall the allies who marched south, he and Baldwin 52 resolved to attack on their own, as the Turks had camped as three armies; the Christians charged and destroyed the first, but the second and third fled before they reached them (14 September:in die exaltationis sancte crucis) Albert of Aachen XII.20
  • He attacked at the first battle of Danith, with the main opposition coming from the Turkish corps of archers; after fierce fighting, the enemy gave way and victory was complete; there were many Turkish losses and large numbers of prisoners and quantities of booty (:) Fulcher of Chartres 2.54.2-6
Tamirak, amir in army of Bursuq b. Bursuq (Tamirak 101)
  • With Bursuq 4001 and Zanki 101 in position on top of the hill at Tall Danith, he was in support, hidden with strong forces behind the hill (:) Walter the Chancellor 1.6
  • After the success of the attacks of Baldwin 52 and Guy 26104, he was forced to intervene against Roger 4001 on disadvantageous terms; he then met head-on the forces of Robert 4005 (:) Walter the Chancellor 1.6
Tughtakin, atabeg of Damascus (Tughtigin 4001)
  • Of the fugitives from the battle near the Orontes, many drowned, others met Tughtakin in a valley near the castle of Mehelbe, where many were captured or killed; relatives of Mawdud 26101 increased their accusations, but Tughtakin grew more determined (:) Albert of Aachen XII.20
Zanki b. Bursuq (Zanki 101)
  • He took up position with his brother Bursuq 4001, on top of the hill at Tall Danith (:) Walter the Chancellor 1.6