Certainty: 3 Baldwin of Edessa demanded aid from Baldwin I outside Beirut against a Turkish siege Certainty: 3
1111
Certainty: 2 Huge but unsuccessful attack by Sharaf al-Din Mawdud on the county of Antioch Certainty: 2
1115
Certainty: 2 Tughtakin of Damascus helped forge a coalition against Bursuq Certainty: 2
1119
Certainty: 2 Ilghazi attacked the principality of Antioch Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Preliminary skirmishing & reconnaissance before the battle of the Field of Blood Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Battle of the Field of Blood (general factoids)
Najm al-Din Ilghazi, the Urtuqid, defeated and killed Roger, prince of Antioch at Balat. The battle became known for the completeness of the defeat, the enormous disparity in casualty numbers, and as a divine judgement against Roger of Antioch, who is accused of committing adultery with many other women while living with his wife, Cecilia
Certainty: 3 Roger of Antioch & most of his forces killed at the Field of Blood
Roger of Antioch organised the battle formations as he had often done before, but this time in a better way, because fighting now for God and the True Cross. He made five divisions. The first act was a successful attack by the battle-line of St Peter, which scattered one of the enemy formations. This charge was emulated by the division of Geoffrey the Monk, which attacked a huge enemy group; his men fought very well, but could not quite complete the defeat of those opposing them. A third, similar attack was made by Guy of Fremelle, who almost broke the formation he attacked, but not quite. But the fourth division was less successful: some of Robert of St Lo's men, especially the Tourcopoles, broke and fled, and could not be rallied; what is more, they took with them part of the formation of Roger himself, which was thrown into serious confusion, preparing the way for the massacre of the whole army and its prince. The priest carrying the (Antiochene) True Cross was killed just after Roger, and the reliquary of the Cross was immediately plundered for its gold and jewels. Many of the survivors of the massacre took refuge on a small hill, where they were under a hail of arrows and other missiles. Many of them became prisoners, up to 500. Those who were badly wounded were killed immediately, many others after torture in a local vineyard. Reynauld Mazoir commanded a group of fugitives who escaped to a tower at Sarmada, but it was weak and had no food. However when Ilghazi approached Reynauld was able to surrender on terms, with Ilghazi's own ring as a pledge
Certainty: 3 Developments before the arrival of Baldwin II Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Baldwin II & Pons of Tripoli arrived in Antioch to stabilise the situation after death of Roger Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Second battle of Danith: no victory to either side
Ilghazi, Tughtakin, Bochard and Dubais were the core of the Muslim army, with Turcoman raiders who could not be trusted to stay present once they had booty. They met near Tall-Danith and prepared all night for the battle, trying for an early-morning surprise, as at the Field of Blood, making a noisy attack wiith many missiles. The Christians were awake and ready, having Pons on the right, the Antiochenes on the left and Baldwin in the centre, with infantry to the rear. Evremar carried the Cross, unarmed yet unwounded. They withstood the first Muslim attack, but then suffered losses, especially among the infantry, and were thrown into confusion in hand-to-hand fighting. Pons' troops were mixed with those of Baldwin, despite heroic fighting from the two leaders. But the Muslims too had heavy losses, and eventually abandoned the battlefield, disbanded their forces and did not return. Baldwin held the field [evidence for Fulcher of Chartres of a Christian victory], but not securely, having lost a royal standard, and being forced to go to Hab for provisions overnight before returning to the battlefield in the morning. After gathering the dead and and tending the wounded, he found that he had lost 500-700 infantry and 100 knights, while 2,000-3,000 Turks died. Neither side could really speak of victory. He sent his well-known ring to Antioch to confirm to the patriarch and the princess (Baldwin's sister) that the Christian side claimed victory. Baldwin sent Evremar of Caesarea with the True Cross back to Jerusalem [though one version sends it to Antioch first], but remained himself to organise Antiochene affairs. Before returning to Jerusalem he made a triumphant entry into Antioch, arranged the succession of the fallen, ensured their widows married suitable husbands and garrisoned fortresses
Certainty: 2 The fate of Christian prisoners in Aleppo Certainty: 2
1121
Certainty: 3 Defeat by David IV of Georgia of a massive Muslim invasion led by Ilghazi Certainty: 3
1122
Certainty: 2 Joscelin went to protect Antioch from Ilghazi; but the latter died before any battle Certainty: 2