Kilic Arslan I of Nicaea approached his besieged city

Summary:
Kilic Arslan received many appeals from the people of Nicaea as the crusaders advanced, but was slow to respond; the citizens thus called on Manuel Boutoumites, so as to surrender to Alexios rather than be sacked by the crusaders. Manuel sent them many letters detailing promises made by Alexios if they surrendered to him. Thus when Kilic Arslan was slow to arrive, Manuel was invited to Nicaea to give assurances in person. However they expelled him after only two days, because they heard news that the sultan was due to arrive with a relief force. The sultan had sent two men to examine the position outside Nicaea, and to encourage the defenders inside with news of his attack the next day. Both were intercepted, one being killed. The other was interrogated by a group including Godfrey and Bohemond, who discovered the secret of the planned attack, and were able to warn Raymond and Adhemar to hasten their arrival. The informant was spared because he expressed a wish to convert to Christianity. He was honoured and rewarded when his predicted time for the enemy attack turned out to be accurate. After the battle he escaped to Nicaea 
Dates:
1097 May 
murdered messenger of Kilic Arslan I (Anonymus 4013)
  • He was killed in the attack by Christian guards Albert of Aachen II.25
  • He was sent by Kilic Arslan 51 (with Anonymus 4014) in advance of the main Turkish army, to spy out the land and encourage the defenders; both scouts were captured by Christian guards (:) Albert of Aachen II.25
  • One of two messengers sent by Kilic Arslan 51 to Nicaea with an encouraging letter; was killed in seeking way into besieged city: in association with Anonymus 4014 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 3, 4(3).1-4
captured messenger of Kilic Arslan I (Anonymus 4014)
  • Unlike Anonymus 4013 (who died) he was brought to the Christian leaders, including Bohemond 61 and Godfrey 51; in terror at threats of torture, he predicted that Kilic Arslan 51 would attack at the third hour the next day, staking his life on it (:) Albert of Aachen II.26
  • He claimed, more out of terror than conviction, that he wished to convert to Christianity; his life was spared, but he was held prisoner, till Kilic Arslan 51 appeared as predicted; then he was freed and honoured by the leaders (:) Albert of Aachen II.26
  • After the battle he escaped from the crusaders, ran to the wall and was pulled up into Nicaea by a rope; Turkish missiles prevented any Christian from stopping him (:) Albert of Aachen II.28
  • He was sent by Kilic Arslan 51 (with Anonymus 4013) in advance of the main Turkish army, to spy out the land and encourage the defenders; both scouts were captured by Christian guards (:) Albert of Aachen II.25
  • One of two messengers sent by Kilic Arslan 51 to Nicaea with an encouraging letter; was captured in seeking way into besieged; under questioning, warned besiegers that Suleiman would attack next morning: in association with Anonymus 4013 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 3, 1-10
Bohemond of Taranto (Bohemond 61)
  • He was one of those who interrogated Anonymus 4014 before the battle at Nicaea: when the spy predicted an attack by Kilic Arslan 51 next day, the crusaders sent an urgent message to Raymond 61 (with Alexios 1), telling him to come at once (:) Albert of Aachen II.26
Godfrey of Bouillon, duke of Lower Lorraine, first Latin ruler of Jerusalem (Godfrey 51)
  • He was one of those who interrogated Anonymus 4014 before the battle at Nicaea: when the spy predicted an attack by Kilic Arslan 51 next day, the crusaders sent an urgent message to Raymond 61 (with Alexios 1), telling him to come at once (:) Albert of Aachen II.26
Kilic Arslan I, Seljuk sultan (Kilic Arslan 51)
  • Even with the crusaders surrounding Nicaea, he could send supplies by boat on the large lake on one of its sides; before appearing himself with his huge army, he sent Anonymus 4013 and Anonymus 4014 to spy out the land and encourage the garrison (:) Albert of Aachen II.24
  • When he heard of the crusaders' arrival, he gathered as many defenders for Nicaea and as much food as he could, and strengthened the fortifications (:) Albert of Aachen II.21
  • He received many appeals from the people of Nicaea as the crusaders advanced, but was slow to respond; the citizens thus called on Manuel 62, to surrender to Alexios 1 rather than be sacked by the crusaders (:) Anna Komnene 322.16-21
  • Since Nicaea was under siege by land (but not yet via the lake), sent Anonymus 4013 and Anonymus 4014 with a letter to encourage defenders; spoke of weakness of crusaders, despite their numbers, and promised an attack the next morning (: ) William of Tyre bk. 3, 3(2).1-35
  • By inheritance from his uncle Belfeth, owned an area from Tarsus in Cilicia to Hellespont (Bosporos); his customs officers worked in sight of Constantinople; now waited to strike in mountains only 10 miles from Nicaea to relieve the city (: ) William of Tyre bk. 3, 2(1).20-29
Manuel Boutoumites (Manuel 62)
  • He sent many letters to Nicaea detailing promises made by Alexios 1 if they surrendered to him; thus when Kilic Arslan 51 was slow to arrive, Manuel was invited to Nicaea to give assurances in person (:) Anna Komnene 322.21-29
  • The Turkish defenders of Nicaea expelled him after two days, just as Raymond 61 arrived to attack the walls, because they heard a rumour that Kilic Arslan 51 was due to arrive with a relief force (:) Anna Komnene 323.29-33
Raymond of Saint-Gilles, count of Toulouse (Raymond 61)
  • As he left Alexios 1, he received an urgent warning from all crusader leaders of Kilic Arslan 51's approach; he marched all night to arrive on time, bringing Adhemar 4001 with him; their sector bore the brunt of Kilic Arslan's attack (:) Albert of Aachen II.26
Robert II, count of Flanders (Robert 62)
  • He was one of those who interrogated Anonymus 4014 before the battle at Nicaea: when the spy predicted an attack by Kilic Arslan 51 next day, the crusaders sent an urgent message to Raymond 61 (with Alexios 1), telling him to come at once (:) Albert of Aachen II.26