Baldwin of Boulogne & Tancred in Cilicia: Mopsuestia

Summary:
[Ralph of Caen's text is defective at this point, and also differs from other sources: Ralph makes Ursinus ruler of Adana, the others Welf; Ralph makes the fighting between Christians a series of challenges to single combat, while the others narrate an organised battle. Though the dramatis personae are similar, it is hard to reconcile the accounts into a single version]. Tancred went to Adana, ruled by the Burgundian Welf, another independent crusader, who first kept him out, then let him in at a price. [Adana was ruled by Ursinus, who told how he had emancipated the Armenians of the town]. Tancred then left Adana to attack Mopsuestia, and captured it after some resistance, slaughtering the Turkish defenders and demolishing the walls. But then Baldwin again came and camped in a nearby garden. He left Tarsos because he was already comparing the possibilities of Tell Bashir and Edessa. He had difficulty in finding a way over poorly maintained local bridges. He was forced to stay for a time at Mopsuestia by the severe illness of Cono of Montaigu. He asked Tancred for peace and good market conditions for buying food; surprisingly, Tancred granted them, despite fury over Baldwin's previous behaviour. Richard of the Principate and Robert of Anzi incited Tancred to attack Baldwin in revenge for the loss of Tarsos, calling him a coward; but his men were outnumbered and driven back into the town. Richard and Robert, with Gilbert of Montclair and Giselbert of Clermont from Baldwin's army, were captured in a sharp battle at a narrow bridge outside Mopsuestia. [Only Richard is mentioned as captured, as the result of a single combat; Richard and Cono then helped make peace]. Next day, all prisoners were freed and the two sides grieved for the fallen and were reconciled, remembering their crusading vows. Baldwin went to Mar'ash (or maybe directly to the east?), losing Peter of Astenois and Reinhard of Toul to the main army 
Dates:
1097 late September 
Baldwin of Boulogne, Baldwin I, king of Jerusalem (Baldwin 51)
  • The next day there was grief for the fallen and captured, and mutual repentance for breaking their vows as crusaders; he and Tancred 61 made a lasting peace and exchanged booty and prisoners (:) Albert of Aachen III.17
  • He came and camped in a garden near Mopsuestia; Tancred 61, who held the town, was provoked by Richard 4002 to seek revenge from Baldwin for losing Tarsos, but he attacked with inferior forces, so Baldwin's men drove him back to the city (:) Albert of Aachen III.15-16
  • His defence against Tancred 61 was aided by Baldwin 52 and Gilbert 4001, with whom he drove Tancred's men back to the narrow bridge spanning the river, over which Tancred escaped, though his army sustained heavy losses (:) Albert of Aachen III.16
  • At the narrow bridge near Mopsuestia, Richard 4001 and Robert 4004 delayed too long, and were captured by Baldwin's men, though Baldwin lost Gilbert 4001, who pursued too fast and was taken in the midst of Tancred's forces (:) Albert of Aachen III.16
  • As he drove Tancred 61 back into Mopsuestia, Gilbert 4001 was captured in a fight at a bridge; next day, Baldwin and Tancred were less angry and more mindful of their vows, so they negotiated release of captives and were reconciled (: ) William of Tyre bk. 3, 25(24).21-40
  • Reached Mopsuestia, recently seized by Tancred 61, and camped outside, thinking he would be unwelcome inside; Tancred vengefully ordered his men to harry and then attack Baldwin, but was outnumbered and driven back into city (: ) William of Tyre bk. 3, 25(24).1-21
  • He left Tarsos because he was already comparing the possibilities of Tell Bashir or Edessa, both fine places in rich areas; he had difficulty in finding a way over local bridges, which were selectively maintained, and made worse by the orders of Tancred 61; again he came and camped near Tancred at Mopsuestia (:) Ralph of Caen 42
  • He was forced to stay for a time at Mopsuestia by the severe illness of Cono 4001; he asked for peace with Tancred 61 and good market conditions for buying food; surprisingly, Tancred granted them, despite his fury over Baldwin's behaviour at Tarsos (:) Ralph of Caen 42
Baldwin of Bourcq, Baldwin II, king of Jerusalem (Baldwin 52)
Cono, count of Montaigu (Cono 4001)
  • He fell seriously ill near Mopsuestia: in fact, he was the reason why Baldwin 52 waited there for a time, allowing further clashes with Tancred 61; Cono was so ill that he could neither be left where he was, not move on; later he became a peacemaker, together with Richard 4001, and prevented a battle (:) Ralph of Caen 42
Gilbert of Montclair or Clermont (Gilbert 4001)
  • With Baldwin 52, he supported Baldwin 51 in the battle against Tancred 61 near Mopsuestia, but pursued too hard, was caught among Tancred's men and captured at a bridge near the city; the next day the repentant leaders exchanged prisoners (:) Albert of Aachen III.16-17
  • As Baldwin 51 drove Tancred 61 back into Mopsuestia, he was captured in a fight at a bridge, but soon released (: ) William of Tyre bk. 3, 25(24).21-40
Peter, count of Astenois (Petros 4002)
Rainald III, count of Toul (Reinhard 4001)
Richard of the Principate (Richard 4001)
  • When the attack on Baldwin 51 failed, he was slow in getting back to Mopsuestia, and was captured at the narrow bridge near the city; the next day the repentant leaders exchanged prisoners (:) Albert of Aachen III.16-17
  • He provoked his near kinsman Tancred 61 to attempt revenge for his defeat by Baldwin 51 at Tarsos, by attacking him when he came and camped outside Mopsuestia; he implicitly accused Tancred of cowardice (:) si nunc aliquid uirtuitis in te haberes ... Albert of Aachen III.15
  • When Baldwin 51 came and camped outside Mopsuestia, he incited Tancred 61 to attack Baldwin's forces; but Tancred was outnumbered and driven back into city; Richard was captured crossing a bridge, but soon released: in association with Robert 4004 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 3, 25(24).14-40
  • The atmosphere was hostile between the armies of Baldwin 51 and Tancred 61 outside Mopsuestia, because of a market quarrel; challenges to single combat were made, and in the confusion Richard was unhorsed and seized by the other side; he turned peacemaker and was freed next day (:) Ralph of Caen 43
Robert of Anzi (of Apulia) (Robert 4004)
  • When the attack on Baldwin 51 failed, he was slow in getting back to Mopsuestia, and was captured at the narrow bridge near the city; the next day the repentant leaders exchanged prisoners (:) Albert of Aachen III.16-17
  • When Baldwin 51 came and camped outside Mopsuestia, he incited Tancred 61 to attack Baldwin's forces; but Tancred was outnumbered and driven back into city; Robert was captured crossing a bridge, but soon released: in association with Richard 4001 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 3, 25(24).14-40
Tancred of Hauteville, nephew of Bohemond of Taranto (Tancred 61)
  • He was provoked by Richard 4001 to seek revenge for losing Tarsos by attacking Baldwin 51 near Mopsuestia; he sent archers to wound the horses, then himself charged with the cavalry; but having fewer men, he barely escaped back to the city (:) Albert of Aachen III.15
  • He left Adana and Welf 4001 and attacked Mopsuestia, where the Turks briefly resisted; he demolished its walls, slaughtered the Turks and distributed booty to his men; but Baldwin 51 and his men came and camped in a garden near Mopsuestia (:) Albert of Aachen III.15
  • The next day there was grief for the fallen and captured, and mutual repentance for breaking their vows as crusaders; he and Baldwin 51 made a lasting peace and exchanged booty and prisoners (:) Albert of Aachen III.17
  • At the narrow bridge back to Mopsuestia, his men Richard 4001 and Robert 4004 were too slow, and captured by Baldwin 51; but Baldwin lost Gilbert 4001, who charged into the midst of Tancred's forces; Baldwin and his men mourned Giselbert as dead (:) Albert of Aachen III.16
  • Moving from Adana to Mopsuestia, captured it after several days of assaults; finding it full of wealth and provisions he distributed them according to merit, and his men relaxed for a time in their new wealth (: ) William of Tyre bk. 3, 22(21).1-15
  • When Baldwin 51 came and camped outside Mopsuestia, Richard 4001 and Robert 4004 incited him to harry and then attack Baldwin's forces; but he was outnumbered and driven back into city; Richard and Robert were captured crossing a bridge (: ) William of Tyre bk. 3, 25(24).1-29
  • The day after the fight at the bridge, he and Baldwin 51 were less angry and more mindful of their vows, so they negotiated release of captives and were reconciled (: ) William of Tyre bk. 3, 25(24).34-40
  • When his standard was replaced by that of Baldwin 51 at Tarsos, he felt defeated by Baldwin's greater numbers and went on to Adana, occupied by Welf 4001; on request, Welf admitted him to the town and sold him necessities (:) Albert of Aachen III.10
  • Went from Tarsos to Adana, which he found in the hands of Welf 4001; was at first denied entry, then, sending messengers, was welcomed hospitably into the city (which was well provisioned), partly gratis and partly for payment (: ) William of Tyre bk. 3, 21(20).28-42
  • The peace was broken by a quarrel in the market, tensions rose, and his warriors and those of Baldwin 51 engaged in single combat, as often before a battle; Richard 4001 was unhorsed and captured, as were others on both sides; in the morning peace was renewed with the aid of Richard and Cono 4001 (:) Ralph of Caen 44
  • Having heard the story of Ursinus 101 in Adana, early the next day he appeared outside Mopsuestia; its Turkish rulers preferred to flee rather than fight him, so he was welcomed by the population as a liberator and lord with wide popular support (:) Ralph of Caen 41
  • When Baldwin 51 was forced by the state of Cono 4001 to spend some time outside Mopsuestia, he asked Tancred, who now ruled the town, for peace and good market conditions; surprisingly, considering his fury over Baldwin's behaviour at Tarsos, he granted both, and concord prevailed for a time (:) Ralph of Caen 42
Ursinus (Oshin?), ruler of Adana (Ursinus 101)
  • He summoned Tancred 61 to Adana, came out from the city to greet him with a handshake of faith, promising aid from his own forces and his allies, and the spoils of nearby Mopsuestia, which was easy to capture; later he was asked to tell his story and explain how he survived among so many enemies (:) Ralph of Caen 40
  • For many years (he said) he was free on the mountains, deeply sympathetic to the plight of the Christians of Adana under Turkish rule; then together they conspired to introduce armed men into the city, who massacred the Turks, while Ursinus raided from outside and brought out the military forces to pursue him (:) Ralph of Caen 40
  • Once Ursinus heard (he said) that the Christians had taken Adana, his forces drove the Turkish army back to the town, where they were refused entrance and massacred in confusion, like their comrades inside; since then, Adana had been a Christian place (:) Ralph of Caen 40
Welf, Burgundian knight (Welf 4001)
  • Divided from the main army and seized Adana, driving out Turks and finding it full of treasure and provisions; at first denied entry to Tancred 61 as he left Tarsos, then welcomed him hospitably, partly gratis and partly for payment (: ) William of Tyre bk. 3, 21(20).29-42
  • He left the main crusading army at the same time as Tancred and seized Adana, defeating the Turks there and finding many treasures and supplies; at first he denied entry to Tancred 61, but on request he admitted him and sold him necessities (:) Albert of Aachen III.10