Crusaders arrived at Antioch: positions of contingents in siege

Summary:

As the crusaders approached Antioch, its ruler, Yaghi Siyan, sought help from eastern allies, his pleas seconded by Kilic Arslan I; many supplies and materials were gathered near Antioch, with refugee reinforcements. Alexios I was rumoured to be about to send a large army, but the crusaders decided not to wait for him, or for another rumoured crusade. They began the siege on October 18, Bohemond and Tatikios arriving at the head of the army. They camped opposite the Gate of St Paul, on the east side of the city, with Robert of Normandy, Robert of Flanders, Stephen of Blois, Stephen of Aumale, Hugh of St Pol and Hugh of Vermandois, covering the wall up to the Gate of the Dog. Raymond of Toulouse and Adhemar of Le Puy camped opposite the Gate of the Dog to the north-east, covering the wall down to the Gate of the Duke and Godfrey of Bouillon. The latter camped from the gate of the Duke to the north, covering the wall up to the Gate of the Bridge with his brother Eustace and Baldwin of Hainault, Reinhard of Toul and Cono of Montaigu. To save swimming across the river when foraging, a bridge of boats was built near Godfrey's camp, opposite the Gate of the Duke. Raymond and Adhemar were exposed to sorties from the Gate of the Dog over a stone bridge. To stop this they tried vainly to destroy the bridge, or to guard it with a wooden tower or missiles from siege engines. The gate was finally blocked with stones and trees 
Dates:
1097 October 21 
Adam, son of Michael (Adam 26101)
  • As the crusaders moved up to the walls of Antioch, he was announced by Adhemar 4001 as part of the rearguard; he was positioned in the siege next to Roger 4001 (Wednesday:Dies Mercurii) Albert of Aachen III.36-38
Adhemar of le Puy (Adhemar 4001)
  • Camped opposite Gate of the Dog in north-east of Antioch, covering wall with Gascons, Provençals and Burgundians down to Gate of the Duke, where Godfrey 51 and his companions camped: in association with Raymond 61 (18 October:mense Octobri, octava decima die mensis) William of Tyre bk. 4, 13.26-32
  • To stop sorties from Gate of the Dog: bridge was too strong to be destroyed, wooden guard-tower was burned in a sortie, missiles from siege-engines worked but could not continue; gate was finally blocked with stones and trees: in association with Raymond 61 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 4, 15.1-47
  • Like Raymond 61, he was in danger from enemy sorties from Gate of the Dog across nearby stone bridge, which allowed an easy return to the city; he and others lost many men and far more animals than other contingents (: ) William of Tyre bk. 4, 14.36-54
  • In the siege of Antioch, he was himself positioned near Raymond 61, by the Waiferii gate (gate of the Dog); he later organised an unsuccessful attempt to destroy the bridge which led from the gate, which proved too strong (Wednesday:Dies Mercurii) Albert of Aachen III.39
  • As the crusaders prepared their positions around Antioch, he spoke again about the defenders (details probably wrong or mythical): Shams al-Dawla 26101 ruled, with four great amirs (Adorsonius 26101, Copatrix 26101, Rosseleon 26101, Cazcornuz 26101 (:) Albert of Aachen III.36
  • He went on to announce the battle array for the exhausted crusaders that day: the vanguard should be formed by Godfrey 51, Bohemond 61, Reinhard 4001, Petros 4002, Everard 4001, Tancred 61, Garnier 4001 and Henry 4001 (:) Albert of Aachen III.36
  • He concluded his speech by announcing the rearguard: Robert 62, Robert 63, Stephanos 4001, Raymond 61, Tatikios 61, Adam 26101 and Roger 4001 (:) Albert of Aachen III.36
  • As the crusaders approached Antioch, he spoke of the strength of the city, the number of defenders and the difficulty of the siege; he urged unity and discipline, that nobody should go ahead; the next day he spoke again at the Orontes bridge (:) Albert of Aachen III.32
  • The remaining crusader heroes camped between the rest and the river, in the following order: Godfrey 51, Adhemar, Raymond 61 (:) Ralph of Caen 49
Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (Alexios 1)
  • He was rumoured to be about to send a large army to Antioch; this, together with talk of a new crusade, supported those who wished to postpone siege of the city; but it was decided to begin siege at once, on October 18 (18 October:mense Octobri, octava decima die mensis) William of Tyre bk. 4, 12.7-25
Baldwin of Boulogne, Baldwin I, king of Jerusalem (Baldwin 51)
  • Did not leave his growing power-base in the Euphrates area to return to the main army in attack on Antioch (: ) William of Tyre bk. 4, 8.14-16
Baldwin of Mons, count of Hainault (Baldwin 4004)
Bohemond of Taranto (Bohemond 61)
  • Camped opposite Gate of St Paul, on east side of Antioch, with Robert 63, Robert 62, Stephanos 4001 and Hugh 4001 covering wall to Gate of the Dog, beginning siege on October 18 (18 October:mense Octobri, octava decima die mensis) William of Tyre bk. 4, 13.20-26
  • Led the vanguard of the army marching under Tatikios 61 to take Antioch (:) Anna Komnene 330.78-82
  • As the crusaders moved up to the walls of Antioch, he was announced by Adhemar 4001 as part of the vanguard; he was positioned in the siege at the gate which looks back towards the Persian plain (St Paul's Gate) (Wednesday:Dies Mercurii) Albert of Aachen III.36-38
  • He camped on a rocky mound near the gate in the east; on a smaller mound in front of him was Tancred 61, the closest camp to the city (:) Ralph of Caen 49
Cono, count of Montaigu (Cono 4001)
  • Camped from Gate of the Duke in north of Antioch, covering wall with Lotharingians, Frisians, Swabians, Saxons, Franks and Bavarians to Gate of the Bridge: in association with Godfrey 51, Eustace 4001, Baldwin 4004 and Reinhard 4001 (18 October:mense Octobri, octava decima die mensis) William of Tyre bk. 4, 13.31-37
  • In the siege of Antioch, he was positioned with Godfrey 51, outside the gate on the bank of the river (gate of the Duke) (Wednesday:Dies Mercurii) Albert of Aachen III.39
Eustace III, count of Boulogne (Eustace 4001)
Everard of Le Puiset (Everard 4001)
  • As the crusaders moved up to the walls of Antioch, he was announced by Adhemar 4001 as part of the vanguard (Wednesday:Dies Mercurii) Albert of Aachen III.36
  • As the crusader army approached the Orontes bridge, he and Roger 4001 were bearing the standards and controlling the cavalry in the vanguard, led by Robert 63 (:) Albert of Aachen III.33
Garnier (Warner), count of Grez (Garnier 4001)
  • As the crusaders moved up to the walls of Antioch, he was announced by Adhemar 4001 as part of the vanguard (Wednesday:Dies Mercurii) Albert of Aachen III.36
Godfrey of Bouillon, duke of Lower Lorraine, first Latin ruler of Jerusalem (Godfrey 51)
  • Camped from Gate of the Duke in north of Antioch, covering wall with Lotharingians, Frisians, Swabians, Saxons, Franks and Bavarians to Gate of the Bridge: in association with Eustace 4001, Baldwin 4004, Reinhard 4001 and Cono 4001 (18 October:mense Octobri, octava decima die mensis) William of Tyre bk. 4, 13.31-37
  • To obviate need to swim across the river when foraging, and to prevent defenders exploiting this, a bridge of boats was built near Godfrey's camp, opposite city gate called "Gate of the Duke" after him (: ) William of Tyre bk. 4, 14.1-35
  • His sector formed a triangle outside the wall of Antioch, filled with orchards, which were cut down and the wood used for protection (: ) William of Tyre bk. 4, 13.37-41
  • As the crusaders moved up to the walls of Antioch, he was announced by Adhemar 4001 as part of the vanguard; he was positioned in the siege near the gate of the city on the bank of the river (gate of the Duke) (Wednesday:Dies Mercurii) Albert of Aachen III.36-39
  • The remaining crusader heroes camped between the rest and the river, in the following order: Godfrey, Adhemar 4001, Raymond 61 (:) Ralph of Caen 49
Godfrey of Esch (Godfrey 4003)
  • In the siege of Antioch, he was positioned with Godfrey 51, outside the gate on the bank of the river (gate of the Duke) (Wednesday:Dies Mercurii) Albert of Aachen III.39
Henry of Esch (Henry 4001)
  • As the crusaders moved up to the walls of Antioch, he was announced by Adhemar 4001 as part of the vanguard; he was stationed in the siege with Godfrey 51, outside the gate on the bank of the river (gate of the Duke) (Wednesday:Dies Mercurii) Albert of Aachen III.36-39
Hugh of Vermandois, brother of Philip I of France (Hugh 4001)
Hugh, count of Saint-Pol (Hugh 4002)
Kilic Arslan I, Seljuk sultan (Kilic Arslan 51)
  • Supported Yaghi Siyan 4001 of Antioch in his pleas for help from allies in east, speaking of size and bravery of crusader forces out of his own experience of defeat, hoping for revenge (: ) William of Tyre bk. 4, 11.24-37
Peter the Hermit (Petros 61)
  • Many prisoners from among his troops, held around Antioch, were freed as soon as the crusader army arrived there (:) Albert of Aachen III.35
Peter, count of Astenois (Petros 4002)
  • As the crusaders moved up to the walls of Antioch, he was announced by Adhemar 4001 as part of the vanguard; he was stationed in the siege with Godfrey 51, outside the gate on the bank of the river (gate of the Duke) (Wednesday:Dies Mercurii) Albert of Aachen III.36-39
Raymond of Saint-Gilles, count of Toulouse (Raymond 61)
  • To stop sorties from Gate of the Dog: bridge was too strong to be destroyed, wooden guard-tower was burned in a sortie, missiles from siege-engines worked but could not continue; gate was finally blocked with stones and trees: in association with Adhemar 4001 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 4, 15.1-47
  • Camped opposite Gate of the Dog in north-east of Antioch, covering wall with Gacons, Provencals and Burgundians down to Gate of the Duke, where Godfrey 51 and his companions camped: in association with Adhemar 4001 (18 October:mense Octobri, octava decima die mensis) William of Tyre bk. 4, 13.26-32
  • Was in danger from enemy sorties from Gate of the Dog across nearby stone bridge, which allowed an easy return to the city; he and others, like Adhemar 4001, lost many men and far more animals than other contingents (: ) William of Tyre bk. 4, 14.36-54
  • As the crusaders moved up to the walls of Antioch, he was announced by Adhemar 4001 as part of the rearguard; he was positioned in the siege near Adhemar 4001, by the Waiferii gate (gate of the Dog) (Wednesday:Dies Mercurii) Albert of Aachen III.36-40
  • He was later put in charge of a siege engine built to attack the bridge outside the Waiferii gate (gate of the Dog), but after some skirmishes it was destroyed by burning; it was replaced by ballistas, then by oak-trunks and boulders (:) Albert of Aachen III.40-41
  • The remaining crusader heroes camped between the rest and the river, in the following order: Godfrey 51, Adhemar 4001, Raymond (:) Ralph of Caen 49
Rainald III, count of Toul (Reinhard 4001)
  • Camped from Gate of the Duke in north of Antioch, covering wall with Lotharingians, Frisians, Swabians, Saxons, Franks and Bavarians to Gate of the Bridge: in association with Godfrey 51, Eustace 4001, Baldwin 4004 and Cono 4001 (18 October:mense Octobri, octava decima die mensis) William of Tyre bk. 4, 13.31-37
  • As the crusaders moved up to the walls of Antioch, he was announced by Adhemar 4001 as part of the vanguard; he was stationed in the siege with Godfrey 51, outside the gate on the bank of the river (gate of the Duke) (Wednesday:Dies Mercurii) Albert of Aachen III.36-39
Robert II, count of Flanders (Robert 62)
Robert [Curthose], count [duke] of Normandy (Robert 63)
  • Camped between Bohemond 61 at Gate of St Paul, on east side of Antioch, covering wall to Gate of the Dog, with Normans, French and Retons; beginning siege on October 18: in association with Robert 62, Stephanos 4001 and Hugh 4001 (18 October:mense Octobri, octava decima die mensis) William of Tyre bk. 4, 13.20-26
  • As the crusaders moved up to the walls of Antioch, he was announced by Adhemar 4001 as part of the rearguard; he was positioned in the siege near Baldwin 4004 and Robert 62 (Wednesday:Dies Mercurii) Albert of Aachen III.36-38
  • He, with Roger 4001 and Everard 4001, led the vanguard as the crusaders reached the Orontes bridge; a tremendous battle with heavy losses was only won when Adhemar 4001 spoke and other leaders began to attack the Turks, who withdrew into the city (:) Albert of Aachen III.33-34
  • Was sent ahead, with Everard 4001 and Roger 4001 in van of his army, to avoid delay at fortified bridge over the Orontes outside Antioch; he found it well defended, and was still fighting when main army arrived and forced its way across (: ) William of Tyre bk. 4, 8.20-67
  • He was camped beyond Bohemond 61 and Tancred 61 with Robert 62, Stephanos 4001, Eustace 4001, Stephanos 4002, Baldwin 4004, Hugh 4002 and Hugh 4001; some of the others were obligated to him by gifts, some even by homage (:) Ralph of Caen 49
Roger of Barneville (Roger 4001)
  • As the crusaders moved up to the walls of Antioch, he was announced by Adhemar 4001 as part of the rearguard; he was positioned in the siege between Tancred 61 and Adam 26101 (Wednesday:Dies Mercurii) Albert of Aachen III.36-38
  • As the crusader army approached the Orontes bridge, he and Everard 4001 were bearing the standards and controlling the cavalry in the vanguard, led by Robert 63 (:) Albert of Aachen III.33
Shams al-Dawla, son of Yaghi Siyan of Antioch (Shams al-Dawla 26101)
  • He was said (by Adhemar 4001, wrongly) to have been in Antioch in a position of power when the crusader army arrived (:) Albert of Aachen III.36
Stephen, count of Chartres and Blois (Stephanos 4001)
Stephen, count of Aumale (Stephanos 4002)
Tancred of Hauteville, nephew of Bohemond of Taranto (Tancred 61)
  • As the crusaders moved up to the walls of Antioch, he was announced by Adhemar 4001 as part of the vanguard; he was positioned in the siege by the place (unidentified) called Altalon (Wednesday:Dies Mercurii) Albert of Aachen III.36-38
  • At the beginning of the siege of Antioch he returned from Alexandretta to the main army, and was welcomed before they crossed the Orontes bridge; everyone else also returned, but Baldwin 51 and his men in the Edessa area (:) Albert of Aachen III.31
  • He camped on a small rocky mound near the gate in the east, in front of the larger mound of Bohemond 61; his was the closest camp to the city (:) Ralph of Caen 49
Tatikios (Tatikios 61)
  • As the crusaders moved up to the walls of Antioch, he was announced by Adhemar 4001 as part of the rearguard; he was placed in the siege a little further from the city than Bohemond 61, on the plain called Combrus, ready to flee, as he did (Wednesday:Dies Mercurii) Albert of Aachen III.36-38
Welf, Burgundian knight (Welf 4001)
  • He, like Tancred 61, returned to the crusader army from the coast (of Cilicia) before the beginning of the siege of Antioch, and was welcomed back before they crossed the Orontes bridge (:) Albert of Aachen III.33
Yaghi Siyan of Antioch (Yaghi Siyan 4001)
  • Requested help from eastern allies against approaching Christians, with success (see below); his pleas supported by experience of Kilic Arslan 51; many supplies and materials gathered from area of Antioch, reinforced by refugees (: ) William of Tyre bk. 4, 11.24-61
  • He was downcast at the loss of the battle at the Orontes bridge, and thought how to avoid the fate of Kilic Arslan 51 at Nicaea; he continued gathering food, weapons and defenders into Antioch (:) Albert of Aachen III.35