Surrender of Antioch by treachery to Bohemond; sack of the city

Summary:
Bohemond, confirmed in possession of Antioch despite the dissent of Raymond of Toulouse, had to act quickly. He proposed to Firuz that the plan be activated the following night. Firuz had just been confirmed (in one of several ways) in his decision to betray Antioch, and made a detailed plan: the next day all leaders should march out as if to face Kerbogha, but return after nightfall, to act around midnight. The boy brought the plan to a meeting of chiefs, and it was approved. Firuz was called for questioning by Yaghi Siyan, but diverted suspicion. He discovered that his brother did not support him, so he murdered him. The attackers were guided through the mountains to the right spot by Bohemond's Turkish godson, and preparations were quietly made in Greek, via a translator. When the guard had done his rounds, Firuz called the crusaders up a rope ladder into his tower. Bohemond climbed first, then Tancred [unlikely] and Robert of Flanders [or, in another version Gouel (Fulcher) of Chartres]. The Franks moved from tower to tower, then through the city, killing and looting. Few Muslims survived, and local Christians too were at risk. Anna Komnene's version has not been given credence: when Antioch was taken, the Turks fled out of another gate, where they were pursued and injured by Tancred. At dinner that night, Bohemond, observed by Robert of Flanders and Eustace of Boulogne, performed a miracle with a candle, signifying the untimely death of Bohemond II 
Dates:
1098 June 3 
adolescent son of Firuz of Antioch (Anonymus 4022)
  • He carried to Bohemond 61 the full plan for the capture of the city the following night; Bohemond took him secretly to a meeting of the main chiefs, who were impressed and approved the plan (: ) William of Tyre bk. 5, 17.31-44
  • Having been sent home by his father for some reason, he found a Turkish chief in bed with his mother; returned horrified to his father, who spoke of avenging Turkish injustice, and sent him in a confused state to Bohemond 61 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 5, 17.15-32
  • [Alternative reason for his father's betrayal of Antioch]: the son might have been captured by Bohemond 61, and the father might have preferred the boy's life to the survival of the city (:) Albert of Aachen IV.16
  • He was given to Bohemond 61 as a hostage [part of Fulcher of Chartres' idiosyncratic story] (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.17.5
younger brother of Firuz of Antioch (Anonymus 4023)
  • As they watched the crusaders pretending to leave, he told Firuz 4001 that crusaders had done them much harm in turning Turks against them; Firuz understood that he might have to kill him, for the good of the majority (: ) William of Tyre bk. 5, 20.11-36
confidential messenger of Bohemond to Firuz of Antioch (Anonymus 4024)
  • Was sent by Bohemond 61 to Firuz 4001 to ask if it was time; Firuz waited for chief guard to do his rounds, then sent him back to summon Bohemond and picked men (: ) William of Tyre bk. 5, 21.6-26
  • When Bohemond 61 resolved to put his plan into action, his confidential messenger was sent as a known contact to the wall where Firuz 4001 was on guard; he brought back positive indications (:) Ralph of Caen 66
translator used for communication with Firuz of Antioch (Anonymus 26118)
  • Since no alarm was raised, he and Firuz 4001 re-established confidence, retied the ladder and 60 men climbed the wall; they killed Anonymus 26119 and others, then opened a postern gate and with bugles summoned Godfrey 51 and Robert 62 (:) Albert of Aachen IV.21
  • He listened to Firuz 4001 and ran back with his message to Godfrey 51 and Robert 62, urging them immediately to choose active assault troops; they did so, but the sudden danger worried the men, and the leaders had to use Christian rhetoric (:) Albert of Aachen IV.18
  • He was sent by Godfrey 51 and Robert 62 from their hidden army to Firuz 4001; he spoke in Greek, using as a token a known ring of Bohemond 61; Firuz trusted him and told him to bring troops to climb in soon and to beware Anonymus 26119 (:) Albert of Aachen IV.17
  • He led the men to Firuz 4001, who lowered a bull's-hide ladder; after 25 men climbed it, silence discouraged the rest; the 25 called quietly, and then so many got on the ladder that the stone where it was fixed broke noisily, causing casualties (:) Albert of Aachen IV.19-20
guard with a torch on the wall of Antioch (Anonymus 26119)
  • When Firuz 4001 first explained the situation to the crusaders' interpreter Anonymus 26118, the biggest danger was said to be the guard on that part of the wall, who would pass with his torch and might see men climbing in (:) Albert of Aachen IV.17
Bohemond of Taranto (Bohemond 61)
  • The next night, after encouraging comrades, taking a rope ladder, he sent messenger Anonymus 4024 to Firuz 4001 to ask if it was time; Firuz waited for chief guard to do his rounds, then sent messenger back to summon Bohemond (: ) William of Tyre bk. 5, 21.1-26
  • Having been formally confirmed in possession of Antioch, despite dissent of Raymond 61, he was told to put the plot into action quickly; he sent the good news to Firuz 4001, proposing that the plan be activated the following night (: ) William of Tyre bk. 5, 17.1-15
  • At moment of capture of Antioch, some of his retainers placed his standard on a hill overlooking the citadel of the city (3 June, 1098:anno ... millesimo nonagesimo octavo, mense Iunio, tercia die mensis) William of Tyre bk. 5, 22.15-18
  • Quickly gathered chiefs and men under tower; Firuz 4001 let down a rope and hauled up rope ladder; nobody dared go up, so Bohemond climbed it himself, greeted Firuz, saw his brother's body, then went down again to bring the others (: ) William of Tyre bk. 5, 21.36-56
  • To carry out his plan to capture the city, he told Godfrey 51 and Robert 62, led by Bohemond 26101, to hide an army in the mountains near the wall guarded by Firuz 4001, as if going off to intercept Kerbogha 4001; he gave them his ring as a token (:) Albert of Aachen IV.16-17
  • [Alternative reason for Firuz 4001's betrayal of Antioch]: Bohemond might have captured Anonymus 4022, and the father might have been compelled to betray his city to save his son's life (:) Albert of Aachen IV.16
  • As the city of Antioch was captured, his well-known blood-red standard was flying over the point in the walls where the crusaders had entered (:) Albert of Aachen IV.23
  • As the wall of Antioch was betrayed on the mountain, he and other leaders with the main army attacked in their sectors, revealing the secret plan; the Christians of Antioch opened the gates and joined the crusaders in a massacre of Turks (June 3:tercia Nonas mensis Iunii) Albert of Aachen IV.23-25
  • When the crusader leaders agreed to reward initiative in capturing Antioch, he returned to Firuz 4001, climbed the walls, the gates were opened, and the Turks fled (apart from a few in the citadel) [an unconvincing story] (:) Anna Komnene 334.75-85
  • He was the crusader contact for the Antiochene traitor - Firuz 4001 as a Turk forced into the role by visions from the Christian God; he received Anonymus 4022 as a hostage before the final attack on the wall [idiosyncratic version of Fulcher of Chartres] (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.17.5
  • The crusader leaders decided to rotate the command of the attack on Antioch weekly, and to give the city to whoever was in charge when it was captured; Bohemond was in contol when Firuz 4001 secretly colluded with the Franks, betraying Yaghi Siyan 4001 who had mistreated him (:) الزراد ... وكان يغي سيان صادره وأساء اليه فحمله الحنق على مواطأة الفرنج وتسليم البرج اليهم وكانت نوبة بيمند Ibn Shaddad 311
  • After the crusader leaders had sworn to award Antioch to its captor, he revealed more of his plan and began to put it into operation; he approached the wall and sent Anonymus 4024 to establish contact with Firuz 4001; when the signal was given, he had himself pulled up first on the wall (:) Ralph of Caen 65
  • At dinner after the sack, he cut a large candle in two so that the top half remained burning and the bottom half burst into flame for a time, then went out; this miracle signified the early death of Bohemond 17001 (:) Ralph of Caen 71
Bohemond II Guiscard, prince of Antioch (Bohemond 17001)
  • His untimely death was forecast by Bohemond 61's miracle of the candle, at dinner after the sack of Antioch (:) Ralph of Caen 71
Bohemond, Turkish godson of Bohemond of Taranto (Bohemond 26101)
  • He led Godfrey 51 and Robert 62 by unknown routes into the mountains near the wall of Antioch, so that they could hide their army near the tower guarded by Firuz 4001 (:) Albert of Aachen IV.16
Eustace III, count of Boulogne (Eustace 4001)
  • He was sitting on the left of Bohemond 61 as he performed the miracle of the candle (:) Ralph of Caen 71
Firuz (or al-Zarrad) of Antioch (Firuz 4001)
  • He was suspected, and on day of capture was summoned by Turks under Yaghi Siyan 4001 to advise on preventing treachery; suggested changing guards from tower to tower, regaining credibility and knowing it was too late to change that night (: ) William of Tyre bk. 5, 18.1-59
  • As they watched the crusaders pretending to leave, he tested his brother (Anonymus 4023)'s attitudes to them, and found them hostile; so he began to plot his death, putting safety of so many Christians before his brother's (: ) William of Tyre bk. 5, 20.11-36
  • Was asked by Bohemond 61's messenger (Anonymus 4024) if it was time, told him to wait till chief guard had done his rounds, then sent him back to summon Bohemond and picked men; for safety killed his brother (Anonymus 4023) (: ) William of Tyre bk. 5, 21.8-36
  • Greeted crusaders from battlements, let down a rope and pulled up a rope ladder; realised that first to climb it was Bohemond 61, and congratulated him, then showed him his brother's corpse; later led cruaders to other towers (: ) William of Tyre bk. 5, 21.36-22.6
  • Received good news from Bohemond 61, but learned from his son Anonymus 4022 that a Turkish leader had seduced his wife; spoke of avenging Turkish injustice, and sent his son to Bohemond with full plan for the capture of the city (: ) William of Tyre bk. 5, 17.9-35
  • Bohemond 61 spoke of him to other chiefs as a friend as trustworthy as human eye can detect, willing to hand over a tower to Bohemond, who had promised him and his heirs money, estates and privileges (: ) William of Tyre bk. 5, 16.48-57
  • He proposed that the next day all leaders should march out as if to face Kerbogha 4001, but they should return after nightfall and be ready to act around midnight; Bohemond 61 had proposal approved by meeting of chiefs (: ) William of Tyre bk. 5, 17.33-44
  • He and Anonymus 26118 re-established confidence, and 60 men climbed the wall; they killed Anonymus 26119 and others, then with colleagues outside opened a postern gate and with bugles summoned Godfrey 51 and Robert 62 (:) Albert of Aachen IV.21
  • In collusion with Bohemond 26101, he planned to betray Antioch to Bohemond 61, in return for a payment that would make him as rich as Tancred 61: one reason why Bohemond had to be confirmed as future ruler of Antioch (:) Albert of Aachen IV.15
  • [Alternative reason for betrayal]: his son Anonymus 4022 might have been captured by Bohemond 61, and he might have preferred the boy's life to the survival of the city (:) Albert of Aachen IV.16
  • He was approached on the wall by Anonymus 26118 from Godfrey 51 and Robert 62, who had a concealed army; when confidence had been established, he urged immediate action with active troops to enter the city, with due concern for Anonymus 26119 (:) Albert of Aachen IV.17
  • When the assault troops arrived (from the retinues of different crusaders), Anonymus 26118 asked him to throw down a rope, so that he could pull up the bull's-hide ladder; he did so and tied it firmly, urging the men to climb, which they did (:) Albert of Aachen IV.19
  • After 25 crusaders had climbed, all was quiet, discouraging the rest; the 25 called quietly, and then so many followed that the stone where the ladder was tied broke noisily, causing casualties; nobody noticed, and Firuz retied the ladder (:) Albert of Aachen IV.19-20
  • Eventually, he told Bohemond 61 he was ready to betray Antioch; whenever the time was right, Bohemond himself should show him a token, being ready with ladders, his own men and the whole army to face attacks from the Turks (:) Anna Komnene 332.29-35
  • When he put his treachery into action, he gave Anonymus 4022 as a hostage to Bohemond 61, his contact among the crusaders; on the due day, he admitted 20 crusaders to the city via rope ladders; the wall was captured, the gates opened, the Turks massacred and the city sacked (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.17.5-7
  • Being angry with Yaghi Siyan 4001, who had mistreated him, he handed over to Bohemond 61 a tower he had been ordered to defend (:) واطأ ... على برج كانوا يتولون حفظه وكان يغي سيان صادره وأساء اليه فحمله الحنق على مواطأة الفرنج و تسليم البرج اليهم Ibn Shaddad 311
Fulcher of Chartres, lord of Saruj (Fulcher 4002)
  • It was probably he who, as "Gouel of Chartres", was the young fighter who was the first of the assailants, after Bohemond 61, to climb the rope into Antioch at the time of its capture (:) Gouel Carnotensis Ralph of Caen 66
Godfrey of Bouillon, duke of Lower Lorraine, first Latin ruler of Jerusalem (Godfrey 51)
  • He and Robert 62, to begin the plan of Bohemond 61 to capture the city, took 700 knights as if to attack Kerbogha 4001, but in fact as the force which would storm the walls; they moved silently, guided by Bohemond 26101 (:) Albert of Aachen IV.16
  • Hiding their force on the mountain near the wall, he and Robert 62 sent Anonymus 26118 to Firuz 4001 with a token, a ring Firuz had himself given to Bohemond 61; Firuz told him to bring troops to climb in soon and to beware Anonymus 26119 (:) Albert of Aachen IV.17
  • When Anonymus 26118 returned and demanded brave soldiers to climb into the city, Godfrey and Robert 62 had to encourage them with religious fervour; then they waited, till summoned by bugles to ride into the city by a postern gate (:) Albert of Aachen IV.18-21
Raymond of Saint-Gilles, count of Toulouse (Raymond 61)
  • As the wall of Antioch was betrayed on the mountain, he and other leaders with the main army attacked in their sectors, revealing the secret plan; the Christians of Antioch opened the gates and joined the crusaders in a massacre of Turks (June 3:tercia Nonas mensis Iunii) Albert of Aachen IV.23-25
Robert II, count of Flanders (Robert 62)
  • Was said to have followed Bohemond 61 up the rope ladder into the tower, thus encouraging others in the capture of Antioch (: ) William of Tyre bk. 5, 21.59-61
  • Hiding their force on the mountain near the wall, he and Godfrey 51 sent Anonymus 26118 to Firuz 4001 with a token, a ring Firuz had himself given to Bohemond 61; Firuz told him to bring troops to climb in soon and to beware Anonymus 26119 (:) Albert of Aachen IV.16-17
  • He and Godfrey 51, to begin the plan of Bohemond 61 to capture the city, took 700 knights as if to attack Kerbogha 4001, but in fact as the force which would storm the walls; they moved silently, guided by Bohemond 26101 (:) Albert of Aachen IV.16
  • When Anonymus 26118 returned and demanded brave soldiers to climb into the city, Robert and Godfrey 51 had to encourage them with religious fervour; then they waited, till summoned by bugles to ride into the city by a postern gate (:) Albert of Aachen IV.18-21
  • He was sitting on the right of Bohemond 61 as he performed the miracle of the candle (:) Ralph of Caen 71
Tancred of Hauteville, nephew of Bohemond of Taranto (Tancred 61)
  • Was said to have followed Bohemond 61 up the rope ladder into the tower, thus encouraging others in the capture of Antioch (: ) William of Tyre bk. 5, 21.59-61
  • (Presence uncertain) As the wall of Antioch was betrayed on the mountain, the leaders with the main army attacked in their sectors, revealing the secret plan; the Christians of Antioch opened the gates and joined them in a massacre of Turks (:) Albert of Aachen IV.23-25
  • Immediately after the betrayal of Antioch, he pursued the fleeing Turkish defenders, killing and wounding many [this shows a false understanding of the way Antioch was captured] (:) Anna Komnene 334.85-87
  • He was furious when he heard of Bohemond 61's success, having been away guarding access roads to Antioch; he wondered why Bohemond, who had told all the other leaders of his plans, had kept them secret from his nephew (:) Ralph of Caen 70
Yaghi Siyan of Antioch (Yaghi Siyan 4001)
  • His close associate and palace secretary, Firuz 4001, throughout the siege of Antioch, was secretly informing Bohemond 61 of the situation in the city and his plans (: ) William of Tyre bk. 5, 11.43-52
  • Firuz 4001 was suspected by Turks, and on day of capture he called him into a meeting asking how to prevent treachery; he was impressed by his advice, to change guards from tower to tower, but it was too late to begin that night (: ) William of Tyre bk. 5, 18.1-59