Victorious attack on the army of Kerbogha outside Antioch, which broke up in panic

Summary:
As the crusaders prepared to fight Kerbogha by confession and communion, Adhemar and his clerics raised morale by circulating with crosses and images of the saints, promising indulgences, with fasting, prayer and alms. Once the formation was complete, Hugh of Vermandois led it out with Robert of Flanders and Robert of Normandy; behind, the cavalry followed the infantry, plundering being banned till victory was won. They first defeated a Turkish attempt to stop them leaving Antioch. As battle began, Anselm of Ribemont attacked so spectacularly as to leave an unforgettable mark of heroism. He was well supported by Hugh of Vermandois, Robert of Flanders, Robert of Normandy, Baldwin of Hainault and Eustace of Boulogne. Kerbogha heard that the crusaders had left Antioch and defeated his advance party. [Fulcher of Chartres and Ralph of Caen reported that he decided, too late, to accept the proposals of Peter the Hermit.] When the crusader lines were complete he stopped playing chess and skilfully but contemptuously drew up his own army, sending shorewards an elite corps under Kilic Arslan I, to crush the crusaders as they fled. The front line of the crusaders pushed the enemy back over a stream. As this frontal attack succeeded, Kilic Arslan attacked Bohemond in the rear, burning stubble to sow confusion; Bohemond, despite personal bravery and the support of Robert FitzGerard and his standard, which showed the Cross, was nearly defeated. But Godfrey and Tancred came to aid him, and were eventually victorious. When the Turks made a stand on a small hill against the crusaders' front line, they were dislodged 
Dates:
1098 June 28 
Adam, son of Michael (Adam 26101)
  • In the battle against Kerbogha 4001, seeing the aid offered by Godfrey 51 and Hugh 4001, he and Bohemond 61 took the initiative, especially against Turks making a stand on a mountain top; they charged through them, and the battle became a rout (:) Albert of Aachen IV.52
Adhemar of le Puy (Adhemar 4001)
  • As crusaders prepared for battle against Kerbogha 4001 by confession and communion, he led clerics who raised their morale by circulating with crosses and images of the saints, promising indulgences, with fasting, prayer and alms (: ) William of Tyre bk. 6, 16.32-63
  • He with Provençal troops blocked attempts of Kerbogha 4001 to change his position, to save his defeated troops; Adhemar and the Holy Lance seemed to paralyse Kerbogha; when at last he fled, Adhemar pursued him, but not far, through lack of horses (:) Albert of Aachen IV.52
Amasa of Niz, unidentified Turkish ruler (Amasa 26101)
  • In the battle at the end of the siege of Antioch, he was defeated in fierce fighting by Godfrey 51 (:) Albert of Aachen IV.50
Amirdalis, amir, advisor of Kerbogha (Amirdalis 101)
  • As the Frankish leaders came out, Amirdalis identified them, realising they were coming to fight; he told Kerbogha to stop playing chess, especially when he saw the papal banner over the third division; Kerbogha decided to grant the terms requested by Petros 61, but too late (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.22.4-7
messenger from Bohemond who summoned aid (Anonymus 26122)
Anselm of Ribemont (Anselm 4001)
Balduk of Samosata (Balduk 4001)
  • In the battle at the end of the siege of Antioch, he was defeated in fierce fighting by Godfrey 51 (:) Albert of Aachen IV.50
Baldwin of Mons, count of Hainault (Baldwin 4004)
  • At outset of battle against Kerbogha 4001, supported unforgettable heroism of Anselm 4001 and routed enemy advance party (: ) William of Tyre bk. 6, 18.33-46
  • When the Christian archers beat Turkish archers to sieze the bridge near the city, he supported the great charge of Anselm 4001, together with Hugh 4001, Robert 62, Robert 63 and Eustace 4001, dividing the Turkish army (:) Albert of Aachen IV.49
Boesas, unidentified Turkish ruler (Boesas 26101)
  • In the battle at the end of the siege of Antioch, he was defeated in fierce fighting by Godfrey 51 (:) Albert of Aachen IV.50
Bohemond of Taranto (Bohemond 61)
  • As crusaders' frontal attack succeeded, Kilic Arslan 51 attacked his corps in rear; despite personal bravery, he was nearly defeated; but Godfrey 51 and Tancred 61 came to equalise the battle, and were eventually victorious (: ) William of Tyre bk. 6, 20.36-21.11
  • His large division was attacked by Karageth 26101 and Ridwan 4001, who tried to outflank and break his men; the Turks confused and overwhelmed them, so that they would have been massacred but for Anonymus 26122, who summoned aid (:) Albert of Aachen IV.50
  • Seeing the vigorous reinforcement offered by Godfrey 51 and Hugh 4001, he and Adam 26101 took the initiative, especially against some Turks who made a stand on a mountain top; they charged through them, and the battle became a rout (:) Albert of Aachen IV.52
  • He fought in the battle against Kerbogha 4001 at a distance from other leaders, together with Robert 4009, who carried his standard showing the cross; they were indomitable, and repeatedly drove through the enemy lines (:) Ralph of Caen 87
Eustace III, count of Boulogne (Eustace 4001)
  • When the Christian archers beat Turkish archers to sieze the bridge near the city, he supported the great charge of Anselm 4001, together with Hugh 4001, Robert 62, Robert 63 and Baldwin 4004, dividing the Turkish army (:) Albert of Aachen IV.49
  • At outset of battle against Kerbogha 4001, supported unforgettable heroism of Anselm 4001 and routed enemy advance party (: ) William of Tyre bk. 6, 18.33-46
Garnier (Warner), count of Grez (Garnier 4001)
Godfrey of Bouillon, duke of Lower Lorraine, first Latin ruler of Jerusalem (Godfrey 51)
Henry of Esch (Henry 4001)
Hugh of Vermandois, brother of Philip I of France (Hugh 4001)
  • Once formation was complete, he led out army with Robert 62 and Robert 63; behind, cavalry followed infantry, and plundering was banned till victory was won; his men defeated Turkish attempt to keep them inside Antioch (: ) William of Tyre bk. 6, 18.1-33
  • He defeated Turkish advance party, who had come forward on foot; they struggled to reach their horses, against unforgettable heroism of Anselm 4001, which, with support from Hugh and others, routed them (: ) William of Tyre bk. 6, 18.31-46
  • In the front line of the crusaders outside Antioch, which pushed the enemy back over a stream; when the Turks made a stand on a small hill, they were forcibly dislodged; Kerbogha 4001 fled and the battle was won: in association with Robert 62 and Robert 63 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 6, 21.1-17
  • He was enjoying the victory gained with the first charge of the battle, when he saw Godfrey 51 turning urgently towards the threatened division of Bohemond 61; he aided Godfrey in forcing the attackers back and chasing them off (:) Albert of Aachen IV.51
  • When the Christian archers beat Turkish archers to sieze the bridge near the city, he supported the great charge of Anselm 4001, together with Robert 62, Robert 63, Baldwin 4004 and Eustace 4001, dividing the Turkish army (:) Albert of Aachen IV.49
Karageth of Karan (Karageth 26101)
  • He and Ridwan 4001, seeing the success of Kilic Arslan 51, tried to outflank and break the division of Bohemond 61; they confused and overwhelmed them, so that they would have been massacred but for Anonymus 26122, who summoned aid (:) Albert of Aachen IV.50
Kerbogha of Mosul (Kerbogha 4001)
  • Learning of crusader exodus from citadel and defeated advance party, he skilfully but contemptuously drew up his army, sending towards the shore an elite corps under Kilic Arslan 51, to crush crusaders as they fled (: ) William of Tyre bk. 6, 20.1-18
  • Watched the battle outside Antioch at a distance from a small hill, keeping contact by messenger; when he saw all his troops fleeing, he rushed to the Euphrates by relays of horses, completing the defeat (: ) William of Tyre bk. 6, 21.17-30
  • Before the battle he asked Shams al-Dawla 26101, who could watch the crusaders from the citadel, to indicate with a black flag when they were preparing for battle; the flag was shown, confirming the warning of Petros 61 and making him ready (:) Albert of Aachen IV.48
  • The battle began with Robert 62 praying and then charging straight at him, on a hill-top; fighting was over almost before it began, with God's aid; many Turks were killed especially in crossing rivers, where the dead became bridges for the living (:) Anna Komnene 341.17-28
  • He had taken up a position to one side of the crusaders and was unable to change it, to help his defeated troops, because Adhemar 4001 and the Provençals blocked his way, holding high the Holy Lance, which seemed to paralyse him (:) Albert of Aachen IV.52
  • As the Frankish leaders appeared, they were identified for him by Amirdalis 101, who told him they were coming to fight, and advised him to stop playing chess when he saw the papal banner over the third division; Kerbogha decided, too late, to accept the proposals of Petros 61 (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.22.4-8
  • The Muslim army fled in disarray under Turcoman attack and he was left alone with a few soldiers; he therefore set fire to his encampment and his tent and fled toward Aleppo; though at first the enemy held back, thinking it a trick, the remains of his camp were soon looted and those too late to escape were killed (:) عاثت التركمان في عسكر المسلمين فانهزم العسكر وبقي كربوقا وحده في قليل من العسكر ... واحرق كربوقا خيامه وسرادقه وانهزم نحو حلب فنهبت الفرنج ما تركه المسلمون وفتلوا من تأخر Ibn Shaddad 310
  • He was playing chess when the crusader divisions began to leave Antioch, and did not look up from his game till most were deployed; some Christian prisoners identified the enemy leaders for him and he quite soon changed from arrogance to terror (:) Ralph of Caen 85-86
Kilic Arslan I, Seljuk sultan (Kilic Arslan 51)
  • Was sent by Kerbogha 4001 with elite corps to rear of the crusaders towards the coast, to crush them as they fled; but when their frontal assault was achieving success, he furiously attacked Bohemond 61 in the rear, so that he needed help (: ) William of Tyre bk. 6, 20.41-51
  • He almost defeated corps of Bohemond 61, despite latter's personal bravery; but Godfrey 51 and Tancred 61 came and equalised the battle; he gained advantage by setting fire to the stubble, but was finally defeated (: ) William of Tyre bk. 6, 20.48-72
  • He was presented in the narrative of the battle at the end of the siege of Antioch as a kind of second-in-command to Kerbogha 4001 (:) Albert of Aachen IV.48
  • When the Christian archers took the bridge near the city, a great charge from Anselm 4001 and other leaders drove Kilic Arslan and Rosseleon 26101 away from the rest of the Turkish army, towards the mountains and the crusaders' fifth division (:) Albert of Aachen IV.49
  • In trying to outflank the crusaders he chanced upon their fifth division: Reinhard 4001, Petros 4002, Walter 4002, Henry 4001, Reinhard 4002 and Garnier 4001; he set fire to grasses and bushes and massacred their infantry, wounding knights also (:) Albert of Aachen IV.49-50
Peter the Hermit (Petros 61)
  • It was reported that after the battle began, Kerbogha 4001 decided, too late, to accept his proposals (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.22.8
Peter, count of Astenois (Petros 4002)
Pulagit, unidentified Muslim ruler (Pulagit 26101)
  • In the battle at the end of the siege, he was defeated in fierce fighting by Godfrey 51 (:) Albert of Aachen IV.50
Raymond of Saint-Gilles, count of Toulouse (Raymond 61)
  • As he was seriously ill at time of the battle against Kerbogha 4001, he was left to guard the city against surprise attacks from the still unconquered citadel; his men were led in the fourth corps of the army by Adhemar 4001 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 6, 17.15-44
  • In the battle against Kerbogha 4001, since he was a little unwell, he was left to protect the city from the Turks who still held the citadel (:) Albert of Aachen IV.48
Rainald III, count of Toul (Reinhard 4001)
Reinhard of Hamersbach (Reinhard 4002)
Fakhr al-Mulk Ridwan, ruler of Aleppo (Ridwan 4001)
Robert II, count of Flanders (Robert 62)
  • Once formation was complete, he led out army with Hugh 4001 and Robert 63; behind, cavalry followed infantry, and plundering was banned till victory was won; supported unforgettable heroism of Anselm 4001 and routed enemy advance party (: ) William of Tyre bk. 6, 18.1-46
  • In the front line of the crusaders outside Antioch, which pushed the enemy back over a stream; when the Turks made a stand on a small hill, they were forcibly dislodged; Kerbogha 4001 fled and the battle was won: in association with Hugh 4001 and Robert 63 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 6, 21.1-17
  • When the Christian archers beat Turkish archers to sieze the bridge near the city, he supported the great charge of Anselm 4001, together with Hugh 4001, Robert 63, Baldwin 4004 and Eustace 4001, dividing the Turkish army (:) Albert of Aachen IV.49
  • As the crusaders made an attack from a hidden gate, he begged for the right to ride at the head of the army with three companions: it was granted; as battle began, he knelt and prayed three times for God's aid, then charged straight at Kerbogha 4001 on a hill-top (:) Anna Komnene 341.13-22
Robert [Curthose], count [duke] of Normandy (Robert 63)
  • Once formation was complete, he led out army with Hugh 4001 and Robert 62; behind, cavalry followed infantry, and plundering was banned till victory was won; supported unforgettable heroism of Anselm 4001 and routed enemy advance party (: ) William of Tyre bk. 6, 18.1-46
  • In the front line of the crusaders outside Antioch, which pushed the enemy back over a stream; when the Turks made a stand on a small hill, they were forcibly dislodged; Kerbogha 4001 fled and the battle was won: in association with Hugh 4001 and Robert 62 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 6, 21.1-17
  • When the Christian archers beat Turkish archers to sieze the bridge near the city, he supported the great charge of Anselm 4001, together with Hugh 4001, Robert 62, Baldwin 4004 and Eustace 4001, dividing the Turkish army (:) Albert of Aachen IV.49
Robert FitzGerard (Robert 4009)
  • He fought as a heavily-armed horseman in the battle against Kerbogha 4001 carrying the standard of Bohemond 61 which showed the cross; this blinded the enemy; the two Christians were indomitable, and repeatedly drove through the enemy lines (:) Ralph of Caen 87
Rosseleon, a (mythical?) amir of Yaghi Siyan of Antioch (Rosseleon 26101)
  • When the Christian archers took the bridge near the city, a great charge from Anselm 4001 and other leaders drove Kilic Arslan 51 and Rosseleon away from the rest of the Turkish army, towards the mountains and the crusaders' fifth division (:) Albert of Aachen IV.49
Shams al-Dawla, son of Yaghi Siyan of Antioch (Shams al-Dawla 26101)
  • He could watch the crusaders from the citadel, and so was asked by Kerbogha 4001 to indicate with a black flag when they were preparing for battle; he showed the flag, confirming the warning of Petros 61 and making Kerbogha ready (:) Albert of Aachen IV.48
Tancred of Hauteville, nephew of Bohemond of Taranto (Tancred 61)
  • His corps was called back from frontal assault to assist Bohemond 61, who was attacked by Kilic Arslan 51 in the rear; the Turks, despite burning the stubble, were eventually defeated: in association with Godfrey 51 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 6, 20.51-21.11
Walter of St-Valery, viscount of Dom(ed)art-en-Penthieu (Walter 4002)