Arrival at Askalon of an Egyptian expedition to recapture Jerusalem

Summary:
The caliph of Egypt was angry at the crusaders' success against a newly-won Egyptian province. He gathered forces from all the lands under his dominion, summoned al-Afdal, his commander-in-chief, and ordered him to wipe the crusaders from the map. Al-Afdal had himself captured Jerusalem from the Turks barely eleven months before, so he gladly accepted orders to recover it. His forces included Turks from Syria, since the Christian attack had created a Muslim coalition. Soon after becoming lord of Jerusalem Godfrey of Bouillon heard rumours of the Egyptian attack, so he left garrisons in Jerusalem and went with some of the major crusaders to investigate. Once the news was confirmed, they stayed to hold the road to Jerusalem, sending to the city for aid and calling all crusader forces together. There is no unanimity in the sources over where the major leaders were when they were summoned. Raymond of Toulouse, still smarting over the Tower of David, refused to be hurried. Peter the Hermit and Arnulf of Choques were asked to bring the true cross, to inspire the crusaders against the Egyptian forces. An Arab ex-governor of Ramla warned him to prohibit plundering, because there were many animals left on the battlefield to tempt the crusaders' greed. He was also impressed by the Chrstians' zeal for battle, which Godfrey explained as a desire for martyrdom, making the Arab think of converting 
Dates:
1099 early August 
al-Afdal, vizier of Egypt (al-Afdal 4001)
  • He had himself captured Jerusalem from the Turks barely eleven months before, so he gladly accepted orders to recover it; his forces included Turks from Syria, since the Christian attack had created a Muslim coalition (barely eleven months before:vix mensibus undecim) William of Tyre bk. 9, 10.16-46
  • He was to lead in person an attack on Jerusalem by the huge forces gathered by Anonymus 4028; Godfrey 51 heard the news, defended the road up to Jerusalem, and sent to the city for reinforcements (:) Albert of Aachen VI.41
  • He and Anonymus 4028 were furious at the news of the Frankish invasion, and began to prepare a large army for a counter-expedition; they were even more angry when they heard of the capture of Jerusalem, and al-Afdal rushed to face these new enemies in person (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.31.1
caliph of Egypt (Anonymus 4028)
  • Angry at the crusaders' success against a newly-won Egyptian province, he gathered forces from all the lands under his dominion, summoned al-Afdal 4001, his commander-in-chief, and ordered him to wipe the crusaders from the map (: ) William of Tyre bk. 9, 4-13
  • He and al-Afdal 4001 were furious at the news of the Frankish invasion, and began to prepare a large army for a counter-expedition; they were even more angry when they heard of the capture of Jerusalem, and al-Afdal rushed to face these new enemies in person (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.31.1
Arab ex-governor of Ramla (Anonymus 26136)
  • He decided that he wished to be converted and fight on the side of the Christians against his own race - being baptised either before or after the battle, stories vary (:) Albert of Aachen VI.44
  • He warned Godfrey 51 that the huge numbers of domestic animals on the plains of Askalon were designed to distract the crusaders, who were reputed to prefer booty to defence (:) ... magis prede quam defensioni studerent Albert of Aachen VI.42
  • He observed the joy with which many of the crusaders awaited the battle of Askalon, and was puzzled; Godfrey 51 expained that the men were singing with happiness because they expected purification, salvation and eternal life (:) Albert of Aachen VI.43
Arnulf of Choques, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem (Arnulf 4001)
  • He was asked to join with Petros 61 and to bring the True Cross to inspire the crusaders against the Egyptian forces at Askalon (:) Albert of Aachen VI.41
  • He, like Petros 61 and the other priests, signed the exultant troops with the cross for the battle of Askalon and strengthened them with confession; they ignored the plunder - in fact the astonished animals marched with the army (:) Albert of Aachen VI.43
Eustace III, count of Boulogne (Eustace 4001)
  • He joined Godfrey 51, with Robert 62 and Tancred 61, in investigating rumours of an Egyptian attack from Askalon; when the news was confirmed, they stayed to hold the road up to Jerusalem, sending to the city for reinforcements (:) Albert of Aachen VI.41
  • Heard of Egyptian attack while away from Jerusalem, but hastened to join other leaders; by capturing the enemies' animals, they made their army seem larger, so that they easily won the battle near Askalon and great booty: in association with Tancred 61 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 9, 11.1-12.66
Godfrey of Bouillon, duke of Lower Lorraine, first Latin ruler of Jerusalem (Godfrey 51)
  • He heard by chance that massive Egyptian forces would land at Askalon, including many exotic troops; he and his companions, Robert 62, Tancred 61 and Eustace 4001, stayed to hold the road up to Jerusalem, sending to the city for reinforcements (:) Albert of Aachen VI.41
  • He told Raymond 61 (who needed to be pressurised) and Robert 63 to mobilise all available troops, leaving a minimal garrison, while Petros 61 and Arnulf 4001 should bring the True Cross, to meet the enemy at Askalon (:) Albert of Aachen VI.41
  • On news of Egyptian attack, held services and went out to confirm it, then summoned other leaders; by capturing the enemies' animals, they made their army seem larger, so that they easily won the battle near Askalon and great booty: in association with Robert 62 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 9, 11.1-12.66
  • When he united the Christian forces on the plains of Askalon, they found huge numbers of domestic animals all round them; he was warned by Anonymus 26136 that their purpose was to distract the crusaders, who were reputed to prefer booty to defence (:) ... magis prede quam defensioni studerent Albert of Aachen VI.42
  • By his answers to the puzzled questions of Anonymus 26136, who did not understand why the Christians were so exultant before battle, he persuaded him to convert to Christianity - being baptised either before or after the battle, stories vary (:) Albert of Aachen VI.43-44
  • Five weeks after becoming lord of Jerusalem he heard rumours of an Egyptian attack; leaving garrisons in Jerusalem he went with other leaders and learned near Askalon that al-Afdal 4001 was sailing with huge forces and rich equipment against them (:) Albert of Aachen VI.41
  • When he heard of the Egyptian attack, he met it boldly at Askalon with the True Cross; when the army camped, they found many domestic animals near the battlefield, which followed them in the battle as if in formation, inflating the apparent crusader numbers (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.31.3-5
Peter the Hermit (Petros 61)
  • He was asked to join with Arnulf 4001 and to bring the True Cross to inspire the crusaders against the Egyptian forces at Askalon (:) Albert of Aachen VI.41
  • He, like Arnulf 4001 and the other priests, signed the exultant troops with the cross for the battle of Askalon and strengthened them with confession; their joy puzzled Anonymus 26136, who was told they expected martyrdom (:) Albert of Aachen VI.43
Raymond of Saint-Gilles, count of Toulouse (Raymond 61)
  • He was asked by Godfrey 51 to mobilise all his troops, leave a minimal garrison in Jerusalem, and join the other crusaders near Askalon to defend against an Egyptian attack; being still envious over the Tower of David, he needed extra pressure (:) Albert of Aachen VI.41-42
  • Remained at Jerusalem till news of Egyptian attack was confirmed, but hastened to join other leaders; by capturing the enemies' animals, they made their army seem larger, so that they easily won the battle near Askalon and great booty (: ) William of Tyre bk. 9, 11.1-12.66
Robert II, count of Flanders (Robert 62)
  • On news of Egyptian attack, held services and went out to confirm it, then summoned other leaders; by capturing the enemies' animals, they made their army seem larger, so that they easily won the battle near Askalon and great booty: in association with Godfrey 51 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 9, 11.1-12.66
  • After Jerusalem was captured, he helped Godfrey 51, with Tancred 61 and Eustace 4001, to examine rumours of an Egyptian attack from Askalon; when it was confirmed, they stayed to hold the road to Jerusalem, sending to the city for aid (:) Albert of Aachen VI.41
Robert [Curthose], count [duke] of Normandy (Robert 63)
  • He was asked by Godfrey 51 to mobilise all available troops, leave a minimal garrison in Jerusalem, and move down to Askalon to join the other crusaders in defending against an Egyptian attack (:) Albert of Aachen VI.41
Tancred of Hauteville, nephew of Bohemond of Taranto (Tancred 61)
  • He joined Godfrey 51, with Robert 62 and Eustace 4001, in investigating rumours of an Egyptian attack from Askalon; when the news was confirmed, they stayed to hold the road up to Jerusalem, sending to the city for reinforcements (:) Albert of Aachen VI.41
  • Heard of Egyptian attack while away from Jerusalem, but hastened to join other leaders; by capturing the enemies' animals, they made their army seem larger, so that they easily won the battle near Askalon and great booty: in association with Eustace 4001 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 9, 11.1-12.66