Baldwin I after a reckless attack was lucky to survive the second Battle of Ramla

Summary:
The first news Baldwin I had of another Egyptian invasion was when Robert, bishop of Lydda, rushed to Jerusalem to report it. Ramla had been attacked by a huge Egyptian army, Hagios Georgios nearby [at Lydda] had been investigated (maybe burned) and all the crops detroyed. Robert expected the Egyptians to attack Jerusalem. Baldwin and the nobles with him armed themselves, some visitors delayed by contrary winds needing to borrow horses, and rode to Ramla. There they immediately charged the enemy army, cutting through its ranks, only discovering at the last minute its huge size. The Franks were too few, and were beaten. Baldwin's first charge was defeated, with heavy losses; he with fifty men was let in the gate of Ramla. The heavy casualties included Geoffrey Jordan of Vendome, Ralph of Aalst, Gerbod of Scheldewindeke, Gerard of Avesnes, Stabelo the chamberlain, Hosto of Rivira, Hugh of Almaz, Hugh Botuns and Gerard Barson. Many others fled to Jaffa, including Ado of Quierzy, Lithard of Cambrai, Roger of Rozoy, Philip of Bouillon, Baldwin of Heestert, Walter of Berga and Hugh of Bourcq. Near Jaffa they met a force coming to help Baldwin, but when they heard of his defeat they turned back with the fugitives. Robert, bishop of Lydda, also escaped to Jaffa 
Dates:
1102 May 17-19 
Ado of Quierzy (Ado 26101)
Amerimnes, sultan of Egypt (Amerimnes 15001)
  • On the day after he lost a battle outside Askalon to Godfrey 51 (1199), he won the second battle of Ramla (1103), taking Godfrey [sic] prisoner to Egypt; he was then defeated by Baldwin 51 [seriously confused] (:) Anna Komnene 342.56-343.69
Baldwin of Boulogne, Baldwin I, king of Jerusalem (Baldwin 51)
  • Heard of another Egyptian invasion; attacked recklessly and did not realise his peril till it was too late; was badly defeated with heavy losses in the second Battle of Ramla, taking refuge in the citadel of that town (: ) William of Tyre bk. 10, 19(20).1-37
  • Was saved from citadel of Ramla by Anonymus 4032 in gratitude for the favour Baldwin did for his wife, Anonyma 4009; escaped, hungry and thirsty, through enemy lines to Arsuf; all others in citadel were captured and massacred (: ) William of Tyre bk. 10, 20(21).1-21(22).12
  • His first charge was defeated, with heavy crusader losses; he with fifty men was let in the gate of Ramla; many others fled to Jaffa, where they met a force coming to help Baldwin; they heard of his defeat and turned back with the fugitives (:) Albert of Aachen IX.4
  • When told by Robert 26101 of the Egyptian attack, he and the nobles with him armed themselves and rode to Ramla, where they immediately charged the vastly superior enemy army, cutting through its ranks; but they were too few, and were beaten (May:appropriante ... festo sancti Pentecostes) Albert of Aachen IX.3-4
  • He is said to have absented himself from the second battle of Ramla, not out of cowardice, but to be able to recover the situation; he soon collected surviving forces and won another battle, then ransomed Godfrey 51 [sic] from Egypt; he was then sent to Edessa [sic] (:) Anna Komnene 342.56-343.83
  • He heard of another great Egyptian invasion from Robert 26101, who reported on its results near Ramla and Lydda; Baldwin was at Jaffa with many of the survivors of the crusade of 1101, who were waiting (without horses) for a fair wind to travel home [there follows a flashback to 1101] (:) Fulcher of Chartres 2.15.1-6
  • Robert 26101 reported the arrival of Egyptians at Ramla; he was waiting at Jaffa, for a favourable wind for Stephanos 4001, and probably Geoffrey 4001, Stephanos 4003 and Hugh 4003; he at once rode to Ramla, followed by the delayed visitors on borrowed horses (:) Fulcher of Chartres 2.18.3-4
  • His immediate attack with his companions, not waiting for his army to assemble, was reckless and reprehensible; at the last moment he shouted, realising that the numerical odds were impossible; his little band sold their lives dearly, but were defeated, and he with a few survivors escaped to Ramla fort (:) Fulcher of Chartres 2.18.5-9
Baldwin of Ramla (or Heestert) (Baldwin 26104)
Conrad, once constable of the western emperor Henry IV (Conrad 26102)
  • After the battle he was besieged in a weak tower of Ramla town, with Stephanos 4001, Stephanos 4003, Eudes 26101 and others; as the tower was undermined and filled with smoke, he came out and fought so well that he was able to surrender honourably (:) Albert of Aachen IX.5-6
Eudes Arpin of Bourges (Eudes 26101)
  • After the battle he was besieged in a weak tower of Ramla town, with Stephanos 4001, Stephanos 4003, Conrad 26102 and others; as the tower was undermined and filled with smoke; he came out and surrendered honourably, as a knight of Alexios 1 (:) Albert of Aachen IX.5-6
Geoffrey Jordan, count of Vendôme (Geoffrey 4001)
  • Casualties at the second battle of Ramla were heavy: he, with Radulf 108, Gerbod 26101, Gerard 26104, Stabelo 26101, Hosto 26101, Hugh 26106, Hugh 26105 and Gerard 26106 perished among the enemy at the beginning of the battle Albert of Aachen IX.4
  • He had Easter ceremonial in Jerusalem, then was apparently waiting in vain at Jaffa for the right wind; Baldwin 51, also at Jaffa, heard that the Egyptians were at Ramla; Baldwin mounted and rode there, followed by Geoffrey and other visitors on borrowed horses; Geoffrey died at Ramla (:) Fulcher of Chartres 2.18.3-4
Gerard of Avesnes (Gerard 26104)
Gerard Barson (Gerard 26106)
Gerbod of Scheldewindeke (Gerbod 26101)
Hosto, count of Rivira (Hosto 26101)
Hugh of Lusignan (Hugh 4003)
  • He had Easter ceremonial in Jerusalem, then was apparently waiting in vain at Jaffa for the right wind; Baldwin 51, also at Jaffa, heard that the Egyptians were at Ramla; Baldwin mounted and rode there, followed by Hugh and other visitors on borrowed horses; Hugh died at Ramla (:) Fulcher of Chartres 2.18.3-4
Hugh Botuns (Hugh 26105)
Hugh of Almaz (Hugh 26106)
Hugh of Bourcq (Hugh 26107)
Lithard of Cambrai (Lithard 26101)
Philip of Bouillon (Philippos 26101)
Rodulf of Aalst (Radulf 108)
Robert of Rouen, bishop of Lydda (and Ramla) (Robert 26101)
  • Ramla was attacked by a huge Egyptian army, Hagios Georgios nearby [at Lydda] was burned and all crops detroyed; Robert rushed to Jerusalem to report this to Baldwin 51, as the Egyptians would be planning to recover the capital (May:appropriante ... festo sancti Pentecostes) Albert of Aachen IX.2
  • He sent Baldwin 51 first news of another large Egyptian invasion, which ravaged the country round Ramla, harried the peasants, tested local defences and attacked Robert himself; Baldwin was at Jaffa, where many survivors of the crusade of 1101 were waiting for a fair wind for home (:) Fulcher of Chartres 2.15.1-6
  • During the second battle of Ramla, he managed to escape from Lydda and reached safety at Jaffa (:) Fulcher of Chartres 2.19.3
Roger of Rozoy (Roger 26101)
Stabelo, chamberlain of Godfrey de Bouillon (Stabelo 26101)
Stephen, count of Chartres and Blois (Stephanos 4001)
  • Died fighting against great odds in the second Battle of Ramla; it is good that God allowed him by this glorious end to wipe out the disgrace accruing from his desertion at Antioch William of Tyre bk. 10, 19(20).37-49
  • After the battle of Ramla he was besieged in a weak tower of Ramla town, with Stephanos 4003, Conrad 26102, Eudes 26101 and others; as the tower was undermined and filled with smoke he came out and fought, but was beheaded Albert of Aachen IX.5-6
  • He had Easter ceremonial in Jerusalem, then was waiting in vain at Jaffa for the right wind; Baldwin 51, also at Jaffa, heard that the Egyptians were at Ramla; Baldwin mounted and rode there, followed by Stephanos and other visitors on borrowed horses; Stephanos died at Ramla (:) Fulcher of Chartres 2.18.3-2.19.4
Stephen, count of Burgundy (Stephanos 4003)
  • Died fighting against great odds in the second Battle of Ramla William of Tyre bk. 10, 19(20).37
  • After the battle of Ramla he was besieged in a weak tower of Ramla town, with Stephanos 4001, Conrad 26102, Eudes 26101 and others; as the tower was undermined and filled with smoke he came out and fought, but was beheaded Albert of Aachen IX.5-6
  • He had Easter ceremonial in Jerusalem, then was apparently waiting in vain at Jaffa for the right wind; Baldwin 51, also at Jaffa, heard that the Egyptians were at Ramla; Baldwin mounted and rode there, followed by Stephanos and other visitors on borrowed horses; Stephanos died at Ramla (:) Fulcher of Chartres 2.18.3-2.19.4
Walter of Berga (Walter 26105)