It seems generally agreed that Ioannes II approached Antioch in a fairly aggressive way, that there were skirmishes and considerable fighting in the framework of a siege, particularly around the Gate of the Bridge. This stage may have begun before many of the defenders had left in a vain attempt to defend Montferrand, but it is more likely that Ioannes had not reached the immediate neighbourhood before they went. However the fighting between Christians was stopped before it went too far and an agreement reached. The most fundamental difference in the sources is between Niketas Choniates, who has Ioannes making a visit of several days to the city, and other sources (best exemplified by William of Tyre), who show Raymond of Poitiers only visiting Ioannes' camp outside the city, perhaps as part of the agreement made. Kinnamos stresses that Raymond had begged Ioannes to become Antioch's overlord, provided he recognised Raymond's own status as current ruler. Ioannes refused