Beginning of attack on Tyre with aid of the Venetians

Summary:
In the face of the Frankish assault, the caliph of Egypt gave one-third of the overlordship of Tyre to Tughtakin of Damascus, who was much closer at hand for the defence. He also encouraged several diversionary raids from Askalon on Jerusalem, but Tyrian appeals for a major naval relief force never bore fruit. Tughtakin sent 700 knights from Damascus who formed the backbone of the resistance: the Tyrians were unwarlike. Gormond the patriarch, with the barons governing Jerusalem in the captivity of Baldwin II, joined the Venetians in surrounding Tyre on February 16. Siege towers and artillery were constructed, considerably improved by the hard work of Havedic, an artillery expert from Antioch, who was paid out of the public treasury. The arrival of Pons of Tripoli to join the siege was a bad blow for the defenders 
Dates:
1124 February 
al-Amir, caliph of Egypt (Anonymus 4040)
  • Had granted one-third of the overlordship of Tyre to Tughtigin 4001, as close at hand; encouraged diversionary raids from Askalon on Jerusalem, but Tyrian appeals for a major naval relief force never bore fruit (: ) William of Tyre bk. 13, 5.21-12.14
Domenico Michiel, doge of Venice (Domenico 4001)
  • Together with Gormond 4001 and barons of Jerusalem (in absence of Baldwin 52) reached Tyre on 16 February, surrounded it, building siege towers and artillery; fierce battles began more with Damascene defenders than with unwarlike Tyrians (16 February:quinto decimo Kalendas Marcii) William of Tyre bk. 13, 4.1-7.22
  • He and his Venetians joined the men of Jerusalem (under Gormond 4001 in the absence of Baldwin 52) in surrounding Tyre and beginning the assault (February 15-16: XV Kalend. Martii) Fulcher of Chartres 3.28.1
Gormond/Garmond of Piquigny, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem (Gormond 4001)
  • Together with barons of Jerusalem (in absence of Baldwin 52) and Venetians, reached Tyre on 16 February, surrounded it and built siege towers and artillery; fierce battles began more with Damascene defenders than with unwarlike Tyrians (16 February:quinto decimo Kalendas Marcii) William of Tyre bk. 13, 4.1-7.22
  • in the absence of Baldwin 52, he and the men of Jerusalem joined the Venetians under Domenico 4001 in surrounding Tyre and beginning the assault (February 15-16: XV Kalend. Martii) Fulcher of Chartres 3.28.1
Havedic, artillery expert (Havedic 4001)
  • Was summoned from Antioch to advise on the siege of Tyre and paid out of the public treasury; he worked hard, and made a considerable difference to the artillery assault (: ) William of Tyre bk. 13, 10.18-32
Pons, count of Tripoli (Pons 4002)
  • His arrival to join sige of Tyre was a bad blow for the defenders; with William 4015 opposed approaching Tughtigin 4001; he knighted Anonymus 4041, who brought news of death of Balak 4001, shared in the peace negotiations and final success (: ) William of Tyre bk. 13, 7.3-13.42
Tughtakin, atabeg of Damascus (Tughtigin 4001)
  • Had received a third of Tyre from Anonymus 4040, and 700 knights from Damascus formed the backbone of defence; on a desperate appeal from defenders he came and camped nearby, but without help from Egypt he dared not attack and withdrew (: ) William of Tyre bk. 12, 5.21-9.54