Defeat of Aksungur al-Bursuki by combined crusader armies at 'Azaz

Summary:
Baldwin II and his allies fought in the battle of 'Azaz against the Muslim invader Aksungur al-Bursuki. He placed the Antiochenes on the right, Pons of Tripoli and Joscelin of Edessa on the left, and himself in the centre. They routed Aksungur and captured rich spoils, with which (and the help of friends) he paid off his own ransom and recovered a five-year-old hostage, his daughter Iveta 
Dates:
1125, June 11 
Baldwin of Bourcq, Baldwin II, king of Jerusalem (Baldwin 52)
  • In battle of 'Azaz, placed Antiochenes on right, Pons 4002 and Joscelin 4001 on left, and himself in centre; routed Bursuq 4002 and captured rich spoils, with which (and help of friends) he paid off his ransom, recovering five-year-old hostage Iveta 4001 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 13, 16.37-70
  • He arrived at 'Azaz before it fell and fought with the combined Frankish armies against Bursuq 4002 and Tughtigin 4001; he had Antiochenes on the right, Pons 4002 and Joscelin 4001 on the left, while he led the centre and the denser formations in the rear (June 11: Idibus in ternis cum Iunius aestuat auris) Fulcher of Chartres 3.42.7-8
  • In the battle of 'Azaz, the Turks at first resisted bravely, hand-to-hand; but then with Christian battle-cries the Franks prevailed, routed them and took huge quantities of booty; with this Baldwin was able to pay off his own ransom and those of others, his intimates, especially his five-year-old daughter Iveta 4001 (:) Fulcher of Chartres 3.42.8-3.44.2
Aksungur al-Bursuki, governor of Mosul (Bursuq 4002)
  • Invaded Antiochene territory and devastated it; in alliance with Tughtigin 4001 captured Kafartab; besieged Zerdana unsuccessfully and moved on to attack 'Azaz, where he was attacked and defeated by Baldwin 52 and the united Latin army (: ) William of Tyre bk. 13, 16.1-64
  • He was completely defeated by the combined Christian armies at the battle of 'Azaz, and returned in despair to Mosul; he lost so much booty that Baldwin 52 was able to use it to pay his own ransom for his recent imprisonment and those of the hostages he had given (:) Fulcher of Chartres 
Iveta/Yvette, daughter of Baldwin II of Jerusalem (Iveta 4001)
  • As a five-year-old was given as hostage for her father, when he was released from captivity; she was set free when he paid the ransom, chiefly from spoils of battle of 'Azaz (: ) William of Tyre bk. 13, 13.68-70
  • At the age of five, she became part of the process to release her father Baldwin 52 from a Muslim gaol; she (with others) became a hostage for the unpaid part of his ransom, but was released when the money was paid, largely out of the booty from the battle of 'Azaz (:) Fulcher of Chartres 3.44.2
Joscelin I of Courtenay, count of Edessa (Joscelin 4001)
  • Went to aid of Antiochenes against ravages of Bursuq 4002, and with Pons 4002 was placed by Baldwin 52 on left wing of Latin army in victorious battle of 'Azaz (: ) William of Tyre bk. 13, 16.35-41
  • He was part of the Frankish army which marched to Azaz to protect Antiochene cities from the attacks of Bursuq 4002; he was placed by Baldwin 52 on the left wing of the army in the victorious battle of 'Azaz (:) Fulcher of Chartres 3.42.6-10
Pons, count of Tripoli (Pons 4002)
  • Went to aid of Antiochenes against ravages of Bursuq 4002, and with Joscelin 4001 was placed by Baldwin 52 on left wing of Latin army in victorious battle of 'Azaz (: ) William of Tyre bk. 13, 16.35-41
  • He was part of the Frankish army which marched to Azaz to protect Antiochene cities from the attacks of Bursuq 4002; he was placed by Baldwin 52 on the left wing of the army in the victorious battle of 'Azaz (:) Fulcher of Chartres 3.42.6-10