'Imad al-Din Zanki decided to attack Edessa. He gathered a huge army, and was also able to exploit a quarrel between Raymond of Antioch and count Joscelin of Edessa, which had reached open enmity, and made both less active than they should have been in Edessa's defence. Joscelin had also shifted his residence from the old capital of the county to Tell Beshir. The defenders of Edessa were Armenians and Syrians, with few Latins, protected by strong walls and ill-paid mercenaries. Zanki was able to gather his forces and surround Edessa with little interference, and mounted an effective siege, so that the inhabitants began to starve. News of the impending disaster spread everywhere among Christians. At Jerusalem, queen Melisende called a meeting of her council, and a strong force was sent to help, under the command of Manasses the royal constable, Philip of Nablus and Elinandus of Tiberias. Zanki's men were encouraged in assaulting the massive walls by the fact that there was little real defence. He was particularly successful in mining a large length of wall, which collapsed, leaving a huge breach. Zanki's men burst in and began a general massacre, and the confusion was such that it was impossible to take refuge in the inner citadel, where many (including Hugh the city's archbishop) were crushed to death. Hugh was regarded by many as part of the cause of the disaster, since he was a rich miser, unwilling to spend anything on the city's defence. Thus while Raymond pursued his personal vendetta and Joscelin waited for external assistance, Zanki became master of one of the oldest cities in Christendom, and her people perished miserably