Siege of Askalon: varying fortunes of war

Summary:
Bernard de Tremelay and the Templars were first on the scene when a section of Askalon's wall collapsed; this followed an attempt by the besieged to burn the besiegers' tower, which backfired when a wind-change blew flames back against the wall. The Templars rushed through the breach, and Bernard (it is said) kept others out, to maximise Templar booty. His tactics proved disastrous when the besieged succeeded in closing the breach very quickly, shutting him and his men inside; up to forty of them were killed, and their bodies suspended from the wall, swinging the pendulum of morale again in favour of the people of Askalon [William of Tyre, who was hostile to the Templars, cannot be trusted over such details]. Baldwin III and other leaders, secular and lay, met before the True Cross, to consider the siege after the slaughter of the Templars. Opinions were divided: Baldwin and most of the lay lords wanted to stop the siege, while Fulcher the patriarch, Peter of Tyre, the other bishops and Raymond of the Hospital wished to persist. The clergy carried the day, and the siege was continued with such desperation that the tide of battle turned again and the Christians won a victory 
Dates:
1153 August 
Baldwin III, king of Jerusalem (Baldwin 53)
  • He and other leaders, secular and lay, met before the True Cross, to consider the siege after the disaster affecting the Templars; opinions were divided: Baldwin and most of the lay lords wanted to stop the siege, while Fulcher 4003, Petros 154, the other bishops and Raymond 101 wished to persist (:) William of Tyre bk. 17, 28.1-30
Bernard de Tremelay, master of the Temple (Bernard 106)
  • He and the Templars were first on the scene when a section of Askalon's wall collapsed; this followed an attempt by the besieged to burn the besiegers' tower, which backfired when a wind-change blew flames back against the wall; the Templars rushed in, and Bernard (it is said) kept others out, to maximise Templar booty (:) William of Tyre bk. 17, 27.12-53
  • His tactics proved disastrous when the besieged were able to close the breach very quickly, shutting him and his men inside; up to forty of them were killed, and their bodies suspended from the wall, swinging the pendulum of morale again in favour of the people of Askalon (:) William of Tyre bk. 17, 27.53-80
Fulcher of Angoulême, archbishop of Tyre, then patriarch of Jerusalem (Fulcher 4003)
  • He, Petros 154, the other bishops and Raymond 101 wished to persist in the siege of Askalon, despite the slaughter of the Templars; after discussion, they carried the day and the siege was continued with such renewed desperation that the tide of battle turned again and the Christians won a victory (:) William of Tyre bk. 17, 28.27-58
Peter, prior of the Holy Sepulchre, then archbishop of Tyre (Petros 154)
  • He, like Fulcher 4003 the other bishops and Raymond 101 wished to persist in the siege of Askalon, and carried the day; the fighting then greatly favoured the Christians, who struggled with increased desperation (:) William of Tyre bk. 17, 28.27-58
Raymond du Puy, master of the Hospital (Raymond 101)
  • He, like Fulcher 4003 the other bishops and Petros 154 wished to persist in the siege of Askalon, and carried the day; the fighting then greatly favoured the Christians, who struggled with increased desperation (:) William of Tyre bk. 17, 28.27-58