The Failure of Muslim Opposition to the First Crusade

The divisions in the Muslim world

1. Shia Fatimids: ruled by vizier on behalf of Fatimid caliph who claimed direct descent from Ali, the Prophet Muhammad's son-in-law - controlled Egypt, ports of Acre, Sidon, Tyre + briefly Jerusalem

2. Sunni Seljuks: a group of Turkish converts who had invaded Sunni caliphate in 1050s - controlled Abbasid caliph in Baghdad

The weaknesses of the Muslim world

1. Deaths of Muslim leaders: Seljuk leaders Malik Shah + his vizier died in 1092 - Fatimid leaders al-Mustansir + his vizier died in 1094

2. Fatimids openly at war with Seljuks - took Jerusalem from them in 1098, as the First Crusaders arrived

3. Seljuk empire disintegrated with death of Malik Shah - Muslim world divided into rival territories ruled by different atabegs

Kilij Arslan's defeat at Nicaea in 1097

1. Arrived to find crusader arming besieging Nicaea with huge force - unable to break through the army to relieve the garrison in the city

3. Had been busy fighting Danishmends when crusaders arrived so was too late to stop them organising themselves

The significance of Kilij Arslan's defeat at Dorylaeum

1. Surrounded Bohemond of Taranto's armies who remained in tight formation, then lost when Godfrey of Bouillon's troops arrived to help

2. Arslan's defeat wrecked his reputation - many communities welcomed Christian soldiers

3. Byzantine Empire reoccupied much of Asia Minor

4. Wiped out 3,000 Muslim soldiers

5. Gave crusaders valuable insight into Seljuk tactics

Kergogha's defeat at Antioch in 1098

1. Time wasting: Kerbogha spent 3 weeks trying to retake Edessa, which gave Bohemond time to break into Antioch

2. Division among allies: Kerbogha didn't have total control over 35k troops + Ridwan of Aleppo refused to take part

3. Poor generalship: Made poor decisions on battlefield, for example spreading soldiers around whole city rather than focusing them

4. Fatimid rivalry: Fatimids were negotiating a truce with crusaders while Kerbogha attacked.

The fall of Jerusalem fall in 1099

1. Muslims failed to oppose First Crusaders as they marched from Antioch to Jerusalem - emir of Homs paid them off - emir of Shaizar guided them through their lands

2. Jerusalem had just switched from Seljuk to Fatimid hands - no time to refortify the city + wood used to build Fatimid siege weapons discovered by crusaders

3. Lack of soldiers to defend city: Attacked on two fronts, constructed siege tower to distract defenders

4. Fatimid vizier al Afdal arrived with 20k soldiers too late - surprised/defeated at Ascalon