First Crusade Battle of Ma'arra 1098

Raymond's isolation campaign

Raymond of Toulouse launched a campaign to isolate and starve Antioch by conquering the fertile Jabal as-Summaq plateau, starting with Albara.

Capture of Albara

Raymond captured the ancient city of Albara, taking thousands of prisoners and appointing a Latin bishop to prevent rivals from taking the land.

March on Ma'arra

On November 23, 1098, Raymond and Robert of Flanders marched to besiege the strategic city of Ma'arra, site of a previous crusader defeat.

Bohemond's response

Bohemond recognized the threat of a Provençal exclave and quickly followed Raymond to Ma'arra by the end of November.

Ma'arra's defenses

The city had formidable walls and a dry moat, though it lacked the geographical advantages of Antioch.

Initial provocation

The city's defenders cursed the crusaders and desecrated crosses fixed to their walls, enraging the besiegers.

Failed first assault

The enraged crusaders launched a hasty assault with only two ladders, which failed as the ladders didn't reach the top of the walls.

Decision to starve the city

The leaders decided to besiege and starve the city, but their own supplies began to dwindle within a week.

Famine in the crusader camp

An eyewitness described over ten thousand men scouring fields like cattle for grains of wheat, barley, or beans due to famine.

Escalation of siege tactics

After peace terms were rejected, the crusaders filled the moat, mined under walls, and built a large siege tower under constant enemy fire.

Construction of siege tower

A formidable four-wheeled siege tower was built and dragged toward the walls under bombardment from catapults and Greek fire.

Dual assault on Ma'arra

As knights fought from the siege tower on one side, a Provençal detachment scaled ladders on a weakly guarded section of the wall.

Ladder collapse

The ladder used by the Provençals broke under the weight of the men, though some, including their leader, reached the top.

Fierce fighting on the walls

Intense hand-to-hand combat ensued on the ramparts for hours. Some crusaders, overwhelmed, jumped from the walls to their deaths.

Wall collapse

Sappers collapsed a section of the wall, breaking the garrison's will, though fighting continued until nightfall.

Nighttime assault by the poor

Against orders, the poor and desperate crusaders launched a nighttime assault, gaining most of the booty before the knights could enter at dawn.

Massacre at Ma'arra

At dawn, a general massacre began. Crusaders killed every man and woman they found, and the streets were filled with corpses.

Scale of the massacre

Some Islamic chroniclers considered the sack of Ma'arra the worst massacre of the First Crusade.

Search for hidden survivors

Rumors of survivors hiding in caves led the crusaders to smoke them out and torture them to reveal hidden valuables.

Dispute over Ma'arra

Raymond did most of the fighting, but Bohemond occupied many wall towers during the battle, leading to another ownership dispute.

Bohemond's ultimatum

Bohemond stated he would agree to nothing unless Raymond ceded the Antiochene towers to him, which Raymond refused.

End of 1098

As 1098 ended, spoils were exhausted and the crusaders again discussed open mutiny against their leaders.

Raymond's declaration

Raymond declared he would march for Jerusalem in two weeks, pressuring Bohemond, who refused to leave before Easter.

Bohemond's withdrawal

Facing stretched lines and growing resentment, Bohemond abandoned his foothold in Ma'arra and returned to Antioch.

Council at Rugia

Raymond convened a council in his own domain at Rugia to address the leadership crisis.

Raymond buys allegiance

Raymond attempted to buy the allegiance of other princes with large sums of silver (solidi), offering 10,000 to Godfrey and Robert of Normandy, 6,000 to Robert of Flanders, and 5,000 to Tancred.

Results of the bribery

Tancred and Robert of Normandy accepted the money. Robert of Flanders and Godfrey of Bouillon refused.

Three armies

The crusade was now effectively split into three separate armies, though at least movement toward Jerusalem was planned.

Disaster at Ma'arra

In the first week of January 1099, starvation returned to the crusaders holding Ma'arra. Desperate crusaders began carving flesh from Muslim corpses and eating it, sometimes raw

Rebellion at Ma'arra

The population of Ma'arra, discovering Raymond intended to keep the city, rebelled and tore down its walls

Raymond's change of heart

The cannibalism and rebellion finally made Raymond abandon his anti-Bohemond campaign and commit fully to the march to Jerusalem. Raymond led a religious procession barefoot in a simple robe, attracting new followers and boosted morale.

Raymond as de-facto leader

Despite his show of piety, Godfrey and Robert of Flanders remained in Antioch with their armies, though Raymond was the de-facto leader of those marching.

Effect of cannibalism tales

Tales of cannibalism spread fear throughout the region, causing many local emirs to sue for peace and offer gifts to avoid the crusaders. Banu Munqidh, ruler of Shaizar, offered safe passage, cheap food, and horses

Abandoned town of Raphania

The crusaders found the town of Raphania abandoned but full of provisions, which they took.

Capture of Hisn al-Akrad

On January 28, 1099, the garrison of Hisn al-Akrad (near future Krak des Chevaliers) fled after a vicious crusader counter-attack. It prompted Homs and Tripoli to confirm truces with the crusaders with generous gifts.

Siege of Arqa begins

With no sign of reinforcements from Antioch, Raymond laid siege to the fortress of Arqa on February 14, 1099, because the Emir of Tripoli offered a reward for its capture. But there was a large amount of saracens inside.

Capture of Tortosa

Raymond Pilet and Raymond of Turenne used a trick (lighting many fires at night) to scare the garrison of Tortosa into fleeing, capturing the port without a fight.

Surrender of Marqab

The neighboring fortress of Marqab surrendered after the capture of Tortosa, giving crusaders naval supply access.

Struggle at Arqa

The siege of Arqa dragged on for three months with little progress.

Fatimid embassy

An embassy from Vizier al-Afdal of Fatimid Egypt arrived. The Fatimids had captured Jerusalem from the Seljuks in 1098 and now proposed dividing former Seljuk lands with the crusaders.

Breakdown with Fatimids

The alliance proposal broke down when Raymond's request for Jerusalem was refused. The Fatimids only offered a truce and safe passage for pilgrims.

Bohemond consolidates Antioch

Bohemond expelled all Provençal troops from Antioch and finally became its uncontested master.

False alarm from Raymond

An emissary from Raymond arrived in Antioch claiming a large army was assembling at Damascus to attack, prompting Godfrey and Robert of Flanders to march to join Raymond at Arqa.

Crusaders reunited

The ruse worked, reuniting most of the crusade leadership at Arqa, though Bohemond remained in Antioch.

Wealth from tribute

The Emir of Tripoli offered 15k gold pieces, and the Emir of Jabala offered 5k along with horses, mules, and supplies, making the crusaders wealthy and well-fed.

Greed and raiding

Some crusaders began sending their own messengers to extract tribute, leading to a brutal raid on Tripoli where hundreds were killed

Peter Bartholomew's final vision

On April 5, 1099, Peter Bartholomew claimed a vision instructing him to purge the army of sinners through execution, causing widespread fury and discrediting him.

Ordeal by fire

To prove his innocence and the Lance's authenticity, Peter Bartholomew underwent an ordeal by fire, walking through a pyre holding the Holy Lance.

Death of Peter Bartholomew

Peter emerged from the fire severely burned and died twelve days later. The Holy Lance was discredited, and Raymond's reputation was damaged.

Tancred switches allegiance

Around this time, Tancred switched his allegiance from Raymond to Godfrey's forces.

Final march to Jerusalem

In the first week of May 1099, Raymond finally admitted defeat in his personal ambitions and led the united princes south toward Jerusalem.

Raymond's failure

As he neared Jerusalem, Raymond knew he had failed both to secure himself as the supreme leader and to carve out his own principality.