First Crusade Podcast, Episode 7 Siege of Jerusalem, 1099 June 7, 1099, Jerusalem comes into view as the Crusaders reach Mount Joy. Fatimids to not oppose Crusader advance on Jerusalem. Rapid capture of city is necessary. Walls of Jerusalem: four kilometers long, fifteen meters high and three meters thick, enclosing an area of eighty-six hectares. Northwest corner: Quadrangular Tower. Midway along the western wall: Tower of David, the citadel. Fatimid garrison in Jerusalem run by Iftikhar ad-Daulah. Supported by 400 elite Egyptian calvarymen. Iftikhar expels Jerusalem’s Christians and poisons the wells. But Jerusalem itself has many cisterns. Ralph of Caen imagines Tancred’s emotion at seeing Jerusalem: “He turned to gaze toward the city, from which he was now separated only by the Valley of Josaphat, and saw the Lord’s Sepulcher…Drawing a great sigh, he sat down on the ground, and would willingly have given his life there and then, just for one chance to press his lips to that most holy church.” Latin forces: 1,300 knights, 12,000 able-bodied men total. Godfrey, Tancred, Robert of Flanders (later joined by Curthose) besiege the city from the north between Quadrangular Tower and St Stephen’s Gate. Raymond of Toulouse and Provencals besiege before Tower of David, then quickly move to the Zion Gate. Muslims must defend from two fronts. Raymond becomes more isolated, Godfrey emerges as the leading personality. First Assault and Preparations: June 13, first assault on city. Surrounding area devoid of woodland for siege equipment. So they attempt a bold frontal attack on the city. This fails. June 15, council held and they decide they must have siege equipment. Thirst becomes a problem, water is difficult to come by. Pool of Siloam at the foot of Mount Zion is within bowshot of the city. June 17, six Genoese ships arrive at Jaffa. Genoese bring supplies of timber, tools, and food as well. Local Christians also lead Robert of Flanders and Robert of Normandy to some nearby woods where wood can be obtained. Crusaders begin building siege equipment. Gaston of Bearn, later to be a major player in the crusades led by Alfonso I of Aragon in Spain, supervises the construction of siege engines for Godfrey. Three weeks in late June, early July, the crusaders build equipment. Both Godfrey and Raymond build a siege tower. Siege towers are covered in hide for protection. They also build a massive battering ram with an iron head, and several mangonels, screens, and ladders. Raymond fills the dry moat across from the Zion Gate. Fatimids prepare for battle, putting mangonels on the walls. They also reinforce walls. Second Assault July 8, clergy lead the army in a procession around the city. On the night of July 13, Godfrey’s Crusaders break down their siege tower and move it to a position east of the St Stephen’s Gate. The next morning the Saracen’s are stunned to see what’s been done. July 14, on the northern front, the Crusaders batter the walls with their mangonels and struggle to move their battering ram forward. They breach the outer wall, but the ram gets stuck. The Muslims try to burn the ram to prevent the Crusaders from making any further progress on the inner wall. Raymond’s assault on the south at Mount Zion has much less success, since the Muslims focused their defenses here. July 15, second day of the assault. Fighting is still fierce. Godfrey’s tower is well prepared and defended with treated skins. Eventually Godfrey’s tower touches the wall. The tower is so much taller that the Crusaders can pour suppressing fire down onto the Muslims. Eventually Godfrey’s men are able to enter the city. Ludolf and Engelbert of Tourani are the first to enter the city. Sack of Jerusalem Jerusalem is put to the sack. Crusaders pour through the city, killing the defenders. Iftikhar and the high-ranking members of the garrison are among the few to survive. They flee to the Tower of David, which they agree to surrender only to Raymond of Toulouse. Raymond’s men escort them to Ascalon. After capturing the city, the Crusaders worship at the Holy Sepulcher in an atmosphere of passionate religious devotion.
06 March 2020
The First Crusade Podcast - Episode 7: The Siege of Jerusalem, 1099
Real Crusades History #109. And don't forget the Real Crusades History website!
First Crusade Podcast, Episode 7 Siege of Jerusalem, 1099 June 7, 1099, Jerusalem comes into view as the Crusaders reach Mount Joy. Fatimids to not oppose Crusader advance on Jerusalem. Rapid capture of city is necessary. Walls of Jerusalem: four kilometers long, fifteen meters high and three meters thick, enclosing an area of eighty-six hectares. Northwest corner: Quadrangular Tower. Midway along the western wall: Tower of David, the citadel. Fatimid garrison in Jerusalem run by Iftikhar ad-Daulah. Supported by 400 elite Egyptian calvarymen. Iftikhar expels Jerusalem’s Christians and poisons the wells. But Jerusalem itself has many cisterns. Ralph of Caen imagines Tancred’s emotion at seeing Jerusalem: “He turned to gaze toward the city, from which he was now separated only by the Valley of Josaphat, and saw the Lord’s Sepulcher…Drawing a great sigh, he sat down on the ground, and would willingly have given his life there and then, just for one chance to press his lips to that most holy church.” Latin forces: 1,300 knights, 12,000 able-bodied men total. Godfrey, Tancred, Robert of Flanders (later joined by Curthose) besiege the city from the north between Quadrangular Tower and St Stephen’s Gate. Raymond of Toulouse and Provencals besiege before Tower of David, then quickly move to the Zion Gate. Muslims must defend from two fronts. Raymond becomes more isolated, Godfrey emerges as the leading personality. First Assault and Preparations: June 13, first assault on city. Surrounding area devoid of woodland for siege equipment. So they attempt a bold frontal attack on the city. This fails. June 15, council held and they decide they must have siege equipment. Thirst becomes a problem, water is difficult to come by. Pool of Siloam at the foot of Mount Zion is within bowshot of the city. June 17, six Genoese ships arrive at Jaffa. Genoese bring supplies of timber, tools, and food as well. Local Christians also lead Robert of Flanders and Robert of Normandy to some nearby woods where wood can be obtained. Crusaders begin building siege equipment. Gaston of Bearn, later to be a major player in the crusades led by Alfonso I of Aragon in Spain, supervises the construction of siege engines for Godfrey. Three weeks in late June, early July, the crusaders build equipment. Both Godfrey and Raymond build a siege tower. Siege towers are covered in hide for protection. They also build a massive battering ram with an iron head, and several mangonels, screens, and ladders. Raymond fills the dry moat across from the Zion Gate. Fatimids prepare for battle, putting mangonels on the walls. They also reinforce walls. Second Assault July 8, clergy lead the army in a procession around the city. On the night of July 13, Godfrey’s Crusaders break down their siege tower and move it to a position east of the St Stephen’s Gate. The next morning the Saracen’s are stunned to see what’s been done. July 14, on the northern front, the Crusaders batter the walls with their mangonels and struggle to move their battering ram forward. They breach the outer wall, but the ram gets stuck. The Muslims try to burn the ram to prevent the Crusaders from making any further progress on the inner wall. Raymond’s assault on the south at Mount Zion has much less success, since the Muslims focused their defenses here. July 15, second day of the assault. Fighting is still fierce. Godfrey’s tower is well prepared and defended with treated skins. Eventually Godfrey’s tower touches the wall. The tower is so much taller that the Crusaders can pour suppressing fire down onto the Muslims. Eventually Godfrey’s men are able to enter the city. Ludolf and Engelbert of Tourani are the first to enter the city. Sack of Jerusalem Jerusalem is put to the sack. Crusaders pour through the city, killing the defenders. Iftikhar and the high-ranking members of the garrison are among the few to survive. They flee to the Tower of David, which they agree to surrender only to Raymond of Toulouse. Raymond’s men escort them to Ascalon. After capturing the city, the Crusaders worship at the Holy Sepulcher in an atmosphere of passionate religious devotion.
First Crusade Podcast, Episode 7 Siege of Jerusalem, 1099 June 7, 1099, Jerusalem comes into view as the Crusaders reach Mount Joy. Fatimids to not oppose Crusader advance on Jerusalem. Rapid capture of city is necessary. Walls of Jerusalem: four kilometers long, fifteen meters high and three meters thick, enclosing an area of eighty-six hectares. Northwest corner: Quadrangular Tower. Midway along the western wall: Tower of David, the citadel. Fatimid garrison in Jerusalem run by Iftikhar ad-Daulah. Supported by 400 elite Egyptian calvarymen. Iftikhar expels Jerusalem’s Christians and poisons the wells. But Jerusalem itself has many cisterns. Ralph of Caen imagines Tancred’s emotion at seeing Jerusalem: “He turned to gaze toward the city, from which he was now separated only by the Valley of Josaphat, and saw the Lord’s Sepulcher…Drawing a great sigh, he sat down on the ground, and would willingly have given his life there and then, just for one chance to press his lips to that most holy church.” Latin forces: 1,300 knights, 12,000 able-bodied men total. Godfrey, Tancred, Robert of Flanders (later joined by Curthose) besiege the city from the north between Quadrangular Tower and St Stephen’s Gate. Raymond of Toulouse and Provencals besiege before Tower of David, then quickly move to the Zion Gate. Muslims must defend from two fronts. Raymond becomes more isolated, Godfrey emerges as the leading personality. First Assault and Preparations: June 13, first assault on city. Surrounding area devoid of woodland for siege equipment. So they attempt a bold frontal attack on the city. This fails. June 15, council held and they decide they must have siege equipment. Thirst becomes a problem, water is difficult to come by. Pool of Siloam at the foot of Mount Zion is within bowshot of the city. June 17, six Genoese ships arrive at Jaffa. Genoese bring supplies of timber, tools, and food as well. Local Christians also lead Robert of Flanders and Robert of Normandy to some nearby woods where wood can be obtained. Crusaders begin building siege equipment. Gaston of Bearn, later to be a major player in the crusades led by Alfonso I of Aragon in Spain, supervises the construction of siege engines for Godfrey. Three weeks in late June, early July, the crusaders build equipment. Both Godfrey and Raymond build a siege tower. Siege towers are covered in hide for protection. They also build a massive battering ram with an iron head, and several mangonels, screens, and ladders. Raymond fills the dry moat across from the Zion Gate. Fatimids prepare for battle, putting mangonels on the walls. They also reinforce walls. Second Assault July 8, clergy lead the army in a procession around the city. On the night of July 13, Godfrey’s Crusaders break down their siege tower and move it to a position east of the St Stephen’s Gate. The next morning the Saracen’s are stunned to see what’s been done. July 14, on the northern front, the Crusaders batter the walls with their mangonels and struggle to move their battering ram forward. They breach the outer wall, but the ram gets stuck. The Muslims try to burn the ram to prevent the Crusaders from making any further progress on the inner wall. Raymond’s assault on the south at Mount Zion has much less success, since the Muslims focused their defenses here. July 15, second day of the assault. Fighting is still fierce. Godfrey’s tower is well prepared and defended with treated skins. Eventually Godfrey’s tower touches the wall. The tower is so much taller that the Crusaders can pour suppressing fire down onto the Muslims. Eventually Godfrey’s men are able to enter the city. Ludolf and Engelbert of Tourani are the first to enter the city. Sack of Jerusalem Jerusalem is put to the sack. Crusaders pour through the city, killing the defenders. Iftikhar and the high-ranking members of the garrison are among the few to survive. They flee to the Tower of David, which they agree to surrender only to Raymond of Toulouse. Raymond’s men escort them to Ascalon. After capturing the city, the Crusaders worship at the Holy Sepulcher in an atmosphere of passionate religious devotion.
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