Crusading Warfare

Exploring the Military History of the Crusades

William James Hamblin
 Hints
1- Watch at high resolution
(= Youtube Theater Mode)
2- pause to read text panels
3- download pdf of maps
Blue boxes reference primary
sources, and provide
quotations from primary
sources.

Gold boxes contains

references to secondary
sources.

White boxes are summaries

of primary sources.
Color coded
Green text boxes are my
analysis, notes, commentary,
and explanations.
text boxes
Brown text boxes provide
place and location names
 Edessa Campaign 9:
Baldwin Captures Saruj
AD 1098/04
Philippopolis
Varna
Strategic Situation: Baldwin as Count of Edessa 1098/04
Ardas a
Preslav Sinope Kur

Adrianople

Constantinople
Primary Sources: Rodosto Trebizond
Edessa Expedition
is
Nicomedia ps

ios
am

gar
Western Civetot Iris Ac
Neocaesarea

San
AA = Albert 3.25 Yesil h Aras
s Amasya irma Coru
→WT = William 4.6 i cu Cyzicus Nicaea k
Sebenkarahisar
an Theodosopolis
CC = Caffaro — Abydos Gr Tokat Teleboas
Sank

dacus
CA = Canso — arya

u)
Erzincan 2

S
EA = Ekkehard — Sebastea

at
)
a Su

ur
Rhyn
Ankyra (K ar
Divrigi

(M
FC = Fulcher —
→BN = Bartolf — Dorylaeum
→WM = Malmesbury — 2- Old Armenian homeland,
Pergamum Amorium ak 3- Zone of mercenary now ruled by the Turks Akhlat
GF = Gesta — li rm nias
Ha
lys izi and refugee Armenian Arsa
→BB = Baldric — diz K
He Ge principalities
rm
→OV = Orderic — us Philomelium Melitene
→GN = Guibert — Smyrna Comana
→PT = Peter — Antioch Caesarea
→RM = Robert —
k
yu

3
GP = Gilo — Meander Iconium
Bu

han
LC = Letters and Charters — Coxon Diyarbakir
n

Sey
Laodicea ha
RC = Ralph — y

Ti
Cilician Gates Ce

g
ris
RA = Raymond — Marash 4
Heraclea Ba
WT = William 4.6 ←AA 3.25

s
Saru
Adana amus 4- Baldwin, Count
Py
r Edessa
♜ of Edessa
Eastern Christian Saruj
AC = Anna — Attalia Mosul
Goksu Tarsis Belen Pass
ME = Mathew Rhodes Cal
yca
Studies dnu
Antioch
MS = Michael — s
→BH = Bar Hebraeus — Amouroux-Mourad, M. Le Comté ✝
d'Edesse, 1098-1150 (1988). Seleucia 1 Euphr
ASC = Syriac — St Simeon Aleppo ates

Zab
Asbridge 149-52

ater
Edgington, Baldwin I, (2018) Raqqa
Muslim 1- Main Crusader

Gre
France 195 Latakia Rahba
AHC — army besieges Antioch
Frankopan 151-3
IA = Ibn al-Athir —
MacEvitt, C. Crusades and the Christian Nicosia
IQ = Ibn al-Qalanisi {a490} — Hama
World of the East. (2008) 65-71
KD = Kamal al-Din —
Rubenstein 161-167
MQ = Maqrizi {a490} — Paphos Homs
Runciman 1:201-12
SJ = Sibt {a490} — Tripoli
CE 2:379-85
 Vahka ♜ Gerger
Baldwin’s Domain Behesni 1098/04
Constantine {??}
Rupenids
Constantine Marash Samosata ♜
{1095-1102} Pardzerpert ♜ Kaysun
Marash
Sis Thatoul
{1087-1104} Keysun Raban

Kogh Vasil
{1087?-1112} ♜
Marzban Edessa
♜
Qalat al-Rum Thoros
♜ Duluk {1094-1098}
Sarvantikar ♜ Ba Edessa

Aintab
♜ Bira
Saruj
♜

alak
s

Ravendel
B
Mt

♜ Haran
♜
s
aeu

Turbessel Jerablus
Am

Cyrrhus
Ayas

Azaz
Aleppo
Alexandretta Yaghra
Darbsak
Mashhala (Ridwan) Mosul
♜ {1095-1113} Manbij ♜
Qalat al-Najm (Kerbogha)
Syrian
Gates
Ma’ratah {1095-1102}
Russole
♜ Tall Qabasin
Baghras
Antioch Mamulah al-Bab
Buza’a
(Yaghi-Siyan) Artah Bir
Tall Aghdi
{1086-1098}
✝ ‘Imm ♜ Hisn al-Dayr
Antioch Harim Balat Aleppo
Daphne 1 Sarmada Atharib
♜
St Simeon 1- Qusayr
{1097/10/21-/1098/06/03} Kafr Nasih
Crusaders besiege Antioch
0 5 10 k Behesni
Balak has rebellious city
Gerger 1098/04
Constantine
Samosata
{??} ♜

Kaysun

1b- Balak Offers to Hire Baldwin’s Army to Suppress Rebellion

[AA 3.25a]
Raban AA 3.25a. After Baldwin had thus been raised up as duke [doux of
Keysun Edessa], and his military reputation was widely known, Balak, who
was himself also a prince [of the Artuqid Turks], and usurper of the
Kogh Vasil fortress of the town of Sororgia [Saruj], sent a delegation to Duke
{1087?-1112} Baldwin asking that he should come down with a joint army to a
[unnamed] town which was at a distance from the fortress [of Saruj]
♜ and the mountains and was still holding out for the rebels [against
Marzban
Balak], and that when the [rebel] city and citizens were overcome
♜
Qalat al-Rum
Baldwin [Baldwin] he should restore the fortress to Balak's hands without
any delay. For the citizens were Saracens [Arabs rather than Turks]
Count of Edessa who were holding out against him [Balak], and they scorned to pay
tribute [to Balak].
{1098-1100}

Duluk Ba Edessa
♜

Kisas

2
Aintab
♜
Bira
Saruj 1
♜
🔥 1a- {1098/04}
♜ Arabs (Saracens) in
Rebel Arab fortress rebel against Balak;
Balak Fortress refuse to pay tribute
The location indicated Haran
♜ here is hypothetical.
Turbessel

Jerablus
0 5 10 k Behesni
Balduk becomes protector ofGerger
Rebellious City 1098/04
Constantine
Samosata
{??} ♜

Kaysun

Raban
2a- City hires Balduk as defender
Keysun [AA 3.25b]
When the [Arab] citizens [of the rebel city] found out about
Kogh Vasil Baldwin's approach and his anger, at Balak's instigation they
{1087?-1112} summoned Balduk with an agreed sum of money, and the other
Turkish soldiers with many prizes, hoping they would be able to hold
♜ and defend the city walls under their protection. 1a- Balak’s Offer
Marzban Balduk, a soldier and one of the princes of the Turks, who was [AA 3.25b]
Baldwin believed his [Balak’s] promises, and after a
already corrupted by greed for bezants, came down with his men to
the [rebel] city, hoping he
♜
might yet become the chief and master of
Qalat al-Rum
Baldwin treaty was agreed on both sides [Balak pays Baldwin?] he
arranged to besiege and attack the city [in rebellion against
that same city. Count of Edessa Balak] with all his [siege] equipment, until the defeated
{1098-1100} citizens yielded and then became tributaries [to Balak].

Duluk Ba Edessa
♜ Bad

Kisas
2 1b- Balak’s Offer
[AA 3.25b]
Aintab
1 cum omni apparatu suo urbem obsidere et
♜ expugnare disposuit
Bira = with all his “apparatus, equipment,
Saruj devices” to “besiege" and “assault” the city.
♜
2b- Threat of siege brings the city into submission 🔥
Balduk, a nominal mercenary for Baldwin, agrees to ♜
take control of the rebellious city with Balak’s Rebel Arab
permission. Thus Balak used Baldwin’s threat of a
Balak City
siege to bring the rebel Arab city into submission.
♜ Haran
Turbessel

Jerablus
0 5 10 k Behesni
Baldwin Besieges Saruj
Gerger 1098/04
Constantine
Samosata
{??} ♜

Kaysun

Raban
Keysun
Kogh Vasil
{1087?-1112} 1c- Siege Train
This is the first example of the crusaders
♜ having a pre-made siege train which they
Marzban bring to the siege, rather than building
♜
Qalat al-Rum
Baldwin siege equipment at the site.

Count of Edessa
{1098-1100}
1a- Baldwin diverts his army to Saruj
Duluk [AA 3.25c.] Edessa
♜ Duke Baldwin, knowing this [arragement with Balduk],
arranged to set out on the appointed day with a strong
force to besiege the city of Sororgia [Saruj], equipped Kisas
with mangonels and all sorts of weapons with which the
city could be torn apart and overcome.
Aintab
♜
Bira 1 Ba
1b- Baldwin diverts his army to Saruj
2 Saruj [AA 3.25c.]
♜ ad obsidionem urbis Sororgie proficisci disposuit, cum
Bad
♜ mangenis et omni armorum apparatu quibus urbs scindi
Rebel Arab et d expugnari' posset.
Balak City

♜ Haran
Turbessel

Jerablus
 City of Saruj, (Sororgia)
1- The city was destroyed in the 1260s
by the Mongols (at the same time as
the destruction of Harran). It was not
rebuilt for a couple of centuries.
2- As far as I am aware, there are no
significant remains of the medieval
walls nor citadel of Saruj.
1098/04
3- The city was on the flat earth flood
plain of the Euphrates. There was no hill,
tell (ancient mound) or raised rocky ridge
for the citadel. This made the defense of
the city much more difficult.
0 5 10 k Behesni
Baldwin Captures Saruj
Gerger 1098/04
Constantine
Samosata
{??} ♜

Kaysun

Raban
Keysun
Kogh Vasil
{1087?-1112}
♜
Marzban

♜
Qalat al-Rum
Baldwin
Count of Edessa
{1098-1100}
1- Citizens of Saruj surrender the city
Duluk [AA 3.25c + WT 4.6b] Edessa
♜ When the Saracen citizens learnt of Baldwin's forces and
irresistible weapons they were horror-struck and sent
messages to him to come down to them peacefully and to take Kisas
the city without opposition; then they would not refuse the
revenues each year to his authority. Baldwin yielded to their
Aintab entreaties and he fixed a day for all these things to be settled 2- {1098/04}
♜ with a sure and trusting peace and pledge. Balduk claims to have been acting
Bira for Baldwin, and surrenders the
1 rebel city to Baldwin. [AA 3.25d]
Saruj
♜
Bad
♜ 2
Rebel Arab 3- {1098/04}
Balak City
Balak flees east, entering the service
of his uncle Ilghazi b. Artuq; later he
♜ Haran
Turbessel
becomes lord of Khartpert

Jerablus 3
 Vahka ♜ Gerger
County of Edessa Behesni 1098/sum
Constantine {??}
Rupenids
Constantine Marash Samosata ♜
{1095-1102} Pardzerpert ♜ Kaysun
Marash
Sis Thatoul
{1087-1104} Keysun Raban

Kogh Vasil
{1087?-1112} ♜
Marzban Edessa
♜
Qalat al-Rum Thoros
♜ Duluk {1094-1098}
Sarvantikar ♜ Ba Edessa

Aintab 2

♜ Bira
Saruj
♜
s

Ravendel
Mt

♜ Haran
♜
s
aeu

Turbessel Jerablus
Am

Cyrrhus
Ayas

2- Baldwin’s Victory

Azaz
Aleppo Note that Baldwin conquered the principality of Edessa without winning a single battle or siege.
Turbessel- The Turkish garrison fled without fighting
Alexandretta Yaghra
Darbsak
Mashhala (Ridwan)
Ravendel 1 (vs. Turks)- The Turkish garrison fled without fighting Mosul
♜ {1095-1113} Manbij ♜
Ravendel 2 (vs. Armenians)- (Kerbogha)
He tortures Bagrat to force Bagrat’s son
Qalat al-Najm
to surrender the castle.
Syrian
Ma’ratah
Bira 1- Baldwin withdraws without fighting Turks {1095-1102}
Gates
Russole Bira 2- Baldwin waits in castle; skirmishes with Turks; Turks withdraw with plunder; no major
♜ Tall Qabasin
Baghras
battle
Antioch Mamulah al-Bab
Buza’a
Samosata 1- Baldwin attempts to besiege the city but his army is defeated and dispersed by
Balduk’s Turkish counterattack
(Yaghi-Siyan) Artah Bir Edessa- conquered by political coup by rival Armenian factions.
Tall Aghdi
{1086-1098} Samosata 2- Baldwin buys the fortress for 10,000 bezants
✝ ‘Imm ♜ Hisn al-Dayr Saruj- The population surrenders the city without a siege; Balak flees
Antioch Harim Balat Aleppo
Daphne 1 Sarmada Atharib Conclusion: Baldwin’s conquest of Edessa is based on shrewd political maneuvering and good
♜ luck rather than decisive military victory in battle or siege.
St Simeon 1- Qusayr
{1097/10/21-/1098/06/03} Kafr Nasih
Crusaders besiege Antioch
 Crusading Warfare
Next = 11/1: The Siege of Antioch Begins

https://www.crusadingwarfare.net/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/459168451092888/
YouTube channel = “Crusading Warfare”