First Crusade Battles

Question 1

Siege of Nicaea: Muslim Disunity / Allied Assistance

Answer 1

Allied Assistance: Byzantines brought boats to Lake Ascanius to blockade the city

Muslim Disunity: Kilij Arslan was not present; he was fighting the Danishmend

Question 2

Battle of Dorylaeum: Leadership vs Arslan

Answer 2

Leadership: Protective ring of 3,000 foot soldiers (held the enemy at bay until Godfrey and Baldwin arrived)

Question 3

Siege of Antioch: Allied assistance / Muslim disunity

Answer 3

Allied assistance: Genoese fleet allowed for bridge of boats across the river which made transportation of troops more efficient.

Alexius had established a supply chain from Cyprus

Greek siege engines

Muslim disunity: Ridwan and Duqaq both rejected Antioch’s calls for help.

Question 4

Battle at Antioch: Bohemond and Robert of Flanders vs Duqaq: Leadership

Answer 4

Leadership: Reserve forces to prevent encirclement

Infantry protected in front and behind by cavalry.

Question 5

Battle at Antioch: Bohemond vs Ridwan: Military skills

Answer 5

Used Lake and river, cavalry charge of six divisions

Question 6

Battle of Antioch vs Kerbogha: Leadership / Muslim disunity / Religion

Answer 6

Leadership: Echelon formation, made use of Geography (river and ridge) to support tactics and strategy, BOHEMOND

Muslim disunity: Emirs Ridwan and Duqaq took their armies from the battle field, Kerbogha lacked the necessary poilitical skills to unite them.

Holy Lance but TWO WEEKS LATER

Question 7

March to Jerusalem 1099: Muslim disunity / Leadership

Answer 7

Muslim disunity: Sunnis and Shias fail to unite to intercept Christian forces

Leadership: Under Godfrey travelled 360km in 25 days.

Question 8

Siege of Jerusalem: Leadership / Muslim disunity / Religion / Allied assistance.

Answer 8

Leadership: Effective use of siege machines with Godfrey’s call to split the Muslim forces and utilise the advantage of surprise with the attack on Herod’s Gate in the East, under the cover of moonlight. Raymond in the South

Allied assistance: Six Genoese ships provide wood for siege equipment.

Religion: Peter Desiderius had a vision of Adhemar + procession outside the walls of Jerusalem

Muslim disunity: Muslims deserted their posts.

Question 9

Battle of Ascalon: Muslim errors / Religion / Leadership

Answer 9

Religion: Prepared for the battle with prayers and bearing the True Cross

Leadership: Placed infantry in front of cavalry as screen of defence.

Muslim errors: broke their ranks, 10,000 killed.