Crusading Warfare

Exploring the Military History of the Crusades

William James Hamblin
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Battle of Dorylaeum 1-
Strategic Background
June 1097
0 50 100 150 k Varna
Strategic Situation in Anatolia 1097/06/
Note: Ardas
Preslav Sinope Kur
a

The boundaries indicated B Georgia

on this map are often Adrianople (David IV)
{1089-1125}
uncertain and fluid. The
boundaries shown here Constantinople
Rodosto Trebizond
represent relative spheres B
is
of shifting influence and Nicomedia ps

ios
am

gar
Civetot Iris Saltuqids
c
dominance rather than A

San
boundaries of states in the
modern sense. ani
s
cu Cyzicus Nicaea
Rum Seljuqs Danishmendids Yesil
irma
k Mengujekids
(Saltuq)
uh
Cor{1090?-1102}
Aras

AbydosGr
Elkhan Sank (Qilich Arslan) (Danishmend Ghazi) (Mengujek) Theodosopolis
Teleboas
{1090?-1118}

dacus
arya
{1085?-1104}

u)
{1092-1107}

S
Sebastia

at
)
a Su

ur
Rhyn
Ankyra (Kar

(M
Byzantine Dorylaeum
Empire
Amorium ak
Alexios Pergamum Ha li rm
s anias Akhlat
iz lys izi Ar
{1081-1118} Chaka
He
r
II Ge
d K
mu
s Philomelium Caesarea Melitene
Smyrna
Antioch
Armenian
k
yu

Meander Iconium
Bu

Principalites Diyarbakr

han
Coxon
an

Sey
Tangipernes Laodicea y h

Ti
Cilician Gates Ce

g ris
Heraclea Marash

s
Saru
Adana mus
ra Edessa
Py

Strategic Situation: Attalia

Goksu g h a Mosul
1- Byzantine Anatolia had been slowly overrun by nomadic Turkish tribes since
Rhodes Cal
yca Tarsis Belen Pass
ou
dnu
Antioch e rb
the Byzantine defeat at Manzikert in 1071. s
K
2- The Turks of Anatolia remained mainly nomadic, ruling over the Greek and YaghiSiyan Ridwan
Seleucia Euphr
St Simeon Aleppo ates

Zab
Armenian Christians; many cities are semi-independent, paying tribute with a

ater
small Turkish garrison in the citadel. Raqqa

Gre
3- The Great Seljuq empire, which had integrated into the Islamic culture of the Latakia Rahba
Seljuq empire
conquered Muslim peoples, exerted largely nominal control and influence over Nicosia
t i ne Barkiyaruq
the nomadic Turkish tribes in Anatolia. zan Hama
By {1092-1105}
4- There was a major military, social and political divide between tribal nomadic
Paphos Homs
Turks (Turkmen, Ghuzz), and Turks who were a minority military aristocrats Janah al-
Tripoli
ruling over non-Turkish sedentary cities and peoples. Dawla
0 50 100 150 k Varna
Byzantine Empire 1097/06/
Ardas a
Preslav Sinope Kur
B Georgia
Adrianople (David IV)
{1089-1125}
Constantinople
Rodosto Trebizond
B
is
Nicomedia ps

ios
am

gar
Civetot Iris Saltuqids
Ac

San
ani
c us
Cyzicus Nicaea
Rum Seljuqs Danishmendids Yesil
irma
k Mengujekids
(Saltuq)
uh
Cor{1090?-1102}
Aras

Abydos Gr
Elkhan Sank (Qilich Arslan) (Danishmend Ghazi) (Mengujek) Theodosopolis
Teleboas
{1090?-1118}

dacus
arya
{1085?-1104}

u)
{1092-1107}

S
Sebastia

at
)
a Su

ur
Rhyn
Ankyra (Kar

(M
Byzantine Dorylaeum
2
Empire
Pergamum Amorium rmak
nias
Akhlat
Alexios Ha li s a
izi Ar
{1081-1118} 3 Chaka
He II Ge
d iz lys K
r mu
s Philomelium Caesarea Melitene
Smyrna
Antioch
Armenian
k
yu

Meander Iconium 1
Bu

Principalites Diyarbakr

han
Coxon
an

Sey
Tangipernes Laodicea y h

Ti
Cilician Gates Ce

g ris
Heraclea Marash

s
Saru
Adana mus
ra Edessa
Py

Attalia a
Goksu Tarsis g h Mosul
ou
Cal Belen Pass
Rhodes yca
b
dnu
s Antioch
K e r
Byzantine Empire:
YaghiSiyan Ridwan
Seleucia Euphr
St Simeon Aleppo ates

Zab
1- Boundary of the Byzantine empire in 1071,

ater
Raqqa
before the battle of Manzikert.

Gre
Latakia Rahba
2- {1071/08/26}, Battle ofSeljuq
Manzikert
empire
Nicosia i ne decisive Turkish victory.
ant Hama Barkiyaruq
By z {1092-1105}
Paphos Homs
3- Boundary of the Byzantine empire in 1097,
Tripoli
Janah al- at the time of the First Crusade.
Dawla
0 50 100 150 k Varna
Turkish Coastal Beyliks (Principalities) 1097/06/
Ardas a
Preslav Sinope Kur
B Georgia
Adrianople (David IV)
{1089-1125}
Constantinople
Rodosto Trebizond
B
is
Nicomedia ps

ios
am

gar
Civetot Iris Saltuqids
Ac

San
ani
c us
Cyzicus Nicaea
Rum Seljuqs Danishmendids Yesil
irma
k Mengujekids
(Saltuq)
uh
Cor{1090?-1102}
Aras

Abydos Gr
Elkhan Sank (Qilich Arslan) (Danishmend Ghazi) (Mengujek) Theodosopolis
Teleboas
{1090?-1118}

dacus
arya
{1085?-1104}

u)
{1092-1107}

S
Sebastia

at
)
a Su

ur
Rhyn
Ankyra (Kar

(M
Byzantine Dorylaeum
Empire
Amorium ak
Alexios Pergamum Ha li rm
s anias Akhlat
iz lys izi Ar
{1081-1118} Chaka
He
r
II Ge
d K
mu
s Philomelium Caesarea Melitene
Smyrna
Antioch
Armenian
k
yu

Meander Iconium
Bu

Principalites Diyarbakr

han
Coxon
an

Sey
Tangipernes Laodicea y h

Ti
Cilician Gates Ce

g ris
Heraclea Marash

s
Saru
Adana mus
ra Edessa
Py

Attalia a
Goksu Tarsis g h Mosul
ou
Cal Belen Pass
Rhodes yca
b
dnu
s Antioch
K e r
YaghiSiyan Ridwan
Seleucia Euphr
St Simeon Aleppo ates

Zab
Turkish Coastal Beyliks

ater
Raqqa

Gre
1- The coastal regions and valleys of western Anatolia were controlled by Turkish Latakia Rahba
warlords (bey, or beg), ruling over small principalities (beylik). Seljuq empire
2- Chaka, the Bey of Smyrna, had created a pirate base, raiding and occupying the
Nicosia
t i ne Barkiyaruq
y zan Hama
islands of the eastern Aegean. B {1092-1105}
Paphos Homs
3- The coastal beyliks were not directly involved in the First Crusade; however, in Janah al-
the wake of the First Crusader, the Byzantines manage to reconquer those regions. Tripoli
Dawla
0 50 100 150 k Varna
Rum Seljuqs under Qilich Arslan 1097/06/
Ardas a
Preslav Sinope Kur
B Georgia
Adrianople (David IV)
{1089-1125}
Constantinople The Rum Seljuqs under Qilich Arslan
Rodosto Trebizond
1- The Rum Seljuqs were the most powerful Turkish
B state of central Anatolia.
is
Nicomedia Qilich Arslan was a descendant of the royal Seljuq dynasty, though ps not through the

ios
m

gar
Saltuqids a
Civetot line of Tughril Beg
Iris
of the Great Seljuqs Ac

San
anicu
s
Cyzicus Nicaea
Rum Seljuqs 2- Although
Danishmendids still largelyY e sa nomadic
ilirm
ak
state, the
Mengujekids
towards becoming a more sedentary(Mengujek)
Rum
state by 1097.
Seljuqs
C o r u h
(Saltuq)
were
{1090?-1102} in transition Aras

Abydos Gr
Elkhan (Qilich Arslan) (Danishmend Ghazi) Theodosopolis
Teleboas
Sank 3- Qilich Arslan was the major enemy of the crusaders during their march through
{1090?-1118}

dacus
arya
{1085?-1104}

u)
{1092-1107}

S
Anatolia. Sebastia

at
u)
ra S

ur
Rhyn
Ankyra (Ka

(M
Byzantine Dorylaeum
Empire
Amorium ak
Alexios Pergamum Ha li rm
s anias Akhlat
iz lys izi Ar
{1081-1118} Chaka
He
r
II Ge
d K
mu
s Philomelium Caesarea Melitene
Smyrna
Antioch
Armenian
k
yu

Meander Iconium
Bu

Principalites Diyarbakr

han
Coxon
an

Sey
Tangipernes Laodicea y h

Ti
Cilician Gates Ce

g ris
Heraclea Marash

s
Saru
Adana mus
ra Edessa
Py

Attalia a
Goksu Tarsis g h Mosul
ou
Cal Belen Pass
Rhodes yca
b
dnu
s Antioch
K e r
YaghiSiyan Ridwan
Seleucia Euphr
St Simeon Aleppo ates

Zab
ater
Raqqa

Gre
Latakia Rahba
Seljuq empire
Nicosia
t i ne Barkiyaruq
y zan Hama
B {1092-1105}
Paphos Homs
Janah al-
Tripoli
Dawla
0 50 100 150 k Varna
Danishmendids 1097/06/
Ardas a
Preslav Sinope Kur
B Georgia
Adrianople (David IV)
{1089-1125}
Constantinople
Rodosto Trebizond
B
is
Nicomedia ps

ios
am

gar
Civetot Iris Saltuqids
Ac

San
ani
c us
Cyzicus Nicaea
Rum Seljuqs Danishmendids Yesil
irma
k Mengujekids
(Saltuq)
uh
Cor{1090?-1102}
Aras

Abydos Gr
Elkhan Sank (Qilich Arslan) (Danishmend Ghazi) (Mengujek) Theodosopolis
Teleboas
{1090?-1118}

dacus
arya
{1085?-1104}

u)
{1092-1107}

S
Sebastia

at
)
a Su

ur
Rhyn
Ankyra (Kar

(M
Byzantine Dorylaeum
Empire
Amorium ak
Alexios Pergamum Ha li rm
s anias Akhlat
iz lys izi Ar
{1081-1118} Chaka
He
r
II Ge
d K
mu
s Philomelium Caesarea Melitene
Smyrna
Antioch
Armenian
k
yu

Meander Iconium
Bu

Principalites Diyarbakr

han
Coxon
an

Sey
Tangipernes Laodicea y h

Ti
Cilician Gates Ce

g ris
Heraclea Marash

s
Saru
Adana mus
ra Edessa
Py

Attalia a
Goksu Tarsis g h Mosul
ou
Cal Belen Pass
Rhodes yca
b
dnu
s Antioch
K e r
YaghiSiyan Ridwan
Seleucia Euphr
St Simeon Aleppo ates

Zab
Danishmendids

ater
1- The Danishmendids were a nomadic Turkic dynasty in central Anatolia, and were a Raqqa

Gre
major rival of the Rum Seljuqs. Latakia Rahba
Seljuq empire
2- Gumushtekin Danishmend Ghazi was the second major Turkish enemy of the Nicosia e
t i n Barkiyaruq
Crusaders, especially during the Crusade of 1101. y zan Hama
3- Their ruler, Gumushtekin, was known as Danishmend Ghazi (Wise Raider); B {1092-1105}
Paphos Homs
Danishmend was probably the title of Gumushtekin as a shamanistic religious leader. Janah al-
Tripoli
Ghazi is a title raider, referring to nomadic tribal jihadists who raid non-Muslim regions. Dawla
0 50 100 150 k Varna
Mengujekids and Saltuqids 1097/06/
Ardas a
Preslav Sinope Kur
B Georgia
Adrianople (David IV)
{1089-1125}
Constantinople
Rodosto Trebizond
B
is
Nicomedia ps

ios
am

gar
Civetot Iris Saltuqids
Ac

San
ani
c us
Cyzicus Nicaea
Rum Seljuqs Danishmendids Yesil
irma
k Mengujekids
(Saltuq)
uh
Cor{1090?-1102}
Aras

Abydos Gr
Elkhan Sank (Qilich Arslan) (Danishmend Ghazi) (Mengujek) Theodosopolis
Teleboas
{1090?-1118}

dacus
arya
{1085?-1104}

u)
{1092-1107}

S
Sebastia

at
)
a Su

ur
Rhyn
Ankyra (Kar

(M
Byzantine Dorylaeum
Empire
Amorium ak
Alexios Pergamum Ha li rm
s anias Akhlat
iz lys izi Ar
{1081-1118} Chaka
He
r
II Ge
d K
mu
s Philomelium Caesarea Melitene
Smyrna
Antioch
Armenian
k
yu

Meander Iconium
Bu

Principalites Diyarbakr

han
Coxon
an

Sey
Tangipernes Laodicea y h

Ti
Cilician Gates Ce

g ris
Heraclea Marash

s
Saru
Adana mus
ra Edessa
Py

Attalia a
Goksu Tarsis g h Mosul
ou
Cal Belen Pass
Rhodes yca
b
dnu
s Antioch
K e r
YaghiSiyan Ridwan
Seleucia Euphr
St Simeon Aleppo ates

Zab
ater
Raqqa

Gre
Latakia Rahba
Seljuq empire
Nicosia
t i ne Barkiyaruq
Mengujekids and Saltuqids zan Hama
By {1092-1105}
Turkish nomad tribal beyliks of northeast Anatolia which were not
Paphos Homs
directly involved in the crusaders. They were raiders against the Janah al-
Christian kingdom of Georgia, and Armenians. Tripoli
Dawla
0 50 100 150 k Varna
Georgia (Christian Kingdom) 1097/06/
Ardas a
Preslav Sinope Kur
B Georgia
Adrianople (David IV)
{1089-1125}
Constantinople
Rodosto Trebizond
B
is
Nicomedia ps

ios
am

gar
Civetot Iris Saltuqids
Ac

San
ani
c us
Cyzicus Nicaea
Rum Seljuqs Danishmendids Yesil
irma
k Mengujekids
(Saltuq)
uh
Cor{1090?-1102}
Aras

Abydos Gr
Elkhan Sank (Qilich Arslan) (Danishmend Ghazi) (Mengujek) Theodosopolis
Teleboas
{1090?-1118}

dacus
arya
{1085?-1104}

u)
{1092-1107}

S
Sebastia

at
)
a Su

ur
Rhyn
Ankyra (Kar

(M
Byzantine Dorylaeum
Empire
Amorium ak
Alexios Pergamum Ha li rm
s anias Akhlat
iz lys izi Ar
{1081-1118} Chaka
He
r
II Ge
d K
mu
s Philomelium Caesarea Melitene
Smyrna
Antioch
Armenian
k
yu

Meander Iconium
Bu

Principalites Diyarbakr

han
Coxon
an

Sey
Tangipernes Laodicea y h

Ti
Cilician Gates Ce

g ris
Heraclea Marash

s
Saru
Adana mus
ra Edessa
Py

Attalia a
Goksu Tarsis g h Mosul
ou
Cal Belen Pass
Rhodes yca
b
dnu
s Antioch
K e r
YaghiSiyan Ridwan
Seleucia Euphr
St Simeon Aleppo ates

Zab
ater
Raqqa

Gre
Latakia Rahba
Seljuq empire
Georgia e
Nicosia
t i n Barkiyaruq
Georgia was a major Christian kingdom of the Caucasus region, y zan Hama
neighbors of the Armenians to the south. They were not involved in the B {1092-1105}
Paphos Homs
First Crusade, but would become important strategic allies of the Janah al-
Tripoli
crusaders in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries. Dawla
0 50 100 150 k Varna
Armenian Principalities 1097/06/
Ardas a
Preslav Sinope Kur
B Georgia
Adrianople (David IV)
{1089-1125}
Constantinople
Rodosto Trebizond
B
is
Nicomedia ps

ios
am

gar
Civetot Iris Saltuqids
Ac

San
ani
c us
Cyzicus Nicaea
Rum Seljuqs Danishmendids Yesil
irma
k Mengujekids
(Saltuq)
uh
Cor{1090?-1102}
Aras

Abydos Gr
Elkhan Sank (Qilich Arslan) (Danishmend Ghazi) (Mengujek) Theodosopolis
Teleboas
{1090?-1118}

dacus
arya
{1085?-1104}

u)
{1092-1107}

S
Sebastia 1

at
)
a Su

ur
Rhyn
Ankyra (Kar

(M
Byzantine Dorylaeum
Empire
Amorium ak
Alexios Pergamum Ha li rm
s anias Akhlat
iz lys izi Ar
{1081-1118} Chaka
He II Ge
d K
r mu
s Philomelium Caesarea Melitene 2
Smyrna
Antioch
Armenian
k
yu

Meander Iconium
Bu

Principalites Diyarbakr

han
Coxon
an

Sey
Tangipernes Laodicea y h
3

Ti
Cilician Gates Ce

g ris
Heraclea Marash

s
Saru
Adana mus
ra Edessa
Py

Attalia a
Goksu Tarsis g h Mosul
ou
Cal Belen Pass
Rhodes yca
b
dnu
s Antioch
K e r
Armenian Principalities YaghiSiyan Ridwan
Seleucia Euphr
St Simeon Aleppo ates

Zab
1- The Armenian homeland in the mid-eleventh century.

ater
Raqqa
2- Armenian migrations away from Turkish nomadic invasions

Gre
beginning in the 1050s. Latakia Rahba
Seljuq empire
3- Regions where Armenian warlords had established small e
Nicosia
t i n Barkiyaruq
principalities on the eve of the First Crusade. These Armenians were to y zan Hama
B {1092-1105}
become a major ally of the crusaders principalities Paphos Homs
4- Other Armenians migrated throughout the Middle East and into Egypt Janah al-
Tripoli
where they served the Fatimids as mercenaries. Dawla
0 50 100 150 k Varna
Great Seljuq Empire: Civil Wars and Disintegration 1097/06/
Ardas a
Preslav Sinope Kur
B Georgia
Adrianople (David IV)
{1089-1125}
Constantinople
Rodosto Trebizond
B
is
Nicomedia ps

ios
am

gar
Civetot Iris Saltuqids
Ac

San
ani
c us
Cyzicus Nicaea
Rum Seljuqs Danishmendids Yesil
irma
k Mengujekids
(Saltuq)
uh
Cor{1090?-1102}
Aras

Abydos Gr
Elkhan Sank (Qilich Arslan) (Danishmend Ghazi) (Mengujek) Theodosopolis
Teleboas
{1090?-1118}

dacus
arya
{1085?-1104}

u)
{1092-1107}

S
Sebastia

at
)
a Su

ur
Rhyn
Ankyra (Kar

(M
Byzantine Dorylaeum
Empire
Amorium ak
Alexios Pergamum Ha li rm
s anias Akhlat
iz lys izi Ar
{1081-1118} Chaka
He
r
II Ge
d K
mu
s Philomelium Caesarea Melitene
Smyrna
Antioch
Armenian
k
yu

Meander Iconium
Bu

Principalites Diyarbakr

han
Coxon
an

Sey
Tangipernes Laodicea y h

Ti
Cilician Gates Ce

g ris
Heraclea Marash

s
Saru
Adana mus
ra Edessa
Py

Attalia a
Goksu Tarsis g h Mosul
ou
Cal Belen Pass
Rhodes yca
b
dnu
s Antioch
K e r
Great Seljuq Sultanate YaghiSiyan Ridwan
Seleucia Euphr
1- The Great Seljuqs were the most power Muslim state in the Middle St Simeon Aleppo ates

Zab
East on the eve of the crusades.

ater
Raqqa

Gre
2- However, since the death of Malik Shah in 1092, the empire had Latakia Rahba
descended into succession disputes, anarchy, and civil war. Seljuq empire
3- The major political and economic focus of the Seljuq sultans was Iraq Nicosia
t i ne Barkiyaruq
y zan Hama
and Iran, not Syria. B {1092-1105}
4- Their major strategic goal was the defeat of the rival Shiite Fatimid Paphos Homs
Janah al-
caliphate of Egypt. Tripoli
Dawla
0 50 100 150 k Varna
Seljuq Princes, Atabegs, and Amirs 1097/06/
Ardas a
Preslav Sinope Kur
B Georgia
Adrianople (David IV)
{1089-1125}
Constantinople
Rodosto Trebizond
B
is
Nicomedia ps

ios
am

gar
Civetot Iris Saltuqids
Ac

San
ani
c us
Cyzicus Nicaea
Rum Seljuqs Danishmendids Yesil
irma
k Mengujekids
(Saltuq)
uh
Cor{1090?-1102}
Aras

Abydos Gr
Elkhan Sank (Qilich Arslan) (Danishmend Ghazi) (Mengujek) Theodosopolis
Teleboas
{1090?-1118}

dacus
arya
{1085?-1104}

u)
{1092-1107}

S
Sebastia

at
)
a Su

ur
Rhyn
Ankyra (Kar

(M
Byzantine Dorylaeum
Empire
Amorium ak
Alexios Pergamum Ha li rm
s anias Akhlat
iz lys izi Ar
{1081-1118} Chaka
He
r
II Ge
d K
mu
s Philomelium Caesarea Melitene
Smyrna
Antioch
Armenian
k
yu

Meander Iconium
Bu

Principalites Diyarbakr

han
Coxon
an

Sey
Tangipernes Laodicea y h

Ti
Cilician Gates Ce

g ris
Heraclea Marash

s
Saru
Adana mus
ra Edessa
Py

Attalia a
Goksu Tarsis g h Mosul
ou
Cal Belen Pass
Rhodes yca
b
Seljuq Princes, Atabegs, and Amirs
dnu
s Antioch
K e r
Because of the anarchy and civil wars over succession, princes, atabegs YaghiSiyan Ridwan
Seleucia Euphr
(regents) and military commanders (amirs) in the Seljuq empire St Simeon Aleppo ates

Zab
ater
increasingly operated on an independent or semi-independent basis. Raqqa

Gre
Many of these were not members of the Seljuq royal family. Their Latakia Rahba
major perceived strategic threat was from rival Seljuq lords, or that the
Seljuq empire
Nicosia
t i ne Barkiyaruq
Seljuq Sultan might attempt to reassert direct control. Of the major zan Hama
By {1092-1105}
Turkish lords the crusaders faced, only Ridwan of Aleppo and Duqaq of
Paphos Homs
Damascus were members of the Seljuq royal family, but from a Janah al-
subsidiary line. Tripoli
Dawla
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