The siege of Nicaea and the Battle of Dorylaeum: the nature of Christian and Muslim warfare (OCR GCSE History B (Schools History Project)): Revision Notes
The siege of Nicaea and the Battle of Dorylaeum: the nature of Christian and Muslim warfare
The main objective of the armed pilgrimage was to reclaim Jerusalem from the Muslims as commanded by Pope Urban II upon the request of the Byzantine Emperor.
Battle of Nicaea
In the first half of 1097, crusader armies joined Peter the Hermit in Asia Minor and captured Nicaea, capital of the Seljuks Sultanate of Rum.
Siege of Nicaea
The Battle of Nicaea took place during a turbulent period in the Roman Empire called Year of the Five Emperors. It was the year when Emperor Pertinax was assassinated by the Praetorian Guards.
Didius Julianus succeeded Pertinax as emperor and briefly ruled for nine weeks. Consequently, the throne was up for auction. Septimius Severus, who was bidding for the throne, fought against his eastern rival, Pescennius Niger, in what was known as the Battle of Nicaea, as it took place at Nicaea in Asia Minor.
Siege of Nicaea
The Siege of Nicaea took place from 14 May to 19 June, 1097.
In 1081, Nicaea had been captured by the Seljuk Turks. Over a decade later, in 1096, the People's Crusade had plundered the land surrounding Nicaea, before being dismantled by the Turks. Sultan Kilij Arslan faced the attack and went east to fight. The crusaders left Constantinople at the end of April 1097.
Illustration of Nicaea
Timeline
6 May
The Crusaders arrived
14 May
They put the city to seige. Leaders and their forces were assigned to different sections of the walls.
16 May
The Turks defended themselves from the crusaders but they were defeated.
20 May
The crusaders defeated the Turks in another attack.
21 May
The crusaders defeated Sultan Kilij. The Sultan retreated against the Turks' wishes.
June
Byzantine arrival
Siege of Nicaea
Battle of Dorylaeum
The Battle of Dorylaeum took place on 1 July, 1097, and was fought between the Seljuk Turks and the crusaders, near the city of Dorylaeum.
Despite the Turkish troops of Sultan Kilij Arslan almost destroying the crusader contingent of Bohemond, the rest of the crusader forces arrived just in time to defeat the Turks.
Battle of Dorylaeum
Timeline
Battle of Dorylaeum
The Turks ambushed Bohemond's army
Bohemond sent messengers to ask for help from other crusader troops
Godfrey's army arrived to help Bohemond's
The Turks became more aggressive but the crusaders pressed on
The Crusaders had formed a line of battle with Bohemond, Tancred, Robert of Normandy, and Stephen on the left wing, Raymond, Robert of Flanders in the centre and Godfrey, Robert of Flanders, and Hugh on the right.