The capture of Jerusalem: preparations, tactics and the sack of the city (OCR GCSE History B (Schools History Project)): Revision Notes
The capture of Jerusalem: preparations, tactics and the sack of the city
In December 1098, the crusaders marched to Jerusalem, arriving in mid-1099. After several weeks, they captured the city. Bohemond, on the other hand, went back to Italy and convinced Pope Paschal II and King Philip I of France that the real threat to the Christian world was the Byzantines.
The capture of Jerusalem
The siege and destruction of Jerusalem
Upon arrival at Jerusalem, the crusaders lacked sufficient men to invest the entire city and thus deployed opposite Jerusalem's northern and western walls.
Godfrey, Robert of Normandy and Robert of Flanders
Covered the walls of the north as far south as the Tower of David.
Raymond
Took responsibility for attacking from the tower to Mount Zion.
The capture of Jerusalem: preparations
Crusaders were met with a lack of water supply which eventually forced them to move quickly, attempting a frontal assault on 13 June. The crusaders were turned back by the Fatimid garrison. Genoese ships, under the eye of the Genoese commander Guglielmo Embriaco, arrived at Jaffa with supplies four days later.
As preparations progressed, on 8 July, the crusaders made a penitential procession around the city walls that culminated in sermons on the Mount of Olives. Over the next days, two siege towers were completed. In turn, ad-Daula worked to strengthen the defences opposite the towers.
Genoese commander Guglielmo Embriac
The capture of Jerusalem: tactics
On 13 July, Godfrey and his men began their attack on the northern walls by shifting the siege tower further east during the night, which surprised the defenders.
On the morning of 15 July, Raymond and his men then began their assault from the southwest. Their attack struggled with his siege tower damaged as they were met by prepared defenders.
Godfrey ordered his men to spread out as they were able to open a nearby gate to the city. Crusaders swarmed into Jerusalem. Raymond and his men redoubled their efforts after word got out of the success of Godfrey.
Map indicating progress of the Roman army during the siege
The capture of Jerusalem: The sack of the city
The Crusaders were now entering Jerusalem at two points, causing ad-Daula's men to flee back towards the citadel. Eventually they surrendered after seeing that further resistance was hopeless. Crusaders cried out "Deus Vult", meaning "God wills it", in celebration of their capture of Jerusalem.
In the wake of the crusaders victory, they began a widespread massacre of the city's Muslim and Jewish populations to "cleanse" the city.
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"Deus lo vult"
Siege and destruction of Jerusalem