Crusading Warfare

Exploring the Military History of the Crusades

William James Hamblin
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Surrender of Nicaea
17-19 June 1097
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Strategic Situation at the Fall of Nicaea 1097/06/17-19
Constantinople
Chalcedon

Byzantine Empire
Alexios Comnenos {1081-1118}
s
ariu
ang
S
Al Nicomedia
Pelekanon
Sea of
Civitot
Marmara Helenopolis Sophon

Primary Sources
Albert 2.28-37
Anna 10.1d-2g
Fulcher 1.10 s
iu
Gesta 2/8=14-17 nga
r

Letters 1 (EH4), 3 (EH7) Bo Sa

Ralph 17a
Raymond 5=25-27 Ascanian Go
Nicaea
William 2.21-3.12
Malagina
Ra
Studies Leuce

Asbridge 117-131
France 157-165
Frankopan 138-144
Rogers 17-25
Rubenstein 101-115
Runciman 175-183
Prusa
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Crusader Morale Declines 1097/06/mid

Bo
1a- [Albert 2.35a]
Duke Godfrey and Bohemond and the other Ta
princes were troubled by this destruction of 1
brave men, and by the harm that came to so Marsh
many Christians who suffered day after day
in the attack on the City, and because they Hu
were unable to make any breach in the
walls by the efforts of siege engines
[machinarum] or catapults [balistarum] or
by assaults [impetu], and all their exertion
and courage was squandered to no purpose.

1b- [Albert 2.30a] Go

some were not labouring in vain but others
were working to no effect
[Albert 2.31a]
very many people's constant efforts were
being squandered to no purpose 1
[Albert 2.32b]
otherwise their own attacks or exertion
could not succeed.
Marsh
RF
1c- [Letter (Stephen) 1e (HE 4)]
When our worthy Christian princes saw
that Nicaea with its towers (as I said before) 1
could not be captured by arms alone, St

Ra RN
1d- [Anna 11.2b] Ad
As [Alexios] knew the great strength of the
fortifications of Nicaea, he understood that the
Latins could not possibly take it;
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Crusader Council: Blockade the Lake 1097/06/mid

Bo
2a- [Albert 2.32b]
Because of this the princes finally held very
many councils, discussing what they should Ta
2c- [Gesta 2/8=16]
do, or how they should continue, how the
Marsh So our leaders took counsel together and sent
lake might be closed to the Turks and
messengers to Constantinople to ask the
further sailing in and out be denied to the
Hu emperor to have boats brought to Kivotos,
besieged, and saying that otherwise their
where there is a harbour, and to have oxen
own attacks or exertion could not succeed.
collected to drag these boats over the
At last in the course of very many
mountains and through the woods until they
discussions the following conclusion was
reached the lake. The emperor had this done
reached: that unless the lake, which was so
immediately,
large, was guarded by ships, the enemy
could in no way be kept in check, nor the
city be made empty of food.
Go

2
2b- [Anna 11.2b]
[Alexios believed] the Latins could not
possibly take [Nicaea]; then [Alexios] heard
that the Sultan was conveying sufficient troops
and all the necessaries of life into the town Marsh
quite easily by means of the adjacent lake, and
RF
so schemed to get possession of the lake.

St

Ra RN
Ad
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Preparations of a Byzantine Fleet for the Lake 1097/06/mid
Constantinople
Chalcedon
3- [Anna 11.2b]
[Alexios] had light boats built, such as that
water would be able to carry, and then had them
piled on wagons andByzantine
carried to the lake onEmpire
the
side that looks northwards.
3 Alexios Comnenos {1081-1118}
s
ariu
ang
S
Al Nicomedia
Pelekanon
Sea of 4- [Albert 2.32c-d William 3.6-7] {15-16 June}
Civitot [The crusaders planned to] bring across on dry land all the way to the lake of
Marmara Bu Helenopolis Sophon
Nicaea from the sea using carts adapted by the skillful use of timbers and
hempen ropes and straps of bull's hide, and placed on the shoulders and necks of
the men and horses. The plan was carried out, and at dead of night they dragged
these ships, which were of extraordinary weight and size and which could hold
a hundred men, on the seven-mile journey, and at sunrise they arrived at the
4 lake of Nicaea and put down the ships on the shore and in the water.
[+ Gesta 2/18d=16; +Anna 11.2a]

s
riu
nga
Bo Sa

Ascanian Go
4? Nicaea

Malagina
4?- Albernative route Ra
Leuce
for transporting the
boats overland?

Prusa
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Arrival of the Byzantine Fleet 1097/06/17?
5a- [Albert 2.32d +Gesta 2/8=16]
The bravest soldiers of Gaul were stationed on [the boats] to
use them against the Turks if they made any further forbidden Bo
exit, and to allow no more supplies to be brought in by ship. 5b- [Anna 11.2b]
Moreover, in one of the ships there were archers from the In [the boats] he placed heavy armed soldiers
Ta
emperors Turcopoles, who were accustomed to fight afloat with Manuel Butumites as commander and
very ably in naval battles. Thus the lake was occupied by a Marsh gave them more standards then necessary to
naval blockade make them appear many times more than they
Hu were, as well as trumpets and kettle drums.
Such then were the measures the Emperor took
about the lake.

Bu
5

Go

6- [Anna 11.2c] Then he summoned Taticius

and the man called Tzitas from the continent
and with two thousand brave peltasts sent
them to Nicaea. His orders to them were that
directly they disembarked they were to
Marsh occupy the fort of St. George and pack the
RF load of arrows they carried on mules;
dismount from their horses at some distance
from the walls of Nicaea, march forward
Ta slowly and fix their palisades opposite the
St tower Gonates, and then by agreement with
6 the Franks attack the walls in close
Ra RN formation. Therefore when Taticius arrived
Ad with his army he sent word to the Franks as
the Emperor had commanded; and after they
had all put on full armour they attacked the
walls with much shouting and noise.
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7b- Note:
1- The hiring of a master and inventor
indicates that military engineers were
relatively scarce, and highly sought after.
2- The fact that he was a Lombard
indicates that siege technology was
probably more advanced in Italy than
further west in Europe. This was first
because Italy had closer contacts to the
superior siege technology of Byzantium
and Islam, and second, because Italy had
more higher quality surviving Roman
fortresses and walls than further west,
making better siegecraft a necessity.
The Lombard Siege Engineer 1097/06/17?
Bo
Ta
7a- [Albert 2.35b-d]
Marsh Then a certain man, a Lombard master and
inventor of great defences and siege works, who
Hu saw the miseries and massacres of the Christians,
presented himself unasked saying:
with God's aid I shall make this tower, which
seems strong and invincible, fall to the ground,
without harming and endangering your fellow
Bu soldiers, and through this a way in will be opened
up to get at your enemies and opponents, as long as
the essentials for my craft are supplied from the
Go common expense and assistance fund.
When they heard this man's promise they agreed
7 with complete good will to give him fifteen pounds
of the coinage of Chartres as reward for his work,
and to supply without fail whatever essentials he
might need for the task, rejoicing and putting their
trust in the hope of the promised workmanship. So,
after the aforesaid agreement, the master craftsman
prepared his inventions, joined the sloping sides
Marsh together and attached hurdles of brushwood to the
RF marvellous apparatus, so that under its protection
he and those who toiled with him would keep their
heads safe from the javelins of the Turks who were
opposing them from above.
St
Ra
RN
Ta Ad
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Lombard Siege Machine Pushed to the Wall 1097/06/18

Bo 8- [Albert 2.36a]
Men from the Christian ranks, wearing hauberks
Ta and armed with shields, gathered around the engine.
They used their strength to move it across the
Marsh rampart, dragging it, and positioned it next to the
walls, practically touching them, while all the Turks
Hu were resisting and hindering them from above.

Bu

Go

8
9

Marsh
RF 9- [Albert 2.36b]
The Turks, realizing that the apparatus of this
machine could be decisive in the defeat of the
city, were throwing torches burning with pitch
St and fat onto the siege engine, and they rolled up a
Ra mass of rocks from the walls to see if thus by any
artifice the artefact brought to the wall might be
RN
Ta Ad destroyed and those shut in it be frightened off.
But everything they threw onto the machine or tried
was in vain because its sloping walls retained
neither firebrands nor stones that were thrown
against them.
0 100 200 300 m
Wall is Undermined and Collapses 1097/06/18

Bo

Ta

Marsh
10- [Albert 2.36c]
Hollowing out the earth under the foundation of
Hu the tower with mattocks and sharpest iron, until he
could set up beams, posts and other enormous
oak timbers in that same excavation under the
foundation, on which the walls would be supported
Bu after the earth had been taken away so that they
would not suddenly fall down on top of those still
digging. Once a very great excavation had been
made, both wide and long, everyone in the
Go
army, small and great, gathered twigs, stalks,
sticks, and dry reeds, pieces of tow and all sorts
of kindling, and heaped it between the posts and
beams and the splendid timbers

11 10 11- [Albert 2.36d]

After this, fire was put in by the master of the
siegework, the unconquerable flame grew
Marsh stronger and stronger and it reduced to ashes the
RF posts, there was no prop for the foundations
either of earth or of wood, the building of the very
ancient tower fell flat in an instant in the middle
of the night, the walls of the fortress were lying
St
Ra shattered and ruined in many places.

RN
Ta Ad
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Turkish Sultana Captured Trying to Escape 1097/06/18
12- [Albert 2.36e]
Because of this collapse and devastation of the Bo
tower [Qilich Arslans] noble wife was greatly
frightened, and she no longer trusted in the Ta
protection of the city she would thus escape
the Christians by boat. But her departure was Marsh
spotted by the soldiers who were guarding the
lake, and she was caught by their rowing up the Hu
newly brought up ships, and was placed in the
care of the princes along with her two young sons.

Bu

Go
12

Marsh
RF

St
Ra
RN
Ta Ad
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15- [Anna 11.2c +Gesta 2/8=16 + Letter 1
(Stephen) (=EH4)]
From the side of the lake too the barbarians
were terrified by the imperial standards and
trumpets and at the same time they were
convoked by Butumites to hear the Emperor's
promises.
Bu
16- [Anna 11.2c]
The Emperor promised not only immunity, but
also rich awards of money and honours, to
the Sultan's sister and wife (who was said to
be Tzachas' daughter) and without exception to
all the barbarians in Nicaea; consequently
they felt encouraged by the Emperor's promises
and granted Butumites admission.
Byzantines Negotiate with Turks 1097/06/18
Bo Note:
1- Raymond and Tatikios assault the city
where the walls have collapsed because of
Ta Raymonds mine.
2- The breach caused by Godfreys
Marsh Lombard engineer is assaulted by
Godfreys crusaders.
Hu 3- With the city threatened through the
breaches on land, Bututmites offers to
negotiate, and is permitted into the city.
15
13- [Albert 2.37a]
The Turks defending the fortress were
terrified when the tower was broken
Go down to the ground, [and] they
16
despaired of escape by sailing clear on
13 the lake; they were devastated by the
serious weakening of their men who
had been killed within; they were
exhausted by the long siege.
14
14- [Anna 11.2c]
Marsh
On the following day the war-cry was
RF
raised on both sides of the city and on
14 the land-side the Franks started the
assault with great vigour, And while
St Taticius' men discharged showers of
Ra darts, the Franks in one place pierced
the walls, and in another hurled stones
RN from catapults incessantly.
Ta Ad
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Turks Surrender to the Byzantines 1097/06/19
17- [Gesta 2/8=17]
Then the Turks, realising that their armies Bo
could do no more to help them, sent a
Note:
message to the emperor saying that they Ta The Byzantines offered exceptional terms
would surrender the city to him if he would
of surrender to the Turks. They wanted
let them go free with their wives and Marsh immediate surrender to avoid a crusader
children and all their goods.
breakthrough and sack of Nicaea. The
Hu terms included:
18- [Anna 11.2d] 1- All Turkish soldiers, their families,
Butumites mounted to the battlements, and goods were guaranteed by the
fixed the imperial sceptres and standards Byzantines.
along the walls and with bugles and trumpets 2- The emperor offered the Turkish
acclaimed the Emperor. And in this way the leaders bribes, titles, and annual pensions;
whole Roman army entered Nicaea. this probably meant that they became
18 Byzantine mercenaries.
Bu Go
19a- [Fulcher 1.10.10]
Then the Turks admitted into it Turcopoles
sent thither by the emperor. These latter took 17
possession of the city with all the money in it 19
in the name of the emperor just as he had
commanded.

19b- [Anna 11.2d]

[Butumites] at once took charge of the keys Marsh
of the gate. So he summoned them and RF
advised [the Turks to journey to the
Emperor if they wished to receive large
sums of money from his hands and be
rewarded with high titles and granted St
Ra
annual pensions.
RN
Ta Ad
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Aftermath 1097/06/20-22
Constantinople
21e- Note: Chalcedon
Fundamentally, in the division of the spoils
the Byzantines received the city, and the
crusaders received the Turkish treasury,
probably plus additional resources from
Alexios. This was in accord with the oaths 21a- [Letter 3 (Anselm)]
to Alexios. After [the crusader leaders] received from
In many ways this represented an ideal [Alexios] gifts of priceless value, theys
returned [to their camps], some feeling ariu
situation, because the crusaders needed ang
treasure and supplies to continue their kindly towards him, others not. S
Al
campaign more than they needed a city far Pelekanon Nicomedia
fromSea of
Jerusalem. 21b- [Raymond 5e=26]
Some crusaders felt cheated because they Civitot Alexius had pledged to the princes and the
Marmara
were not allowed to plunder Nicaea after
Helenopolis Sophon
Frankish people that he would hand over
a long and costly siege. This was to them all of the gold, silver, horses, and
especially the case with the poorer Byzantine Empire effects of all kinds which were in Nicaea.
crusaders, who benefited the least from the
arrangement, being given only copper coins. Alexios Comnenos {1081-1118} 21c- [Fulcher 1.10.10]
Wherefore after all this money was seized
the emperor ordered gifts to be presented
20- [Anna 11.2f]
to our leaders, gifts of gold and silver and
Butumites was
raiment; and to the foot-soldiers he
appointed Duke of
distributed copperiu coins which they call
s
Nicaea by the Emperor. ga
r
tartarons. Sa n
20
21d- [Letter 1 (Stephen)]
Ascanian Bu Nicaea On the island where he was the great
21
Malagina
emperor [Alexios] allotted the more
precious spoils of the city of Nicaea as
Leuce
follows: the knights were to have the
gold, jewels, silver, cloaks, horses and the
like, all the food was to be given to the
foot-soldiers. All the princes were to
receive payment from his own treasures.

Prusa
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