Alexios on the road to Antioch

15th July, AD 1098

An epidemic, probably Typhus, breaks out in Antioch. Bohemond crosses into Cilicia, Godfrey north to Turbessel and Ravendel. Robert of Normandy and Stephen of Blois to Lattakieh. Raymond to Rugia on the Orontes


17th July, AD 1098

Raymond Pilet crosses Orontes eastwards


18th July, AD 1098

Hugh of Vermandois and Baldwin of Hainault encounter Alexios just south of the Cilician Gates and bring him up to date on the situation in Antioch


19th July, AD 1098

Alexios arrives in Tarsus


20th July, AD 1098

Raymond Pilet occupies Tel-Mannas, welcomed by Syrian Christians


21st July, AD 1098

Raymond Pilet attacks Maarat an-Numan with army of Syrian Christians, but withdraws when the natives break up and flee on contact
 
22nd July, AD 1098

Bohemond learns of Alexios' presence in Cilicia and goes to greet him, trying to put a good impression on his efforts on his behalf


25th July, AD 1098

Alexios and Bohemond reach Mamistra


1st Aug, AD 1098

Adhemar of Le Puy dies in Antioch


4th Aug , AD 1098

Alexios advances to the Iron Bridge, where his army camps.
 
6th Aug, AD 1098

Robert of Normandy and Stephen of Blois come from Lattakieh to greet Alexios


9th Aug, AD 1098

Godfrey arrives from Turbessel
 
10th Aug, AD 1098

Alexios thanks Crusaders with lavish gifts. Alexios asks Bohemond if he's still interested in being his Grand Domestic of the East, as he wishes for someone to command the forces he intends to accompany the Crusade to Jerusalem. He announces that he's providing a contingent of infantry and scouts under Tatikios but that should it be successful, further campaigns against the Seljuks of Rum and the Danishmends will be inevitable. Bohemond accepts, paying homage to the Emperor again and receives a large reward of treasure, but Alexios declines to answer him on the rule of Antioch.
 
Keep it up.

Just for my own clarification, in 1098 the Byzantines had three forces in play in the east.

Tacitus with his 2000 skirmishers who accompanied the Crusaders from Nicea to Antioch and left Lattakiah in Feb 1098.

Megas Doux John Doukas who captured Smyna in 1097, in 1098 he opened the road from Attaliah to Philomelium. His campaign ended in 1099 in Polybotus, it was basically this campaign which re-established Byzantium in Asia.

Emperor Alexios who was campaigning in Anatolia with his main army and was in Philomelium in June 1098, where Stephen and William travelled up from Attalia to tell him the fake bad news.
 
11th August, AD 1098

Alexios surprises everyone by then offering the rule of Antioch to Raymond, under his hegemony. Raymond accepts on the condition that he be allowed to accompany the Crusade to Jerusalem to fulfil his vow and with Alexios' consent, assumes the title Count of Antioch and swears (full) homage to Alexios, who grants Raymond the title of Protosebastos for defending his interests at Antioch. Due to the epidemic, Alexios does not enter the city itself, though and due to rumors of the Turks movements, takes the bulk of his army back towards Cilicia. Alexios' religious interests are to be secured by the presence of the Patriarch Ioannes.

Tancred expresses the rude sentiments of the general Norman reaction, but Bohemond takes the political defeat with relatively good grace on the Basileus' promises of future rewards after the future success of the Crusade
 
12th Aug, AD 1098

Princes disperse since the epidemic still plagues Antioch. Bohemond accompanies the Basileus back to Cilicia with Tatikios. Robert of Normandy and Stephen of Blois turn Lattakieh over to Raymond, per their arrangement with Alexios and the two journey to Rugia in Raymond's place.
 
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