Dog Days: A Crusader Timeline

Onyx

Banned
Chapter 1, Premise: Paradiso


The 15th of July, 1099. Jerusalem.

It has been entire week of fighting. The Crusaders led by Godfrey de Bouillon and Raymond of Toulouse have finally breached the walls of Jerusalem with the siege towers (That were built from Ships from Genoa) after last night's bloody assault. The last remaining Fatimid defenders realize that there is no hope for them to defend the city any longer after a week of miraculous defending, but now the crusaders are swarming inside the walls, it's the end of Muslim rule.

Finally, the Governor of Jerusalem and the remaining guards meet Raymond of Toulouse, they surrender Jerusalem (As well as giving Raymond a large amount of treasure) in terms of safe passage, not for the people inside the walls, only them. There offer is granted. A truly terrible offer for all of Jerusalem indeed.

The Crusaders cried "Deus Lo Vult" (God Wills It) as they finally achieved their goal that sought to complete since the day that Pope Urban II declared it three years ago, but now there is a bigger problem. The people of Jerusalem: Muslims, Jews, and Orthodox Christians, are now at the will and hands of an Army full of Ex-Convicts, Excommunicates, Xenophobic Knights, and fervent Christians.

But before the Crusaders began their pillaging, slaughtering, and looting of the Holy City. Godfrey de Bouillon came before the entire army at the gates and spoke of a speech, it is unknown to this day of what he said, but according to a crusader who wrote in his journal, that Godfrey spoke "Of a Holy and Inspiring Speech, that made many, as well as me, cry" (1). As the Crusaders entered the city, the Muslims fled to the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Jews fled to their main synagogue and prayed knowing that they would all die. But it was different end, the Crusaders entered the city not with violence, but with piety. Many of them went to the Church of the Holy Sephulcre and prayed, but on the way. They were blessed and given joy by the people for doing such a Chivalrous thing, some of them even try to kiss Raymond's and Godfrey's feet.

On July 22nd, Godfrey de Bouillon was declared "Advocatus Sancti Sepulchri" (Protector of the Holy Sephulcre) then refused to be king to where Jesus Christ died. He followed up a declaration of a Kingdom in the name of Christ


A Kingdom has risen to Heaven.

(1) Okay, I couldn't really think of a speech that would've done it :p
 
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Darth_Kiryan

This is...intriguing. I mean, crusaders acting with piety, kindness, instead of slaughtering everyone. That is just...well, odd.

I would like to read more of this. Just to see where it is going.
 

Onyx

Banned
Thank you WorldWarZ and James Phoenix, I'm writing Ch.2, but due to issues on school, I may have to post it by friday :p but I think I can just divide it up and post it weekly

crusaders acting with piety, kindness, instead of slaughtering everyone. That is just...well, odd.
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Who knew? Anyhow, whatever caused an entire army of rabble-rousers to be controlled such a way is beyond me, though it can happen.
Well it was the Medieval Times back then so..... ;)
 

MerryPrankster

Christopher Columbus told his men to be nice to the natives so they'd be more predisposed to convert to Christianity. Granted, that was 400 years later, but it was still pre-Enlightenment and BEFORE the wars of the Reformation that turned people off towards excessive zeal.

If you want another possible POD, invent some preacher who tells the Crusaders that in the Bible, being put into situations where cannibalism is needed to survive is typically punishment for sin. He could then point out the pogroms against the Jews that accompanied the Crusading armies as sins the Crusaders need to repent of.

If the Crusaders can be convinced of this, they might be inclined to be better behaved towards the common folk of the city.

BTW, how many people actually died during the Crusader sack of Jerusalem?

I remember reading somewhere that most of the city was still Christian and the Christians had been expelled by the Muslim governor; only the Muslim garrison's families and a sect of Jews who thought they should never, EVER leave Jerusalem were still there, but this was awhile ago and I can't remember the source.
 

Boto von Ageduch

I think it is realistic that the crusaders refrain from useless violence in this particularly solemn moment, the entry to Jerusalem.

And this is how I undestood the opening posting.
 

Onyx

Banned
(Marry Pranksters snip on the preacher) QUOTE]

I like that idea, I'll put it somewhere

BTW, how many people actually died during the Crusader sack of Jerusalem?
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Around 40,000 people O_O......

Heres the next chapta everyone! :D

Chapter 2, Celeste Sang

July 22nd, 1099

A Kingdom has a risen to Heaven. In The name of Christ and all of Christendom, the Kingdom of Jerusalem has been declared.

Godfrey de Bouillon has now been crowned as the King of Jerusalem and the Protector of the Holy Sephulcre. To the North lied Bohemond's Principality, Antioch and North-East laid Bouillon's brother own kingdom, Edessa, ruled by Baldwin of Boulogne.

However, the Crusade isn't over yet. With Jerusalem taken from the Fatimid's. It would be a matter of time before the news reaches Cairo. A week later, Fatimid Diplomats visit to Jerusalem and demand to return the city back to Islamic control, the crusaders refused and learned that the main Fatimid army is heading towards Jerusalem. The crusaders acted quickly, and a few days later, Godfrey de Bouillon led what's left of the crusaders towards Ascalon (Raymond of Toulouse and Robert of Normandy stayed behind to guard Jerusalem), if taken, the Fatimid's could lose the chance of taking Jerusalem by having to go through the Fortress of Ascalon.

The Fatimids were led by Vizier al-Afdal Shahanshah, commanded a far larger force than the crusaders (Most likely around 50,000) while the Crusaders only had at least 20,000 men left, who were led by Bouillon, and also Robert II, Count of Flanders.

However, al-Afdal did not know the crusaders were in the battlefield and was not expecting them. The battle caught the Fatimids unprepared, to make matters worse. al-Afdal was killed when a cavalry charge sent him flying to the ground, breaking his neck in the process. His bodyguards ordered the panicked army back to Ascalon, but before they could close the gates. Some of the crusaders actually managed to get inside (By riding horses of course) and started to cut down any soldiers they could kill before they could die, the garrison in Ascalon was barely standing. Bouillon ordered of another attack, but learned of that the Fatimids were returning back to Egypt.

The crusaders looted the Egyptian camps, and founded many valuables in the Viziers tent. Then after returning to Jerusalem, they celebrated, but Raymond and Godfrey both claimed Ascalon, but after a tense quarrel, Raymond would allowed Godfrey to have Ascalon. The remaining guard of Ascalon were frightened that an entire force will come to Ascalon, and before a siege could begin, the remaining Fatimid guards fled Ascalon by boat and the remainder surrender to Godfrey. Ascalon was now in Christian hands.

After the Victory of Ascalon. The Crusaders having their pilgrimage fulfilled and sins absolved, they returned back to Europe, but now. With an entire force gone, the Kingdom was in peril.

While the Fatimid's tried to fight back, they couldn't, there power was in decline, they lost much of their territory, and only had Egypt, the Fatimids were now losing control.

In Jerusalem, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Dagobert of Pisa, wanted Jerusalem to be in the rule of the Church, making it a theocracy. Godfrey tried to combat this, but the victory in Ascalon prompted cities such as Acre and Jaffa to join the Kingdom in 1100. But in that same year, Godfrey de Bouillon de facto King of Jerusalem, died of illness.

There was great sorrow for a man who spared the lives of Jerusalem, won the Battle of Ascalon, and created a Kingdom whose dominions were rising in the clouds of Paradise.
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Basileus Giorgios

Interesting start: though my own interests in the Crusaders largely relate to their interactions with the Komnenid Roman Empire. That being said though, I believe that the first forty years after the First Crusade was a period of peace and stability for the Crusaders before the House of Islam finally drove them out: so I'm just hoping that with a good start, they start to treat the Muslim states pragmatically, rather than in the suicidal way that unfortunately happened in OTL. The alt-capture of Jerusalem seems to be a good start though...
 

Onyx

Banned
Sorry that his might be sloppy :(, I tried to do good around there years, but it wasnt good

Chapter 3, Terre De Christ

December 25, Christmas, 1100

Today was the day when Jesus Christ was born. Today is also the day when Baldwin of Edessa (Formerly known as Boulougne), is crowned as King of Jerusalem. However, his story in the Holy Land goes back.

Baldwin was the brother of Godfrey de Bouillon, after capturing Edessa, he carved it into his own land after his father Thoros (Who adopted him) died from assassination in 1098, and there on ruled the county. Edessa was large, but small in population, the only time Edessa was useful when they aided Bohemond's on the Siege of Antioch and also in the Battle of Melitene, which the crusaders became victorious (1).

After being crowned, Baldwin gave Edessa to his cousin, Baldwin of Bourcq (Who will be known as Baldwin II) and also seek to expand the kingdom's domains, one by one fell: Acre, Arsuf, Jaffa, Caesarea. However, Dagobert of Pisa demanded a Theocracy, this was just a mere obstacle for Baldwin, who he suspended him from the Papal Legate and disposed him a year later.

However, with the Crusade over, there was no one left to defend Jerusalem. That's when the Crusade of 1101 came. Although Bohemond's was thought to be captured at Miletene, he emerged in Edessa a day later, he said that Melitene was victorious, but had to leave a majority of his men there after a report saying that the Danishmends were approaching with a large force and needed more men to fight. But due to the success of the First Crusade, the "Faint Hearted" and those who were peasants decided to start another crusade only so that they can reached Jerusalem.

The Crusade of 1101 was led by Anselm IV, Archbishop of Milan, however, they caused a riot in Constantinople, infuriating Alexius I (Only to be appeased by riches) who ferried them to Anatolia. They joined other crusaders in Nicomedia, which was led by Raymond IV (Who became in the service with Alexius in the time being). They planned towards Konya (2), and managed to fend off a local army, which raised the eye of Seljuk Kilij Arslan I (Who started an alliance with the Danishmends), but before he could ambush them, they already made it Cilician Armenia, infuriated, he single-handedly murdered his scouts who told him where the crusades were.

Meanwhile in the Fields of Melitene, a Danishmend army did came, although not in the command of the known general, Ridwan of Aleppo. but after heavy fighting, the Antioch Crusader won the day, with the Danishmends retreating, never to bother the Crusaders again.

Raymond IV returned to Tripoli, though when he was at Antioch when traveling, he had an intense argument with Bohemond and Tancred (Regent of Antioch) for attacking Laodicea (A settlement of Antioch) a year ago, he was jailed, but later dismissed and returned to Tripoli in the siege.
Anselm IV, for his actions in helping the crusaders, was promoted to Latin Patriarch until his death in 1107, this also helped Baldwin keep Dagobert from returning.

The next year in 1102, the Crusaders managed to receive the men to defend their settlements. However to the south, the Fatimids were raiding and attacking several towns, although peace was never settled, the Fatimids continued to attack after the loss of Jerusalem. This time, Baldwin had it, although the two sides fought at Ramla, another battle was fought again. Baldwin relied the force on scouts, who reported of a massive force, although because Al-Afdal died in Ascalon, another vizier was in charge, he did a poor job on attacking Jerusalem, and didn't have the command to win. Baldwin managed to raise at least 10,500 men at the field. A bloody battle began, with Stephen of Blois dying at a suicidal charge at the vizier (Legend has it, that Stephen managed to kill the vizier while being rained with arrows, many crusaders believed this to be an act/protection of god), but the vizier was dead, it was like Ascalon all over again. Nearly all of the Fatimids died when fleeing. This would seem to be the battle that caused the Fatimids not to attack them again.

However, there was trouble again in Antioch in 1104, the Seljuks won a battle in Harran, causing Bohemond to go back to Italy and recruit while Tancred became regent. Although a plan was devised by the Byzantines to recapture Antioch, they only could manage to take parts of Cilician Armenia.

It's 1105, a Kingdom is rising. With nearly all of the Levantine Coast in Crusader control, Tripoli falling to Raymond's domains, and Baldwin heading to the lands of Oultrejordan, and now rumors of a certain Norwegian King having a crusade to Jerusalem.

It would seem that it would last, like what the Bible said of Jesus ruling for "1000 Years"

*1 - They actually lost the battle of Melitene, this caused Bohemond to be captured and massively fuck up the 1101 Crusade and much of Antioch

*2 - They decided to go north to save Bohemond, but because he wasnt captured in this ATL, they went with the plan
 
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