Dog Days: A Crusader Timeline

[Onyx]

Whew, that was long, comments and criticism is welcome, as I said, I wasnt good with his time of era of crusades.

Chapter 4: Au-delà de Vahalla

1105, Tripoli.

Tripoli, one of the last major cities in the Levant, it has been in siege for three years, but after three years of harassing the crusaders and well-defending itself, Raymond IV of Tripoli (Who now claims the city) had it. Tripoli was originally under Radwan of Aleppo's control, but after a disastrous assault onto on the castles held by the crusaders which led to the decimation of much of Radwan's men a year ago, the people of the city gave up and joined the Fatimids as Radwan was too late to return to Tripoli with reinforcements (1).

Raymond IV (Who luckily survived the assault on the castle(2) was even more angry than ever and requested Baldwin I to help him siege the city. Baldwin arrived, as with Baldwin of Bourcq (Now Edessa), Bertrand of Toulouse (Raymond's son, and also claimant), and William-Jordan (Raymond's other son and also claimant). Latin Patriarch Anselm IV was requested to join the fray so he can encourage Christian zealous and moral and joined along with a giant cross built on a wagon called "The Great Cross of Tripoli".

The battle was bloody, even though Tripoli gave themselves to the Fatimids, they had no help coming and decided to fight to the last man, even if they lose, the only reinforcements that arrived was a pair of ships of Fatimid soldiers, among them was the vizier successor of Al-Afdal Shahanshah and the vizier killed at Ramla, his name was Al-Darwishi Kaldunashah, a cousin to Al-Afdal (3). During the battle, William-Jordan was killed when an arrow struck him in the chest, Bertrand of Toulouse saw this and wept, there's even a myth saying that when Bertrand saw his body and wept, he said "If my brother is dead, then I shall be ruler of this pitiful town!" (4).

A few days later, Tripoli fell, but Al-Darwishi escaped, but saved many lives of his own men after enduring a suicidal charge into Raymond IV's rear guard, injuring the two, but alive they are. Baldwin I recounted this on his journal and said "I fear, this new vizier will be the ultimate successor to the man my brother fought at Ascalon".

Raymond of IV declared his own domain as the "County of Tripoli" and declared himself no more as Raymond IV of Toulouse, but Raymond of Tripoli, however he was now in his 60's and his rule would've been short, with Bertrand of Tripoli succeeding him if he does.

All of the Levant is nearly in Christian Hands, the few settlements still holding out are usually small and easily to capture such as Sidon, although Baldwin didn't have the resources to capture them. Until in 1107, Baldwin received news of a crusading force, but his one was, strange, the crusaders were Norwegian.

The leader of this was none other than the King of Norway, Sigurd I. Many inspiring tales came from him, from Denmark to Portugal, they gave stories of him such as inspiring Pagan Vikings to join his cause, or defending Lisbon from the Muslims, and acquiring treasures from the Baltic to the Balearics, a legend back then, his tactics included the usual Norwegian strategy since they were Vikings, hit and run and pillage and loot. Sigurd arrived in 1110, Baldwin appreciated a king who ventured all the way from the north, and gave him treasures and gifts, Sigurd also pointed out that Baldwin had trouble in capturing settlements and asked to help him, Baldwin accepted and pointed out that Sidon was still in Muslim hands. Sigurd helped him in attacking Sidon (Along with the Doge of Venice who came later on) and won, Sigurd later captured various other settlements before he finish. Baldwin even told Anselm IV to give him a part of the True Cross to Sigurd and went on a leisurely walk with the Norwegian. Before leaving, many of Sigurds men wanted to stay in the Kingdom, which Sigurd accepted. He left the Kingdom and arrived to Constantinople where he impressed the Byzantines with his ships, gave his treasures and much of his men to Alexius, and left, never to return.

However the stories of Sigurd still inspired many Danes and Nords to join the crusades for many years to come.

A saying was said by Sigurd -
Utover Vahalla ligger et kongerike Himmel ~ Beyond Vahalla lies a Kingdom of Heaven

*1 - Yep, it happened, just altered a bit of it
*2 - Raymond actually was wounded and died
*3 - Not good with Egyptian/Fatimid/Shi'ite names.....
*4 - Not good with quotes.....

 

[Strategos' Risk]

This sounds simply fascinating and I would most appreciate it if you continue this. I like your ideas and we can use more not-abandoned medieval timelines with this style.

 

[Onyx]

This sounds simply fascinating and I would most appreciate it if you continue this. I like your ideas and we can use more not-abandoned medieval timelines with this style.

Thanks , and you too King Thomas, Raymann, and Yui108 (Though it was sugesstion )

I'm burying myself with Books of the Crusades, Templars, etc.
I have this really good book on the crusades, detailing on everything of it, even including the Abligensians, I'll even try to include on other issues (Mongols, Byzantines, Cathars, etc)

Will be posting 5 this weekend

 

[Darth_Kiryan]

I'm burying myself with Books of the Crusades, Templars, etc.
I have this really good book on the crusades, detailing on everything of it, even including the Abligensians, I'll even try to include on other issues (Mongols, Byzantines, Cathars, etc)

Yeah? Good, the more you research the better it will be.

I'm also going to have to do something similar, i don't really know the indepth story of the crusades, but i do now the typical outline and some specific dates. looks like i must brush up on my Crusades history.

Next post soon, huzzah!

 

[Astronomo2010]

Very good story

Very good and interesting storyline, i hope it continues ,well into the future from the Middle Ages to the 30th Century and beyond

 

[Onyx]

Chapter 5, Pèlerins de la mort (Pilgrims of Death)

March, 1111, Antioch.

Today the people weep all over Antioch. Bohemond, Prince of Antioch, died. His son, Bohemond II is now crowned as Prince of Antioch, with Tancred dying a year later, Roger of Salerno is given regent.

These years of the Kingdom from 1112-1119, were coined as the "Silent Years" as nothing major or well known happened.

Tyre was captured in 1111 but at a heavy cost, as well as the remnants of the towns in Levant for these years. The Seljuk Turks tried to attack the lands of Edessa and Antioch, but they were foiled by Roger of Salerno and Baldwin of Bourcq.

In 1115, Baldwin I invaded East of Jerusalem, it was called "Oultrejordan", the area however was empty, only Bedouins roamed this part. The invasion was swift, Baldwin even created castles all over the area such as Montreal in order to protect the region from Fatimid and Seljuk armies.

But in 1118, Baldwin I died, he contracted illness from consuming raw fish (1) and fell ill. According to biographers, Jerusalem "Wept, it's chime bells ringed, it's mosques prayed in mourn, and it drizzled as the Angels cried.". Nearly everyone in the Holy Land visited his burial, Alexius I, Roger of Salerno, Baldwin of Bourcq, Bohemond II, Pons of Tripoli (Now Count of Tripoli as his father, Bertrand died in 1112), and even Al-Darwishi, who was granted entrance after Baldwin of Bourcq allowed him to.

A succession crises soon followed as Baldwin had no children, the crown was offered to Eustace, Baldwins older brother. But Joscelin of Courtenay insisted that the crown be offered to Baldwin of Bourcq, which the court accepted, crowning Baldwin of Bourcq as Baldwin II.

His beginning had a rocky start, in 1119, a certain large battle took place in Sarmada, it was known as the Field of Blood, neither actually won and both retreated from the battlefield, Roger of Salerno was nearly struck and wounded but lived and ran off with his other men to defend Antioch from another attack (2). The Seljuks then began a series of raids on Antioch, until Baldwin II drove them out in the Battle of Hab.

But now there is a bigger problem, although the kingdom is now secured, the Pilgrims are now falling prey to raiders and Bedouins, there is barely any protection to help these, until in 1119, Baldwin II met a man named Hugues de Payens who began a certain order of poor knights defending the pilgrims in the name of Christ, this knighthood was known as "The Poor Knights of the Temple of King Solomon"

Better yet known as, the Knights Templar

 

[Onyx]

This is the current map of the TL now.

If there is a smaller version of this, and a wider area showing more of the Mid-East, that would be awesome

I try to find some research on the map during this time, but it was poor, did my best though:

Cyan - Jerusalem
Red - Tripoli
Navy Blue - Antioch
Purple - Byzantines
Army Green - Fatimid
Green - Sultanate of Rum
Periwinkle - Great Seljuks
Light Blue - Danishmends
Light Yellow - Aleppo
Pink - Mosul
Purple Red - Edessa
Blue - Kypchaks
Orange - Hungary
Dark Yellow - Raska (Serbia)
Dark Red - Zeta (Montenegro)
Grey - Hashashins

 

[Darth_Kiryan]

Sweet map.

Also, did you mention somewhere about Edessa? Coz that was also meant to be a crusader state. The county of Edessa

 

[Onyx]

Sweet map.

Also, did you mention somewhere about Edessa? Coz that was also meant to be a crusader state. The county of Edessa

Thanks, also Edessa is in there.

Getting closer to the Second Crusade people!

Chapter 6, Les agneaux de Dieu

1119, Jerusalem, the Temple Mount

In 1119, a man by the name of Hugues de Payens approached Baldwin II with Eight other knights, they claim that they are a brotherhood sworn to protect pilgrims in the Holy Land. Baldwin II was amazed that these knights were poor and that there goal was surprising for only a small group of knights, and allowed them to set up headquarters in the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This group was little heard in the next nine years, however another order, the Knights Hospitallers, was originally an order caring for the sick and poor since the First Crusade, however they gradually militarized themselves for the following years.

For the following years, the "Silent Years" weren't actually silent. In 1125, the Crusaders won a stunning victory at Azaz, defeating and putting Mosul, and Aleppo, and the Seljuks on the defensive. A year later, the Crusaders marched to Damascus, but after heavy fighting between the Damascenes and the Crusaders, the Crusader left after losing so much that they couldn't even begin a siege, but this gave a fact that the Crusaders are now dangerous to attack Damascus or other cities.

The following years were just skirmishes between Antioch, Edessa against the Seljuks, Aleppo, and Mosul. However in 1129, the Council of Troyes began, this was when the Knights Templar were given recognition by the Pope and Papacy, this caused an acceleration of recruits to Templar's, who now have begun to expand into other goals. Also meanwhile in Egypt, Al-Darwishi Kaldunashah has sacrificed his life to save Al-Amir (Sultan of the Fatimids) from an assassination attempt, he later died that night at the age of 42, but saved the Fatimids from a power struggle, he is survived by his only son Al-Hakim Kaldunashah.

But in 1131, two things happened putting the kingdom in jeopardy. The first one was that Bohemond II was fighting in Cilicia after Prince Leo I (1) invaded parts of Cilicia under Antiochene control, Leo allied with the Danishmends and lure Bohemond II to fight in the mountains, the plan worked, decimating his army. But Bohemond II was aware of what would happen if he goes to the mountains, and planned an escape if he did. It worked, and Bohemond II fled to Antioch, enraged at the Armenians, he demanded Baldwin II to help him fight against the Armenians, but instead, Baldwin II began a negotiation between the two. Antioch would leave it's Cilician domains, and Leo would break his alliance with the Danishmends, Bohemond II reluctantly accepted it, but the Danishmends were angered of this, and continued to skirmish and raid the Northern frontiers of Cilician Armenia.

Later that year, Baldwin II died. He had no sons, but did claim that his heir would be his daughter Melisende who is married to Fulk of Anjou and had son named Baldwin (Later Baldwin III). The two begain a co-joint rule over Jerusalem, and also supported the Orders, most likely the Templars (Which Fulk had good relations and friends with). Other rulers in the Kingdom are, Joscelin II of Edessa (Who's father, Joscelin, first ruler of Edessa, died while fighting the Danishmends), Pons of Tripoli, and Bohemond II of Antioch.

The people who first ruled Jerusalem were originally from France, Germany, and Italy, but now, those descendants are now born here in the Holy Land, many of them don't know here they came from, and now have descendants of Italian, French, German, and even Arab mix (There is saying that those who are Frankish or German are from Antioch or Jerusalem, and those who are Italian or Galilean or Palestinian).

However elsewhere in the Holy Land, a man by the name of Zengi, the Atabeg of both Aleppo and Mosul, has united the two into the Zengids. Later on, he will ally with Damascus, and then will begin to attack on Edessa, something that will cause great chaos..........


*1 - Not to be confused with Leo I, King of Armenia during the 1190s-1200s

 

[Onyx]

Ch.7 will be out soon, it will concern on the Eve of the Second Crusade.

Thats where everything butterflies off

 

[Basileus Giorgios]

Ch.7 will be out soon, it will concern on the Eve of the Second Crusade.

Thats where everything butterflies off

Sounds great! Have the Byzantines obtained a protectorate over Antioch and Cilicia yet by the way?

 

[Onyx]

This Ch. 7, I didn't do a good job on this one, I was to busy, and I wanted to end this part and get to the Second Crusade already so I can butterfly this thing away......

Chapter 7: Tonnerre du Zengî

1138, Aleppo.

It would take years for Aleppo to recover. An 8.5 Magnitude earthquake struck Aleppo, destroying almost every building, and damaging the large fortress. Zengi, leader of the newly founded Zengid dynasty visited the city a few days earlier, but as he returned to reinforce the city from a supposed crusader attack, he only saw the smoldering fire of use to be Aleppo. Many christian accounts say that the earthquake was "God's Will and Punishment" on the Muslims, though the "Thunder of Zengi" was bringing greater punishment to the crusaders.

The County of Edessa was a weak county, it had miles of land, but little of protection, giving it an advantage to Zengi as the great joint ruler of Aleppo and Mosul will begin going on the offense to the North, winning upsetting battles that is now causing the Muslims to win. Joscelin II, now the Count of Edessa, appealed to King Fulk of help, but is bogged down as other rulers and nobles argue over him due to the issues of the Byzantines, Fatimids, and the Seljuks.

Meanwhile, Zengi was successfully winning battles against Edessa, Antioch, and Tripoli. Joscelin II, was a weak ruler, and ruled the weakest county of all (it was even said that when John II Comnenus and him were attacking a Muslim settlement, Joscelin sat around played dice instead of fighting while John II won the battle), he managed to get the other crusader states to assist him being reinforcing Edessan walls, but it was no avail.

John II Comnenus was also conquering and helping the crusaders but also caused distrust between due to the fact the he made Antioch and Edessa part-tributary, and enforcing Cilician Armenia into a tributary state as well. But his death in 1143 brought the Empire back to its normal state and caused the Armenians to revolted again in larger area, and caused the western part of Cilicia to be under Armenian control, the Byzantines wouldn't face glory until Manuel I will come unto the throne later on and being what will be the revival of Byzantine Glory.

Even worse was that King Fulk died in a hunting accident in 1143, his son Baldwin III was ascended to the throne with his mother, Melisende, acting as his co-ruler, but without John II and Fulk, Edessa had little help, even putting the young Baldwin III to the throne couldn't save the county, and with Zengi now in the shadow of conquering Edessa and the Fatimids re-arming with its new vizier, Al-Hakim Kaldunashah, it was matter of time, as Baldwin IIIs mother, Melisende, organized a meeting with Antioch, Tripoli, Cilicia, and the Byzantines. But the Cilician Delegate stormed out after trying to compromise with the Byzantines and the issue between the two, and the meeting faltered with little help being sent to Edessa. It would seem, Edessa's time would come.

The next year, Zengi conquered Edessa, even worse, on Christmas Eve, the evening of the birth of Christ, causing even more great shock to Christendom, and that with it, brought the greatest punishment the Christians brought to the Muslims, an utter sheer massacre and destruction of a great city that is called, Damascus.

 

[Omen111]

This TL is amazing, I am concerned, if you plan to let the Crusader Kingdom survive, so I will continue reading this and future will show.

 

[Basileus Giorgios]

Interesting: the destruction of Damascus eh? The Muslims really are getting a hammering here.

 

[Onyx]

Chapter 8, Inferno

March 31, Vezelay, France, 1146

The crowed screams Deus Lo Vult as Bernard of Clairvaux preaches of the new crusade, among him are now nobles and knights who unlike in the First Crusade, now wish to join the Holy Conquest. Two years after the Fall of Edessa, Pope Eugenius III called on for a new crusade, this time, to reclaim Edessa, and defeat the might of the Zengids.

The crowd was even mightier than the last, many ran out of cloth to stitch the cross onto them. Louis VII of France, after being requested by the Pope to begin the crusade, joined, as well as the Holy Roman Empire, whose leader Conrad III and his nephew, Frederick Barbarossa joined to when Bernard traveled to Germany and gave the German Nobles the Holy Cross. Bernard was regarded as a saint, he wasn't a bigot or persecutor to anyone, even the Jews, and when the Priests and Fanatical crowds began rioting in Jewish communities, he defended the Jews, in fact, he even offered them to join the crusade, which some did actually, but usually so they can flee from the fanatics in Christendom. (Another advantage is that the Jews expertise on Mercantile and Trade, would help the economy for Jerusalem)

However it would take at least another year until the crusaders would reach to the Holy Land. But in the Iberian Peninsula, where the Almoravids clash with the Spaniards and Portuguese, the Pope authorized a new reconquista, the Iberians crusaders proved dominance over the Almoravids after a bloody siege on Lisbon, and eventually conquered the outer boundaries of the city, where it was violently Christianized as they burned down Mosques and looted numerous Moorish treasures.

Meanwhile back in the Holy Land, a Frankish Prisoner assassinated Zengi and his older son, Saif ad-Din Ghazi I, whom were drunk after celebrating in Edessa, they were murdered on the streets by the Frank, who then died soon after the guards came. Leaving the throne to Zengi's youngest son, Nur ad-Din to be leader of the Zengids.

The German portion of the crusaders arrived in Constantinople later in 1147, led by Conrad III and Frederick Barbarossa, however the Byzantines were displeased with the crusaders as they ran with the daily motion of rioting in the city, which nearly caused Emperor Manuel I to expel them or even kill them. Conrad managed to convince him to ferry him to Anatolia. There Conrad waited for the French Crusaders. But they were slow behind, after having trouble with the Hungarians (Due to King Geza of Hungary's distrust of the crusaders) and then having a terrible time in Constantinople in which the Crusaders rioted again and looting throughout the countryside of Constantinople (Manuel even had a more bitter relation with the French, but was appeased with treasures as compensation) the French were ferried to Conrad's army, but he already left, heading towards Iconium, the capital of the Sultanate of Rum, but before he could attack, Manuel signed a truce with the Turks, due to the fact that Roger II of Sicily (Long time enemy of Conrad III, and also usurper to Byzantines for his Norman attacks on Byzantium) started to attack on the Byzantine Balkans and the Aegean Islands (In order to end the alliance of Conrad and Manuel), because of this, Conrad had to flee back to Byzantine territory, being harassed by the Turks on the way, but later met up with King Louis VII and the French at Laodicea. Manuel had a huge distrust on the crusaders, but after escorting them out of Byzantium, he didn't have trouble on them anymore, and went on fighting against the Sicilian Normans , however the relationship between the Crusaders and Byzantines deepened after this.

The Crusaders arrived in Jerusalem in 1148, they later meet up with Amadeus of Savoy, who arrived late after an illness in Cyprus, but eventually recovered. The nobles meet with Baldwin III at the Council of Acre to decide where they should attack, many thought of attacking Edessa with Joscelin II (Who tried to attack Edessa when Zengi died, but was foiled by Nur ad-Din, who nearly captured him), others thought of attacking Gaza or Aqaba, where Al-Hakim Kaldunashah managed to rally a massive army in this region in threat of the crusaders. But it was later agreed that they should attack on the biggest city and prize of all, Damascus.

The Damascenes signed an alliance with Nur ad-Din and the Zengids so they can be protected, but Nur ad-Din was worried about the north instead of Damascus, and had his main army stationed in the north, after a faulty information on that the crusaders were targeting on Edessa, because Joscelin II's remnant army and other crusaders were massing at the Euphrates.

And on July 23rd, 1148. Mu'in ad-Din Unur, ruler of Damascus, suddenly faced an entire army of 70,000 combined German and French crusaders in sight of Damascus, led by Baldwin III, Louis VIII, Conrad III, Frederick Barbarossa, and also Thierry of Alsace (Who laid claim of Damascus as his own domain). The Damascenes however, had a good defending force, and had a well army that could be defend, the crusaders set up camp at the orchards, providing food and water, but they were harassed by the Damascenes on the way. Meanwhile, Nur ad-Din led his army towards Damascus, and arrived to nearby Homs, giving little time to capture the city.

The crusaders advanced into the city walls, but were having trouble as even though they reached the walls, the inhabitants barricaded the walls inside, but there was a weakpoint in Damascus, the eastern side of the city walls were weak, the lords didn't want to take a bet, so they allowed Thierry of Alsace and a force of 20,000 men to camp there, even though it had little food and water. The Damascenes were now facing two sides, there forces could not stretch to defend the points of assault, and on the 27th of July, the crusaders of the eastside broke inside an area of one of the walls, the Damascenes faced a risk, and began a bloody defense on the wall. However they had to risk on taking people from the north side to defend the wall. But siege engines were built from the orchards and began breaking down the walls, the end of Muslims rule of Damascus has come.

Unur, died while making a last stand in the walls, causing large hysteria of the entire populace. The city descended into total chaos as the crusaders kept advancing through the barricades, but were now facing an entire populous as they fanatically advanced into the crusaders, it didn't matter if they could live or die, there city had fallen and now were facing the mercy of the crusaders.

But this time, there wasn't a Godfrey de Bouillon, this wasn't Jerusalem, where a major fraction of the population is Jewish and Christian, and these crusaders were even more fanatical and violent than the previous ones, fuelled with hatred of their religion. No one gave the order, but at an instant, the Crusaders began one of the worst massacres and lootings of all time.

It is unknown of how many died in Damascus, but it is in the thousands of course, maybe even a third of the population died, but accounts of a Jewish Merchant/Biographer named the "Merchant of Acre" account that:
"Many of the crusaders burned down houses, with people still inside them, others raped and slaughtered, some even set decapitated them and showed their heads to their loved ones as they wept of knowing of what will happen to them, while some showed mercy and piety and offered conversion, some did, but others decided to kill themselves in fear."

But the worst came to the beautiful architecture and the literature of Islam:
"The Frankish and German crusaders set fire to Mosques and Madrasahs, there pillars collapsed and burn the poor denizens below and other buildings surrounding them, some looted them by stealing treasures and other ancient artifacts. I saw one grand mosque, the Umayyad Mosque, being looted and pillaged by hundreds of them, then, as if it was done by purpose, was somewhat lit on fire, burning to the ground as the crusaders scream "Deus Lo Vult". They broke into famous Muslim graves and tombs, looting and stealing there treasures, and disinterring the bones of those who were dead. I saw hundreds of them, putting their books, Korans, being put on stake and lit on fire, many of them threw them to the Barada River until it turned black from the ink itself from the massive destruction, many of them, ancient and famous Islamic scriptures were thrown, burned, or damaged, never to be read again."

"The Merchant of Acre", somewhat oddly, and ironic saved the life of a certain man:
"I was watching the city burn along by the Barada River during nightfall, hoping to catch a rest and glimpse of what happened, I saw some boats, likely Damascenes as they convinced or managed to escape from the crusaders, I saw what could've been there leader, a Kurdish, but well known figure of the city, I was the only person there along that part of the river, other crusaders were looting or feasting. The Kurd pleaded to me that these were what could've been the last of Damascenes, and prayed to me to not to tell my men. I allowed him to leave, promising him not to tell, he smiled and left, a few hours later, a group of Templars came, they told me that they were chasing the certain man I talked to, I told them, that I never saw them, they grunted and left. I just hoped, I did what was right to what they said, were the enemy "

That certain man, that the "Merchant of Acre" saved, was a indeed a well known Kurd to the city, his name was Salah al-Din Yusuf Ibn Ayyub.

According in his journal, he said that ~
"Allah wept as Damascus burned"

 

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

That certain man, that the "Merchant of Acre" saved, was a indeed a well known Kurd to the city, his name was Salah al-Din Yusuf Ibn Ayyub.

The Crusaders are doomed, doomed, I say.

 

[Onyx]

The Crusaders are doomed, doomed, I say.

Thats almost pre-f*cking-cisely

 

[Basileus Giorgios]

Thats almost pre-f*cking-cisely

Not sure though. Salah-al-din is something of an overrated general if you ask me, for one thing. Secondly, a Crusader Damascus means the Crusaders lose a dangerous foe on their flank. Thirdly, with Damascus gone, Salah-al-din has nowhere to launch his Egyptian coup from. And fourthly, with the butterfly effect really coming into play now, what's to prevent a very gifted Crusader general emerging?

 

[Onyx]

Not sure though. Salah-al-din is something of an overrated general if you ask me, for one thing. Secondly, a Crusader Damascus means the Crusaders lose a dangerous foe on their flank. Thirdly, with Damascus gone, Salah-al-din has nowhere to launch his Egyptian coup from. And fourthly, with the butterfly effect really coming into play now, what's to prevent a very gifted Crusader general emerging?

Thanks for the advice.

Everybody, I can't do Ch.9 yet, family issues. I can hopefully post it next week though.

 

[Onyx]

Finally did it, and I declare this TL as my everlasting goal to finish it!

Chapter 9, Incendies aux vêpres

July 29, Damascus, 1148

After three days of the everlasting destruction and slaughter of Damascus, the fires seem to die out and the remaining citizens look at what was left there city, nearly all of it has been burned to the ground, however much of the, as part of the "Le épuration de Damas" or "The Purification of Damascus". Nearly every mosque, madrasah, and other holy Islamic architectures and relics have been destroyed, while very few were allowed to remain to appease the remaining Muslim citizens, others however, were converted into churches. The entire Muslims quarters have been decimated, including the citadel, which has luckily survived only to be used for the new palace, other quarters that house minorities like Armenians, or Maronites (Arabic Christians) have managed to survive, despite the rowdy crusaders who could not tell between Muslim and Christian during their massacre.

The crusaders although, have camped in the outside city walls, feasting and gorging on their treasures, women, food, and wine. Among them was Thierry of Alsace, Count of Alsace and Guy Brisebarre , Lord of Beirut who both claimed of Damascus, Thierry was supported by the Kings Baldwin III, Conrad III, and Louis VII while Guy was supported by the Levant native nobles, however, Guy Brisebarre was killed by a surviving Damascene guard while parading the city for support, leaving Thierry as Lord of Damascus. But to this day, Guy's death is argued by historians that Thierry paid an Hashashin to assassinate him, or secretly had a meeting with the Kings to kill him off, nevertheless, Guy's death is arguable to this day.

On Vespers of July 29, Thierry of Alsace was crowned Prince of Damascus, giving off a furious cry of Deus Lo Vult as they have now claim a new city in the name of Christ. The Principality of Damascus was founded, and Thierry, like the others, renounced his name as Alsace, but as Damascus, his reign of Christian Piety and Benevolence will cause Damascus to recover as a Christian trade center for all of the outer boundaries.

However in the Islamic world, reactions were by far horrifying and enraging. Nur ad-Din, collapsed when his men told him the Massacre of Damascus, enraged, called on his entire army at Homs to lay siege on Damascus, but there was another problem, Edessa. While preparing to anew a siege on Damascus, Joscelin II, after being heard of the victory of Damascus, called for his neighboring leader, Bohemond II of Antioch, to help him reclaim Edessa, to which Bohemond agreed on, leaving his son-in-law, Raymond of Poitiers to rule the principality (Raymond was bitter enemies with Joscelin II after he refused to help Joscelin relieve Edessa a few years ago, leaving Bohemond II to help him instead), along with his young son, Bohemond III.

While Nur ad-Din was traversing to Damascus from Homs, he received word, that a combined army of Antiochenes and Edessans have crossed the Euphrates and easily make it to Edessa. Now the Zengi ruler was furious than ever, it would've been impossible for the Edessan garrison to defend the amassing crusader force for a fortnight at least, with no time to bargain, he sends his most valuable general of his force to Edessa, his name was Asad ad-Din Shirkuh bin Shadhi or in short, "Shirkuh".

Shirkuh, was the uncle of one of his rising nieces, Salah al-Din Yusuf Ibn Ayyub, a well known person who escaped Damascus with countless others, thanks to a lone merchant. Shirkuh was amazed that his niece saved many lives from Damascus, and trained him as a military commander under his wing, but was refused to be with Shirkuh when he was relieving Edessa from Antioch and Edessa, but the loss of Damascus would cut off any Zengid influence on the Fatimids, for the time being if that is.

However, the crusaders were already at the walls of Edessa when Shirkuh's army arrived, the two sides, both formidable and intelligent fought at a very bloody standoff. Bohemond II even fought by his troops so they could gain morale from the counterattack. At the end, Shirkuh was victorious, but Joscelin and Bohemond survived and much of the crusaders survived, due to the fact of low supply, fled only back to the Euphrates where they regained and began another siege by next year, in which the Edessan garrison this time, already weakened surrendered, regaining Edessa under Joscelin II.

Nur ad-Din was angered of this, but was surprised of Shirkuh's victory over the large force, although Edessa fell, he and his new found friend and top military general Shirkuh began a series of lightning raids on the Edessans and will continuously raid and pillage the county until his death. The Zengids however lost a serious ammount of land, though they had a large sphere and territory around Aleppo, Mosul, and Homs, they lost Edessa and Damascus which were two valuable cities for future conquests, but Zengid would not bother with the Christians as a threat for the time being, he would though, continue raids on Edessa and Damascus, and would eventually expand to the Hejaz coast for the latter time.

However, in the south, the Fatimid cause was not lost. With the Fatimids now back to stabilizing there throne after al-Amir's failed assassination. But was now under the control of his regent, al-Hakim Kaldunashah with his rising political power, now furious over the Massacre of Damascus, demanded that they invade Ascalon and Jaffa, but his advisors and even al-Amir refused, and say that with the crusaders such as Louis VII and Conrad departing, they would be destroyed with this large influxes of departing crusaders, they would need to wait until the time will strike.

They were right, Louis VII was actually departing from the Holy Land from Jaffa, due to the increasing hostility with Conrad and Frederick, he rather choose another port than riot against the Germans. If the Fatimids actually invaded earlier, they would've been destroyed by Louis's army and the large garrison at Ascalon.

By the beginning of 1149, Bernard of Clairvaux and Pope Eugene III declared the Second Crusader, over. It had accelerated the Latins, Franks, and others into the inner boundaries of the Holy Land. Bernard's role in the crusade was so popular, that he was invited to the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and was given the role as Patriarch, until his death in 1153, his lasting influences was that he renovated the Church of the Holy Sephulcre into a beautiful and holy palace, and was known to visit outside his office and tend to the people in Jerusalem, most likely, tending to the sick and even the Lepers, he was also in the reigning crisis of Baldwin III in his year of death, something that will be infamous in the next chapter.

The Second Crusade silenced the Islamic conquerors for the time being, but it would not stop there continuous attacks on the crusaders for their ultimate goal. But something in the 1150's would rebound them, causing the Fatimids to attack, and the Zengids to fight back, Baldwin III's Civil War against his own mother and younger brother, Amalric.


Clue on Next Chaper (In Baldwin III's words): I declare Amalric, from this day forth, TO BE AN OUTLAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!