Crusading Warfare

Exploring the Military History of the Crusades

William James Hamblin
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Battle of Dorylaeum
5- Crusader Rescue
1 July 1097
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Dorylaeum 1097/07/01
Constantinople

os
Rodosto

ari
Al

ng
Sa
Nicomedia
Civetot

1- {06/26-28} lys
Bu Ha

Nicaea Crusaders leave Nicaea

Cyzicus
s
nicu
G ra
Prusa Sank
arya
Abydos
Ankyra Danishmendids

s
acu
Elkhan

nd
2a- {07/01} Battle of Dorylaeum (Danishmend Ghazi)

y
Rh
Bozuyuk
{1085?-1104}
Dorylaeum

Nacolia

Pergamum
os Amorium
Mytilene kira
y
Kaik
Rum Seljuqs Caesarea
Ba Kizil
(Qilich Arslan) irma
k

Chaka II Ge
d iz
{1092-1107}
Hermus

Philomelium
Chios Smyrna

Philadelphia Antioch
t ros
y s
s Ka
e ndere

s
M

ru
k
K Apamea Iconium

Sa
Buyuk
Ephesus
Meander
Laodicea Cilician Gates

Tangipernes Armenian

han
Sey
Principalities
Heraclea
0 5 10 k
1- Strategic Situation 1097/07/01
Primary Sources
Bu Albert 2.38-43
Anna 10.3b-c
Nicaea
Fulcher 1.11-12
Gesta 2/9=18-21
Gilo 4.151-345
Ibn al-Qalanisi {a490} 134 =L-635+
Bridge at
Leucae/Leukas Letters 2 (EH6), 3 (EH7)
Ralph 19-33
Raymond 5=27-29
Robert 7-15
William 3.13-15

Studies
Asbridge 133-137

Sa
ng
France 169-185

ar
io
s
Frankopan 147-149
Rubenstein 128-133
Runciman 183-187
arya
Sank Smail 168-169

(Bozuyuk)
Bathys R Bohemonds Camp
Go ive r

Godfreys Camp
Bo
Qilich Arslans camp.
Sarisu
ayi
Battle of Dorylaeum Sari
Qi
su
ayi
Dorylaeum
0 2.5 5 km
2- Bohemond Calls for Reinforcements 1097/07/01

2a- Bohemond Requests Reinforcements
[Gesta 3/9c=19]
The valiant Bohemond made haste to send
a message to the others ([Raymond] the
count of St Gilles and Duke Godfrey, Hugh
the Great and the bishop of Le Puy, with all
the rest of the Christian knights) telling them
to hurry and come to the battlefield with
all speed, and saying, If any of you wants to
fight today, let him come and play the man.
2b- Bohemond Requests Reinforcements 2c- Bohemond Requests Reinforcements
[Anna 11.3d](Sogut) [Fulcher 1.11.5]
As Bohemund saw that the Turks were Because those [of Godfreys troops] who were
fighting very bravely, he sent to fetch the separated from us received our messengers late
Frankish troops [of Godfreys division].
[+Gilo 4.194; Ralph 23a; +Robert 8b;
+William 3.13e; +Raymond 5a=27]

(Bozuyuk)
Go
2
(Poyra)

Bo

1 Qi

1- Bohemonds division is
Dorylaeum
surrounded in this camp (Eskisehir)
by the Turks, who
beleaguer the crusaders.
0 2.5 5 km
3- Timeline of the Battle 1097/07/01

(Sogut)

5- Timing of Godfreys March

Godfreys division would have taken an hour or so to arm and mobilize,
3a- Duration of the Battle
and probably another hour to march to Bohemonds camp.
[Fulcher 1.12.2]
The cavalry alone could have made it faster, but it is doubtful they would
From the very first hour of the day
want to gallop their horses the entire five miles, because they would not
until the sixth [6 am- 12 noon]
want their horses exhausted when they arrived for battle.
[Gesta 3/9f=20]
Hence, I estimate the time from Bohemond sending to the messengers to
the fighting went on from the third
the arrival of Godfreys reinforcements at around two hours.
hour until the ninth [8 am-2 pm]

5 3b- Duration of the Battle

(Bozuyuk)
Times of day given by medieval sources are often guesses.
Go Everyone agrees the battle lasted around 6 hours. Fulcher
[6 am- 12 noon] may be counting from when the Turkish
scouts were first cited until Godfrey drives off the Turks. The
(Poyra)
3 Gesta [8 am-2 pm] may be counting from when the fighting
4 actually began, until the Turkish camp was plundered. On the
4a- Distance between the two camps: other hand, they may simply be two different rough guesses.
Bo
eight miles (milibus octo) [Gilo 4.191]
= 8 km or 5 miles
Qi 3c- Duration of the Battle
4b- Travel Time for Messengers Note, these numbers are rough estimates. Based on the figures given in Slide
On prepared tracks, a horse can gallop 25-30 miles per 2, I estimate that:
hour, meaning that under ideal conditions a horse could Preliminaries and crusader mobilization lasted roughly an hour (7-8am)
Dorylaeum
run the distance between Bohemonds camp and Godfreys The initial Turkish battle with the Turks lasted around two hours (8-10 am)
(Eskisehir)
camp in 10 minutes. However, the crusader messengers Baldwin sent the messengers around 10 am.
rode tired horses, carrying an armored man, being chased The defense of the camp lasted around 2 hours (10-12 am), during which
by Turks, running over irregular terrain, possibly in a Godfreys division mobilized and marched to the rescue.
weaving pattern, and possibly going up into the hills to Godfreys reinforcements arrive about noon.
avoid the Turks. This probably means the messenger took Godfreys attack on the Turks lasted around an hour (12-1pm).
30-40 minutes to get to Godfreys camp. Pursuit of the Turks lasts around 2 hours (1-3 pm).
0 2.5 5 km
4- Godfrey Mobilizes his army 1097/07/01
6- Messenger Arrives
[Albert 2.40c]
(Sogut)
The messenger reported bitter and
painful news, saying: 'Our princes,
with Bohemond himself, are enduring
the most violent battle of the war,
and a mass of followers has already
suffered the death sentence, by which
our lord princes will also be killed at
any moment unless your band
reinforces them hastily.

(Bozuyuk)
Go 6

7 (Poyra)

7a- Godfrey Mobilizes Bo

[Albert 2.41; +Letter 3e (Anselm) (HE7)]
When he heard of this misery [of the surrounded
crusaders in the camp] and the Turks' audacity, the duke
ordered horns to sound loudly through all the ranks, to
call all the companions to take up arms, to raise
standards, to aid their allies without any delay or rest.
they hurried to take up arms, to put on hauberks, to
buckle on their swords again, to bridle their horses,
and to put saddles on their backs again, to take up
their shields once more, and some 60,000 cavalry rode
out of the camp along with the rest of the army on foot.
golden shields and the iron mail; the standards
and flags, bright with jewels and purple, raised high
and fixed on spears, were fluttering.
Qi
7b- Godfrey mobilizes
[Raymond 5a=27]
The crusaders donned their armor, mounted their steeds,
and galloped off to fight the enemy shortly after
Bohemond's messenger brought the news.
[William 3.15a]
Leaving the unmounted throng in the camp with the
baggage of every description, they had gone to the rescue
with a force of 40,000 knights splendidly armed.
Dorylaeum
(Eskisehir)
7c- Infantry in Godfreys relief army?
Albert says the infantry accompanied Godfreys
knights. I would suggest the knights rode ahead of the
infantry to reach Bohemonds camp as soon as
possible, leaving the infantry to catch up later.
0 2.5 5 km
5- Godfreys Army Marches to the Rescue 1097/07/01

(Sogut)

8a- Godfrey marches 8b- Godfrey marches

[Albert 2.41c]
The swift horses were urged on with spurs, they
pressed on their way, nobody waiting for companion
or friend, but each going as fast as he could to the
assistance and revenge of the Christians.
[Gesta 3/9c=19]
So Duke Godfrey, who was reckless and brave, with
Hugh the Great and [Adhemar] the bishop of Le
Puy followed them with his, and [Raymond] the
count of St Gilles came next with a great force.

(Bozuyuk)
Go

(Poyra)

8
Bo

Qi

Dorylaeum
(Eskisehir)
0 1000 m 2000 m
6- Crusader Order of Battle 1097/07/01

10b- Tactics or Necessity?

10a- Adhemar of Le Puys Ambush
[Gesta 3/9e=20]
The bishop of Le Puy came round by the
other mountain, so that he could take those
misbelieving Turks in the rear,
Adhemar did not know the terrain. Did he go around
the mountain to outflank the Turks? Or did he go
around because the valley narrowed, and his troops on
the far left veered around the intervening hill?

(Poyra)

9- Hill on the left flank of

Godfreys army.
10
Ad
9
Ra At

Go
11
RF

ayi Bo
Hu Saris
u Bathys R
ive r
Bathys R (ukurhisar)
ive r

Qi
(Inonu) (Oklubali)
11- Godfreys advance with main army Sa
ris
[Gesta 3/9e=20] Ka u a
yi
and Raymond, count of St Gilles and a very gallant
knight, rode also on the left wing. On the right wing
were Duke Godfrey and [Robert] the count of
Flanders, who was very eager to fight, and Hugh the
Great with many others whose names I do not know.
0 1000 m 2000 m
7- Godfreys Reinforcements Attack the Turks 1097/07/01
12a- Godfreys reinforcements attack
[Robert 11; +Gilo 4.255-265]
When with 40,000 chosen soldiers they came to the
mountain, they saw the tents of their comrades
surrounded on all sides by Turkish forces, their
allies fighting as best they could and the women in the
tents shouting and lamenting wildly. How great was
the clash of arms, how loud the splintering sound of
lances meeting; what a noise from the dying and how
(Poyra)
joyful the voice of the Franks as they fought, all
Ad shouting their warcry at the tops of their voices!

At

Ra

13 Go

Saris
u ayi
RF 12 Bo Bathys R
ive r
Bathys R (ukurhisar)
ive r

Hu
Qi
(Inonu) (Oklubali)
Sa
ris
13- Infantry Arrive Ka u a
yi
[Robert 12]
[The Turks] saw the Bishop of Le Puy and Count Raymond with the
remainder of the knights and footsoldiers in the army riding down to
attack them. They were struck rigid with terror by the numbers of
soldiers, thinking that either soldiers were raining down on them from
heaven or that they had come out of the mountains themselves. So battle
is renewed and several thousand Turks killed with fresh impetus.
0 1000 m 2000 m
8- Crusaders in Camp rally and attack 1097/07/01

14a- Crusaders in Camp Attack 14b- Crusaders in camp attack

[Fulcher 1.12.1]
For when we saw our comrades hastening to
our aid from the rear we [in the camp]
praised God and regained our courage and
formed into troops and cohorts and strove
to resist the enemy.
(Poyra)
Ad
[Robert 13; +Gilo 4.303-8]
Our men, virtually confined to their tents up to this
point, found fresh reserves of courage and revenged
themselves on the enemy for their wounds and serious
injuries: [The Turks] who were attacking them now
flee by every possible route And do not care whether
they are coming or going; But the military might of
Christ inflicts a terrible death on them: So many
dead bodies were strewn over the battlefield That
horses struggled to find somewhere to put their feet.

Ra At

Go

u ayi Bo Bathys R
Saris
Bathys R
ive
14 14 ive r (ukurhisar)
r

RF Qi
(Inonu) (Oklubali)
Sa
ris
Hu u a
yi
Ka
0 1000 m 2000 m
9- Turkish Rout 1097/07/01
15a- Turkish Rout
[Fulcher 1.12.2] 15b- Turkish 15c- Turkish Rout
Then as if by sudden impulse the Turks all turned [Letter 3e (Anselm) (HE7); +William [Gesta 3/9f=20]
their backs in flight. 3.15c; Anna 11.3d] As soon as our knights charged, the Turks,
[Gesta 3/9f=20] our men attacked them all, killing many Arabs, Saracens, Agulani and all the rest of
They fled very fast to their camp, but they were not [Turks] and putting the rest to flight. the barbarians took to their heels and fled
allowed to stay there long, so they continued their through the mountain passes and across
flight. the plains.
[Raymond 5b=28]
(Poyra)
The sight of the onrushing knights [from Godfreys At
division] chilled the hopes of Kilij Arslan, the
attacking leader, and he fled precipitately.

Ad 15

Ra 16

Go 16- Qilich Arslan Rallies the Askar

[Albert 2.41e]
Qi
But [Qilich Arslan], with quite a large company
Bathys R
Bathys R Bo ive r and quite close formations of troops, escaped
(ukurhisar)
ive u ayi
r
Saris and took up a position on the mountain top to
Ta attack the Christians when they pursued him,
(Inonu) (Oklubali)
and to oppose them in that place.
Sa
RN ris
u a
yi

RF

Hu Ka
15
0 1000 m 2000 m
10- Qilich Arslan Rallies the Askar 1097/07/01
17- Qilich Arslans Stand
[Albert 2.42a; +Gilo 4.284-290]
Duke Godfrey, on the other hand, who had ridden ahead on a
swift horse with only fifty companions, after a short time
joined forces with the people following and unhesitatingly
climbed up to the steep slope of the mountain, to come to
blows with the Turks and to engage with weapons those
whom he could see gathered on the mountain top and
motionless in opposition.
(Poyra)

17
Qi
Ad

Go

18
Ta
Bo
Saris
u ayi Bathys R
ive r
At
Bathys R (ukurhisar)
ive r
u ayi
Saris
Ra
(Inonu)
Sa
ris
RNu
a
y i
18- Crusaders drive off the Askar
[Albert 2.42e] RF
Heavy panting battered the flanks of the horses, while steam from that same panting was thickening into a
cloud all over the middle of the battlefield. The Turks, meanwhile, having recovered their strength, were
Hu
fighting back courageously, relying on the force of their own great numbers, in a thick hail of arrows flying
and falling. But this hailstorm passed quickly, and the troops of the faithful, keeping their weapons in their
Ka
hands, were diminishing and destroying masses of [the Turks], and at last they forced the defeated army to
scatter through unfrequented places and the steep slopes of the mountains where they knew the paths.
0 1000 m 2000 m
11- Pursuit of the Turks 1097/07/01

19a- Pursuit of the Turks

[Albert 2.42d]
Baldwin, count of Hainaut, a brave man and liberal dispenser of great
alms, along with Robert of Flanders, scattered the fleeing Turks,
urging the comrades charging all around him to kill and slaughter
and never to be seen to delay in their pursuit of the enemy nor to hold
back their hands. Baldwin of Bourcq, Thomas of the castle of Fere,
Rainald of Beauvais, Walo of Chaumont, Rothard son of Godfrey,
Gaston of Beziers , Rodolph,
(Poyra)all of these of one accord were exerting
themselves in the struggle of battle, pursuing the Turkish troops and
tearing them apart with warlike valour.
Qi
Ad

19c- Pursuit
Go The pursuit of the Turks, and the
plundering of their camp lasted until
19 nightfall. [Gilo 4.310-330]
Ta

u ayi Bathys R
Saris ive r (ukurhisar)
Bathys R
ive r Bo
yi
Sarisu a

(Inonu)
19b- Pursuit of the Turks Sa Ra
ris
[Raymond 5b=28] u
ay
i
for two days on the march we saw dead
riders and dead horses
19 RN
[William 3.15c]
followed the fugitives for three or four miles
beyond the enemy's camp RF
[Albert 2.42b]
The duke pursued them for six mile Hu
0 1000 m 2000 m
12- Plundering the Turks Camp 1097/07/01

20a- Plunder 20b- Captives Freed 20c- Plunder

[Albert 2.43a]
Therefore the Christian victors kept all that
the Turks had assembled as wages for the
expedition, corn and no small quantity of
wine buffaloes, cattle and rams, camels,
donkeys, horses, and mules moreover
(Poyra)precious gold and endless quantities of
silver, tents of wonderful ornament and
workmanship.
[Albert 2.42b]
[Godfrey] captured not a little of their
plunder and spoils, and they seized from
their enemies the girls and young men
[who had been captured at the crusader
camp] and all the things they were hoping to
carry off or take away.
[William 3.15d]
In this camp were found great amounts of
gold and silver. Many asses and pack
horses, troops of camels-animals which our
people had never seen before-and some
horses were seized. Tents and pavilions of
various colors and unusual shapes were also
found. All these treasures the Christians bore
away with them. Thus laden with the richest
spoils, and driving before them animals
and slaves, the victors returned to their own
camp.

u ayi Bathys R
Saris ive r (ukurhisar)
Bathys R
ive r
u ayi
Saris

(Inonu)
Sa
ris
u a
yi

20
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