THE SIEGE OF DAMASCUS

1148

Early in the year 1148 AD the King's of Europe commissioned a second crusade to return to the holy lands and assist the Crusaders still present there with the struggle against the Muslim's. 

The naval fleet arrived on the Syrian coast at the port of Acre and disembarked 50,000 men (40,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry). This force was under the command of two of Europe's great Kings, Conrad of Germany and Louis of France. Once assembled the Crusaders decided to send a very clear message of their arrival in the region by attacking the city of Damascus, by far the largest and wealthiest city in all of Syria.

The governor of Damascus one Muin Addin Unur was a shrewd and cunning commander, Unur had received word of the Crusaders approach and made preparations to defend the city. Muslim positions in the surrounding area were fortified and all sources of water along the Crusaders route were drained, blocked up or poisoned. 

As the Crusaders approached the outskirts of Damascus, Unur opened the main gate and led out his army. At his disposal were regular Turkish troops, auxiliaries, citizen militia and volunteers. In all some 30,000 men (26,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry). Unur believed that his troops enthusiasm and high morale would make up for their lack of numbers against the professional Crusader army before them.

As Unur was attempting to form up his army Conrad saw an opportunity to attack before the Muslim's were fully deployed. Taking command of the entire Crusader cavalry force Conrad gave the order to attack. The 10,000 armoured horseman thundered forward against the Muslim infantry, in response Unur ordered his 4,000 cavalry to counter attack but they were still in the main column within in the city and had not yet reached the main gate. 

Unur tried desperately to form up his infantry to withstand the assault but it was to late, the Crusader cavalry had already slammed into the Muslim infantry driving deep into their lines. Conrad then ordered his cavalry wings to fan out and complete the encirclement of the Muslim's. 

With his lead infantry elements now under attack from all sides, Unur tried to save what was left of his forces by retreating into the city and ordering the main gate closed, thus abandoning his infantry units still out on the battlefield.

The Crusaders showed the trapped Muslims little mercy and took no prisoners cutting them down to a man. When the slaughter was complete the Muslims had lost 6,000 infantry to a mere 800 Crusader cavalry.

After their victory the Crusaders began to survey the situation before them. Damascus possessed a very deep moat with large thick walls surrounding the city, these defences were too formidable for a direct assault. The Crusaders decided to lay siege to the great city and set to work building fortifications and destroying all the secondary bridges. 

As the Crusaders were setting up camp around the cities main gate. Unur launched a surprise predawn attack with his 5,000 Turkish regulars. The Crusaders were caught completely by surprise and abandoned the bridge to the Muslims suffering 1,000 casualties. 

As the day continued the Crusaders launched repeated infantry assaults to retake the bridge. Without the support of their cavalry the close quarter fighting would cost the Crusaders 2,000 infantry against 500 of the elite Turkish troops. 

As night fell, the Crusaders ceased their attacks and were forced to leave the Muslims in possession of the bridge. In the confusion of the fighting Unur managed to get word to the provincial governor of his situation. The governor immediately sent word to the neighboring provinces to send troops to relieve the stricken city. The governor also released his personal army of 15,000 men (10,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry) to march to Unur's aid.

As dawn broke the next day the Crusaders were awoken by Muslim cheers atop the city walls for off in the distance the dust clouds of the governors relief army were visible having forced marched a distance of some twenty five miles in under a day. 

The Christian leadership knew these were enemy forces, fore they were the only European army on the peninsula. The Crusaders were caught by surprise and had little time to construct defences, Louis quickly assembled a force and took command of 10,000 men (7,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry) and marched out from the camp to deal with the oncoming threat.

As Louis marched off, Unur launched another attack across the bridge. Possession of this prize was fiercely contested and drew more and more infantry from both sides into the fight. Conrad now decided to set a trap for the Muslims by pulling his troops away from the bridge and luring the enemy out on the open plains.

Believing the enemy to be retreating, Unur ordered his infantry across the moat to chase them down. As the Muslims began to reach the deserted Crusader camp, they stopped advancing and began to tear the area down in search of loot and plunder. Once the Muslims were out in the open Conrad ordered his forces to turn and attack.

The lightly armed Muslims were no match for the heavy armoured European cavalry and were cut down in waves. Realizing his situation hopeless Unur ordered his remaining troops back into the city and the gate closed. Once again the trapped Muslim infantry were given no mercy, the troops atop the walls were forced to watch their comrades butchered as they pleaded in vain for their lives. 

Unur's attack was very costly he not only lost possession of the bridge but also 9,000 infantry including his elite Turkish storm troops. Conrad's forces lost 4,000 infantry and 500 cavalry. As this battle was drawing to an end Louis and his forces were about to engage the Muslim relief army.

Both commanders placed their infantry in line occupying a central position with cavalry formations protecting each flank. As the two armies faced one another across open desert and scorching heat, the two commanders could not have been from too more different worlds. Louis was a veteran commander of the European wars while his Muslim counterpart Turcoman, owed his command of the Arabic army entirely to his wealth and family ties to the governor. 

Louis strategy was to block the enemy advance and counter any moves made by the larger Muslim army towards Damascus. Turcoman's battle field inexperience now began to show as he hesitated to use his superior numbers to his advantage instead choosing to await the Crusaders first move. It wasn't until early evening that urged on by his subordinate commanders, Turcoman finally gave the order to attack. 

Simultaneously both Muslim cavalry wings charged forward. Louis responded by launching his cavalry with the addition of foot archers in support. As the cavalry charges on both wings collided the Crusaders immediately struggled to hold the line. As fighting continued it became apparent the Muslims were slowly gaining the advantage and breaking through the ranks of the European cavalry. 

The foot archers in reserve unleashed volleys of arrows into the pockets of Muslim cavalry breaking through the Crusader lines inflicting heavy losses upon them while preventing their complete breakthrough. As nightfall descended both cavalry forces had suffered appalling casualties, Louis believed he did not have sufficient cavalry to further support his infantry and decided to pull back under cover of darkness to the safety of the Crusader camp.

As Louis and his men approached the camp they became puzzled to find that their comrades had barricaded themselves within the entire area, when Louis reported in he found the reason for the defenses.

Scouting reports had reached the Crusaders that two Muslim armies numbering 60,000 men were within a few days march and approaching their position. Added to this formidable force remained the 15,000 troops still present within the city itself and the 12,000 provincial troops just outside the barricades. The situation seemingly looked dire for the European Christians who could  field an army numbering only 37,000 men. 

Although still a powerful force the Crusaders found themselves practically surrounded and outnumbered by as much as three to one. The Christian leadership felt if they remained and gave battle they would be wiped out, It was therefore decided the army was to withdrawal. At dawn the next day the Crusaders began their retreat north in an attempt to reach the safety of Byzantine controlled territory. 

The orderly retreat soon turned bloody as Muslim forces from the surrounding regions constantly attacked and ambushed the Europeans along paths the Crusaders believed to be safe inflicting heavy casualties upon them. Making the situation even more desperate was that strong Muslim forces were repeatedly attacking and defeating the Crusader rear guards. 

As the Europeans approached the Byzantine province of Anatolia the Muslim armies caught up with their forces near the plains of Dorylaeum badly mauling them. After the long retreat the remaining Crusaders which reached Constantinople numbered a mere 10,000 men.