Thursday, July 21, 2011

First crusade massacre question?

It was probably the town and battle of 'Ma'arrat-an-Nu'man' in northern Syria not far from Antioch in Nov.- Dec. 1098. The Crusaders had taken great Antioch in June 1098 after a 8 month siege. They then had trouble coordinating sovereignty (as usual) with the Byzantine Emperor, whose aid/ supplies they wanted at Antioch. As Winter started 1098 they were still at Antioch, an epidemic broke out and food again was scarce with starvation again looming (as it had Winter 1097 during the siege). Also the Papal Legate Adhemar of Le Puy had died in the epidemic removing his restraining official influence on the Princes/ warriors. The Princes occupied themselves with taking territory around Antioch for themselves, for that reason, and to get away from the epidemic and get food Raymond easily took Al-Barah without trouble and then he and Bohemond combined against 'Ma'arrat' which was supposed to be easy but turned out a Winter siege and costly making starvation worse and embarrassing both of them. It was reported some of their starving troops turned cannibal and cooked and ate parts of the dead Turks. When the place was finally taken all the men were massacred, the women and children sold as slaves in Antioch.

No comments:

Post a Comment