 The claim that Raymond had poisoned Alfonso caused much of the Provençal force to turn back and return home.The original focus of the crusade was Edessa, but the preferred target of King Baldwin III and of the Knights Templar was Damascus.In response to the arrival of the Crusaders, the regent of Damascus, Mu'in ad-Din Unur, started making feverish preparations for war, strengthening the fortifications of Damascus, ordering troops to his city and having the water sources along the road to Damascus destroyed or diverted.