siege damascus siege damascus took place july july second crusade ended decisive defeat led crusade main christian forces marched holy land response pope bernard second crusade led france germany faced disastrous marches months followed armies destroyed original focus crusade jerusalem preferred target damascus france germany decided divert crusade damascus decided attack damascus west provide constant food supply having arrived outside walls city immediately siege wood july decided plain eastern city heavily fortified food water arrived muslim reinforcements cut route previous position local lords refused carry siege kings choice abandon city entire army retreated jerusalem july second crusade main christian forces marched holy land response pope bernard second crusade led france germany force included nephew emperor crusade called fall december marched europe arrived constantinople september october faced disastrous marches months followed armies destroyed louis abandoned troops travelled ship wife eleanor uncle prince expected offer military assistance turks threatening louis refused went jerusalem stricken illness earlier returned constantinople arrived jerusalem weeks later early april original focus crusade jerusalem preferred target damascus called jerusalem acre june spectacular meeting existence henry_ii duke austria future emperor frederick represented louis ecclesiastical secular lords represented french master master knights constable jerusalem present notably tripoli county attended persuaded attack damascus barons native jerusalem pointed attack damascus dynasty muslim allies dynasty besieged city din acting young negotiated alliance jerusalem chronicler ibn louis baldwin insisted damascus holy city christianity like jerusalem noteworthy prize eyes european christians july armies assembled marched damascus way troops total general view appears decision attack damascus somewhat inevitable historians regard decision logical outcome foreign policy shifting alignment dynasty king previously launched campaign sole objective capturing city damaged dynasty relations damascus decided attack damascus west provide constant food supply arrived july army jerusalem vanguard followed louis rearguard densely cultivated gardens prove obstacle according william tyre army prepared battle city near drew forces battle formation assigned proper places order march supposed familiarity country division led common decision princes directed lead way open path following king louis vii army assigned second place centre aid ahead need arose authority emperor iii hold rear position readiness resist enemy attack muslims prepared constantly attacked army advancing outside damascus july defended towers walls constantly arrows narrow paths saturday july began attack morning banks ferocious combat narrow roads christian force mixture professional troops damascus militia mercenaries william tyre reported cavalry forces come assistance realized army coming order city accordingly approached stream flowed town bows fight latin army emperor command forces following demanded know army advance told enemy possession river allow forces pass enraged news knights swiftly forward king lines reached fighters tying win river horses foot soldiers custom desperate crisis occurs historian wrote william tyre explain able bring forces rear totally christian army according syrian chronicler despite multitude militia turks common people town volunteers soldiers come provinces joined muslims overwhelmed enemy numbers defeated crossed river found gardens camp cut trees destroyed passed night tasks thanks charge managed fight way chase defenders river damascus having arrived outside walls city immediately siege wood began build siege position opposite gate run past damascus inside city inhabitants major streets preparing believed inevitable assault sought help personally led attack camp pushed walls prone guerrilla attacks counter attack sunday july damascus forces took heavy losses included year old lawyer known scholar named mystic soldier according william tyre july decided plain eastern city heavily fortified food water raid camp july according large group inhabitants villagers flight killed fear danger taking heads enemy killed wanting touch trophies numbers heads gathered considerable conflicts camps trust din conquering city entirely offered help agree receive city captured lord suggestion local barons count flanders wanted supported baldwin louis recorded leaders position promised break alliance din went home din arrived negotiating possession damascus wanted apparently wrote urging return home din field impossible return better position local lords refused carry siege kings choice abandon city rest army decided retreat jerusalem july entire retreat followed turkish constantly harassed aftermath christian forces felt betrayed new plan attack abandoned lack trust resulted failed siege mutual distrust generation defeat ruin christian kingdoms holy land following battle returned constantinople alliance result attack damascus longer trusted city formally handed din attempt new crusade failed tried second crusade altogether
Siege of Damascus (1148)