Page 79 - All About History - Issue 186-19

Battle of Antioch

On 14 June Peter produced an iron tip that he
claimed was from the actual Holy Lance. Bishop CRUSADERS SELJUK EMPIRE
Adhemar, the papal legate accompanying the
crusaders, was deeply sceptical of the finding
because he knew the Holy Lance was stored in TOTAL NUMBER OF TROOPS TOTAL NUMBER OF TROOPS
Constantinople. Nevertheless, he played along with
Peter for the good of the army’s morale. Peter’s
alleged discovery of the Holy Lance produced 15,000 40,000
the desired improvement in crusader morale. The
crusaders wrapped the Holy Lance in rich brocade,
with a plan to make it their standard and carry it
into battle.
The council of princes knew that the army could NUMBER OF NUMBER
OF LIGHT
not withstand a siege. For that reason, they decided INFANTRY 14,800 35,000
to emerge from the city and offer battle. Raymond, CAVALRY
the de facto leader at that point in the crusade,
was bedridden, though, so command devolved
to Bohemond. Raymond directed a detachment NUMBER OF CAVALRY NUMBER OF HEAVY NUMBER OF
that had orders to prevent the Seljuk garrison in CAVALRY INFANTRY
the citadel from sallying forth to help Kerbogah
retake the city. 200 3,000 2,000
On the morning of 28 June, the crusaders
emerged from the Bridge Gate in the west wall
overlooking the River Orontes. Inviting Kerbogha’s
host to fight a pitched battle was a major gamble,
but the crusaders believed it was their best chance BOHEMOND OF KERBOGHA, ATABEG
given the dire supply situation they faced. TARANTO OF MOSUL
The crusaders did not have enough warhorses
to mount charges, though. Instead, the nobles in Thanks to his strategic acumen He mobilized thousands of Seljuk
command of the divisions distributed the 200 he succeeded in capturing Empire troops through a jihad
Antioch after a costly siege.
to relieve Antioch.
A skilled tactician and shrewd Possessed superb recruitment
The crusaders used field commander LEADER and organisational skills
the Holy Lance as LEADER Overly ambitious and self- An overly cautious,
their battle standard serving unimaginative tactician
at Antioch

DISMOUNTED MOUNTED

KNIGHTS ARCHERS

They were skilled The Turcoman archers
and highly motivated were highly mobile
warriors. cavalry whose heavy
Fought with great arrow volleys unhinged
skill using spears, maces, their opponent.
battle axes and swords Isolated, surrounded
Prone to suffering and destroyed slow-
heat exhaustion in their moving forces
heavy mail hauberks and KEY UNIT Not suited for KEY UNIT
helmets a mounted melee

BATTLE AXE COMPOSITE BOW

Fitted with a long two-handed shaft and made of iron, it Its power lay in the contrasting properties of horn and sinew
could inflict great damage. in the frame.
Easily crushed bones and also could sever limbs Had remarkable strength for its extremely small size
Useless against a Seljuk horse archer Required lots of training to use effectively on horseback

WEAPON WEAPON

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