1/11/ Siege of Antioch

5b- Crusader Naval Intervention

1097/autumn - 1098/summer
0 50 100 150 k Varna
Route of the First Crusade 1097/05-11/
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Preslav Sinope Kur
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Adrianople (David IV)
{1089-1125}
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Abydos Gr (Danishmend Ghazi) (Mengujek) Teleboas
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{1085?-1104}

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{1081-1118} Chaka
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Meander Iconium
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Tangipernes Laodicea y h

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Cilician Gates Ce

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Py

Attalia
Goksu Cal Tarsis Belen Pass
Mosul
Rhodes yca
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s ✝ Antioch
rb o u gh a
Ridwan Ke
Seleucia Euphr
St Simeon Aleppo ates

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Latakia Rahba
Seljuq empire
Nicosia
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Paphos Homs
Janah al-
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 Cilician Gates

Naval Situation: Major Ports Armenian Principalities Aintab

1097/mid
Adana

Mamistra
2
Tarsus
Ayas

Rum Seljuqs
Alexandretta 3
Corycus
Belen Pass

1
Seleucia
✝ Major Ports Ri
YS Antioch
(All within 1-2 days sailing from
Aleppo
St Simeon 4 each other)
Antioch Aleppo
1- Seleucia (Rum Seljuq Turks)
2- Tarsus, access by river from delta;
Armenian Prince Oshin, lord of
Lampron
3- Alexandretta (Crusader)
Apamea
4- St Simeon (Turks of Antioch)
Banū
Kh
5- Latakia (Laodicea):
Kilāb unknown
Latakia 5 Shayzar
♜
Na Muslim lord; possibly tributary to
Antioch
Jabala 6- Tortosa: unknown Muslim lord;
possibly tributary to Banu Ammar of
Byzantine Tripoli
Hamah
Famagusta 7- Famagusta: Byzantine naval base
Cyprus 7

Studies
France, Victory, 209-220
Tortosa 6 France, “The First Crusade as a Naval Enterprise,” Mariner’s
Mirror, 83/4 (1997) 389-397.
 Cilician Gates

Crusader Naval Intervention 1: Byzantine Armenian Principalities Aintab

1092-1097
Adana

Mamistra

Tarsus
Ayas

Rum Seljuqs
Alexandretta
Corycus
Belen Pass

Seleucia

Ri
1- Byzantine’s suppress Cyprus Rebellion 4- Supplies to St Simeon and Latakia YS Antioch
{1092-1093} Supplies from Cyprus were shipped during the
Aleppo
Fleet from Constantinople under Eumathios entire campaign, both by Byzantine merchants, St Simeon
Philokales suppresses rebellion and
reestablishes imperial authority on Cyprus.
and Crusader fleets
Antioch Aleppo
Philokales remains as governor of Cyprus.
1

Apamea
4
Kh Banū
Latakia🔥 Shayzar 3a- Byzantines atKilāb
Latikia? {1098/05}
♜
Na [CC 19=118-9]
At the time of the capture of Antioch [by the
Crusaders = 1098/06] [Latakia] had been
Jabala
depopulated [after the Byzantine sack of
4 3 3- Latakia (Laodikea) raid 1097/08] except for the episcopal church where
{1097/08/19} Byzantine fleet of 22 vessels
the clergy remained, At that time the Greeks,
Byzantine 2
from Cyprus pillaged the port of Latakia.
[KD 1:345d = KDr 578; CC c19=118-9] Hamah under Alexios the Byzantine emperor, held the
Famagusta city with two forts above it and two towers
Cyprus EP
2- Byzantine Military Preparations 2a- NOTE
by the entrance to the harbor.
{1094-1096} [AC 10.2] The Byzantines were already
Studies
Fortifications in Cyprus are improved. militarily involved in the northern
Savvides, Byzantine Cyprus, 3-5
Byzantine army and fleet under governor Levant before they knew of theTortosa ??
Hill, Cyprus, 1:297-303
Philocales prepares for military intervention. coming of the Crusaders.
 Cilician Gates

Crusader Naval Intervention 2: Winemer’s Pirates Armenian Principalities Aintab

1097/09-11+?
Adana
1- Winemer’s Pirate Expedition 2- Winemer at Tarsus
A- Winemer commanded a multi-national Winemer meets Tancred andMamistra
pirate band. They had left Europe four years the Crusaders at Tarsus and his
Tarsus fleet shadow’s Tancred’s
before the call to the crusades, and had not heard 2
of it when they encountered Tancred and the advance throughout Cilicia Ayas 3- {10/21+}Tancred departs
Crusaders in Cilicia. from Alexandretta through the
Rum Seljuqs
B- Albert calls Winemer a “piratas” = pirate.
They were sailing the eastern Mediterranean,
Belin Pass to Antioch;
Winemer’s fleet continues south
Alexandretta 3 along the coast.
probably plundering Greek, Italian and Muslim
shipping. When it suited their interests they Corycus Ta
Belen Pass
would also act as merchants, usually to sell Wi 3
their booty and slaves. Captured ships would also
be added to their fleet.
Seleucia
Wi 4 ✝ 4 {1097/10/late-11/} Exact
activities of Winemer’s fleet are
Ri
YS Antioch unclear; it may have participated in
?? the naval conquestAleppo
of St Simeon
St Simeon
1
Antioch Aleppo
5a- Winemer captures Latakia from Byzantines
[AA 3.59c] {1097/11-12? Date unknown?}
5 At some point Winemer’s pirates attacked Latakia. They
initially defeat the Byzantines and take control of the city.
The Byzantines, however, retake the citadel and imprison
Winemer. Some of Winemer’s English pirates may have
Apamea joined Alexios as mercenaries in the Latakia garrison.
Kh Banū
Latakia Shayzar Kilāb
5b- Byzantine’s Retake Latakia
♜ [AA 3.59d]
Na [Winemer’s pirates] were intentionally struck down and
overwhelmed by the Turcopoles and soldiers of the
Jabala Greek king [Alexios]; the town's citadel was recaptured,
Winemer himself was taken and put under guard in prison,

Byzantine Hamah
Famagusta 6- Jabala and Tortosa held by Saracens.
Cyprus EP 6 [CC c19=119]
lt is 10 miles from Latakia to Jableh
(Jabala), which was held by the Saracens.
And it is said to be 30 miles from Jableh to
Tortosa ??
Tartus (Tortosa), which the Saracens held.
 Cilician Gates
GENERAL NOTE:
Crusader Naval Intervention 4: English Fleet Armenian Principalities
1- Was this “English” fleet the same as, or Aintab
1098/03/04
Adana
part of Winemer’s pirate fleet? Or are they
1- English Fleet enters northern Levant (= part of related to completely distinct? WT says there were [WT 7.21d]
Mamistra The Christian fleet included not only the ships
Winemer’s Piraters?) English in Winemer’s fleet.
{1097/09/late or 10/early} Tarsus of Guinemer [Winemer] and his companions
2- St Simeon was captured by a Crusader which had come from Flanders Normandy
[RA 13ae = 113/134]
fleet at some time before the
AyasCrusaders arrived and England, as we have said, but also
Before we continue our story, we must mention those men who
dared to sail through the strange and vast surface of the at Antioch = before 20 October. vessels from Genoa Venice, and Greece.
Rum Seljuqs
Mediterranean and the Ocean out of love of crusading. These
English, upon receipt of news of the crusades launched in the
Alexandretta
name of God's vengeance against those who desecrated the land
Corycus
of Christ's nativity and His apostles, set sail on the Anglican sea, Belen Pass
and thus rounding the coast of Spain, bearing across the Ocean
and ploughing through the waves of the Mediterranean.
2- English Fleet of 30 ships arrives at St. Simeon before
Seleucia the Crusaders
✝ {1097/10/early}
[RA 13ae = 113/134]Ri
YS Antioch After great trials [the English fleet] arrived at Antioch
Aleppo
and Latakia in advance of our army. … [with] thirty
St Simeon 2 original vessels

Antioch Aleppo
2a- Did this English fleet capture St Simeon? Or did it
1 arrive at St Simeon after it had already been captured by
another fleet? Is this English fleet part of Winemer’s pirate
fleet?

4- English Fleet helps with supplies from Cyprus 3- English at Latikia {1098/02}
{1097/0/early} Apamea [RC 58a]
[RA 13ae = 113/134] 4 Kh Banū
At this time, the English held Latakia, having been sent
The English as well as the Genoese assured us [Crusaders at
Antioch] commerce from Cyprus and other islands and so proved
🔥
Latakia 3 Shayzar Kilāb
to guard it by the [Byzantine] emperor [Alexios].
helpful. Daily these ships sailed to and fro over the sea thereby ♜
Na 3a- Are these English soldiers part of Alexios’ Varangian
frightening the Saracens and thus making Greek shipping safe.
guard? Or are they part of the English [pirate?] fleet
Jabala which takes Latikia, and are then co-opted by the Emperor
Alexios as mercenaries? Probably both.
5
Byzantine 5 3b- OV 5.271 also describes an English fleet taking
Hamah However, he places it under command of Edgar
Famagusta Latakia.
Cyprus EP Aetheling, who did not come on pilgrimage until 1102
5- The “Saracens” (not Turks) that the English Studies
defend against would be corsairs from Tripoli N. Hooper, ‘Edgar the Aethcling: Anglo-Saxon prince,
or Tyre raiding the Crusader and Byzantine rebel and crusader’, Anglo-Saxon England 14 (1985),
Tortosa ??
supply fleets from Cyprus to St Simeon. 197-214, at 208-210
 Cilician Gates

Crusader Naval Intervention 4: Genoese Fleet Armenian Principalities Aintab

1097/07-11+?
Adana

Mamistra

Tarsus
Ayas

Rum Seljuqs
Alexandretta
Corycus 3- {11/23+} Genoese troops
1- Genoese Fleet Departs {1097/07} Belen Pass march to Antioch and join the
[CC 109-110] siege, while the fleet, based at St
Genoese Fleet of twelve galleys departs from Simeon, provides communications
Genoa in mid-July. They don’t arrive in the
Seleucia 2-{11/17} Genoese fleet and supplies with Cyprus.
Levant until November. arrives at St Simeon, which ✝
is already controlled by the Ri
Crusaders; 3 YS Antioch
Aleppo
St Simeon

Ge Antioch Aleppo
1 2

Apamea
Kh Banū
Latakia Shayzar Kilāb
♜
Na

Jabala

Byzantine Hamah
Famagusta
Cyprus EP

Tortosa ??
 Cilician Gates

Supply Routes to Crusaders at Antioch Armenian Principalities Aintab

1097-1098
Adana

Mamistra 5
6- Supplies from western Cilicia could
be transported by sea from Tarsus or Tarsus
other Cilician ports to St Simeon.
Ayas

Rum Seljuqs
Alexandretta
Corycus 5- Supplies from eastern Cilicia were
5
Belen Pass brought overland to Alexandretta, and
then either by sea to St. Simeon, or
5 overland through the difficult route over
6
Seleucia the Belen Pass to Antioch.
✝
2- Byzantine and Western Ri
3 YS Antioch
Fleets could either call in Aleppo
Famagusta, or proceed
directly to St. Simeon St Simeon

2 Antioch Aleppo
2
1

1- Byzantine and Western 4

3
Fleets from Constantinople Apamea
of the Aegean Kh Banū
2
4 Latakia Shayzar Kilāb
♜
Na
4
Jabala
3 NOTE:
1- St Simeon was the key logistical
Byzantine 4- Supplies were apparently sometimes
brought by see to Latakia, then Hamahbase for the siege of Antioch.
Famagusta
Cyprus EP 3- Fleets with supplies
from Cyprus, or transit
transported overland to Antioch. 2- Latakia had a much better port than
St Simeon, but was further overland to
fleets from the West. Antioch.
3- Control of the sea was crucial for
Tortosa ??
supplying the Crusaders during the siege.
 Crusading Warfare
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Battle for the Dog Gate
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