Part 7 - The Bitter Lakes (Egypt & Palestine 1110-1120) 1111 - Bohemond returns to Jerusalem. Tancred gladly hands over power, but is furious at Bohemond and the deal he's signed with the Venetians. Tancred has just spent the last seven years building up a powerful principality, holding the rich coastal towns and getting a good deal from tolls on the trade between Damascus and the Med, and Bohemond has signed half of it away. Tancred refuses to join in the attack on Egypt. A huge row ensues that verges on civil war, as the Venetians won't go unless they can get trading rights to compensate losses to their Egyptian markets, and Bohemond won't go without naval support. The Patriarch, having suffered under Tancred's regency, quickly backs the heroic Bohemond as its chosen son, and it looks as if Tancred's reign is soon to end, when events in Egypt catch up with the quarrelling princes. Al Nizar, who is in his fifties, falls ill in summer 1111, and it becomes clear to all that he's dying. The question of succession inevitably arises. As a strong caliph he had no strong vizier, distrusting them after the narrow escape he had from al-Afdal's coup. His brother, al-Mustali, who might have been a capable caliph was walled up way back in 1095. So it falls between his two young sons, neither of which is particularly powerful or capable. Behind them lurk shadowy influences. The first of these is Abu Tahir al-Saigh, a goldsmith and magician. He had studied under Hasan Sabbah at Alamut, before operating in Syria as part of the Isma'ili mission. Fleeing the attacks of Mawdud of Mosul he set himself up in Egypt in the Dar al-Hikmah. As favourite of al-Nizar and envoy of Hasan e-Sabbah, he gained authority amongst the fedayeen, who are loyal to the Caliph's person but trained to the ideal of Alamut. Abu Tahir backs the succession of al-Nizar's younger son Ali al-Hadi. Al-Nizar's elder son, Abu Abdullah al-Hasan is clearly not too pleased with this scheme, and decides to act upon the death of his father, gathering about him those who distrust the influence of Alamut. The death of al-Nizar is followed by a brief period of confusion, as both parties seek to legitamise their actions by claiming al-Nizar had given their candidate the throne on his deathbed. The first clash goes to al-Hasan's group, whose 'Persians Out' policy is quite popular with the populace of Cairo, including the merchant classes who distrust the fanaticism of the Assassins. Al-Hadi and Abu Tahir flee together with the palace guard to Alexandria. As in al-Afdal's time, the rural population responds better to their call, and they accumulate support from various Bedouin groups. The merchants of Rosetta also fall into Al-Hadi's orbit. The eruption of civil war in Egypt is just what Bohemond is after. He immediately marches with his knights towards the Sinai. Tancred returns, grumbling, to Toron. It is agreed by the various parties that the land forces will attack towards Cairo directly in order to force the issue through surprise. The Venetian fleet and the various crusaders that Bohemond managed to recruit will make full speed for Damietta, and travel up the Nile to reinforce Bohemond, preventing the Egyptian fleet coming into play. Bohemond isn't quite fast enough. There is strong resistance at Bilbeis, and after storming the town the crusaders indulge in their usual wholesale massacre of the inhabitants. The delay caused by the looting gives al-Hasan enough time to man the walls of Cairo, though he's desperately short of the soldiers he needs. Bohemond, lacking the siege engines required to take Cairo, and unaware how easily it could be taken by storm, begins ravaging the surrounding countryside. Fostat and Gizeh both suffer at the hands of the Franks. The local Christians (generally Copts) suffer to the same extent as the Muslims, and this leads to a lack of intelligence for Bohemond (spies and traitors amongst the locals being the usual method of information gathering during this period). While Cairo is not closely invested, the rampaging Franks prevent a great deal of food getting into the great city, and the population begins to suffer. al-Hasan begins to be seen as a weak leader; he does nothing but wait in his palace for some deliverance, or the Franks to weary of the slaughter. Things get worse for the Egyptians when the Venetian fleet arrives. After a furious battle they storm Damietta. They bring with them French volunteers, new to the east. These crusaders are keen to push on into Egypt, but the Venetians are more cautious, re-fortifying and garrisoning the city. They aren't actually that keen to destroy Cairo, preferring hold Damietta as a trading centre on the coast. Eventually they continue upstream. These delays prove fatal. Abu Tahir reorganises the Egyptian fleet in Alexandria. He is keen to prevent the junction of Bohemond and the Venetians, aware that he is now more powerful than either of these groups separately. He decides to concentrate on the Venetians first. Knowing they would expect an attack upstream, the forces of Abu Tahir and al-Hadi sail up the Rosetta branch of the Nile, to descend downstream on the Italians. As the Christians loot and despoil Fariskur the Assassin forces move into position. The battle is joined at Sharimshah. By using the canal the Egyptian ships are able to cut off the Christian forces, and the sluices are opened onto the lowlands. The Frankish forces are caught in the flood. The foot soldiers are annihilated as they stumble through the mire. A few Venetian ships manage to get away, but most are captured. Hearing the news, al-Hasan vacillates. He doesn't know whether to come to a deal with Bohemond to try and defeat Abu Tahir, or surrender to his brother to fight the invaders. In the end he goes with the former, and negotiations begin with the Defender of the Holy Sepulchre. The whole scene becomes very melodramatic as rumours of Abu Tahir's approach spread throughout the city. The people of Cairo are terrified of the Franks and their well earned reputation for brutality. The rich merchants have also turned against al-Hasan. The Venetians' easy capture of Damietta has seriously alarmed them, and they realise a Frankish alliance would mean a serious loss of their trading rights to Italian interests. Riots spread, calling for resistance to the invaders and the ousting of al-Hasan, while in the palaces the leaders feverishly negotiate a deal that will appease all parties. But time is against them. Assassins easily gain entrance to the city, and open the gates to Abu Tahir's army, which arrives from the north as Bohemond strikes camp at Mataria. Al-Hadi is carried in triumph through the city and enthroned as Caliph, as his forces take over the defence of the walls of Cairo. Al-Hasan's troops quickly surrender and are received mercifully by al-Hadi. Al-Hasan himself flees, but is captured by a group of local Copts who return him in chains to Cairo. Abu Tahir leads the army out to fight Bohemond. Caught without supplies, lacking the heavy equipment he needs to storm the city and outnumbered by the fresh Egyptian forces, Bohemond orders the withdrawal from Egypt. Stricken ill, he and his men are forced into a fighting retreat away from the Nile and out into the Sinai. Struggling with illness, fatigue and hunger the crusaders are soon caught by their pursuers, and become pinned against the northern shore of Al-Buhayrah al-Murrah al-Kubra, the Great Bitter Lake. Here they are surrounded by lightly armed Berbers, fedayeen and Nubian spearmen. Though the Christian army is tired, ill and hungry, they are heavily armed and desperate. The battle is ferocious but the outcome is never in doubt, and eventually the Christians are destroyed. Bohemond falls fighting at the very end, knee deep in water with his back to the lake. There are no survivors. At Ramleh the Christians were treated honourably. Here, as invaders meddling in Muslim politics they are dealt the supreme penalty. The Bitter Lakes remains a haunting episode in the Frankish consciousness. Meanwhile Abu Tahir and al-Hadi are settling scores in Cairo. Al-Hasan's utter failure to protect them against the Franks has turned much of the population around to the necessity of the strong Assassin presence. Abu Tahir's own personal piety goes along way, as he allows the crowds to pillage the old vizier's quarters. He has little need of such riches, as his desire is simply for power. The Battle of the Bitter Lakes firmly establishes the viziership in the hands of the pro-Alamut party, and the fedayeen bodyguard is recognised as the ultimate force in Egyptian politics. Al-Hasan and his supporters are executed quietly. The news is a terrible shock for the rest of Outremer. In the circumstances Tancred and the Patriarch quickly reach a decision, and it turns out to be one that keeps all sides happy. Roger of Salerno, son of Richard of the Principate and Lord of Acre is raised to be Advocate of the Holy Sepulchre, on condition that he acknowledge the young Bohemond II as his heir. This keeps the Norman party happy. Tancred is happy to be rid of an over powerful vassal, and puts his own creature into Acre. Tancred refuses to give homage to Roger, but acknowledges that the Advocate is a senior, but not superior Prince of the Blood. The Patriarch is happy to have a great knight as secular leader, but a knight who is weak politically, allowing the church to continue its plans for a theocratic leadership in Palestine. Roger is obviously chuffed to become the foremost soldier of Christendom, with the rank of Prince to boot. Bohemond's death has actually prevented the growing disunity in Palestine, and seems to set things back on track. But its a short term solution at best. Palestine needs a strong military and secular leadership if it's to survive, yet its government remains in the hands of the church and ineffectual leaders who receive their fiefs from the Patriarch. The decline and fall of the southern Frankish territory is more-or-less inevitable from this point. Part 8 - The Cilician Gates (Anatolia & Jezirah, 1110-1120) While Bohemond plots against Egypt in 1111, Muslim delegations to the Caliph and Sultan in Baghdad outline the seriousness of the situation in Syria. But Sultan Mohammed cares little for the problems of the Seljuks. Baghdad and Constantinople keep up regular diplomatic contact. And both Antioch and Edessa were previously Imperial territories, and while neither Joscelin nor the imprisoned Baldwin of Le Bourg have given homage to Alexius, Joscelin is regent for Baldwin, who has given homage to Baldwin of Antioch, who has acknowledged the Emperor as overlord. In a nutshell the Sultan sees the Franks as rather unruly Imperial mercenaries, more independent than the Varangian guard, but the same sort of thing. And he's not going to launch a counter-crusade against them, much to the chagrin of devout Muslims. Mawdud, mameluke soldier under the Sultan, is sent to occupy Mosul, restoring order following the anarchy that followed the death of Kerbogha. His main concern is the independence of Ridwan of Aleppo and Ilghazi, the Ortoqid prince now controlling Mardin, but he is also there to keep an eye on the Franks. Joscelin finds himself with manifold concerns. Firstly, he's only regent for Baldwin of Le Bourg, and the Emperor is negotiating with the Danishmends for his release. Secondly, Baldwin of Antioch, hated by the Armenians, is keen to enforce is overlordship over Edessa and restrict Joscelin's independence. Thirdly, Edessa as it stands is hardly a tenable territory. Joscelin puts it to Baldwin that they should campaign out to Harran. Baldwin, who finds himself unable to expand westward due to the increase in the Emperor's power, agrees wholeheartedly. The two armies of Antioch and Edessa march out to Harran. The Muslim disunity is to the Franks' advantage, and the contest at Harran is a Christian victory. This battle throws the northern political balance out of equilibrium. The Franks now have a 'balcony' on which to operate throughout the upper Euphrates and the Jezirah. Mosul, key to the trade routes between Persia, Baghdad and the Levant, is within reach. The local Muslim princes are terrified; the Franks' reputation is much scarier than OTL. Baldwin of Antioch's ruthlessness and the ferocity of the armoured knights become horror stories told at the Caliph's court. Riots are commonplace in Baghdad. Ridwan finds himself almost surrounded by enemy powers, and Ilghazi and Mawdud are extremely vulnerable. The Sultan Mohammed finally decides the counter-crusade is necessary, and begins raising forces to reinforce Mawdud. The release of Baldwin of Le Bourg simplifies the Frankish situation, and Joscelin takes Harran as a fief of Edessa, while Baldwin of Le Bourg gives homage to Alexius. The battle of Khabar marks the limit of Christian advance. It is drawn between Mawdud and the Edessene army, led by Joscelin who is trying to strike while the iron is hot. Manpower problems are beginning to seriously plague the Franks, now spread out deep into the middle east. The Armenian soldiers are nowhere near as strong as the western knights. And Mawdud is only getting stronger. But he's not entirely stupid, and realises if he's going to take the offensive all the way he needs allies. Ilghazi and his turcomens are on side, but Ridwan is an unknown quantity, so Mawdud begins to make serious negotiations with Toghetkin in Damascus. The combined Muslim forces march on Harran in spring 1112. The Franks are over confident, despite their chastening at Khabar. Harran falls, and Joscelin narrowly escapes with his skin to Turbessel. This defeat rouses Baldwin of Antioch, who prepares a fresh campaign. The Muslim coalition is shattered by the death of Mawdud, slain by Assassins who hate him as the servant of the Sunni Caliph. The Sultan replaces Mawdud with il-Busurqi. With the fall of Harran and the confusion over Mawdud's death Ilghazi withdraws from the coalition. Ridwan of Aleppo's death in 1113 is a severe blow for the Assassins, and a vengeful population is incited against them by more traditional Muslims. The sectaries are hounded out of Aleppo, and take refuge in their mountain strongholds. Another period of anarchy erupts, which deflects the Muslim armies from their course. Toghetkin and Busurqi are rivals for the city, and bouts of intrigue delay the restoration of order until 1115, with Bursurqi emerging as the victor. Only then does he march against the Christians. The fortress at Ravendel is taken by the year's end. This incursion has two consequences; the Emperor decides to march out, to enforce the ancient Imperial borders, and the two Baldwins are forced to work together. The latter results in Bursurqi's defeat in 1116, and he dies fighting. The result of the Emperor's march is more dramatic. The death of Kogh Vasil in 1112 leaves a gap in the Armenian leadership, which only serves to strengthen the Danishmends and Seljuks of Rum. The Roupenians become concerned with growing power of the Danishmends to the north of the Anti-Taurus, and give little thought to the west where the Seljuks are slowly recovering from the death of Kilij Arslan. In 1116 Malik Shah, eldest son of Kilij Arslan and now undisputed leader of the Seljuks of Rum arranges an ambush for the Imperial forces at the Cilician gates. The huge Imperial host is encumbered by its wagons, and the battle rapidly becomes a slaughter. Alexius, old and badly ill, is in no fit state to lead the Byzantine forces. He returns dying to Constantinople. Konya is retaken by the Seljuks. The careful military preparations and recoveries made by Alexius are almost entirely wiped out within the year. Chroniclers consider the Battle of the Cilician Gates a second Manzikert; the brief Byzantine recovery is over. Meanwhile Ilghazi has gained control of Aleppo, and come to terms with Toghetkin. Baldwin of Antioch dies in 1118, and on his deathbed gives the principality to Baldwin of Le Bourg, who becomes Baldwin II. Joscelin becomes Count of Edessa, much to the delight of the locals. Around them the Muslim states are becoming gradually more unified. The Anatolian roads are closed, and the Imperial army can no longer be used to threaten the Muslim forces of the east, nor for that matter the Christians. The Frankish princes of Syria are on their own. Part 9 - The End of the Beginning (The Near East, 1115-1132) 9.1 - Northern Syria The Battle of the Cilician Gates puts the Frankish territories of Antioch and Edessa into a panic. But they receive a reprieve from an unexpected quarter. In 1122 David II of Georgia begins to make inroads against the Ortoqid territories. With a threat hanging over them from their northern flank it is impossible to concentrate enough forces to destroy Edessa. An uneasy equilibrium is maintained throughout the region, with no side strong enough to challenge the other. In spring 1126 Ilghazi falls ill and dies following a mammoth drinking bout and a surfeit of hunkar begendi. On his death the now extensive Ortoqid territories are divided amongst his younger relatives. His son Sulieman gets Mayyafaraqin and Timurtash gets Mardin. His nephew Balak takes Harran, while his *other* nephew ad-Daulah Sulieman takes Aleppo. The ripples of the TL prevent the accidental death of Balak that occurred in OTL. Baldwin II's death in 1128 means the principality passes to his daughter Melisinde. Under pressure from the Lords of Antioch she appeals to the King of France to choose an appropriate husband. He suggests Geoffrey the Fair, son of Fulk V of Anjou. She is greatly pleased; he is extremely handsome. Geoffrey arrives in the East in 1130, and the two are married. 9.2 - Lebanon In 1112 Raymond of Toulouse dies of fever, and is hailed throughout Christendom as one of the greatest of the crusading heroes. Unlike OTL his son Alfonso-Jordan has been around a few years, and is immediately recognised as the rightful heir by the barons in Toulouse. Of course he is only seven years old, and hardly the choice for a still dangerous military state like Lebanon. His mother Elvira of Aragon is also keen to get away from the Near East. A good deal is worked out: she returns to Toulouse as regent for her son, while Bertrand, illegitimate son of Raymond, will be given Lebanon. The barons of Lebanon are relieved; Bertrand is a strong and capable leader. The change over occurs on Cyprus, where Bertrand swears fealty to the Emperor John, ignoring the claims of Roger. As such Lebanon takes advantage of the Imperial navy, and is relatively protected from Fatimid pirate activity. The church is firmly Latin though; Tripolis is a See of Jerusalem. Bertrand manages to push his boundaries almost to the Orontes river. Though Homs (La Chamelle) is never taken, the emir is forced into paying a grudging tribute to the Prince of Lebanon, and peace brings trade that enriches both parties. The Assassins of Shaizar also pay tribute and homage to Bertrand; they know that with no access to the sea they cannot hope to gain protection from Egypt, and since the death of Ridwan they have no proximate Muslim protector. 9.3 - Galilee & Damascus Tancred survives until the age of 50 in this TL, and leaves Galilee the strongest of the Crusader states. His death from an unknown illness in 1126 is typical; the Holy Lands are not very healthy places, certainly not for the westerners who are only gradually adopting the local practices. His much younger wife Cecilia remains as regent to their son, Tancred II, who is proclaimed Prince. He takes the throne in 1130, and is married off to Alice, daughter of Baldwin II of Antioch. Though there are struggles around the eastern side of lake Tiberias, for the most part Tancred has concentrated on securing and enriching his principality, and for many years there is truce with Damascus. In Damascus itself affairs proceed smoothly, where merchants are also benefiting from peace. The Assassins are driven out with great massacre in 1119, and are forced into the hills. Toghetkin rules wisely until his death in 1129 (a year after OTL). He is succeeded by his son Taj al-Mulk Buri. 9.4 - Palestine Roger's Advocacy is beset by problems, the chief of which is trying to enforce some sort of rule of law throughout the land. Vicious raids from Ascalon threaten trade, and often make it all the way to the walls of Jerusalem before turning back. Bedouins travel the country paying no tolls. Roger himself raids into the transjordan looking for easy money, but no stable zone of control is formed. Trade through Acre ends up profiting Tancred more than the Advocate. After the cutting of the Anatolian roads after the battle of the Cilician Gates pilgrims tend to arrive via sea, and the Italian mercantile cities do well from the business. Roger marries Cecilia, sister of Baldwin II of Antioch, and they have a number of a daughters. This marriage is harmonious (unlike many of the political arrangements of the time) and Baldwin remains friends with Roger. Roger's energy staves off the decline of the principality. Constant warfare takes its toll however, and in 1125 he receives a minor wound which quickly becomes septic in the unhealthy climate. Before he dies he bequeaths the Advocacy to Bohemond II, who has previously visited the East and fought under Roger's banner, and whose plans and predilictions are in tune with that of the church. He is a popular choice. 9.5 - Enter the Dragon The deaths of Tancred, Ilghazi, Roger, Toghtekin and Baldwin II within a few years marks the end of the first generation of crusaders and their opponents. The only remaining leaders of note are Joscelin and Bertrand. Neither are young, and Joscelin is very ill. This near simultaneous decapitation of all the states of the Levant prevents any one of them taking advantage. Of the new generation of leaders, two will rise to become the dominant figures in the ensuing struggle, Bohemond II and Balak (known as the Dragon to several Christian commentators). Bohemond will be discussed in the next episode. Balak had already distinguished himself in numerous battles, and is the most popular and powerful of the Ortoqids, though he initially controls little territory. He moves quickly, coming to a deal with Timurtash that allows him to oust Sulieman from Aleppo, setting himself up as the western Ortoqid, while Timurtash deposes the other Sulieman to rule in the east. So by 1132 we find a new generation of Frankish leaders facing the growing threat of Balak in the north. Anthony Mayer << Previous | Table Of Contents | Next >>