Siege of Jerusalem (1099)

Quick Facts: Who was Siege of Jerusalem (1099)?

Subject:

Siege of Jerusalem (1099)

Known for:

The brutal 1099 siege marking the Christian conquest and founding of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The siege of Jerusalem from 7 June 1099 to 15 July 1099 marked the successful end of the First Crusade, and the founding of the Kingdom of Jerusalem soon afterwards. The siege was carried out by the Christian forces of Western Europe mobilized by Pope Urban II after the Council of Clermont in 1095. The city had been out of Christian control since the Muslim conquest of the Levant in 637 and had been held for a century first by the Seljuk Turks and later by the Egyptian Fatimids. After an initial unsuccessful attack on 13 June, the crusaders constructed several siege engines including a siege tower and a battering ram enable them to enter the city on 15 July 1099. Following the siege thousands of Muslims and Jews were massacred by the Crusaders.

Career & Major Achievements

In 1095, Pope Urban II called for a crusade at the Council of Clermont (Deos lo vult). In addition to aiding Byzantium, which was under threat from the Seljuks, the goal was to reach the Holy Land and liberate Jerusalem. Following their departure from Constantinople in April 1097 and their crossing of the Taurus Mountains, the main forces of the First Crusade reached northern Syria in the fall of 1097. While Baldwin of Boulogne marched eastward and, in the spring of 1098, founded the first Crusader state, the County of Edessa, the main army laid siege at Antioch in October 1097. After the city fell in June 1098 and the subsequent victory over a Seljuk relief army led by Kerbogha, the advance came to a standstill.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Months of political power struggles among the leaders between Bohemond of Taranto and Raymond IV of Toulouse, as well as epidemics and supply shortages, delayed the advance. Upon taking command Raymond of Toulouse resumed the march southward in January 1099. Following the Levantine coastline, the troops avoided protracted sieges of heavily fortified cities. Instead, they concluded agreements with local Muslim rulers, or paid tribute. At the end of May 1099, the army left the coastal region at Jaffa and reached the vicinity of Jerusalem on 7 June, 1099.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1095: 1095 Milestone — The siege was carried out by the Christian forces of Western Europe mobilized by Pope Urban II after the Council of Clermont in 1095.
2. 1097: 1097 Milestone — Following their departure from Constantinople in April 1097 and their crossing of the Taurus Mountains, the main forces of the First Crusade reached northern Syria in the fall of 1097.
3. 1098: 1098 Milestone — While Baldwin of Boulogne marched eastward and, in the spring of 1098, founded the first Crusader state, the County of Edessa, the main army laid siege at Antioch in October 1097.
4. 1099: 1099 Milestone — The siege of Jerusalem from 7 June 1099 to 15 July 1099 marked the successful end of the First Crusade, and the founding of the Kingdom of Jerusalem soon afterwards.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Siege of Jerusalem (1099)

True or False: “The Crusaders were able to breach the formidable stone walls of Jerusalem on the first attempt after constructing their siege engines.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The initial attack on June 13, 1099, was unsuccessful, forcing the leaders to reassess their strategy before a final assault.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• El Cid — Historical peer (Died in 1099) (1099): Iconic Castilian warlord and Prince of Valencia, celebrated medieval Spanish hero.
• Pope Urban II — Historical peer (Died in 1099) (1099): Papacy leader known for initiating the Crusades and establishing papal authority.
• Avempace — Historical peer (Born in 1095) (1095): Polymath of Islamic Golden Age, influential in philosophy, science, and arts.
• Roger II of Sicily — Historical peer (Born in 1095) (1095): King of Sicily and Africa, establishing a powerful Norman dynasty in Southern Italy.
• Marpa Lotsawa — Historical peer (Died in 1097) (1097): Pioneering Tibetan Buddhist teacher credited with transmitting Vajrayana teachings from India.
• Hildegard of Bingen — Historical peer (Born in 1098) (1098): Benedictine abbess, polymath, mystic, and composer of the High Middle Ages.

Frequently Asked Questions about Siege of Jerusalem (1099)