Today In Catholic History: The Start Of The Siege Of Antioch of The First Crusade
“The siege of Antioch rapidly assumed legendary status in the experience of the participants and then in the memory of Christendom. From late October 1097 until early June 1098 the crusaders, never enough to surround the city completely, laboured unsuccessfully to starve or coerce Antioch, the key to northern Syria, into surrender. Two significant relief forces were repulsed: the first, led by Duqaq of Damascus, in late December with difficulty; the second, under Duqaq’s estranged brother Ridwan of Aleppo, with surprising conclusiveness at the battle of Lake Antioch early in February.
The lack of unity among the squabbling Turkish warlords of Syria and the Jazira almost certainly saved the western host from annihilation, despite a now steady stream of reinforcements arriving from the west mainly by sea at the ports of Antioch, Latakiah and St Simeon.
Such were the constant anxieties and privations, notably a persistent shortage of food, that many tried to desert, including, abortively, Peter the Hermit in January 1098. However, force of hostile circumstance and mounting casualties acted as much to unite as to undermine. A common fund was created to pay for the construction of forts; the high command began habitually to co-operate in military operations. By the end of March the leadership had appointed Stephen of Blois as some sort of co-ordinator of their activities (ductor).
However, at some point Tacicius, the Greek general assigned by Alexius I to accompany the crusade, departed, possibly to gather aid although later western opinion accused him of cowardice and treachery. More alarming were reports in late May of the approach of a third and larger relieving army under Kerboga of Mosul which, although vitally held up for a few weeks at Edessa, threatened to catch the Christian host in the open, pinned between a Muslim field army and on unconquered garrison in Antioch. Unsurprisingly, panic spread. On 2 June a bout of hysteria hit the crusaders’ camp with many fleeing for the coast, including Stephen of Blois, who never entirely lived down the shame. Yet that very night (2-3 June), aided by an inside contact, Bohemund led a spectacular commando raid that gave the crusaders entry into the city, although the Muslim garrison still held out in the citadel high above the city. Antioch had been taken not a moment too soon, within hours the outriders of Kerboga’s massive army began to appear around the walls of the city. It must have seemed to the soldiers of the Cross that they had been saved by a miracle to survive, they were to need a few more.” Introduction To The Siege of Antioch, Chronicles of the First Crusade
Now, speaking of miracles, there was a miracle in Antioch, Finding Of The Holy Lance:
Discovery of the Holy Lance
Meanwhile, in Antioch, on the 10th June an otherwise insignificant priest from southern France[43] by the name of Peter Bartholomew came forward claiming to have had visions of St. Andrew, who told him that the Holy Lance was inside the city.[44] The starving crusaders were prone to visions and hallucinations, and another monk named Stephen of Valence reported visions of Christ and the Virgin Mary.[42] On 14 June a meteor was seen landing in the enemy camp, interpreted as a good omen.[44] Although Adhemar was suspicious, as he had seen a relic of the Holy Lance in Constantinople,[44] Raymond believed Peter. Raymond, Raymond of Aguilers, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_(bishop_of_Orange), and others began to dig in the cathedral of Saint Peter on 15 June, and when they came up empty, Peter went into the pit, reached down, and produced a spear point.[44] Raymond took this as a divine sign that they would survive and thus prepared for a final fight rather than surrender. Peter then reported another vision, in which St. Andrew instructed the crusader army to fast for five days (although they were already starving), after which they would be victorious.
Bohemond was skeptical of the Holy Lance as well, but there is no question that its discovery increased the morale of the crusaders. It is also possible that Peter was reporting what Bohemond wanted (rather than what St. Andrew wanted) as Bohemond knew, from spies in Kerbogha’s camp, that the various factions frequently argued with each other. Kerbogha of Mosul was indeed suspected by most emirs to yearn for sovereignty in Syria and often considered as a bigger threat to their interests than the Christian invaders. On 27 June, Peter the Hermit was sent by Bohemond to negotiate with Kerbogha, but this proved futile and battle with the Turks was thus unavoidable. Bohemond drew up six divisions: he commanded one himself, and the other five were led by Hugh of Vermandois and Robert of Flanders, Godfrey, Robert of Normandy, Adhemar, and Tancred and Gaston IV of Béarn. Raymond, who had fallen ill, remained inside to guard the citadel with 200 men, now held by Ahmed Ibn Merwan an agent of Kerbogha.”
So today is a great day that should be remembered in the Church! So we at Ordo Militaris will remember it! Deus Vult!
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