February 9 –
Battle of the Lake of Antioch: The Crusaders under
Bohemond I defeat a Seljuk relief force (some 12,000 men) led by Sultan
Fakhr al-Mulk Radwan of
Aleppo. Bohemond gathers 700 knights, and marches in the night to ambush the Seljuk Turks at the
Lake of Antioch (modern
Turkey). After several successful cavalry charges the Crusaders rout the Seljuk army, forcing Radwan to retreat back to Aleppo.[1]
March 10 –
Baldwin of Boulogne enters
Edessa, and is welcomed as liberator by the Armenian clergy. The local population massacres the Seljuk garrison and officials – or forces them to flee. Baldwin is acknowledged as their ruler (or doux). He assumes the title of count and establishes the first
crusader state. Baldwin marries
Arda of Armenia, daughter of Lord
Thoros of Marash, and consolidates his conquered territory.[2]
June 3 –
Siege of Antioch: The Crusaders under Bohemond I capture
Antioch after a 8-month siege. He established secret contact with
Firouz, an Armenian guard who controlled the "Tower of the Two Sisters". He opened the gates and Bohemond entered the city. Thousands of Christians are massacred along with Muslims. Bohemond is named Prince of Antioch (under protest) and creates the
Principality of Antioch.[3]
June 5 –
Battle of Antioch: Emir
Kerbogha, ruler (atabeg) of
Mosul, arrives at Antioch with a Seljuk army (35,000 men) to relieve the city. He lays siege to the Crusaders who have just captured the city themselves (although they do not have full control of it). A Byzantine relief force led by Emperor
Alexios I Komnenos turns back after Count
Stephen of Blois convinces them that the situation in Antioch is hopeless.[4]
June 28 – Following the
Holy Lance discovery by
Peter Bartholomew in Antioch, the Crusaders under Bohemond I (leaving only 200 men) sortie from the city and defeat the Seljuk army. Kerbogha is forced to withdraw to Mosul, the garrison in the citadel surrenders to Bohemond personally (who raises his
banner above the city) and the Crusaders occupy Antioch. The Crusade is delayed for the rest of the year.[5]
July 14 – Donation of Altavilla: Bohemond I grants commercial privileges and the right to use warehouses (fondaco) to the
Republic of Genoa. This marks the beginning of Italian merchant settlements in the
Levant.[6]
December 12 –
Siege of Ma'arra: The Crusaders capture the city of
Ma'arra after a month's siege and massacre part of the population. Short of supplies, the army is accused of widespread
cannibalism.