The most Colossal enemy of the Crusaders is here

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 What happened with the Crusaders?

This blog discusses what happened with the Crusaders after winning the Battle of Dorylaeum. It also discusses the scenarios that Crusaders had to face before reaching Antioch, and chronologically this is happening Before the Battle of Antioch. This blog will also help you to understand the Geography of Antioch.

Image Source: Google Maps

Crusaders after the battle of Dorylaeum

After defeating Kilij Arslan and winning the battle of Dorylaeum, it really cheered the spirit of Crusaders, and that motivated them for their further endeavor.

We already know that the Crusaders wanted to conquer their Holy land Jerusalem, but if you look closely at the map, you will find that Way towards the Jerusalem was gone through Syria, and for this, they had to reach the Antioch first, and this was three months of marching from Dorylaeum to Antioch.

This Antioch was only 15 kilometers square in area, which was founded in the 4th century BCE. The founder of this Antioch is Seleucus Nicator, famously known as the General of Alexander’s army. He was also the father-in-law of the great Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, The founder of the Mauryan Dynasty, and the grandfather of Emperor Ashoka.

Before the Battle of Antioch

When Crusaders started moving from the Dorylaeum to Antioch, they have encountered the Invincible enemy. Now you must be wondering which Turkish emperor attacked them. But I said Invincible, and there are many invincible enemies when you go on the battlefield. The result of war is entirely dependent on these enemies. If they are in your favor or defeat them, then the battle is yours to command. Enemies like heavy rainfall, Hunger, and thirst. Because no matter how much massive supplies the army possesses, they end up after some time.

Consider Şarhöyük as the Dorylaeum and Antakya as Antioch. Just modern names and nothing else

Here the supplies were ended up before reaching Antioch. The Antioch means they were not even in Syria, so they were far from their dream, and at this stage, their Goal, Syria, was also far from them.

But during the three months of travel from Dorylaeum to Antioch, at least 500 crusaders died because of starvation and thirst. The supplies were limited, and they ended up in no time. Because of thirst, many animals that were together with them also died. Animals like, Horses, Oxen, Donkeys, and camels.

The problems were not just limited to these. Because of the deaths of Horses and Camels, the knights became foot soldiers, and walking was very exhausting for them.

The men became weak, and due to walking, the excessive fatigue and exertion clinched their strength.

Many Crusaders opened their mouths to catch up with the mist to get rid of the immense thirst.

These crusaders were already thousands of kilometers away from their native place.

Royal Crusaders in Problem

But the problems were not just limited to this. The problems started when they reached near the river, near to the place of Antioch. When they found the drinkable river water, they died.

They drank so much water to cure their thirst, and this over-drinking of water killed many crusaders.

(This is what we call Water intoxication in modern terms. It is not even recommendable from the Doctors to drink water more than your limit).

Not only the Normal soldiers faced problems, but also the royal Dukes suffered from this.

During Hunting, Godfrey of Bouillon was attacked by a savage forest bear and suffered from severe injury because of getting heavily wounded.

Fortunately, Godfrey survived.

Geography of Antioch

Antioch was an ancient Greek city on the shores of the Orontes River. The Orontes is a 500 KM long river on the western side of Asia. Orontes river has the origin from Lebanon and flows northward through Syrian landscapes. It flows through these landscapes before entering the Mediterranean Sea near Samandağ in Turkey.

Orontes is the main river in Levant Regions. Levant region is an approximate term used for the historical representation of the map consisting of Eastern Mediterranean regions of the Western Sea.

The Largest Cities in the Levant area:  Amman, Beirut, Aleppo, Damascus, and Jerusalem

In the following blogs, you will know the importance of Cities like Beirut and Damascus.

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