First siege of Arsuf

The first siege of Arsuf, originally Apollonia, took place in 1099, just after the First Crusade. It was carried out by Godfrey of Bouillon after the city failed to pay a previously agreed tribute. The attempt to capture the city failed for want of ships.

Siege of Arsuf
Part of the Crusades
Gerard of Avesnes exposed on the walls of Arsuf. Illustration by Gustave Doré (1877)
Date late October – mid-December 1099 Location Arsuf, Fatimid Caliphate 32°11′42.72″N 34°48′24.48″E Result Fatimid victory
Belligerents
Fatimid Caliphate	Kingdom of Jerusalem
Commanders and leaders
Governor of Arsuf	Godfrey of Bouillon
Strength
500~1000	3,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown
First siege of Arsuf class=notpageimage| Location within Israel

Background

Arsuf was an ancient city in Judea dating from the late Roman era, situated on a cliff above the Mediterranean Sea, about 21 miles south of Caesarea, now in Israel. The city fell to the Muslims in 640 and was fortified to protect against attacks by the Byzantine armies. Godfrey reached an agreement with the citizens of Arsuf after it was known that he intended to stay in Jerusalem and reconciled with Raymond of Toulouse. The treaty stated that Arsuf would pay tribute to Godfrey and included an exchange of hostages that included Godfrey's knight, Gerard of Avesnes. However the Muslim hostages escaped, giving Arsuf no reason to pay their tribute. Godfrey subsequently besieged the city in October.

Siege

An account by Albert of Aachen stated that Godfrey spent six weeks building mangenae or stone throwers, which were used to support two siege towers. The number of Godfrey's men, however, was severely reduced after most of the crusaders returned home via Laodicea. In the end the two assaults made on Arsuf were defeated when the garrison set the siege towers on fire. Godfrey was left with no options and ended the siege.

During the siege, while the Crusaders pounded the walls with catapults, the Fatimids had Gerard hung from the mast of an old ship that had been lying in the city. They raised Gerard up to be in view of the attacking Crusaders. Gerard begged Godfrey to take pity on him. Godrey responded that while Gerard was the bravest of knights, but he could not call off the attack. Godfrey said that it was better for Gerard to be the sole casualty than to Arsuf to remain a danger to Christian pilgrims. Gerard then asked that his property be donated to the Holy Sepulchre, of which Godfrey was Defender, instead of the king. The Crusaders continued their attack. Gerard was wounded multiple times, though he managed to survive and make it back to Jerusalem.

The city rulers offered to surrender to Raymond of Saint-Gilles, but Godfrey refused. Raymond even encouraged the garrison at Arsuf to hold out against Godfrey, touting his perceived weakness. Within Godfrey's army, Franco I of Maasmechelen, a relative of Godfrey, is known to have died in the battle.

Second siege of Arsuf

Baldwin I started the second siege and finally took the city on 29 April 1101, after a siege by land and sea with no Latin casualties. The Muslim populace surrendered after three days. Baldwin allowed the inhabitants to withdraw to Ascalon, granting them safe conduct, bearing any goods they could carry, and his troops rebuilt the city.

Change of hands 1187, 1191

In 1187, Arsuf was captured by the Muslims, but fell again to the Crusaders on 7 September 1191 after the Battle of Arsuf, fought between the forces of Richard the Lionheart and Saladin.

Bibliography

• Riley-Smith, Jonathan, The First Crusaders, 1095-1131, Cambridge University Press, London, 1997
• Runciman, Steven (1951). A History of the Crusades, Volume I: The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Stevenson, W (1907). The Crusaders in the East: a brief history of the wars of Islam with the Latins in Syria during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Cambridge University Press.