Changes

The Crusaders continued to the southeast in parallel columns, without any one commander in charge.  After fighting the inconclusive [[Battle of Dorylaeum]], they continued onward and took [[Edessa]] and then besieged [[Antioch]].  The city was surrounded for 8 months from October 21, 1097 to June 3, 1098.  Two relieving armies were driven off in the [[Battles of Harenc]] in December and February.  Due to poor arrangements for supplies, the Crusading army was actually close to starvation, but was saved by the fortuitous arrival of English and Pisan flotillas which seized two nearby ports and brought provisions.  Bickering among the Crusader leaders, especially [[Bohemund]] and [[Raymond]] was rampant.  The initiative of Bohemund led to the capture of Antioch just 2 days before a relieving army of 75,000 strong under Emir [[Kerboga]] would arrive.

The Crusaders continued to the southeast in parallel columns, without any one commander in charge.  After fighting the inconclusive [[Battle of Dorylaeum]], they continued onward and took [[Edessa]] and then besieged [[Antioch]].  The city was surrounded for 8 months from October 21, 1097 to June 3, 1098.  Two relieving armies were driven off in the [[Battles of Harenc]] in December and February.  Due to poor arrangements for supplies, the Crusading army was actually close to starvation, but was saved by the fortuitous arrival of English and Pisan flotillas which seized two nearby ports and brought provisions.  Bickering among the Crusader leaders, especially [[Bohemund]] and [[Raymond]] was rampant.  The initiative of Bohemund led to the capture of Antioch just 2 days before a relieving army of 75,000 strong under Emir [[Kerboga]] would arrive.

Now it was the Crusaders turn to be trapped inside the city as Kerboga sieged Antioch from June 5, to June 28, 1098.  The Crusaders were cut off from supplies and again near starvation.  A Byzantine army was coming to take the city as agreed, but hearing that the Crusaders were doomed, turned back to Constantinople.  It was then the 'Holy Lance' was discovered; the weapon said to have pierced Jesus' side.  While few historians or theologians believe this miraculous discovery was valid, it energized the Crusader army at just the time they needed it.  The [[Battle of Orontes]] was fought on June 28 where 15,000 Crusaders left Antioch to battle and drove off the entire Moslem army and broke the siege.

Now it was the Crusaders turn to be trapped inside the city as Kerboga sieged Antioch from June 5, to June 28, 1098.  The Crusaders were cut off from supplies and again near starvation.  A Byzantine army was coming to take the city as agreed, but hearing that the Crusaders were doomed, turned back to Constantinople.  It was then the 'Holy Lance' was discovered; the weapon said to have pierced Jesus' side.  While few historians or theologians believe this miraculous discovery was valid, it energized the Crusader army at just the time they needed it.  The [[Battle of the Orontes]] was fought on June 28 where 15,000 Crusaders left Antioch to battle and drove off the entire Moslem army and broke the siege.

Due to internal bickering, many of the Crusaders did not continue on to [[Jerusalem]].  The force that arrived in June 1099 was only about 12,000 strong, far fewer than the army of defenders.  They sieged the city from June 9 to July 18.  Realizing they didn't have enough men to keep out supplies and starve the defenders, they boldly attacked.  Overrunning the city, many of the inhabitants were massacred, including other Christians.  A relieving force of 50,000 strong arrived in August to fight the Crusaders, but were routed at the [[Battle of Ascalon]].  The military aspects of the First Crusade had ended.

Due to internal bickering, many of the Crusaders did not continue on to [[Jerusalem]].  The force that arrived in June 1099 was only about 12,000 strong, far fewer than the army of defenders.  They sieged the city from June 9 to July 18.  Realizing they didn't have enough men to keep out supplies and starve the defenders, they boldly attacked.  Overrunning the city, many of the inhabitants were massacred, including other Christians.  A relieving force of 50,000 strong arrived in August to fight the Crusaders, but were routed at the [[Battle of Ascalon]].  The military aspects of the First Crusade had ended.