Battles of Heraclea
| Battles of Heraclea | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Crusades | |
| Date 1101 Location Konya Result • First battle: Turkish victory[1][2] • Second battle: Turkish victory[3][4] | |
| Belligerents | |
| Sultanate of Rum Danishmend |
Kingdom of France Duchy of Burgundy County of Blois County of Nevers County of Vermandois Duchy of Aquitaine Holy Roman Empire Kingdom of Italy (Lombardy) Palatine County of Burgundy Duchy of Bavaria Margraviate of Austria |
| Commanders and leaders | |
| Kilij Arslan I | William II, Count of Nevers William IX, Duke of Aquitaine |
| Strength | |
| 20,000 or 25,000 | 40,000–60,000 |
| Casualties and losses | |
| Minimal | Heavy |
The battles of Heraclea were a series of battles fought during the Crusade of 1101 between Crusaders led by William II, Count of Nevers and the Sultanate of Rum led by Kilij Arslan I. Both battles resulted in a Turkish victory.
The French also who constituted the second group of the Crusade of 1101, could not escape the wrath of Sultan Kilij Arslan I. William II, Count of Nevers who arrived in Constantinople in June 1101, moved fast to Ankara and then to Konya. His army suffered Turkish raids on the way. When they arrived the army were terrified by the Turks.[5]
The French and Germans who headed east under the command of William II arrived at Constantinople early June 1101, where they headed to Konya through Nicomedia-Nicaea entering Seljuk lands near Aksehir. As Kilij Arslan had heard of their marching, they evacuated cities, including Konya and destroyed the fields and water sources. Kilij Arslan and Gazi Gümüshtigin waited for them to weaken. When they saw the Crusaders running to a river, Kilij Arslan attacked and achieved a Turkish victory.[6]
References
- Back to citation Jaspert, Nikolas (2006), The Crusades, Londra: Routledge ISBN 0-415-35968-6 say. 42
- Back to citation Runciman, Steven (1987). A history of the Crusades, vol. 2: The Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Frankish East, 1100-1187. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 25–27. ISBN 052134770X. OCLC 17461930.
- Back to citation Cate, James Lea (1969). "The Crusade of 1101". In Setton, Kenneth M; Baldwin, Marshall W. (eds.). A History of the Crusades: I. The First Hundred Years. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 343–352.
- Back to citation Savvides, Alexios G. C. (2006). "Qilij Arslān of Rûm (d. 1107)". In The Crusades - An Encyclopedia. p. 998.
- Back to citation Guillaume de Tyr, I, s.327-328; Foucher de Chartres, s.132-134; Albert d'Aix, s.32-35
- Back to citation Albertus Aquensis, Liber Christiane Expeditionis pro Ereptione et Restitutione Sanctae Hierosolymitanae Ecclesiae, RHC. occ, IV, VIII, 1 et seq, p. 559 et seq; Guillaume de Tyr, I, s.327-328; Foucher de Chartres, s.132-134; Albert d'Aix, s.32-35