History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 30, the Second Crusade Roman numeral 2.

Hello again.

Last week we saw the rise to power of the fearsome Muslim warlord Zangi, and we saw a three-way tussle for power in the

holy land between Zangi, Emperor John of the Byzantine Empire, and the leaders of the Crusader states.

The end of last week's episode heralded a shift of power in this struggle as the Byzantine

Emperor John died and was replaced by his youngest son Manuel.

King Fulk also died, leaving Queen Melesen to rule the kingdom of Jerusalem with her young son Baldwin the third.

While King Fook hadn't been a great king, he had managed to keep Zengi in check, while at the same

time using his position to soothe tensions and quarrels

between the leaders of the crusader states. Now with his death and with a woman and a child on the throne this looked like it was all going to be

thrown out the window.

Raymond, Prince of Antioch, decided to take full advantage of the death of the Emperor and the King of Jerusalem.

He decided to invade Salicia, knowing full well that the new emperor would be required to remain in

Constantinople to secure his accession to the purple.

Ramon didn't just invade Salicia, he made sure that he destroyed as much Byzantine property as possible.

While the new Emperor Manuel couldn't personally lead a counter-attack,

he ordered a force to be dispatched to Silesia by sea to push back Raymond's invasion.

And push back they did.

The army drove the soldiers of Antioch out of Imperial Territory and all the way back to the walls of Antioch itself.

In retribution for Ramon's wanton destruction of Byzantine towns, fortresses and

strongholds, the Byzantine army laid waste to the land around Antioch, then marched

...