History of the Crusades.

the Crusades. episodes.

Episode 8, the First Crusade Roman numeral 4.

Hello again.

Last week we saw the Crusaders victorious.

They captured Nicia, the capital of the Selyork Turks, and the city was placed back under the control of the Byzantine Empire.

Today we will see the crusading army continue their march eastward towards their ultimate goal Jerusalem.

Opposing them in this leg of their journey were of course the Selyork Turks.

The Sultan of Rum, Kilij Arslan, had suffered a blow when his capital had fallen into Byzantine hands,

and it appears that he is now realizing the seriousness of the situation.

In his book, The Crusades Through Arab Eyes, Armin Maloof states that after his defeat at

Nysia, Kalege Arslan set about planning a counter-attack. He started recruiting troops, enrolling

volunteers, and he proclaimed jihad or holy war against the Christian invaders.

Remember last week when Kalege Arslan delayed his defense of Nicia because he didn't want to concede a town in the east to his rival. Well he now approaches his rival,

the Amir Darnishman, and proposes that their forces unite against the Christians.

A fervent Muslim as well as a realist,

Danish men can see that his territory is under threat,

and he readily agrees to the proposal.

Informers inside the Crusader Army advised Kilage Arslan that the army intended to march in a

south easterly direction towards Palestine.

Initially, their march would take them through hilly terrain.

The Amirs planned an ambush.

...