Battle of Ramla

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Battle of Ramla can refer to a number of battles in the early years of the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Ramla was an important town on the road from Jerusalem to Ascalon, the latter of which was the largest Fatimid fortress in Palestine. From Ascalon the Egyptians could launch an attack into the newly-founded kingdom every year, and it was often the case that the two armies met each other at Ramla.

The first battle of Ramla was September 7, 1101. The crusaders had 260 cavalry and 900 foot soldiers in six divisions. The first two divisions charged first and were defeated; the Fatimids outflanked the crusaders and attacked the foot-soldiers in the rearguard. King Baldwin I however restored the lines and the crusaders were ultimately victorious. Some of the survivors of the disastrous Crusade of 1101 took part in this battle; Stephen of Blois was killed during it. Fulcher of Chartres was present and provides an account in his chronicle.

The second battle took place in 1102. This time Baldwin did not arrange his forces into divisions and had no foot-soldiers, and he was defeated. He fled to Jaffa, where he was joined by new troops. This army was able to break out of the city, which was being besieged by the Fatimids. The foot-soldiers stood their ground against the Fatimid archers and the cavalry was able to capture the Egyptian camp.

The third battle took place in 1105; it was very similar to the 1101 battle in that the crusaders were arranged into the same divisions and were again outflanked. The Fatimids were joined by Tughtugin of Damascus in this battle. Baldwin defeated the Damascene attack on the rearguard and then led a victorious charge against the Fatimids in the vanguard.