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 (Hebrew: רמלה, Ramlāh; Arabic: الرملة‎, ar-Ramlah, colloquial Ramleh), Ramleh 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.

[edit] First Battle of Ramleh

The first battle of Ramleh was September 7, 1101. Baldwin had only 260 cavalry and 900 foot soldiers which he formed into six divisions to combat the Egyptian force of about 10,000 strong. The first two divisions were wiped out in the initial attack but when the third division was pursued after being routed by the Egyptians Baldwin attacked the enemy and after vicious close-quarter combat, repulsed them, causing a panicked retreat. After pursuing the fleeing Fatimads to Ascalon he returned to Ramleh plundering the Egyptian camp and securing the Kingdom of Jerusalem against the Fatimad Caliphate's advances.

[edit] Second Battle of Ramleh

The second battle took place in 1102. Due to faulty reconnaissance Baldwin underestimated the size of the Egyptian force and rode to battle with only 500 mounted knights to meet the enemy. Seeing the size of the Egyptian force too late and already cutoff from escape many of the knights charged into the heart of the Egyptian lines and were slaughtered but Baldwin and some survivors from the Crusade of 1101 were able to barricade themselves in Ramla single tower. Baldwin escaped under the cover of night traveling to Arsuf where he convinced an English ship captain to break through the Egyptian blockade of Jaffa which was being besieged by the Fatimads. With the arrival of a fleet of French and German Crusaders Baldwin was able to lead a cavalry charge that once again broke the Egyptian lines and forced the Fatmad forces to flee to Ascalon. Despite the losses of numerous knights, and the capture of Conrad, Constable of Jerusalem, and death of Stephen of Blois in the finally charge from the doomed tower of Ramla Baldwin was able to profit off the plunder left behind by the fleeing Egyptians.

[edit] Third Battle of Ramleh

The third battle took place on August 27, 1105 and is considered the most brutally fought of the three. After withstanding the initial Frankish cavalry charge the battle raged for most of the day. Although Baldwin was once again able to drive the Egyptians from the feild of battle and loot the enemy camp he was unable to pursue them any further. Despite the victory the Egyptians continued to make annual raids into the Kingdom of Jeruselum with some reaching the walls of Jerusalem before being pushed back.