Battle of Marj es-Suffar

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Battle of Marj es-Suffar
Part of the Crusades
Date January 26, 1126
Location Near Damascus, Syria
Result Crusader tactical success[1]
Muslim strategic victory[2]
Belligerents
Crusaders Burids of Damascus
Commanders
Baldwin II of Jerusalem Toghtekin
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Serious Unknown
v • d • e
Seljuk-Crusader War

1097–1127

The Battle of Marj es-Suffar was fought on January 25, 1126 between a Crusader army led by King Baldwin II of Jerusalem and the Seljuk Emirate of Damascus, which was ruled by Toghtekin. The Crusaders defeated the Muslim army in the field but failed in their objective to capture Damascus.

[edit] Battle

After winning the Battle of Azaz northeast of Antioch, Baldwin II led an army of Franks to attack Damascus in early 1126. Baldwin's army consisted of the usual mounted knights and men-at-arms supported by spearmen and bowmen on foot. At Marj es-Suffar, 30 kilometers outside Damascus,[3] the Crusaders encountered the army of Damascus which offered battle. Toghtekin, founder of the Burid dynasty, ruled Damascus at that time.

Only a few details are known about the battle. The sources are not in agreement about tactical details, but they concur that the Crusaders failed to seize Damascus. The Franks lost many men to Turkish archery in a very close-fought engagement. "But a strong attack made late in the day gave them a hard-won victory. Their tactical success left them unable to achieve their object in undertaking the campaign, which was the conquest of Damascus."[4]

Another historian writes, "Crusader forces had a clear win but were unable to press home their advantage."[5] A third writer notes that the Crusader victory occurred because Toghtekin "fell from his horse and, thinking that he had been killed, his companions fled."[6] Because of their heavy casualties, the Crusaders were forced to retreat.[7]

In 1129, the Franks attacked Damascus again, but their siege of the city was unsuccessful.

[edit] References

  • Burns, Ross. Damascus: A History. Routledge, 2005. ISBN 0415271059
  • Hillenbrand, Car. The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives. Routledge, 1999. ISBN 1579582109
  • Smail, R. C. Crusading Warfare 1097-1193. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, (1956) 1995. ISBN 1-56619-769-4

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Smail, p 182
  2. ^ Western Warfare in the Age of the Crusades, 1000-1300 By John France, pg. 220
  3. ^ Burns, p 150
  4. ^ Smail, p 182
  5. ^ Burns, p 150
  6. ^ Hillenbrand, p 515
  7. ^ Western Warfare in the Age of the Crusades, 1000-1300 By John France, pg. 220
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