First Crusade, Siege of Antioch, 1098
The Siege of Antioch took place during the First Crusade in 1097 and 1098. Antioch lay in a strategic location on the crusaders' route to Palestine. Supplies, reinforcements and retreat could all be controlled by the city. The crusaders arrived outside the city on October 21 and began the siege. After stripping the surrounding area of food, the crusaders were forced to look farther afield for supplies, opening themselves to ambush. While searching for food a force of 20,000 crusaders encountered a relief force led by Duqaq of Damascus heading to Antioch and defeated the army. Supplies dwindled and in early 1098 one in seven of the crusaders was dying from starvation and people began deserting. After defeating a second Muslim army in February, additional men and supplies arrived in March. In May news reached them that a large Muslim army, commanded by Kerbogha, was marching towards Antioch. The crusaders secretly contacted an Armenian named Firouz who commanded one of the city's gates. After receiving a bribe, Firouz opened gate on the night of June 2/3, allowing the crusaders to storm the city.
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