Battle of Iconium (1190)

Duke Frederick V of Swabia

Philomelion - Iconium - Acre - Arsuf - Jaffa

The Battle of Iconium was fought on May 18, 1190 during the Third Crusade ( 1189-1192 ) between the German army under Frederick Barbarossa and the Rum Seljuk Sultan Kılıç Arslan II below.

Prehistory

Iconium (Turkish: Konya ) is a city in Asia Minor, 470 kilometers east of Smyrna. At this time it was the capital of the independent Sultanate of Iconium.

At the Third Crusade Barbarossa Crusader army had crossed in March 1190 with Byzantine ships the Hellespont into Asia Minor. Since the end of April, the crusade army made ​​its way through the territory of the Sultan of Iconium. The chroniclers of the crusade quantify the number of the army of crusaders to about 100,000 men, of whom more than 20,000 Knights and Knights Even, however, is to assume that this number is exaggerated. On their arduous journey through the mountains of central Anatolia, the Crusaders suffered greatly from the heat and has put a food and water shortage. Constant attacks and ambushes Seljuk horsemen and archers called for further heavy losses in humans and animals. In the mountainous countryside, the crusade army pulled apart strong and was accordingly particularly vulnerable to quick attacks. Kılıç Arslan II, Sultan of Rum - Seljuks had the Crusade army actually promised free passage, and to them two leaders have provided. This insured Barbarossa again and again that these raids were perpetrated by uncontrollable rider gangs and robbers. But when the tip of Barbarossa's army met in the plain of Philomelion on a strong Muslim army, knew the Crusaders at the latest that they have been betrayed. In the ensuing battle, the Crusaders continued through the first time against the Seljuks and inflicted heavy losses on them. With great hardships and privations, and still constantly harassed by the Seljuks, Barbarossa's army moved on to Iconium, where there pitched his camp in the gardens of the Sultan, on the outskirts of the city, on May 17, 1190. The exhausted Crusaders possessed at that time barely over riding horses and pack animals - they were killed on the road either in raids of Seljuks or slaughtered from hunger.

The Battle

On the morning of May 18, 1190 Barbarossa divided the army into two groups. The one under Duke Frederick V of Swabia, the son of Barbarossa, should attack the city, the emperor remained while the other outside the city. On the way to the city met Duke Friedrich of a German ambassador, Godfrey of Wiesbach, who had previously negotiated with the Sultan and reported that the old Sultan with his army, in view of the Crusader army, had taken refuge in the citadel of the city. Just like almost all the inhabitants of the city, together with their treasures and abundant food supplies. Duke Friedrich stormed with his troops then at the first attempt a city gate, fought down the Seljuk resistance and penetrated up to the walls of the citadel before. The Muslim residents who were still found in the town were killed.

Meanwhile, Barbarossa was, without knowing the victory of his son, has been surrounded outside the city of Seljuk troops. The situation seemed hopeless at first, soldiers and clergy huddled close to their emperor and were expecting their seemingly safe imminent demise. Barbarossa but wanted to with this fate not resign, he called to his men, they may rely on the will of Jesus Christ and stormed them with his life for the attack forward. The courage of their emperor inspired the Crusaders were able to actually beat their enemies decisively and then unite with the troops under Duke Friedrich in the city.

According to some information, the Seljuks lost on that day 40,000 men; 5,000 more died later of their injuries. The losses of the Crusaders are said to have amounted to about 20,000 men.

Follow

Sultan Kılıç Arslan II was likely to come the next day. He now had to give hostages to disposal, and make sure the Crusaders in the way of extensive market rights, the supply of horses, pack animals and food. In Iconium, the Crusaders large quantities of grain, gold, silver, and purple fabrics had captured of considerable value.

Kılıç Arslan himself was not responsible for this betrayal. His eldest son Qutd -ad -Din (also Rutbeddin ) had agreed with a son of Saladin an alliance against the Crusaders. Saladin had then terminated the siege of the Crusaders at Acre and sent the troops Barbarossa contrary to beat the Crusader army, as long as the troops had not yet united.

On May 23, a market was held at the gates Iconiums on which shopped the Crusaders 6,000 horses and mules, as well as a large supply of bread, meat, butter and cheese. On May 26, the Crusaders were on the march and only the threat to kill the hostages identified, secured them a safe-conduct for the further traversal of the Sultanate of Iconium. On May 30 they reached Laranda and continued the march to the neighboring area of the allied Barbarossa Armenian princes Leo continued.

After the army had crossed the Taurus Mountains, Frederick Barbarossa drowned on June 10 near the city of Seleucia in the river Saleph and much of the Army went back demoralized by sea in the home. Only about 2,000 men under Duke Frederick of Swabia continued our journey to Palestine continued.

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