Battle of al-Atharib

Battle of al-Atharib
DateSpring 1130
Location
al-Atharib, Syria
Result Zengid victory[1][2][3]
Belligerents
Zengids Kingdom of Jerusalem
Principality of Antioch
Commanders and leaders
Imad al-Din Zengi King Baldwin
Strength
unknown unknown
Casualties and losses
unknown unknown

The Battle of al-Atharib occurred in 1130 when Imad al-Din Zengi laid siege to al-Atharib in spring and defeated an army led against him to relieve the town commanded by King Baldwin.[1]

Imad al-Din Zengi sought to reassert Muslim control over the eastern frontier of the Principality of Antioch.[1] Zengi invaded and raided the territories of Antioch; in the Spring of 1130, he laid siege to al-Atharib.[1][3]

When the Franks and King Baldwin, who was in command of a Latin army, advanced to relieve the city, the officers of Zengi advised him to retreat; however, Baldwin scorned their advice.[2] A battle followed and Zengi emerged victorious.[2][3][1] After conquering the citadel of al-Atharib, Zengi destroyed it and razed it to the ground.[4]

Zengi then advanced on the fortress of Harim but its inhabitants persuaded him to abandon his siege in return for half of the districts revenues.[2] A truce was concluded and Zengi returned to his territories.[2]

  1. ^ a b c d e Asbridge, Thomas S. The creation of the principality of Antioch, 1098-1130. Boydell & Brewer Ltd, 2000, p. 90
  2. ^ a b c d e Baldwin, Marshall W. "A History of the Crusades, Volume 1." University of Pennsylvania Press, 2016. p. 431
  3. ^ a b c Lock, Peter. The Routledge companion to the Crusades. Routledge, 2013.
  4. ^ Hillenbrand, Carole. The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives. p. 533 Edinburgh University Press, 1999.