Battle of the Lake of Antioch

Battle of the Lake of Antioch
Part of the Siege of Antioch of the First Crusade

Bohemond of Taranto in battle. 19th century impression by Gustave Doré.
Date9 February, 1098
Location
Lake of Antioch (present-day Turkey)
Result Crusader victory
Belligerents
Crusaders Sultanate of Aleppo
Artuqids of Amida
Emirate of Hamah
Commanders and leaders
Bohemond of Taranto Fakhr al-Mulk Radwan
Soqman ibn Ortoq
Strength
700 knights[1][2] ~12,000[3]
Casualties and losses
Light Heavy, entire army routed

The Battle of the Lake of Antioch took place on 9 February 1098 during the First Crusade. As the Crusaders were besieging Antioch, word reached the Crusader camp that a large relief force led by Radwan, the Seljuq ruler of Aleppo, was on the way. Bohemond of Taranto gathered all remaining horses and marched in the night to ambush the Muslim army. After several successful cavalry charges, the Crusader knights routed the numerically superior Muslim army, forcing Radwan to retreat back to Aleppo.

  1. ^ Asbridge 2004, p. 181.
  2. ^ France 1996, p. 245.
  3. ^ France 1996, p. 246.