Battle of Philomelion (1190)

Battle of Philomelion
Part of the Third Crusade
Date7 May 1190
Location
Result Crusader victory
Belligerents
Holy Roman Empire Sultanate of Rûm
Commanders and leaders
Frederick VI, Duke of Swabia
Berthold, Duke of Merania
Kaykhusraw I
Muhyiddin Mesut
Strength
2,000 10,000
Casualties and losses
less than 100 4,174–5,000 killed

The Battle of Philomelion (Philomelium in Latin, Akşehir in Turkish) was a victory of the forces of the Holy Roman Empire over the Turkish forces of the Sultanate of Rûm on 7 May 1190 during the Third Crusade.

In May 1189, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa began his expedition to the Holy Land as part of the Third Crusade to recover the city of Jerusalem from the forces of Saladin. After an extended stay in the European territories of the Byzantine Empire, the Imperial army crossed over to Asia at the Dardanelles from 22–28 March 1190. After surmounting opposition from Byzantine populations and Turkish irregulars, the Crusader army was surprised in camp by a 10,000-man Turkish force of the Sultanate of Rûm near Philomelion on the evening of 7 May. The Crusader army counterattacked with 2,000 infantry and cavalry under the leadership of Frederick VI, Duke of Swabia and Berthold, Duke of Merania, putting the Turks to flight and killing 4,174–5,000 of them.