All Battles

Siege of Damascus

1148 • Levante Belagerung
Miniature: siege of Damascus, 1148

Miniature: siege of Damascus, 1148

Author: Unknown authorUnknown authorLicense:PD
Source
Council of Acre, above siege of Damascus Depicted people: Conrad III of Germany, Louis VII of France and Baldwin III of Jerusalem

Council of Acre, above siege of Damascus Depicted people: Conrad III of Germany, Louis VII of France and Baldwin III of Jerusalem

Author: Unknown authorUnknown authorLicense:PD
Source
Cette miniature illustre l'un des combats de la deuxième croisade de Louis VII (la bataille de Damas en 1148), venu à l'aide du roi de Jérusalem Baudoin III contre les Sarrasins, au milieu du XIIe siècle. - Guillaume de Tyr, Histoire d'Outremer, XIVe siècle, Paris, BnF, département des Manuscrits, Français 22495 fol. 154v.

Cette miniature illustre l'un des combats de la deuxième croisade de Louis VII (la bataille de Damas en 1148), venu à l'aide du roi de Jérusalem Baudoin III contre les Sarrasins, au milieu du XIIe siècle. - Guillaume de Tyr, Histoire d'Outremer, XIVe siècle, Paris, BnF, département des Manuscrits, Français 22495 fol. 154v.

Author: anonymusLicense:PD
Source
Siège de Damas (1148)

Siège de Damas (1148)

Author: AnonymousUnknown authorLicense:PD
Source
Emperor Conrad splits a Saracen near Damascus, 1148

Emperor Conrad splits a Saracen near Damascus, 1148

Author: Unknown authorUnknown authorLicense:PD
Source
Siege of Damascus, second crusade

Siege of Damascus, second crusade

Author: Jean Colombe, in Passages d'outremer by Sébastien MamerotLicense:PD
Source
Siege of Damascus

Siege of Damascus

Author: AnonymousUnknown authorLicense:PD
Source
Belagerung von Damaskus (1148)

Belagerung von Damaskus (1148)

Author: Unknown authorUnknown authorLicense:PD
Source
Siege of Damascus (1148)

Siege of Damascus (1148)

Author: UnknownUnknownLicense:PD
Source
Siège de Damas. Chronique d'Ernoul et de Bernard le Trésorier.

Siège de Damas. Chronique d'Ernoul et de Bernard le Trésorier.

Author: Public Domain, from the British Library's collections, 2013License:CC0
Source

Historical Overview

The siege of Damascus took place between 24 and 28 July 1148, during the Second Crusade. It ended in a crusader defeat and led to the disintegration of the crusade. The two main Christian forces that marched to the Holy Land in response to Pope Eugene III and Bernard of Clairvaux's call for the Second Crusade were led by Kings Louis VII of France and Conrad III of Germany. Both faced disastrous marches across Anatolia in the months that followed, with most of their armies being destroyed. The original focus of the crusade was Edessa (Urfa), but in Jerusalem, the preferred target of King Baldwin III and the Knights Templar was Damascus. At the Council of Acre, magnates from France, Germany, and the Kingdom of Jerusalem decided to divert the crusade to Damascus.

Quick Facts

Outcome:Crusader retreat.

Zengid Emirate

  • Commander: Nur ad-Din
  • Strength: ca. 15.000
  • Casualties: Moderat

Crusaders (2nd C.)

  • Commander: Konrad III. / Ludwig VII.
  • Strength: ca. 50.000
  • Casualties: Hoch

Strategic Context

Attempt to create a strategic buffer zone in the east.

Conflict / War

Second Crusade

Seljuk victory.

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Historical Locations

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