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Second Crusade
Zengi:
Attabeg of Mosul + Aleppo = united 2 great cities → his father had governed
Aleppo under Malik Shah BUT executed for treason.
Zengi raised by Kerbogha and had the support of the Great Seljuk → named
mujahid, given string of religious titles and encouraged revival of jihad.
Warlord who wanted to expand his territory → opportunist, brutal warrior
feared by Muslims, portrayed as religious leader ⇒ may be a threat to the
Crusacer States and individual towns
Quest to control Damascus:
Allied with Atabeg of Damascus against Crusaders in 1130 BUT took son
prisoner, seized Hama and in 1131 in return for his son for 50,000 dinars and
was returned for the delivery of the fled Emir
1134 → allied with Timurtash against cousin to seize Damascus. 1135 → new
Emir of Damascus, willing to surrender the city in return for peace which
family + advisors did not agree with and was murdered by his mother
Second Crusade 1
, Zengi arrived intending to seize it but gave up, made an agreement, marrying
Isamail’s mother in 1138, received Homs.
1139 → Ismail’s brother killed, tried and failed to seize Damascus, new regent
made treaty with Jerusalem. ⇒ Power over great Muslim cities, border of
Crusader States, close to Antioch = prevent trade
Fall of Edessa:
Zengi’s failure to capture Damascus and deal between Crusaders + Damascus
in 1140, he was searching for land to capture.
December 1144 → laid siege to the city and 24th took city as it was only
defended by Archbishop Hugh who was short of money. Zengi moved fast
before other Crusader support would arrive. Built wooden towers, dug
trenches, bombarded the walls until they collapsed. 15,000 died, sacked,
Churches, monasteries destroyed ⇒ REMOTE LOCATION + SPEED
Zengi assassinated in Sept 1146, leaving Edessa to the Crusaders, but son Nur
ad-Din launched a new attack before the damage could be repaired →
thousands slaughtered or enslaved
Zengi took advantage of circumstances → perennial shortages of men, 1143
deaths on John Commenus and Fulk
💡 Why was the fall of Edessa significant:
Showed lack of support from Byzantine forces and divided Crusader
factions
Fall of first Crusader State and fear of ‘domino’ like collapse
Shortage of men
Second Crusade 2
Second Crusade
Zengi:
Attabeg of Mosul + Aleppo = united 2 great cities → his father had governed
Aleppo under Malik Shah BUT executed for treason.
Zengi raised by Kerbogha and had the support of the Great Seljuk → named
mujahid, given string of religious titles and encouraged revival of jihad.
Warlord who wanted to expand his territory → opportunist, brutal warrior
feared by Muslims, portrayed as religious leader ⇒ may be a threat to the
Crusacer States and individual towns
Quest to control Damascus:
Allied with Atabeg of Damascus against Crusaders in 1130 BUT took son
prisoner, seized Hama and in 1131 in return for his son for 50,000 dinars and
was returned for the delivery of the fled Emir
1134 → allied with Timurtash against cousin to seize Damascus. 1135 → new
Emir of Damascus, willing to surrender the city in return for peace which
family + advisors did not agree with and was murdered by his mother
Second Crusade 1
, Zengi arrived intending to seize it but gave up, made an agreement, marrying
Isamail’s mother in 1138, received Homs.
1139 → Ismail’s brother killed, tried and failed to seize Damascus, new regent
made treaty with Jerusalem. ⇒ Power over great Muslim cities, border of
Crusader States, close to Antioch = prevent trade
Fall of Edessa:
Zengi’s failure to capture Damascus and deal between Crusaders + Damascus
in 1140, he was searching for land to capture.
December 1144 → laid siege to the city and 24th took city as it was only
defended by Archbishop Hugh who was short of money. Zengi moved fast
before other Crusader support would arrive. Built wooden towers, dug
trenches, bombarded the walls until they collapsed. 15,000 died, sacked,
Churches, monasteries destroyed ⇒ REMOTE LOCATION + SPEED
Zengi assassinated in Sept 1146, leaving Edessa to the Crusaders, but son Nur
ad-Din launched a new attack before the damage could be repaired →
thousands slaughtered or enslaved
Zengi took advantage of circumstances → perennial shortages of men, 1143
deaths on John Commenus and Fulk
💡 Why was the fall of Edessa significant:
Showed lack of support from Byzantine forces and divided Crusader
factions
Fall of first Crusader State and fear of ‘domino’ like collapse
Shortage of men
Second Crusade 2
