Zengi's capture of Edessa

Background

Weakened after the campaigns of Mawdud and Belek, the County of Edessa had come to rely on Turbessel, west of the Euphrates. Joscelin II was at odds with Prince Raymond of Poitiers of Antioch. Imad al-Din Zengi, who had united Mosul and Aleppo, was watching for an opportunity while dealing with the Artuqid lords east of the county.

Course of events

In autumn 1144, while Joscelin had crossed west of the Euphrates with his army, Zengi marched rapidly on Edessa and began the siege on 28 November. The defenders were mostly Armenian and Syriac inhabitants; the Latin archbishop Hugh directed the defence. While Joscelin waited at Turbessel, the help sent by Queen Melisende from Jerusalem did not arrive in time.

Zengi's sappers dug tunnels under the northern walls. On 24 December, when the props in the tunnels were set alight, part of the wall collapsed and the city was entered. Many of the inhabitants fleeing in panic to the citadel were crushed at the gates; the archbishop was killed. The citadel surrendered on 26 December.

Outcome and significance

Zengi had the Latins killed but largely spared the native Christians and encouraged the city's resettlement. The fall of Edessa was celebrated as a great victory in the Muslim world, and the caliph granted Zengi titles.

In the Latin world the loss of the first crusader state's capital caused a deep shock. Pope Eugenius III's appeal in December 1145 launched the Second Crusade. Zengi was killed in September 1146 while besieging the castle of Ja'bar.

Sources and debates

The fullest testimony comes from Syriac chronicles drawing on Basil bar Shumana, the Syriac bishop present in the city during the siege. Ibn al-Qalanisi and Ibn al-Athir report Zengi's victory; William of Tyre accuses Joscelin of negligence. The death toll and Zengi's attitude to the native Christians are given with different emphases in the sources.