Battle of Azaz (1125)

Battle of Azaz
Part of the Crusades

Baldwin II coin
DateJune 11, 1125
Location
Result Crusader victory
Belligerents
 Kingdom of Jerusalem
 Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia
Principality of Antioch
County of Edessa
County of Tripoli
Seljuk Turks
Artuqids
Burid dynasty
Commanders and leaders
Kingdom of Jerusalem Baldwin II of Jerusalem
Armenian Kingdom of CiliciaLeo I of Armenia
Joscelin I of Edessa
Pons of Tripoli
Aq-Sunqur il-Bursuqi
Toghtekin
Strength

3,100


1,100 knights
2,000 infantry
15,000
Casualties and losses
20 including 5 knights[1] 1,000–5,015 killed

The Battle of Azaz was a major battle fought between king Baldwin II's crusader forces and the Muslims, led by Aq-Sunqur al-Bursuqi, the Seljuq atabeg of Mosul on 11 June 1125. Being one of the bloodiest confrontations before the Second Crusade, the battle resulted in a decisive victory for the Crusaders, causing disturbances of power in the Levant and weakened Seljuk domination in the area. Contemporary chronicler Matthew of Edessa even states that the remnants of al-Bursuqi's army were chased all the way to Aleppo. The battle effectively lifted the siege of the town of Azaz and prevented it from falling to Turkoman hands. (One authority says the battle was fought on June 13.[2])

  1. ^ Fulcher of Chartres, p.281
  2. ^ Smail 1995, p. 182

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