The Final Assault
In early July, before they had completed the building of their siege engines, the Franks learnt that Al-Afdal had gathered an army and was marching on Jerusalem. That news intensified their desperation and fear. Once again, as they had time and again since they left their homes in Europe, the Franks sought out and prayed for some kind of spiritual miracle; one that would guarantee victory and save them from complete destruction. That spiritual miracle came through a man named Peter Desiderius.
Peter claimed that he had been visited by the late Bishop, Adhemar of Le Puy. According to medieval chronicler, Raymond of Aguilers, Adhemar had told Peter the following:
“(Crusaders) from distant lands…free yourselves from the filthy world and each one of you turn your back on sin. Then take off your shoes and in your naked feet walk around Jerusalem and don’t forget to fast. If you follow these orders, at the end of nine days the city will fall after a violent assault; but if not, the Lord will increase all the misfortunes of the past.”
Following Peter’s advice, the Franks underwent a three-day trial of spiritual purification. Sermons were preached; lords, knights, men-at-arms and pilgrims alike made public confessions and prayed daily, probably even hourly. At the end of the trial, the entire army made a solemn procession around Jerusalem as instructed. They all walked barefoot and carried palm fronds.
“During the noisy march around Jerusalem, the Saracens and Turks walked along the top of their walls poking fun at us and they blasphemed with blows and vulgar acts; crosses placed on yoked gibbets and dragged along the walkways. We, in turn, confident of the nearness of God’s compassion…pressed forward by day and night,” wrote Raymond of Aguilers.
Feeling renewed and more confident, the Franks completed the building of their siege machinery by early-mid July. They were then ready to launch a full-scale assault on the Holy City.
The final assault on Jerusalem began the night of 13-14 July when Godfrey of Bouillon, with the help of several warriors, moved his portable siege tower to the Damascus Gate, more than half a mile away; a task that probably took them all night to complete. This was a smart move on Godfrey’s behalf because, over the previous three weeks, the Egyptians had watched the construction of this enormous siege tower, so they strengthened the fortifications of the north wall; stationed a few mangonels and several archers in that corner of the city, anticipating an assault on the north wall.
Raymond’s writing indicated just how predicable the Egyptians thought the Franks were. “The Saracens were thunderstruck next morning at the sight of the changed position of our machines.”
Meanwhile, Count Raymond and his Provencal troops remained on Mount Zion, preparing to launch an assault at that end of the city.
Godfrey’s first priority was to break through the outer wall that protected Jerusalem’s northern battlements. That was the only way – and only place – where Godfrey could move his large, portable siege tower against the wall.
During the three-week program of construction, the Frankish contingent under Godfrey’s command had built a massive, iron-clad battle ram designed to smash through the outer defenses. Even though this siege machine was built on wheels, it was very heavy; it took the effort of several men and several hours to maneuver it into position. They also had to dodge arrows and firebombs that were being shot at them from the Muslim defenders.
Eventually, with a lot of faith and a lot of strategy, the Franks succeeded: they had thrust the battle ram into the outer wall with such immense force, it broke down that portion of the wall. The Egyptians, thinking quick on their feet, poured sulfur, pitch and wax onto the battle ram, setting it ablaze. The Franks rushed forward to save it, but Godfrey quickly realized that it posed a serious disadvantage: it blocked the one and only path to his siege tower. So, he ordered his men to burn the already charred battle ram.
The Egyptians, aware of what the Franks were doing, poured water onto the charred battle ram in efforts to preserve it and stymie the Franks’ advancement. However, the Franks succeeded once again. How they removed the remains of the battle ram is unknown, but by the end of that blistering July day, they had broken through the outer wall.
Sources Used
Asbridge, Thomas. The Crusades: The Authoritative History of The War For The Holy Land. New York; Ecco, 2011
Krey, August C. The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eye-Witnesss and Participants. Princeton; Princeton University Press, 1921
Stark, Rita M. Knights of the Cross: The Epic of the Crusades. Bloomington; iUniverse, 2008