Battle of Saruj

Battle of Saruj (1122)
Part of the Crusades
Joscelin, Count of Edessa
Date 13 September 1122 Location Suruç, Turkey Result Artuqid victory
Belligerents
County of Edessa	Artuqids
Commanders and leaders
Joscelin I  (POW)	Belek Ghazi
Strength
100 knights	800 cavalry
Casualties and losses
Heavy 25 or 60 captured	Unknown

The Battle of Saruj was a military engagement between the Atruqid Turks and the Crusader County of Edessa. The Atruqids, led by Belek Ghazi, defeated and captured Joscelin I, Count of Edessa.

Background

In June 1122 the Artuqid emir Ilghazi resumed his war against the Crusaders. Ilghazi was joined by his nephew Belek Ghazi and Toghtekin. Together they attacked the Principality of Antioch. King Baldwin II of Jerusalem was in Tripoli enforcing the rule of Pons, Count of Tripoli. When Baldwin heard of the invasion, he rode out with a relief force. Ilghazi was forced to retreat, and no military engagement happened. Ilghazi fell ill and withdrew to Aleppo, while Toghtekin withdrew to Damascus. Belek went home to his emirate near Malatya. As Belek marched towards the territory of the County of Edessa, Joscelin I heard of his passing, and he set out with a force of 100 knights to intercept him. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Battle

Hearing of the Crusader force coming to meet him, Belek prepared to meet him in battle. Belek's troops numbered 800 cavalry. Belek picked his battlefield, leading the Crusaders into a marshy territory after a long chase. On 13 September the Crusaders ended in a low ground near beside a river near Suruç. ^{[5] [6]} The Crusaders were stuck; their horses, which carried heavy armored knights, sank into the mud. The Turks then attacked the Crusaders with a barrage of arrows, killing many of them. Joscelin and other leaders surrendered and were captured by the Turks. They captured around 25 prisoners, while other sources state 60. ^{[7] [8] [9] [10]}

Aftermath

The capture of Joscelin was a notable victory for Belek, which gave him a reputation from contemporary writers. Belek's power grew further after the death of his uncle Ilghazi, after which he inherited his territory. ^[11] Belek offered freedom for Joscelin if he were to surrender Edessa, but he refused. ^[12] Belek took the prisoners to his fortress of Harpoot. ^[13] Belek then continued to fight against the Crusaders. The capture of Joscelin forced Baldwin into a war against Belek to liberate the captured prisoners. ^[14]

Notes

1. Morton
2. Stevenson, p. 108
3. Runciman, p. 161
4. Iskenderian, p. 99
5. Runciman, p. 161
6. Stevenson, p. 108
7. Morton
8. Stevenson, p. 108
9. Runciman, p. 161
10. Iskenderian, p. 99
11. Morton
12. Runciman, p. 161
13. Morton
14. Iskenderian, p. 99

References

• Iskenderian, Galust Ter-Grigorian (1915), The Crusaders and their relations with the neighboring Armenian princes until the fall of the County of Edessa (In German).

• Morton, Nicholas (2018), The Field of Blood, The Battle for Aleppo and the Remaking of the Medieval Middle East.

• Runciman, Steven (1987), A History of the Crusades, Vol II.

• Stevenson, William Barron (1907), The Crusaders in the East: A Brief History of the Wars of Islam with the Latins in Syria During the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries.