Antioch, seat of the Principality of AntiochWhile Baldwin of Boulogne and Tancred headed east from Asia Minor to set up the County of Edessa, the main army of the First Crusade continued south to besiege Antioch. Bohemond of Taranto commanded the siege which commenced in October 1097. With over four hundred towers, the city's defenses were formidable. The siege lasted throughout the winter causing much attrition among the Crusader force, who were often forced to eat their own horses, or, as legend has it, the bodies of their fellow Christians who had not survived.
Bohemond convinced a guard in one of the towers, an Armenian and former Christian named Firouz, to let the Crusaders enter the city. Only four days later, a Muslim army from Mosul, led by Kerbogha, arrived to besiege the Crusaders themselves. Alexios I Komnenos, the Byzantine emperor, was on his way to assist the Crusaders; but upon hearing rumors that the city had fallen to the Muslims, Alexios turned back.
The Crusaders withstood the siege, with help from a mystic named Peter Bartholomew. Peter claimed he had been visited by St. Andrew, who told him that the Holy Lance, which pierced Christ's side as he was on the cross, was located in Antioch. The cathedral of St. Peter was excavated, and the Lance was discovered by Peter himself. Although Peter most likely planted it there himself (even the papal legate Adhemar of Le Puy believed this to be the case), it helped raise the spirits of the Crusaders. With the newly discovered relic at the head of the army, Bohemond marched out to meet the besieging Muslim force, which was miraculously defeated — as according to the Crusaders, an army of saints had appeared to help them on the battlefield.
There was a lengthy dispute over who should control the city. Bohemond and the Italian Normans eventually won, and Bohemond named himself prince. Bohemond was already Prince (allodial lord) of Taranto in Italy, and he desired to continue such independence in his new lordship; thus he did not attempt to receive the title of Duke from the Byzantine Emperor (in whose name he had taken an oath to fight), nor any other title with deep feudal obligations. Meanwhile, an unknown epidemic spread throughout the Crusader camp; Adhemar of Le Puy was one of the victims.
Reigning Prince of Antioch: Bohemond de Hauteville
Heir-Apparent: Tancred de Hauteville
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Starting Army (expires 1100 or 1101): 5,000 men
500 knights
1,000 archers/crossbowmen
1,500 heavy infantry
2,000 light infantry
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Budgets (Manpower and Income)
(Manpower available in 1100 or 1101 when Starting Army expires)
7,500 dinars a year
5,000 men
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Main Demense
(Rule of 1/4 for rulers)
2,075 dinars a year and 1,375 men
Base: 7,500 Dinars & 5000 men
Due to conquest: 800 Dinars & 500 men
Income (1099)
Starting Income: 1,000 dinars
Yearly Income: 2,075 dinars (gained in 1100)
Modifiers: +2 Wealth (10%)
Total: 1,000 dinars
Expenditures: 0
Grand Total: 1,000 dinars
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Vassals
- Lordship of St Simeon & Laodicea: Guy de Hauteville
33% dinars a year and 33% men
- Lordship of Alexandrette: Tancred of Hauteville
33% dinars a year 33% men
- Lordship of Sardona: Richard of Salerno
33% dinars a year and 33% men
- Lordship of Albara: Vacant - Non existent after new maps
925 dinars a year and 850 men.