Antioch held great importance in Medieval History and it was a crucial city for Crusaders, and this blog discusses how Latins and Greek had different mottos for conquering Antioch City. How did the Jerusalem conquest stop to siege Antioch City?

At A Glance of the Antioch City

It was 1097 when Crusaders crossed into the northern regions of Syria. It was very sensible to go from the way of Antioch to the Northern Syrian borders while reaching towards Jerusalem because the Crusaders were unable to afford the loss of Supplies, they had.

Crusaders already faced the tragic consequence of long walking and lack of food. More days of walking means more supplies they will need, and neither the Franks and nor the Latins could have afforded this.

But before reaching Antioch, many died because of Hunger and water intoxication. But in the early autumn, they crossed the Syrian sides of the North, and their final Prize ‘Jerusalem’ was just three weeks away from them.

The question was related to Strategy and techniques rather than a religious campaign. You must be wondering why am I saying this? But wait, let me explain this to you.

The Antioch dilemma

Turkish Muslim garrison was there in Antioch. The Crusaders could go through there just by making a Peace treaty with the small garrison of Muslims. Still, the Latins had a different motive for Antioch, and Greeks have some other ambitions for conquering Antioch.

So, the remaining were the Franks, and they had no other way than to help the Greeks and Latins conquer Antioch city.

Alexander the Great used the Antioch for the trade-in Mediterranean regions, which was the crossroad between the East and West.

At first, Franks had no intentions of Conquering Antioch. Still, as their allies were sharing the ambitions for the city but later on when they realized the importance of Antioch, they started helped Greeks and Latins.

The city wall of Antioch was heavily fortified and almost impregnable because of its incredible strength. This reference we get from the Frankish letters in the years of 1100.

Ambitions of Greeks

Alexios, The Byzantine Emperor, wanted to get back his forgotten dominant glory of Asia Minor back in his hands. Once, this city was part of the Byzantine empire. Still, this city was captured by Muslims who were motivated for Islamic expansion. The Romans lost this City to Arabs and Turkish Muslims.

Recapturing this will open the Crossroads of East and west of Mediterranean regions. Greeks knew this, and they urged to attack Muslim garrison.

Ambitions of Latins

Latins were religiously very sensitive than Greeks, and they thought according to their faiths and beliefs. Still, from the beginning, the Byzantine King Alexios never had religious intentions with this Crusade.

Latins were very devoted Christians, and they wanted to capture Antioch because the First church of Christendom was settled by Saint Paul, the Apostles Chief.

This was the leading powerhouse of Christian people.
Latins started this campaign of Crusade for the sole motto of expanding the Christian empire. After getting motivated by Pope Urban II, they wanted to win this war of Jerusalem for the name of Jesus Christ.

Although Bohemond and Raymond were the secular kings, securing Antioch before entering Jerusalem was geopolitically necessary. That is why they also agreed to Antioch’s attack.

Gains of Antioch attacks

With the collaboration of Greek-Latin relations, they have settled up the Naval aid and Logistical supply at the Antioch. Although conquering Antioch was difficult, this encouraged and developed the good between all the allies who called themselves the crusaders.

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