The Road to Dorylaeum: Crusader Forces Divide

After marching 30 kilometers southeast from Nicaea, the crusading princes made camp and decided to split their forces before advancing deeper into Anatolia. This strategic division would set the stage for one of the most significant early battles of the First Crusade.

The first contingent set out under Bohemond of Taranto, the ambitious Norman leader from southern Italy. His forces included not only his own Norman troops but also soldiers from northern France under Count Stephen of Blois and Count Robert II of Flanders. Following shortly after, the second group departed under Raymond of Toulouse, who refused to serve under Bohemond’s command. This southern French contingent included the formidable Lorrainers led by Godfrey of Bouillon, known for their particularly strong anti-Muslim sentiment. Also among them was Hugh of Vermandois, brother to the French king.

A smaller third force, about one-tenth the size of the main groups, followed under Bishop Adhemar of Le Puy. Unlike the others, his guides were not provided by the Byzantine emperor but were Greek Catholics he had personally recruited. Adhemar’s smaller numbers allowed his troops to take mountain paths rather than the main Roman roads.

The Clash at Dorylaeum: Tactics and Turning Points

Bohemond’s vanguard reached Dorylaeum (modern Eskisehir, Turkey) on June 30, where they established camp in the broad valley between mountains – terrain perfectly suited for an ambush. Kilij Arslan, leader of the Seljuk Turks, launched his attack with the full might of Anatolia’s Seljuk forces, joined by Hasan of Cappadocia though Danishmend Turks abstained.

The crusaders quickly organized their defense, placing non-combatants within a protective circle of supply wagons. Bohemond divided his forces into three groups under Tancred, the Count of Flanders, and himself. The Seljuks employed traditional Eastern tactics – showering arrows before cavalry charges. The crusader infantry fell in droves while heavily armored knights found themselves immobilized under the hail of arrows.

As the battle turned desperate, Godfrey sent only fifty cavalry as reinforcements. The tide shifted dramatically when Raymond’s forces arrived unexpectedly. The crusaders reorganized their lines with Bohemond and Tancred on the left, Raymond and Flemish cavalry at center, and Godfrey’s Lorrainers on the right. Their heavy cavalry, protected by chainmail and wielding lances and swords, proved impervious to Seljuk arrows – a shocking revelation to the Turks.

Aftermath and Strategic Shifts

By sunset, the field held 3,000 dead Turkish cavalry and 20,000 infantry. The crusaders marveled at the luxury goods and fine Arabian horses captured from the Seljuk camp. This decisive victory effectively removed organized Seljuk resistance in Anatolia, though one French soldier notably remarked on the Turks’ bravery, wishing they could have been Christian allies.

The defeated Seljuks abandoned conventional warfare for guerrilla tactics, knowing their home terrain advantage. They burned crops, poisoned wells, and launched hit-and-run attacks that gradually wore down crusader forces. By mid-August, the exhausted crusaders reached Konya, finding respite in the Greek-populated city that had been Byzantine territory just thirteen years prior.

Leadership Crises and Mountain Passages

During their Konya rest, Raymond fell gravely ill while Godfrey suffered a bear attack during hunting. Despite these setbacks, the crusaders pressed eastward toward the Taurus Mountains. At Tiana, their Greek guide Tatíkios advised a northern detour through Caesarea to avoid expected Turkish ambushes in the mountains.

Younger leaders Baldwin and Tancred rejected this cautious approach, successfully crossing the Taurus separately while the main force took the longer route. Though initially safe, the main army later faced an ambush by Hasan of Cappadocia, reinforcing their distrust of Byzantine guidance.

The Armenian Interlude and Northern Campaigns

Entering Armenian Christian territories brought relief to the crusaders. Meanwhile, Baldwin and Tancred’s separate forces reached Cilician Armenia. Tancred captured Tarsus with minimal resistance, raising his family banner until Baldwin arrived with superior numbers to claim the city. Their rivalry took an unexpected turn when a pirate ship of Christian mercenaries arrived, whom Baldwin incorporated into his forces – demonstrating the crusaders’ growing willingness to use unconventional allies.

The Road to Antioch and Growing Tensions

As the crusaders regrouped toward Antioch, tensions with Byzantium grew apparent. Younger leaders like Baldwin and Tancred disregarded earlier agreements to return captured cities to Byzantine control. The incident at Tarsus and subsequent movements through Cilicia highlighted the emerging divide between crusader ambitions and Byzantine imperial interests.

The crusaders’ adaptation to Anatolian warfare – from the shock victory at Dorylaeum to the painful lessons of guerrilla resistance – marked a crucial evolution in their campaign. Their experiences would shape not only the remainder of the First Crusade but also the complex relationship between Western crusaders and Eastern Christians that would characterize the next two centuries of Crusader history.