Battle of Jaffa (1102)

Prelude

After the defeat at the battle of Ramla on May 17, 1102, the Crusader king, Baldwin I of Jerusalem, escaped to the coast. Baldwin attempted to reach Jaffa; however, the Fatimid troops were already roaming in the countryside searching for any Crusader survivor from the battle. For two days and nights, Baldwin wandered on foot through hills north of Ramla, avoiding Fatimid patrols. Baldwin successfully reached Arsuf on the 19th. Its governor, Roger of Haifa, was surprised to see Baldwin alive. In the same evening, Crusader reinforcements of 80 knights under Hugh of Saint-Omer arrived at Arsuf.

Hugh began trying his way out to Jaffa while Baldwin rode on a ship belonging to an Englishman. The Fatimids noticed this and dispatched one of their ships to chase it, but the winds from the north saved Baldwin. He managed to reach Jaffa. There he organized his troops and even rode out to bring Hugh's troops safely to Jaffa, which was done successfully before the Fatimids had entirely begun blockading. Baldwin dispatched messages to Jerusalem for help. A force of 90 knights arrived in Jaffa carrying the relic of the True Cross, forcing their way to Jaffa. Baldwin also dispatched messages to the Northern Crusader states.

Before they could respond, 200 English ships carrying English, French, and German soldiers and pilgrims arrived in Jaffa, passing the Fatimid blockade. Now Jaffa was reinforced with enough men.