Battle of the Dog River
1100 battle near the Nahr al-Kalb river
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Background
After the death of Godfrey of Bouillon, the barons of the Kingdom of Jerusalem invited his brother Baldwin, Count of Edessa, to assume the lordship of the Kingdom, Baldwin made preparations for the dangerous journey in order to assume the kingship. To finance his journey to Jerusalem, he seized gold and silver from his subjects. He appointed his relative, Baldwin of Le Bourcq, his successor in the county. About 200 knights and 500 foot-soldiers accompanied Baldwin when he left Edessa on 2 October 1100.
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Battle
The battle was fought between the forces of Baldwin and Turks sent by Duqaq of Damascus, who had planned to cut off Baldwin's forces and trap them in the narrow passage on the public road which was next to the sea. Baldwin had been warned beforehand by the qadi of Tripoli and was thus able to rout the Damascene force, successfully staging a heavy cavalry charge after a feigned retreat had lured the Turks off the high ground.
Aftermath
After the victory Baldwin was able to travel safely towards Jerusalem, as the Turks who had blockaded the road had been either scattered or were killed or captured during the battle. Once Baldwin had arrived he was ceremoniously accompanied by the people of the city to the Holy Sepulchre. Baldwin was then crowned King of Jerusalem. The ceremony took place in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on Christmas Day.