"كتيّب سوريا (بما في ذلك فلسطين). لندن: إدارة استخبارات الأركان البحرية، يونيو ١٩١٩" [و‎‎٧‎٢] (٧٣٨/١٤٨)

THE PERIOD OF THE CRUSADES
137
a toAver on the wall was gained by the connivance of a traitor.
The Latins themselves suffered greatly from scarcity of food
and fodder, especially during three months in the winter. The
assistance of the Armenians and the arrival of ships from
Europe saved the situation. The only serious attack made on
the Crusaders was by an army which reached Antioch after
the capture of the city, but before the surrender of the citadel.
There was lack of unity in the Moslem command and therefore
in the plan of battle. The Latins seem to have been allowed
to attack and defeat the troops of Syria and Asia Minor while
the troops of Mesopotamia looked on. They gained a victory
in spite of a bad position in which they had to face the enemy
on two fronts.
The advance of the Crusaders from Antioch was postponed
until the beginning of the following year (1099). As they
marched south along the coast they passed some of the
strongest towns in Syria. It is significant of the impression
they had already made and of the Moslem failure in co-opera
tion that no attempt was made to stop their progress, and that
food and occasionally horses and money were freely given to
the Latins. Jerusalem was besieged for five weeks in the
summer (1099). It was not as well fortified as most of the
greater towns, and its garrison was probably not rtiore than
1,000 strong. Siege engines were constructed and the city
was stormed through the breaches they made (15th July 1099).
Next month an important victory was gained over an Egyptian
army in the neighbourhood of Ascalon. Godfrey of Bouillon
commanded the Latins and skilfully neutralized the superior
numbers of the enemy by posting his men so that his right
wing touched the sea and his left the hills. The weight and
numbers of the Latin knights made their charge against the
centre of the enemy decisive. The battle lasted only one
hour.
Limit of Latin conquests in Syria
The limits of the Latin conquest were quickly attained.
The close of the period of conquest must be set about the year