Siege of Antioch

- First siege: October 21, 1097 - June 4, 1098 MSN Encarta: Siege of Antioch
- Second siege: June 5 - 28, 1098 Boise State University: The First Crusade: The Holy Lance
- Crusaders successful in both sieges
- Leaders: Bohemund of Taranto, Godfrey of Bouillon, Raymond IV of ToulouseFordham University: The Siege and Capture of Antioch: Collected Accounts
- Bohemund named first Prince of AntiochMSN Encarta: Bohemond I

The city of Antioch was taken from the Byzantines by the Muslims in 1085.History of War: Crusader Siege of Antioch In 1095, Pope Urban II delivered a speech at the Council of Clermont that called for Christians to wage war against the Seljuk Turks in order to reclaim Jerusalem.Fordham University: Urban II (1088-1099): Speech at the Council of Clermont, 1095 In order to take Jerusalem, the crusaders first needed to take Antioch.History of War: Crusader Siege of Antioch
Backstory

There were actually two sieges at Antioch. The first lasted seven months, while the crusaders surrounded the Seljuk Turks. After they had successfully taken over the city, they themselves were besieged by a Muslim army headed by Kerbogha. This lasted less than a month, with the crusaders fending off Kerbogha and maintaining control of Antioch.Boise State University: The First Crusade: The Siege of Antioch
Visions or Hallucinations?

While the crusaders were besieged in Antioch by Kerbogha's army, they suffered great famine, which may possibly have induced visions or hallucinations in some of the crusaders. Peter Bartholomew, a priest, claimed he had a vision in which God told him where to find the Holy Lance (which had been used to pierce Jesus Christ). Peter subsequently dug up what he maintained was the Holy Lance in a church in Antioch. This caused a great morale boost among the crusaders, who then rallied and successfully fought off Kerbogha's army.Fordham University: The Siege and Capture of Antioch: Collected Accounts