The 1153 capture of Ascalon was the Kingdom of Jerusalem's first major territorial gain since 1140 and opened the possibility of invading Egypt.
Key Facts
- Siege duration
- 25 January to 22 August 1153
- Templars killed in breach
- 40
- Templar grand master
- Bernard de Tremelay
- Previous territorial gain
- Banias, 1140
- Inhabitants' evacuation period
- 3 days
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Ascalon was the last coastal city in Palestine outside Crusader control and served as a Fatimid Egyptian stronghold used to launch raids into the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Its strategic value made it a persistent threat and a prime target for King Baldwin III.
The Crusader army besieged Ascalon from January to August 1153 using siege engines and catapults. On 16 August a fire set by the Fatimids was blown back by the wind, collapsing part of the castle wall. Forty Knights Templar led by Bernard de Tremelay entered the breach but were killed. A larger assault on 19 August forced the city's surrender on 22 August 1153.
The fall of Ascalon was a major victory for Baldwin III and completed Crusader control of the Palestinian coast. It was the Kingdom of Jerusalem's first significant territorial acquisition since 1140 and placed the Crusaders in a position to threaten Egypt directly.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Baldwin III of Jerusalem, Bernard de Tremelay.
Side B
1 belligerent