Deeds of the Franks, Book 5, Chapter 13

All of our leaders had assembled together and arranged a plan, saying, "Let us build a fort on the heights of Mount Maregart (Al Marqab), where we will be able to be safe and secure from the threat of the Turks." Once the fort had been built and well fortified, all of the leaders would take turns guarding it. At last, grain and all food for the body began to be too dear before the birth of the Lord (Christmas). We inside the fort, did not dare to go outside, nor were we able to find anything in the land of the Christians for eating. No one dared to go into the land of the Saracens unless in a large group. Towards the end, our leaders set up a plan, where they would appoint people to bring back supplies. They formed this plan so that part of our men would go carefully to draw tariffs and others would guard the army, others would remain and faithfully guard our enemy. Then Bohemond said: "Gentlemen and most prudent knights, if you wish and it seems good to you, I will make this quest with the Count of Flanders." And after a most glorious and solemn Nativity had been celebrated, on Monday the second day of the week, they went out with others as well as 20,000 knights and footsoldiers, who were sound and unharmed and they went into the land of the Saracens. Of course there were gathering many Turks, Arabs and Saracens, who were from Jerusalem, Damascus, Aleppo and other regions, who were coming to give strength to Antioch. These, hearing that the people of the Christians would be lead through their land, prepared themselves to go to war against the Christians, and at the earliest daybreak they came to the place where our people were assembled. The barbarians divided themselves and formed two battle lines, one in front and the other in behind, desiring to encircle us on all sides. The distinguished Count of Flanders, who had all the way faithfully carried his arms daily bolstered by his faith and the sign of the cross, ran at them as one with Bohemond. Our men together made an attack on them. They immediately took flight, and quickly turned their backs to us. There were many dead from their numbers, and our men took their horses and others spoils. Others, who had remained alive, quickly fled and were lost to the wrath of perdition. We, returning with great leaps and bounds, praised and exalted the Trinity and the One God, who lives and reigns now and forever. Amen.

end of book 5, for anyone who is joining this account in the middle, Book 1, Chapter 1 is here.

Deeds of the Franks, Book 5, Chapter 12

When we had begun to approach the Iron Bridge, our scouts who always were accustomed to go before us, found uncountable groups of Turks assembled to meet us, who were hurrying to give aid to Antioch. Our men, rushing in with one heart and mind defeated the Turks. The barbarians were startled and gave flight and there were many dead from their group in that struggle. Our men having overcome those by the grace of God, received many spoils, horses, camels, mules, asses, laden with corn and wine. Then our men, returning, set up camp on the banks of the river. Farther on, that wise man Bohemond went with four thousand knights to the gate of the city, to watch if by chance anyone was entering or leaving the city in secret by night. The next day, they went all the way to Antioch at noon, on the fourth day of the week, which is 12 days before the kalends of November, and most wonderfully besieged three gates of the city, since the place for siege was lacking for us in other parts, due to a high and much too narrow mountain which would crowd us all together. However, our enemies the Turks, who were inside the city, were fearing us so much that not one of them would dare to strike at any of our men for nearly the space of fifteen days. After our camps encircled Antioch, we discovered much abundance, namely vineyards full of grapes everywhere and small pits full of grain, orchards crammed full of apples and other goods which are useful to the body.

The Armenians and Syrians who were inside the city, came out and paraded themselves as if to flee, they were with us every day but left their wives in the city. They were ingeniously seeking to find out our numbers and what sort of men we were, and carry back all this information to those who were shut up in the city. After the Turks had been educated about us, they began little by little to come out of the city, they hemmed our pilgrims in on all sides, not only from one part, but they came out from everywhere in secret to meet us from the sea and from the mountain.

However, there was not far away a fortified town called Aregh, where there was a very strong contingent of Turks, who were frequently attacking our men. Our leaders, upon hearing such a thing and grieving very much about this, sent some from their own knights to carefully scout out the area where the Turks were. Having discovered the place where they were lurking, our soldiers, who were seeking them, encountered them. But, when our men were returning to where they knew Bohemond to be with his army, they were set upon by the Turks and two of those men were killed. Hearing this, Bohemond arose with his men as the strongest champion of Christ and the barbarians rushed in to attack them, because our men were few, however united as one, they entered into battle. There were many dead among our enemies, and other having been captured were lead before the gate of the city and there they were beheaded so that those who remained in the city would be more dejected.

Certain others were coming out of the city and, climbing a certain gate, were firing arrows at us, in this way their arrows fell onto the path of Lord Bohemond and the arrows thrown killed one of the women.

Deeds of the Franks, Book 4, Chapter 11

The bigger army, namely Raymond the Count of St. Giles, and the most learned Bohemond, and Duke Godfrey and many others, came into the land of the Armenians (Cappadocia) thirsting and burning for the blood of the Turks. Then they came to a certain fort, which had been built so strongly that they could do nothing to it. There was however a man there by the name of Symeon, who had been born in these parts and who sought this land so that he could defend it from the hands of the Turkish enemy. They gave him this land on the spot and he remained there with his own people. And then we left there and happily came to Caesarea in Cappadocia. However we had left Cappadocia and came to a certain most beautiful city and beyond measure most fertile, which a little while before our coming there had been besieged by the Turks over three weeks but the Turks were unable to overcome. Soon after our arrival there, without more ado the city surrendered itself into our hands with great joy. A certain knight, named Peter of Alps, sought this from the nobles, seeing that he would defend the city with firm adherence to God and the Sacred Sepulcher, and the noblemen and the emperor. They gave this favor to him with much love. On the next night, Bohemond heard that the Turks, who had besieged the city, were moving ahead of us in large numbers. So he prepared himself alone with his knights, seeing that he would fight them from all sides, but he was not able to find them.

Then we came to a certain city called Coxon in which there was the greatest abundance of goods which were essential to us. Therefore the Christian foster sons of the city gave it back to us immediately and we remained there very well for three days. There our men were much recovered. Count Raymond, hearing therefore that the Turks who guarded Antioch had departed, formed his own plan where he would send some of his own knights there, who would take guardianship for him assiduously. Then he chose those who he was wanting to dispatch, namely Viscount Peter of Castellon, Wilhelm of Montpellier, Peter of Roasa, Peter Raymond of Haute Poul with five hundred knights. They came to the valley next to Antioch to a certain fortified town of the Publicani, and there they heard that the Turks were in the city and were preparing strong defenses for it. Peter of Roasa separated himself there from the others and that night he crossed near Antioch, came into the valley of Rugia and found Turks, Saracens and had fought with those, and killed many of them and had pursued the others vigorously. The inhabitants of these lands, the Armenians, seeing him so forcefully overcoming the pagans, placed themselves in his hands immediately. He himself suddenly captured the city of Rusa and many forts.

However, we who remained, leaving there, we came to a diabolical mountain which was so high and narrow that none of our men would dare to go before another along that path which was stretching out across the mountain. The horses were falling over the edge and one of the pack horses was pulling down another. Therefore the knights were sad standing on all sides and were striking themselves with their own hands with too much sadness and sorrow, doubting what they should do and selling their arms, their shields, their best breastplates, with helmets only for about three or five denaries, or for just anything they could get for them. However those who were unable to sell them, threw them down for free and left. Then, exiting the accursed mountain, we came to a city which was called Marash. The inhabitants of that city came out to meet us, bringing the greatest market, and there we had all abundance. While waiting, Lord Bohemond came. And thus our knights came into the valley, in which the royal city of Antioch had been placed, which was the capital of all Syria and which the Lord Jesus Christ handed over to the blessed Peter, the chief of his apostles, just as he had recalled him to the labor of the sacred faith, Jesus who lived and reigned with God the Father united with the Holy Spirit through all ages of ages. Amen.

Deeds of the Franks, Book 4, Chapter 10, cont.

Meanwhile, we began to enter a very good land, full of food for the body and all luxurious goods; and from then on, we approached Ycino. The inhabitants of those lands were urging and reminding us to carry water with us in full skins, since one day's journey out from there is the greatest lack of water. We did do this, then we came to a certain river, and there we camped for two days. However we began to send out scouts to go before us and then we came to Heraclea (Erachiam), in which was no small gathering of Turks, waiting and plotting in what way they could harm the soldiers of Christ. The soldiers of the all-powerful God, entering in, boldly attacked those Turks. And thus our enemies had been vanquished on that day, and were fleeing as quickly as the arrow flies, having been sent out with a strong pull from string and bow. Therefore, our men immediately entered into the city, and there we remained for four days.

There, Tancred, son of the Marquis, separated himself from the others, as well as Count Baldwin, brother of Duke Godfrey, and they entered the valley of Botenthrot at the same time. Tancred then went off on his own and came to Tharsus with his army. And then the Turks rushed out of the city and came forward to meet them, and they moved quickly in one formation to fight against the Christians. Thus, our men having approached and having fought, our enemies gave flight, turning around and returning to the city by a quick route. Tancred, a true soldier of Christ, loosened his leather straps and set up camp before the city gate. Then, that famous man, Count Baldwin came from other parts and seeing that he deemed the demanding Tancred worthy to resume a very great friendship with, he offered him a partnership in the city. Tancred said to him: "I refuse fellowship from you in all ways in this." With night thus coming on, all of the Turks, trembling, ran off as one. Then the inhabitants of the city came out under cover of the night, crying out with a high voice: "Run most invincible Franks, run! Since the Turks have been awakened to fear by you, all of them have withdrawn

the same."

However as day arose, the elders of the city came and gave us the city of their own accord, saying to those who were squabbling over this in turns: "Permit only the leaders. Permit. since we wish and we seek to be ruled and he to rule over us who yesterday had fought so bravely against the Turks." In this way, Baldwin, the famous count, was arguing and squabbling with Tancred, saying: "Let us go in together and plunder the city. and he who is more able to hold it, let him keep it, and he who is able to capture it, let him capture it." That strongest of men, Tancred answered him saying: "It is unfit to me to do this. For I am unwilling to loot Christians. The men of this city have chosen me to be lord over them and they desire to have me." However, that strong man, Tancred, had been unable to grapple with Count Baldwin, since he had such a large army, willing and unwilling, he withdrew, and as a man fell back with his own army; and two of the best surrendered cities were given to him immediately, namely Athena(Adana) and Manustra(Mamistra) and many fortified towns.

I have attached a link to a map called the Tabula Peutingeriana. It is not meant to be a scale representation but it is a road map for how to get from one place to another with distances in between. Section 9 shows many of the places that the Crusaders are at, at this point. Worth a look at.

tabula peutingeriana