Editing First Crusade (section)

==From Antioch to Jerusalem==
Proceeding down the Mediterranean coast, the crusaders encountered little resistance, as local rulers preferred to make peace with them and furnish them with supplies rather than fight. Their forces were evolving, with Robert Curthose and Tancred agreeing to become vassals of Raymond IV of Toulouse, who was wealthy enough to compensate them for their service. Godfrey of Bouillon, now supported by his brother's territories in Edessa, refused to do the same. In January, Raymond dismantled the walls of [[Siege of Ma'arrat al-Numan|Ma'arrat al-Numan]], and he began the march south to Jerusalem, barefoot and dressed as a pilgrim, followed by Robert and Tancred and their respective armies.<ref name=":1">Runciman, Steven (1969). "[http://images.library.wisc.edu/History/EFacs/HistCrus/0001/0001/reference/history.crusone.i0025.pdf Chapter X. The First Crusade: Antioch to Ascalon.]" In Setton, Kenneth M.; Baldwin, Marshall W. (eds.). ''A History of the Crusades: I. The First Hundred Years''. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 328–333.</ref>

Raymond planned to take [[Tripoli, Lebanon|Tripoli]] to set up a state equivalent to Antioch, but first initiated a [[siege of Arqa]], a city in northern Lebanon, on 14 February 1099. Meanwhile, Godfrey, along with Robert II of Flanders, who had also refused vassalage to Raymond, joined with the remaining Crusaders at [[Latakia]] and marched south in February. Bohemond had originally marched out with them but quickly returned to Antioch in order to consolidate his rule against the advancing Byzantines. Tancred left Raymond's service and joined with Godfrey. A separate force linked to Godfrey's was led by [[Gaston IV of Béarn]].<ref name=":1" />

Godfrey, Robert, Tancred, and Gaston arrived at Arqa in March, but the siege continued. [[Pons of Balazun]] died, struck by a stone missile. The situation was tense not only among the military leaders, but also among the clergy. Since Adhemar's death there had been no real leader of the crusade, and ever since the discovery of the [[Holy Lance]], there had been accusations of fraud among the clerical factions. On 8 April, [[Arnulf of Chocques]] challenged [[Peter Bartholomew]] to an ordeal by fire. Peter underwent the ordeal and died after days of agony from his wounds, which discredited the Holy Lance as a fake. This also undermined Raymond's authority over the Crusade, as he was the main proponent of its authenticity.<ref>Whalen, Brett Edward (2006). "Holy Lance". In ''The Crusades – An Encyclopedia''. pp. 588–589.</ref>

The siege of Arqa lasted until 13 May, when the Crusaders left having captured nothing. The Fatimids had recaptured Jerusalem from the Seljuks the year before and attempted to make a deal with the Crusaders, promising freedom of passage to any pilgrims to the Holy Land on the condition that the Crusaders not advance into their domains, but this was rejected. The Fatimid [[Iftikhar al-Dawla]] was governor of Jerusalem and well aware of the Crusaders' intentions. Therefore, he expelled all of Jerusalem's Christian inhabitants. He also poisoned most of the wells in the area. On 13 May, the Crusaders came to Tripoli, where the emir [[Jalal al-Mulk Abu'l Hasan]] provided the Crusader army with horses and vowed to convert to Christianity if the Crusaders defeated the Fatimids. Continuing south along the coast, the Crusaders passed [[Beirut]] on 19 May and [[Tyre (Lebanon)|Tyre]] on 23 May. Turning inland at [[Jaffa, Israel|Jaffa]], on 3 June they reached [[Ramlah|Ramla]], which had been abandoned by its inhabitants. The [[Diocese of Lydda#Latin Crusader bishopric|bishopric of Ramla-Lydda]] was established there at the [[Church of Saint George and Mosque of Al-Khadr|Church of St. George]] before they continued to Jerusalem. On 6 June, Godfrey sent Tancred and Gaston to capture [[Bethlehem]], where Tancred flew his banner over the [[Church of the Nativity]]. On 7 June, the Crusaders reached Jerusalem. Many Crusaders wept upon seeing the city they had journeyed so long to reach.<ref name="Tyerman153">{{harvnb|Tyerman|2006|pp=153–157}}.</ref>