Editing 1148 (section)

=== By place === 

==== Second Crusade ====
* [[January 1]] &ndash; The French crusaders under King [[Louis VII of France|Louis VII]] defeat a Turkish ambush next to the [[Büyük Menderes River|Meander River]]. Three days later they arrive at [[Laodicea on the Lycus|Laodicea]] – passing the spot where the German contingent led by [[Otto of Freising]] has been so disastrously ambushed (see [[1147]]). The Crusaders are badly mauled as they cross [[Mount Honaz|Mount Cadmus]] (around [[January 8]]) before reaching [[Antalya|Adalia]] on [[January 20]].<ref>[[David Nicolle]] (2009). ''The Second Crusade 1148: Disaster outside Damascus'', pp. 50–51. {{ISBN|978-1-84603-354-4}}.</ref> 
* [[January 8]] &ndash; [[Battle of Mount Cadmus]]: The French crusaders under Louis VII are defeated by the [[Seljuk Empire|Seljuk Turks]]. The vanguard led by [[Geoffrey de Rancon]] ignores orders to pause and moves too far ahead, losing touch with the main army. The French are attacked by the Turks with the [[Wagon train|baggage train]] (almost 10 km long) unprotected. Louis is able to escape the fray under cover of the darkness.<ref>David Nicolle (2009). ''The Second Crusade 1148: Disaster outside Damascus'', p. 51. {{ISBN|978-1-84603-354-4}}.</ref> 
* [[March]] &ndash; The French crusaders are left in Adalia; lack of available shipping obliges Louis VII to divide his forces – the knights and best troops accompany him to [[Port Saint Symeon|St. Symeon]]. Large numbers of pilgrims and non-combatants try to continue along the coastal road. Continually harassed by the Turks many French and Germans are killed. Less than half of them arrive in the late spring at [[Principality of Antioch|Antioch]].<ref>David Nicolle (2009). ''The Second Crusade 1148: Disaster outside Damascus'', p. 37. {{ISBN|978-1-84603-354-4}}.</ref> 
* [[March 7]] &ndash; King [[Conrad III of Germany|Conrad III]] recovers from his wounds and leaves [[Constantinople]] with his household. He is well supplied with money by Emperor [[Manuel I Komnenos]] and uses these funds to recruit pilgrims to augment the forces that remain to him. Conrad and his re-equipped Crusaders sail with a Byzantine fleet to [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]]. The fleet is scattered by storms and lands in different ports.<ref>David Nicolle (2009). ''The Second Crusade 1148: Disaster outside Damascus'', pp. 53–54. {{ISBN|978-1-84603-354-4}}.</ref>
* [[March 19]] &ndash; Louis VII and his wife, Queen [[Eleanor of Aquitaine]], are welcomed at St. Symeon by Eleanor's uncle [[Raymond of Poitiers]] and all his household. Raymond escorts the French crusaders to Antioch, where for the next days festivities are held. He urges Louis to accompany him on an expedition against [[Aleppo]] but Louis refuses and prefers instead to finish his [[pilgrimage]] to [[Kingdom of Jerusalem|Jerusalem]].<ref>[[Steven Runciman]] (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem'', p. 226. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29876-3}}.</ref>
* April &ndash; Southern French crusaders under [[Alfonso Jordan]] of Toulouse arrive by sea at [[Acre, Israel|Acre]]. Alfonso dies suddenly at [[Caesarea Maritima|Caesarea]], resulting in the accusation that he has been poisoned by [[Raymond II, Count of Tripoli]]. Most of the Provençal forces turn back and return home. Meanwhile, an unknown proportion of northern European naval crusaders (from [[Kingdom of England|England]] and [[King of Germany|Germany]]) arrive at Acre.<ref>David Nicolle (2009). ''The Second Crusade 1148: Disaster outside Damascus'', p. 54. {{ISBN|978-1-84603-354-4}}.</ref>
* April&ndash;May &ndash; Louis VII and the French crusaders remain in Antioch, but there are rumours of an incestuous affair between Eleanor of Aquitaine and Raymond of Poitiers. Louis, alarmed for his honour, departs with his army to Jerusalem in late May. Meanwhile, Conrad III with his chief nobleman are welcomed by Queen [[Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem|Melisende]] and her 18-year-old son, co-ruler [[Baldwin III of Jerusalem|Baldwin III]] at Jerusalem.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem'', p. 227. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29876-3}}.</ref>
* June &ndash; [[Mu'in ad-Din Unur]], Seljuk ruler (''[[atabeg]]'') of [[Damascus]], prepares for war and strengthens the fortifications of the city. He sends an urgent request for military assistance to the Zangid ruler [[Sayf al-Din Ghazi I|Sayf al-Din]]. Unur orders his troops to destroy the water sources in areas that the Crusaders must cross. Seljuk governors of frontier provinces station scouting parties along the road to Damascus.<ref>David Nicolle (2009). ''The Second Crusade 1148: Disaster outside Damascus'', p. 55. {{ISBN|978-1-84603-354-4}}.</ref>
* [[June 24]] &ndash; [[Council of Acre]]: Conrad III, Louis VII, Melisende and many other nobles join in a war council near Acre. They decide that Damascus rather than [[County of Edessa|Edessa]] will be the primary target of the [[Second Crusade]].<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem'', p. 228. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29876-3}}.</ref> 
* July &ndash; The Crusaders under Baldwin III join forces with the Crusader armies of Louis VII and Conrad III (all together some 50,000 men) at [[Tiberias]]. They march up the [[Jordan Valley]] and cross into Zangid territory.<ref>David Nicolle (2009). ''The Second Crusade 1148: Disaster outside Damascus'', p. 56. {{ISBN|978-1-84603-354-4}}.</ref>
* [[July 24]] &ndash; Zangid forces under Sayf al-Din arrive at [[Homs]]. Mu'in al-Din Unur sends a letter of ultimatum to the Crusader leaders to lift the siege of Damascus. Meanwhile, [[Guerrilla warfare|guerrilla]] attacks demoralise the Crusaders.<ref>David Nicolle (2009). ''The Second Crusade 1148: Disaster outside Damascus'', p. 71. {{ISBN|978-1-84603-354-4}}.</ref>
* [[July 28]] &ndash; [[Siege of Damascus (1148)|Siege of Damascus]]: The Crusaders are forced to withdraw from their siege of Damascus after only four days. First Conrad III, then the rest of the Crusader army, decides to retreat to Jerusalem.<ref>Baldwin, M. W. (1969). ''The First Hundred Years'', p. 510. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press.</ref>
* September &ndash; The French crusaders raid the province of Damascus, in reprisal for the failure of their siege. Mu'in al-Din Unur takes his forces to the [[Hauran|Hawran]] to protect the harvest and its transport to Damascus.<ref>David Nicolle (2009). ''The Second Crusade 1148: Disaster outside Damascus'', p. 83. {{ISBN|978-1-84603-354-4}}.</ref>
* [[September 8]] &ndash; Conrad III sails from Acre to [[Thessaloniki]] and forms an alliance with Manuel I against King [[Roger II of Sicily]]. During his visit [[Henry II, Duke of Austria]] ('Jasomirgott') marries Manuel's niece, [[Theodora Komnene, Duchess of Austria|Theodora Komnene]].<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem'', pp. 231–232. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29876-3}}.</ref>

==== Europe ====
* [[February 1]] &ndash; A small Crusader fleet of Genoese and English ships sets sail from [[Lisbon]] for the [[Holy Land]].<ref name="auto">David Nicolle (2009). ''The Second Crusade 1148: Disaster outside Damascus'', p. 16. {{ISBN|978-1-84603-354-4}}.</ref> The Anglo-Flemish Crusader fleet takes [[Oran]].<ref>Picard C. (1997). ''La mer et les musulmans d'Occident au Moyen Age''. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, p. 73.</ref>
* [[Siege of Tortosa (1148)|Siege of Tortosa]]: A multinational force under  [[Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona|Ramon Berenguer IV]] besieges the Almoravid city of [[Tortosa]]. After a 7-month siege the garrison surrenders.<ref>{{cite journal|last=McGrank|first=Lawrence|title=Norman crusaders and the Catalan reconquest: Robert Burdet and the Principality of Tarragona 1129–55|journal=Journal of Medieval History|year=1981|volume=7|issue=1|pages=67–82|doi=10.1016/0304-4181(81)90036-1}}</ref>
* King [[Afonso I of Portugal|Afonso I]] ("the Great") of [[Kingdom of Portugal|Portugal]] takes [[Abrantes]] from the [[Almoravid dynasty|Almoravids]]. Ramon Berenguer IV conquers the lower [[Ebro]] plain (between 1148–1149).<ref name="auto"/>

==== England ====
* October &ndash; Queen [[Empress Matilda|Matilda]] returns to [[Duchy of Normandy|Normandy]], partially due to her difficulties with the [[Catholic Church in England and Wales|Catholic Church]]. Without the support of [[Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester|Robert of Gloucester]] her personal fight for the English throne is over.<ref>Chibnall, Marjorie (1991). ''The Empress Matilda: Queen Consort, Queen Mother and Lady of the English'', p. 148. London, UK: Basil Blackwell. {{ISBN|978-0-631-15737-3}}.</ref>

==== Seljuk Empire ====
* [[Battle of Ghazni (1148)|Battle of Ghazni]]: Ghurid forces under [[Sayf al-Din Suri]] defeat the [[Ghaznavids|Ghaznavid]] sultan [[Bahram-Shah of Ghazna|Bahram-Shah]] and capture the capital [[Ghazni]]. Bahram-Shah is forced to flee to [[India]].<ref>Jaques, Tony (2007). ''Dictionary of Battles and Sieges'', p. 391. Greenwood Publishing Group. {{ISBN|978-0313-33538-9}}.</ref>

==== Africa ====
* Taking advantage of internal strife and a famine episode, [[George of Antioch]] takes [[Mahdia]] ([[June 22]]), [[Sousse|Susa]] ([[July 1]]) and [[Sfax]] ([[July 12]]) in [[Tunisia]], in the name of Roger II.<ref>{{cite book|last=Abulafia|first=David|title=The Norman kingdom of Africa and the Norman expeditions to Majorca and the Muslim Mediterranean|year=1985|publisher=Boydell Press|location=Woodbridge|isbn=0-85115-416-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4DZf-RBtZ7IC&pg=PA32 }}</ref>
* Following the uprising of other cities in the region of [[Meknes]] (modern [[Morocco]]) under al-Massati, the population of [[Ceuta]] rebels against the [[Almohad Caliphate|Almohads]].<ref name="lameretlesmusulmans2">Picard C. (1997). ''La mer et les musulmans d'Occident au Moyen Age''. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, p. 77.</ref>