| Siege of Sidon | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theNorwegian Crusade | |||||||||
 King Sigurd and King Baldwin ride from Jerusalem to the river Jordan byGerhard Munthe | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Fatimid Caliphate | |||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Governor of Sidon[a] | |||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
Franks
Venetians
| Fatimids
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown, but probably minor | Unknown, but probably large | ||||||||
Thesiege of Sidon occurred in 1110 in the aftermath of theFirst Crusade. The coastal city ofSidon was captured by the forces ofBaldwin I of Jerusalem andSigurd I of Norway, with assistance from theOrdelafo Faliero,Doge of Venice.
In August 1108, Baldwin marched out against Sidon, with the support of a squadron of sailor-adventurers from various Italian cities. However, theEgyptian fleet defeated the Italians in a sea-battle outside the harbour.[2] Upon the arrival of additional Turkish horsemen fromDamascus, Baldwin decided to lift the siege.
In the summer of 1110, a Norwegian fleet of 60 ships arrived in theLevant under the command of King Sigurd. Arriving inAcre he was received by Baldwin. Together they made a journey to theJordan River, after which Baldwin asked for help in capturing Muslim-held ports on the coast. Sigurd answered they "had come for the purpose of devoting themselves to the service of Christ", and accompanied him to take Sidon, which had been re-fortified by theFatimids in 1098.
Baldwin's army besieged the city by land, while the Norwegians came by sea. A naval force was needed to prevent assistance from theFatimid fleet atTyre. Repelling it was made possible with the arrival of a Venetian fleet. The city fell after 47 days.
The IcelandicskaldEinarr Skúlason gives the following account.
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When the city surrendered, King Baldwin gave the same terms of surrender he had previously given toArsuf andAcre. He allowed safe conduct of passage for those leaving and even allowed some members of the Muslim populace to remain in peace.[3] By order of Baldwin and thePatriarch of Jerusalem,Ghibbelin of Arles, a splinter was taken off theTrue Cross and given to Sigurd. TheLordship of Sidon was created and given toEustace Grenier, later aconstable of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
