Rum Seljuks and the Second Crusade
Seljuk EmpireThe Sultanate of Rum Emerges
Following the Great Seljuk Empire's victory at Manzikert in 1071, Turkish settlement transformed Anatolia forever. Süleyman ibn Qutalmish, a kinsman of the Great Seljuk Sultan, established the Sultanate of Rum around 1077, claiming authority over much of western and central Anatolia. The name 'Rum' meant 'Rome' in Turkish and Arabic, reflecting their rule over former Byzantine territories. By 1095, when the First Crusade began, the Rum Seljuks controlled key routes through Anatolia and had established their capital at Nicaea. However, the crusaders' unexpected success forced them to relocate eastward to Konya (ancient Iconium) around 1097. Under Sultan Kilij Arslan I, they rebuilt their strength while the Crusader States consolidated their hold on Syria and Palestine.
Rising Tensions and the Call for a Second Crusade
December 24, 1144 marked a turning point when the Muslim general Zengi captured Edessa, the first Crusader State to fall back into Muslim hands. This shocking loss sent tremors throughout Christian Europe and prompted Pope Eugene III to call for a new crusade in 1145. The Rum Seljuks, now under Sultan Masud I, watched these developments with keen interest. While not directly involved in Zengi's campaign, they controlled the crucial overland route that any new crusading army would need to traverse. The sultan understood that thousands of Western warriors would soon march through his territory, presenting both opportunity and danger. European chroniclers report that Masud began fortifying key positions and stockpiling supplies, while also opening diplomatic channels with other Muslim rulers.
The German Army's Catastrophic March
Conrad III of Germany led the first major contingent of the Second Crusade, departing in May 1147 with a massive force of German nobles and their retinues. The German army entered Seljuk territory near Nicaea in October 1147, expecting to follow the route of the successful First Crusade. However, Sultan Masud had learned from his predecessor's mistakes. Rather than risk major pitched battles, he employed a strategy of harassment, cutting supply lines, and attacking stragglers. Near Dorylaeum on October 25, 1147, Seljuk forces launched a devastating assault on the German army. The attack scattered Conrad's forces, and according to later chroniclers, thousands of crusaders perished or were captured. Conrad himself was wounded and forced to retreat to Nicaea with only a fraction of his original army.
The French Face Similar Trials
Louis VII of France, traveling with his queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, entered Anatolia in late 1147 with hopes of avoiding the Germans' fate. The French had learned of Conrad's disaster and attempted a more cautious approach, but winter conditions and continued Seljuk pressure made their passage equally treacherous. Near the Cadmus Mountains, Seljuk forces launched coordinated attacks that separated the French vanguard from the main army. Historical sources suggest that many French nobles and common soldiers alike fell victim to Turkish arrows and winter exposure. Louis barely escaped with his life and, like Conrad before him, was forced to continue his journey to the Holy Land by sea from Mediterranean ports, abandoning the overland route entirely.
Strategic Victory for the Rum Seljuks
The Second Crusade's passage through Anatolia represented a strategic triumph for the Sultanate of Rum, even without a single decisive battle. Sultan Masud had effectively neutralized two major European armies without risking his core territories or depleting his own forces significantly. This success demonstrated the evolution of Seljuk military thinking from the direct confrontations of the late 11th century to more sophisticated defensive strategies. The weakened crusading forces that eventually reached Syria proved unable to achieve their primary objective of recapturing Edessa or making significant gains against Muslim forces. For the Rum Seljuks, the successful defense of Anatolia strengthened their position as the dominant Muslim power in the region and provided valuable experience in dealing with large-scale Western military expeditions.
Key Dates to Remember
- 1144 — Fall of Edessa to Zengi sparks calls for Second Crusade
- 1145 — Pope Eugene III officially proclaims the Second Crusade
- October 25, 1147 — Battle of Dorylaeum - Sultan Masud defeats Conrad III's German army
- January 1148 — French crusaders under Louis VII suffer heavy losses in Cadmus Mountains
- 1148 — Both crusading armies abandon overland route through Anatolia