may 14, 1097 - Siege of Nicaea

Description:

Recapture of the vital Byzantine city of Nicaea from the Seljuk Turks, who had made the city their capital. Alexios Komnenos was the preeminent leader of the Crusader forces, sending two of his generals to assist with the siege.

Kilij Arslan, who had underestimated the Crusaders and had been away from Nicaea, eventually returned with an army but was defeated by the numerically-superior besieging Franks.

The Crusaders would be assisted by Alexios by his sending of Byzantine warships overland to blockade the Iznik Lake, leading the Seljuk garrison to surrender the city.

Nicaea was thus brought back into the Byzantine fold, and the Crusaders were rewarded by Alexios financially. This event is marked as an example of healthy and positive cooperation between the Byzantines and Crusaders.

Added to timeline:

Date:

Images: