Siege of Baalbek

The siege of Baalbek in 1139 was undertaken by Imad al-Din Zengi who laid siege to the city in August and captured it in October.[1]

Siege of Baalbek
Date1139
Location
Baalbek
Result Zengid victory
Belligerents
Zengids Burids
Commanders and leaders
Imad al-Din Zengi Buri
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Heavy losses, garrison massacred

In 1139 Imad al-Din Zengi marched south of Aleppo to Baalbek which he laid siege to on 28 August with a large army and fourteen siege engines.[2][1] The town was captured on 9 or 10 October and the citadel surrendered on 12 or 21 October after Zengi swore to spare the lives of the garrison.[1][2] Zengi broke his oath and they were all brutally massacred, the governor was flayed and most of the others were hanged.[1][2] The massacre was intended to terrify the Damascenes.[2] Zengi named Nağm ad-Din Ayyub, the father of Saladin, as the governor of Baalbek.[3]

References
  1. Stevenson, W. B.. The Crusaders in the East: A Brief History of the Wars of Islam with the Latins in Syria During the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 2012.
  2. Runciman, Steven. A History of the Crusades. Vol. 3. CUP Archive, 1987.
  3. Müller-Wiener, Wolfgang. Castles of the Crusaders. London: Thames & Hudson, 1966.
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