Siege of Nicaea

The siege of Nicaea was the first major battle of the First Crusade, taking place from 14 May to 19 June 1097. The city was under the control of the Seljuk Turks who opted to surrender to the Byzantines in fear of the crusaders breaking into the city. The siege was followed by the Battle of Dorylaeum and the Siege of Antioch, all taking place in modern Turkey.

Siege of Nicaea
Part of the First Crusade and Byzantine-Seljuk wars

13th-century miniature (BNF Fr. 779)
Date14 May – 19 June 1097
Location
Nicaea (present-day İznik, Turkey)
Result Christian victory
Territorial
changes
Nicaea restored to the Byzantine Empire
Belligerents
Crusaders
Byzantine
Sultanate of Rûm
Commanders and leaders
Bohemond of Taranto
Raymond IV of Toulouse
Adhemar of Le Puy
Godfrey of Bouillon
Robert II of Normandy
Robert II of Flanders
Stephen of Blois
Tancred of Hauteville
Hugh of Vermandois
Eustace III of Boulogne
Baldwin of Boulogne
Manuel Boutoumites
Tatikios
Kilij Arslan
Strength

Crusaders:
~30,000 infantry
~4,200–4,500 cavalry

Byzantines:
2,000 light infantry and naval support

Nicaean garrison:
Unknown, but sizeable

Kilij Arslan's relief force:
~10,000, mostly mounted archers
Casualties and losses
Unknown ~4,000
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