The besiegers, in camping so close to…
November 1097 CE
The besiegers, in camping so close to the city, is that it leaves it vulnerable to sorties from the garrison and even missiles.
For the first fortnight of the siege, the crusaders had been able to forage in the surrounding area as the defenders chose not to leave the safety of the city walls.
However, in November, Yaghi-Siyan learns that the crusaders feel the city will not fall to an assault so is able to turn his attentions from the defensive to harrying the besiegers.
He mobilizes his cavalry and begins harassing the besiegers.
With the immediate area stripped clean, the crusaders' foraging parties have to search further afield for supplies leaving them more vulnerable and on several occasions are attacked by the garrisons of nearby fortifications.
Yaghi-Siyan's men also use the Dog Bridge, outside the Dog Gate, to harass the crusaders.
Adhemar of Le Puy and Raymond IV's men, who are camped closest to the bridge, attempt to destroy it using picks and hammers but make little impact on the strong structure while under missile fire from Antioch's defenders.
Another attempt is made to render the bridge unusable, this time with a mobile shelter to protect the crusaders, but the garrison sorties and successfully drives them away.
Soon after, three siege engines are built opposite the Dog Gate.
In the end, the crusaders erect a blockade on the bridge to obstruct potential sorties.