The Crusader princes are suspicious of each…
May 1138 CE
The Crusader princes are suspicious of each other and of John, and neither wants the other to gain from participating in the campaign.
Raymond also wants to hold on to Antioch, which is a Christian city; the attraction of lordship over a city like Shaizar or Aleppo, with a largely Muslim population and more exposed situation to Zengid attack, must have been slight.
With the lukewarm interest his allies have in the prosecution of the siege, the emperor is soon thrown entirely on his own resources.
Following some initial skirmishes, John II organizes his army into divisions based on the nationalities of his soldiery, each with its characteristic arms and equipment, and paraded them before the city in order to overawe the defenders.
Although John fights hard for the Christian cause in the campaign in Syria, his allies Raymond of Antioch and Joscelin of Edessa sit around playing dice and feasting instead of helping to press the siege.
The emperor's reproaches can only goad the two princes into perfunctory and fitful action.
Latin and Muslim sources describe John's energy and personal courage in prosecuting the siege.
Conspicuous in his golden helmet, John is active in encouraging his troops, supervising the siege engines and consoling the wounded.
The walls of Shaizar are battered by the trebuchets of the impressive imperial siege train.
The emir's nephew, the poet, writer and diplomat Usama ibn Munqidh, records the devastation wreaked by the imperial artillery, which can smash a whole house with a single missile.
The city is taken, but the citadel, protected by its cliffs and the courage of its defenders, defies assault.
Tardily, Zengi has assembled a relief army and it moves towards Shaizar.
The relief army is smaller than the Christian army but John is reluctant to leave his siege engines in order to march out to meet it, and he does not trust his allies.
At this point, Sultan ibn Munqidh, the Emir of Shaizar, offers to pay a large indemnity, surrender a table studded with jewels and a ruby encrusted cross, become John's vassal and pay yearly tribute.
John, disgusted by the behavior of his allies, reluctantly accepts the offer.
On May 21, the siege is raised.
Zengi's troops skirmish with the retreating Christians, but do not dare actively to impede the army's march.
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