One of the significant events in the period of
Sultan Berkyaruk is the outbreak of the Crusades beyond doubt. The first Crusade army that
set in motion from Europe in order to repulse the Turks and Muslims from Anatolia and to
capture Jerusalem defeated Kilic Arslan I who was the sultan of Turkey (Anatolian) Seljuk
State. Then, they advanced towards the Antioch and besieged this city. Yagi-basan, the
governor of the city asked help from the emirs around him and from Sultan Berkyaruk.
Berkyaruk assigned the Mosul emir, Kur-Boga with the task of a military expedition towards
the Crusades. Kur-Boga who united with the forces that were subject to the Seljuk State
besieged Urfa that was captured by the Crusades and lost time with this blockade. Meanwhile, as a result of the
treachery of Firuz who was an Armenian transsexual, the Crusades penetrated into the
Antioch (June 1098) and they put all the Turkish and Muslim people to the sword in the
city. The united Seljuk forces in the command of the Emir Kur-Boga was defeated by the
Crusades in front of the Antioch due to the discord of Syrian rulers and emirs and the
lack of confidence among them (28th June 1098). Kur-Boga whose army was dispersed
retreated to Mosul. Pursuant to his defeat, the Crusades advanced towards Jerusalem and
invaded this city that changed hands from Seljuk State to Fatimi State (1099). Therefore,
the Crusades got the benefit from the discord among Muslims and they succeeded in the
establishment of kingdoms and counties in Anatolia, Syria and Palestine.
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