Outremer
Ascalon, 1099
No sooner had the Crusaders captured Jerusalem than they found themselves faced with an invasion from Egypt. All the Crusaders knew that an attack was inevitable, for they had heard of an army assembling in Egypt even before they had conquered Jerusalem. They barely had time to arrange matters within the city, and no time at all to deal with the surrounding countryside, before that Egyptian army was reported at Ascalon.
Early in August, Godfrey assembled those Crusaders who were still nearby: Raymond of Toulouse, Robert of Normandy, and some other princes including Bohemond's nephew, Tancred. They were outnumbered, but they had been outnumbered at every battle.
They rode down toward Ascalon and found the Egyptians camped near the city (August 13, 1099). Godfrey did not hesitate, but attacked immediately, charging headlong while the Egyptians were still in their camp. Godfrey later recounted in a letter to the pope that the Egyptians began fleeing even before a blow had been struck, and that camels and other livestock captured the day previously now formed up squadrons and attacked along with the Crusaders. The Egyptian army was completely routed and the Crusaders looted the camp. They returned to Jerusalem enriched and triumphant.
Ascalon was as important a victory as Dorylaeum had been. The Crusaders had defeated Turkish armies twice (Dorylaeum and Antioch), and now had defeated the Egyptians as well. The Syrians were too busy fighting one another to field an effective army yet. Ascalon meant that Jerusalem was secure from immediate threat, that the nascent kingdom had a little time, at least, to grow.