Edessa
Capture of Baldwin and Joscelin
In May of 1104, Jekermish the atabeg of Mosul, and Prince Soqman of Mardin combined to attack Edessa. The Muslim princes of north Syria had so far been too busy maneuvering among themselves to threaten the County, but now at least two were willing to unite to drive out the infidel.
Baldwin immediately appealed for help and both Bohemond and Tancred responded. Between Antioch and Edessa, they were able to field perhaps three thousand soldiers. Not waiting to be attacked, Baldwin decided to attack the city Harran. The garrison was actually negotiating surrender terms when the Muslim army showed up, its leaders having decided to rescue Harran before assaulting Edessa. The battle took place at the Balikh River, at Harran, near the ancient site of Carrhae where two Roman legions had been annihilated by the Persians centuries earlier.
The Latins were beaten soundly. The Antiochenes managed to escape, but the Edessan forces were nearly wiped out. Both Baldwin and Joscelin were captured. Tancred took command of the defense of Edessa while Bohemond returned to defend Antioch, for throughout northern Syria Muslim princes were trying to take advantage of the Latin defeat at Harran. But dissent among the Muslim leaders broke out immediately and Edessa was able to survive. Even so, Ridwan of Aleppo raided all the way to the Iron Bridge of Antioch and broke off only because the death of the emir of Damascus opened up jucier possibilities. Edessa continued to survive thanks to rivalries over Mosul.
Baldwin and Joscelin were finally ransomed in 1107. The Count found that Tancred was now the most powerful ruler in the north. Bohemond was still the official Prince of Antioch, but he had gone back to Europe in 1104, leaving Tancred as regent. In the chaos after the Battle of Harran, he in turn had turned the city itself over to one Richard of the Principate so he could engage in military expeditions in Syria. Tancred was very successful in this, and had by the way made no attempt to ransom Baldwin or Joscelin. Understandably, they weren't too keen on Tancred.
Jekermish of Mosul had died in 1107 (his death was one factor in Baldwin and Joscelin's freedom). The new ruler was Jawali and his rival was Ridwan of Aleppo. Part of the ransom terms was that Baldwin had to become Jawali's ally. On the other side, Ridwan had formed an alliance with Tancred. So, in October 1107, we see two armies assemble at Menbij, between Aleppo and the Euphrates. On the one side was Ridwan and Tancred, on the other was Jawali and Baldwin.
It was not a major battle, but the spectacle of Christians fighting Christians, both as allies of Muslims, caused much scandal. But it was also a sign of new times. Christian princes would ally with Islamic princes if needed, and the need arose more than once. Conversely, Muslim lords did not hesitate to ally with Christians, for the same reasons. This would change later, under the influence of a series of charismatic leaders culminating with Saladin. During these years, though, Muslims and Christians cheerfully allied and betrayed one another as necessary. Or convenient.