Battle of Harran

In the spring of 1104, Baldwin II of Edessa and Bohemond of Antioch besieged Harran in order to control the trade route to Mosul. When Sökmen of Artuq and Jikirmish of Mosul arrive to rescue the city, the Franks abandon the siege and regroup on the plain of Balikh. The Turks simulate a retreat; the Antiochian wing which pursued them found itself isolated and the Turkish horsemen fell back on the army of Edessa, which was quickly crushed. Baudouin II and Joscelin de Courtenay are captured while the rest of the army disperses.

Since 1101, the Frankish princes have sought to lock the eastern marches of the kingdom of Jerusalem. The capture of Harran would provide a bridge across the Euphrates and control of caravan routes to Mosul. The Turkish coalition, alerted by the siege, brings together the Artuqid and Danishmendid forces and the contingents from Mosul. Confident after the conquest of Syrian territories, the Franks aligned two distinct corps: the troops of Edessa under Baldwin II and the army of Antioch led by Bohemond and Tancred.

Turkish commanders exploited mobility: feigned retreat towards the steppe, dispersion into small groups of mounted archers causing a disorderly pursuit. The Frankish army, divided and poorly coordinated, was caught in a pincer movement. The Turkish horsemen concentrate their charges on Baldwin's banner, break his bodyguard and capture the leaders; the Antiochian wing, cut off from the rest of the army, fled towards Edessa while suffering continuous harassment.

The defeat of Harran was the first major disaster of the Latin States. Edessa is left bloodless, Tancred assumes regency of the county and expansion towards Mesopotamia is interrupted. Bohemond returned to the West to seek reinforcements while Baldwin II remained captive until 1108. The failure encouraged neighboring emirates to increase raids against Antioch and Edessa, forcing the Franks to adopt a defensive posture.