Battle of Philomelion (1190) facts for kids

The Battle of Philomelion was a big win for the forces of the Holy Roman Empire. They defeated the Turkish army from the Sultanate of Rûm on May 7, 1190. This battle was an important part of the Third Crusade.

In May 1189, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa started his journey to the Holy Land. He was part of the Third Crusade. Their goal was to take back the city of Jerusalem from Saladin. After staying in Europe for a while, the Crusader army crossed into Asia. This happened between March 22 and 28, 1190.

The Crusaders faced some challenges from local people and Turkish fighters. On the evening of May 7, a large Turkish force of 10,000 soldiers surprised the Crusader camp. This happened near a place called Philomelion (today known as Akşehir). The Crusader army quickly fought back. About 2,000 foot soldiers and horsemen attacked. They were led by Frederick VI, Duke of Swabia and Berthold, Duke of Merania. The Crusaders made the Turks run away. They killed between 4,174 and 5,000 Turkish soldiers.

Why the Battle Happened

The Call for a Crusade

In 1187, the city of Jerusalem was lost to Saladin. Pope Gregory VIII then called for a new crusade. The goal was to get Jerusalem back for Christians. It also aimed to help the remaining Crusader strongholds in the Holy Land.

Frederick Barbarossa Joins

Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa decided to join. He had already fought in the Second Crusade. He took a special vow in a church in Mainz on March 27, 1188. He was the first leader to set out for the Holy Land. He left in May 1189 with a large army. It had between 12,000 and 15,000 men. This included about 4,000 knights.

The Journey to Anatolia

The Crusader army marched through several countries. They went through Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, and the Byzantine Empire. By March 28, 1190, they had crossed into Anatolia. This area was controlled by the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm.

Turkish Attacks Begin

The Crusaders had been promised safe travel by the Turks. They were also told that markets would be set up for them. But when they entered Turkish lands, they were surprised by sudden attacks. These were "hit-and-run" attacks.

On April 30, a Turkish attack on the Crusader camp was stopped. About 500 Turks were killed. On May 2, the Crusaders defeated another Turkish attack. This time, 300 Turks died. The next day, Turkish soldiers ambushed the Crusaders. They shot arrows and threw rocks. A knight named Werner was killed. Frederick VI, Duke of Swabia and nine other knights were hurt. The Crusaders climbed a mountain to reach the attackers. They killed sixty of them. Later, they attacked Turkish women and children in a valley. A famous poet, Friedrich von Hausen, died on May 6. He fell from his horse while chasing Turkish soldiers.

The Battle of Philomelion

The Surprise Attack

On May 7, the Crusaders set up camp near the city of Philomelion. The Turks thought the Crusaders were tired and hungry. So, in the evening, 10,000 Turkish horsemen and foot soldiers attacked the camp. They also fired arrows and threw stones.

The Crusader Counterattack

The Crusader army quickly left their camp to fight. About 2,000 men charged out. The foot soldiers went first, followed by the horsemen. Frederick VI, Duke of Swabia and Berthold, Duke of Merania led the charge. The Turks were completely defeated. The darkness and the mountains saved the few who managed to escape.

What Happened Next

Continuing the March

On May 8, the Crusaders continued their journey past Philomelion. Many of their soldiers were very hungry. Turkish attacks did not stop. On May 9 and 10, the Crusaders killed 64 Turkish soldiers. On May 11, they killed about 250 more Turks, mostly horse archers.

On May 12, the Crusaders crossed a narrow bridge. This made them very easy targets. But the Turks did not attack much, and only 20 Turks were killed that day. The Crusaders kept marching. They reached the Seljuk capital city of Iconium on May 13. A much bigger battle was fought there on May 18.

Who Was Lost

The Turks counted their own dead soldiers. They found 4,174 killed. They could not find another 600 bodies. The Crusaders estimated that about 5,000 Turkish soldiers died in the battle.