Battle of the Meander facts for kids

The Battle of the Meander happened in December 1147. It was part of the Second Crusade. During this battle, the French crusader army, led by Louis VII of France, successfully fought off an attack. They were ambushed by the Seljuks from the Sultanate of Rum near the Meander River.

Why the Battle Happened

King Louis VII was leading the French army on a long journey. They were marching across Europe and Asia Minor to reach Jerusalem. The army chose to travel along the coast of Asia Minor. This was because another army, led by Emperor Conrad of Germany, had been badly defeated. That defeat happened inland at Dorylaeum. It showed that marching inland was too risky.

In December 1147, the French army was moving through the valley of the Meander River. Their goal was to reach the important port city of Adalia. A person who was there, Odo of Deuil, wrote that the Meander Valley was very dangerous. The mountains and slopes allowed the Turks to constantly attack the Crusaders. They would strike quickly and then disappear.

The Battle Itself

The Turks launched a very strong ambush as the Crusaders tried to cross the river. They used their usual plan: attack quickly, then retreat before the enemy could fight back. But this time, King Louis had prepared. He placed his strongest knights at the front, sides, and back of his army.

This allowed these tough soldiers to fight the Turks before they could cause much harm. The Turks suffered many losses. However, many of them managed to escape back into the mountains. They rode their fast horses to get away. According to William of Tyre, a writer from that time, the Crusaders also captured many of the attackers.

Neither William nor Odo wrote about how many Crusaders were hurt. But it seems their losses were small. Only one important nobleman, Milo of Nogent, was killed. After the battle, a story became popular among the Crusaders. It said that an unknown knight, dressed in white, had helped lead the defense.

What Happened Next

Even though the Crusaders won this battle, the Turkish attacks did not stop. Just a few days after the Battle of the Meander, the French army faced a terrible defeat. This happened at Mount Cadmus.

Still, historian Jonathon Phillips says the Battle of the Meander is important. It helps us understand why the Second Crusade failed. He explains that this battle shows the Crusaders were not bad fighters. Their failure was not because they lacked fighting skills.