Siege of Sidon

In August 1108, Baldwin marched out against Sidon, with the support of a squadron of sailor-adventurers from various Italian cities. However, the Egyptian fleet defeated the Italians in a sea-battle outside the harbour. Upon the arrival of additional Turkish horsemen from Damascus, Baldwin decided to lift the siege. In the summer of 1110, a Norwegian fleet of 60 ships arrived in the Levant under the command of King Sigurd. Arriving in Acre he was received by Baldwin. Together they made a journey to the Jordan River, after which Baldwin asked for help in capturing Muslim-held ports on the coast. Sigurd answered they "had come for the purpose of devoting themselves to the service of Christ", and accompanied him to take Sidon, which had been re-fortified by the Fatimids in 1098. == Siege==

Baldwin's army besieged the city by land, while the Norwegians came by sea. A naval force was needed to prevent assistance from the Fatimid fleet at Tyre. Repelling it was made possible with the arrival of a Venetian fleet. The city fell after 47 days. The Icelandic skald Einarr Skúlason gives the following account. == Aftermath ==

When the city surrendered, King Baldwin gave the same terms of surrender he had previously given to Arsuf and Acre. He allowed safe conduct of passage for those leaving and even allowed some members of the Muslim populace to remain in peace. By order of Baldwin and the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Ghibbelin of Arles, a splinter was taken off the True Cross and given to Sigurd. The Lordship of Sidon was created and given to Eustace Grenier, later a constable of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. ==Notes==