Crusader era Ashkelon

battle of ascalon, 1099

during crusades, ashkelon (known crusaders ascalon) important city due location near coast , between crusader states , egypt. in 1099, shortly after siege of jerusalem (1099), egyptian fatimid army had been sent relieve jerusalem defeated crusader force @ battle of ascalon. city not captured crusaders because of internal disputes among leaders. battle considered have signified end of first crusade. until 1153, fatimids able launch raids kingdom of jerusalem ashkelon, meant southern border of crusader states unstable. in response these incursions outremer, king fulk of jerusalem constructed number of christian settlements around city during 1130s, in order neutralise threat of muslim garrison. in 1148, during second crusade, city unsuccessfully besieged 8 days small crusader army not supported crusader states.

in 1150, fatimids fortified city 53 towers, important frontier fortress. 3 years later, after five-month siege, city captured crusader army led king baldwin iii of jerusalem. added county of jaffa form county of jaffa , ascalon, became 1 of 4 major seigneuries of kingdom of jerusalem.

after crusader conquest of jerusalem 6 elders of karaite jewish community in ashkelon contributed ransoming of captured jews , holy relics jerusalem s new rulers. letter of karaite elders of ascalon, sent jewish elders of alexandria, describes participation in ransom effort , ordeals suffered many of freed captives.

a few hundred jews, karaites , rabbanites, living in ashkelon in second half of 12th century, moved jerusalem when city destroyed in 1191.