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{{Short description|12th-century conflict}}
{{Infobox military conflict|
conflict=Battle of Hab|
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commander2=[[Ilghazi]] of Mardin|
strength1=700 cavalry with "several thousand" infantry<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Mirror of Language: A Study in the Medieval Theory of Knowledge |first=Marcia L. |last=Colish |author-link=Marcia Colish |pages=409 }}</ref>|
strength2=Unknown|
casualties1=Unknown|
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{{Campaignbox Crusades Battles}}
{{Campaignbox Seljuk–Crusader War}}
The '''Battle of Hab''' ({{
==Background==
On June 28, 1119, Ilghazi's Turco-Syrian army destroyed the Antiochene army at the [[Battle of Ager Sanguinis]]. After his great victory, the Muslim leader's army captured a number of strongholds in the Latin principality, but more might have been achieved. "The failure of Il Ghazi to profit from his major victory ... was due not only to his own subsequent and prolonged drunkenness, but to the scattering of his forces in search of plunder."<ref>Smail, p 74</ref>
As soon as he heard the news, King Baldwin brought a force north from his [[Kingdom of Jerusalem]] to rescue Antioch. On the way, he picked up a contingent from the [[County of Tripoli]] under [[Pons of Tripoli|Count Pons]]. Baldwin assembled the remnants of Antioch's army and added them to his own soldiers. Then he moved toward [[Zardana|Zerdana]], 65 kilometers east-southeast of Antioch, which was besieged by Ilghazi. While camped at the [[Tell Danith]] watering point, Baldwin found out that Zerdana had fallen. Accordingly, the Crusaders prepared to retreat to the stronghold of [[Berjhab|Hab]], c. 25 kilometers southwest of
==Battle==
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As anticipated, the Artuqid horse archers began harassing the column at dawn. Ilghazi's attacks soon increased in intensity and the Crusader army was probably brought to a halt fairly early in the day. The three vanguard squadrons were dispersed and the main body of Latin infantry came under serious attack. The infantry sturdily defended itself, but, without its normal cavalry support, suffered heavy losses.
On the left flank, Robert Fulcoy overcame the force opposed to him. But, after pursuing the Artuqids, he rode off with his knights to look into the possibility of retaking his stronghold of
With adroit use of his reserve knights, Baldwin saved the day. By intervening at each threatened sector, he held his army together during the long and bitter fight. Eventually, the Artuqids admitted defeat and withdrew from the battlefield.<ref>Beeler, p 147</ref>
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