Ascalon, Battle of

14 August 1099. Open field encounter between El-Afdal of Egypt and the crusaders of Duke Godfrey de Bouillon. Godfrey’s genius for maneuver rocked the Saracen army, forcing it back onto itself, into the sea, and up into sycamore trees where many of them were burned to death. A huge amount of booty was taken from the Saracen baggage train, including the vizier’s banner, sword and armour. Scabbling over the booty kept the crusaders from seizing the town of Ascalon, but it earned a poor renown for the Egyptians that was recovered only at the Battle of Ramelah a few years later.