==Background==The crusaders had negotiated with the Fatimids of Egypt during their march to Jerusalem, but no satisfactory compromise could be reached — the Fatimids were willing to give up control of Syria but not Palestine, but this was unacceptable to the crusaders, whose goal was the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
Gerusalemme era stata catturata ai Fatimidi il 15 luglio 1099, dopo un lungo assedio, ed immediatamente i crociati avevano saputo che un esercito fatimide era in arrivo per assediarli.