Caesarea was taken by Baldwin I in the wake of the First Crusade, in 1101. Baldwin sent a message to emir of Caesarea, demanding him to surrender the city or face a siege, but the Muslims refused. On May 2, 1101, Baldwin began sieging the city with trebuchets. After 15 days of resistance, the Crusader army broke through the defenses. Like in Jerusalem in 1099, the Crusaders proceeded to slaughter a portion of the male populace, enslave the women and children, and loot the city. William of Tyre describes the use of catapults and siege towers, and states that the city was taken in an assault after 15 days of siege and given over to looting and pillaging. Syriac Orthodox patriarch Michael the Syrian (born ca. 1126) records that the city was "devastated upon its capture".Meyers (1999:381).
Caesarea was taken by Baldwin I in the wake of the First Crusade in 1101 Baldwin sent a message to emir of Caesarea demanding him to surrender the city or face a siege but the Muslims refused On May 2 1101 Baldwin began sieging the city with trebuchets After 15 days of resistance the Crusader army broke through the defenses Like in Jerusalem in 1099 the Crusaders proceeded to slaughter a portion of the male populace enslave the women and children and loot the city William of Tyre describes the use of catapults and siege towers and states that the city was taken in an assault after 15 days of siege and given over to looting and pillaging Syriac Orthodox patriarch Michael the Syrian (born ca 1126) records that the city was "devastated upon its capture"Meyers (1999381)