24: SIEGE OF JERUSALEM
“I have become so great as I am because I have won men's hearts by
gentleness and kindliness.” – Saladin
24: SIEGE OF
JERUSALEM
FLCS V
Greetings Delegates,
Letter
from
the
Director
24: Siege of Jerusalem
I could not be more excited to welcome you to FLCS V.
My name is Matt Smith and I will be your director for 24: Siege
of Jerusalem. This will be a continuation of FLCS’s unique 24
committee, yet will depart from the secrecy and deception
which was prominent in the first two committees. Instead this
will be a historical 24 taking place during the Siege of
Jerusalem in 1187. I am currently in my fourth year here at the
University of Florida and am working on both my bachelors and
master’s degrees in history. While my thesis and focus is on
the Vikings, I also study medieval history in general including
the numerous crusades for the holy land as well as other
locations. I have worked with previous 24 committees so I am
no stranger to this fun and interesting committee style that we
do here at FLCS. As a lover of history I hope I can spark your
interest in this time period as well as medieval warfare.
The inspiration for this committee came out of my long
time appreciation and love of all things medieval from knights
and castles to complex religious intrigue. Medieval warfare has
had my attention since I was a young child, especially siege
warfare. Sieges could last as little as one day or as long as a
decade. This time difference came out of usually one aspect;
preparation. Preparation and action will be the main issues to
tackle in this committee as the Muslim army approaches and
eventually attacks the city of Jerusalem. War is coming to the
city and it is up to this committee to stop the invaders and save
the people within the walls. Therefore, I urge you all to research
not just your position for this conflict, but also the art of siege
warfare in general. This knowledge may be the saving grace of
the city, while its absence might signal Jerusalem’s doom.
While this is a historical committee I do urge you to not
be restricted to the actual history of the empire. What happens
in committee is entirely based on the actions of the committee
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and its reactions to crisis events. Delegates should be well integrated into their
positions and should try to act as close as they can to what they think their position
would do. Delegates should also act in a professional manner as the subjects will be
very serious and oftentimes life or death. Most importantly delegates should know and
try to emulate their particular culture and religious ideals depending on their position.
I look forward to seeing what will happen during the Siege of Jerusalem and to
working with each of you. If you have any questions regarding the committee or the
conference as a whole contact our secretariat at [email protected]. Best of
luck and Go Gators!
Sincerely,
24: Siege of Jerusalem
Matt Smith
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Parliamentary Procedure
Committee will operate in a perpetually moderated caucus. All delegates must vote
during a procedural matter and procedural motions will require a simple majority to
pass.
Point of Order
A point of order may interrupt a speech and may be used when a delegate feels the
chair or another delegate is incorrectly following parliamentary procedure.
Point of Inquiry
A point of inquiry may not interrupt a speech and may be used to direct a question to
the chair, but speeches will not be entertained using points of inquiry.
Point of Parliamentary Inquiry
A point of parliamentary inquiry may be used to ask a question to clarify a
parliamentary procedure and cannot interrupt a speech.
A point of information may not interrupt a speech and can be used to clarify a point
or motion, or to bring substantive information to the attention of the chair. Speeches
will not be entertained using this point.
Point of Personal Privilege
A Point of Personal Privilege can be used when a delegate’s ability to debate is
harmed for any reason. This can be used to address temperature of the room or a
delegate’s inability to hear the speaker. This point can interrupt the speaker.
24: Siege of Jerusalem
Point of Information
Right of Reply
Right of Reply can be used when a delegate feels that their dignity or integrity has
been deliberately offended. Right of replies is to be written and sent to the chair. The
chair will use chairs digression as to when to invoke it.
Motion for a Moderated Caucus
A motion to enter a moderated caucus must specify the topic, length, and speaking
time. Much of the committee will be spent in a moderated caucus.
Motion for an Unmoderated Caucus
A motion for an unmoderated caucus must only specify the length of time.
Unmoderated caucuses should be used to work on notes and directives.
Motion to Introduce Documents
A motion to introduce documents must be made in order for them to be discussed in
debate.
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Motion to Split Directive Clauses
A motion may be made to vote on directive clauses separately; requires a second
and a majority to pass.
Special Procedures for 24
24 is a unique concept created two years ago by UF Model United
Nations. The idea stemmed from the concept that when a crisis actually occurs,
there is no stopping until it is resolved. The clearest example of this would be the
Cuban Missile Crisis. Therefore, this committee will run for a continuous 24 hour
period with only minor breaks for trivial things such as food and rest. Being that 24 is
a real-time crisis committee there will be lots of direct contact and hands on
activities. Come prepared to do anything and everything to defend the walls of
Jerusalem.
24: Siege of Jerusalem
History of Jerusalem
Pre-Roman Times
The history of Jerusalem is as long as it is bloody. Founded over
5,000 years ago the city changed many times before coming into its own as the
center of Israel. According to Jewish tradition the city was taken by King David in
1000 BCE and forthwith was known as the city of David. David built a shrine to the
Jewish god within the city and his successor Solomon built the first temple over it.
This Temple of Solomon became the main point of interest for Jewish pilgrimage and
reverence. Over the next few centuries the city witnessed massive turmoil. Israel was
first invaded by the Egyptians, then by the Arabs and Ethiopians. With these conflicts
coming through Israel, only the Temple of Solomon was left as the primary holy
place of Jewish faith1.
In 597 BCE the city fell to the Babylonian Empire. The lords of the city
were brutally crushed by the Babylonians and many had to flee. In the chaos of the
attack the Babylonian army burned down the original Temple of Solomon. As the
Babylonian Empire began to fracture under external and internal pressure a new
power overtook them. That power was the mighty Persian Empire. The Persian King
Cyrus II allowed the Jews to rebuild their temple. This temple was known simply as
the Second Temple and once again represented a powerful religious center for the
Jewish faith2.
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Under the leadership of the genius Alexander the Great, the Greeks
conquered the Persian Empire and took Jerusalem. Alexander was considered a god
and even named dozens of cities after himself. This caused tension with the Jewish
1
2
http://www.biu.ac.il/JS/rennert/history_2.html
http://www.biu.ac.il/JS/rennert/history_2.html
leadership in Jerusalem who refused to accept his godhood. Eventually Alexander
moved on with his conquests and left the city intact. After the death of Alexander his
successor kingdoms fought each other for decades with Jerusalem passing from
Ptolemaic Egypt to the Seleucid Empire. During Jerusalem’s tenure under the
successor kingdoms, there were many attempts to Hellenize the Jews. Despite many
of these attempts being successful, a significant number of Jews rebelled against
their Hellenic lords and claimed independence. This new independent kingdom
lasted for a 100 years until the conquest of Herod the Great.
In order to keep peace and to ensure his reign, Herod made the land a de
jure part of the Roman Empire with him as a client king to Rome. Rome ruled in all
but name as the area was renamed the Provence of Judea. The decedents of Herod
retained their client state status with Rome even though Rome took more and more
direct control. In 66 CE the Jews of Jerusalem rose up against their Roman rulers
starting the First Roman-Jewish War. The Jews were initially successful in taking
Jerusalem and barring it from Roman intervention. After four years of war the
emperor Vespasian sent his son and future emperor Titus to retake the city. The
Jewish populace was no match against the might of the Roman legions as Titus
destroyed most of the city including the Second Temple3.
Sixty years after Titus destroyed the city, Emperor Hadrian sought to rebuild
it. The foundation was set in Roman fashion and there were many shrines and
temples to the Roman pantheon. Once again the Jews revolted and Hadrian crushed
their rebellion. Even more extreme measures were taken as Jews were not allowed
to enter the city, but for one day. Jerusalem returned to its former glory when
Emperor Constantine rebuilt the city as a Christian center. He remade the temple of
Jupiter into the famous Church of the Holy Sepulchre and proclaimed it to be a holy
place for pilgrimage.
24: Siege of Jerusalem
Roman Times
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3
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/jewishtemple.htm
Muslim Rule
24: Siege of Jerusalem
Muslim tradition asserts that Jerusalem was the place where Muhammad
ascended to heaven. It was because of this that the Arab Caliphate conquered
Jerusalem in the greater Arab conquests in 638 CE. By this time the city was part of
the greatly weakened Easter Roman Empire or Byzantine Empire which was unable
to mount a response to the invasions. For centuries Jerusalem was a place of
supreme importance once again. The Arabs allowed Jews back into the city once
more only after centuries of Roman exclusion. Jerusalem became a larger place of
pilgrimage throughout the world for Jews, Christians and Muslims alike4.
During
the period of
Muslim rule a
great mosque
was built in the
city. Named the
Dome of the
Rock, the
famous mosque
is said to hold
the stone from
which
Muhammad
stood to ascend
to heaven. The
Caliphate
preached
religious tolerance and had no issues with allowing Jews and Christians into their
lands as long as they paid the religious tax for not being a Muslim. Religious
tolerance for Jews and Christians was known throughout Europe despite many
countries ideological and religious differences. This practice continued throughout
the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties until Jerusalem came under the direct control of
the Fatimid Caliphate. During the reign of the Fatimid Caliphate many of the cities
structures were destroyed or damaged by either political intervention or
earthquakes5.
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4
5
http://www.biu.ac.il/js/rennert/history_8.html
http://www.bu.edu/mzank/Jerusalem/p/period4-3.htm
The Crusades
Pope Urban II preached the horrors of the Muslims and the atrocities they
have committed against Christians, of which most were false. Fighting had disrupted
the peace around Jerusalem which made it difficult for Christians to practice
pilgrimage. As pilgrimage was an important tenant of Christianity, Urban II preached
that all of Christendom should fight to protect the pilgrims and reopen the routes to
the Holy Land by force. It was for this reason that these men, who would later be
called by others Crusaders, referred to themselves as pilgrims for that was what they
believed they were doing.
24: Siege of Jerusalem
In 1096 CE Pope Urban II changed relations between Europe and the Middle
East drastically by calling for the First Crusade. The reasoning behind the First
Crusade was far from simple. Primarily, Pope Urban II was answering a call for aid
from the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos who needed help in fighting the
Seljuq Turks. The Byzantine Empire was unable to defend its boarders from the
Muslim attackers and was desperate for any help. As pope, Urban II was the most
influential and powerful man in all of Western Europe, therefore Alexios sent word to
him hoping to gain western armies for his wars. At this time the Carolingian Empire
had fractured into France and the Holy Roman Empire with many free knights
wreaking havoc across the land. As there were no large scale wars within France in
particular, these knights took what they could from whoever they met. With
Christians killing Christians the pope tried many times to limit wars to certain times of
the year. With this call from Alexios he had an excuse to rally the forces of Christ for
one purpose6.
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6
http://www.umich.edu/~eng415/timeline/summaries/First_Crusade.htm
24: Siege of Jerusalem
The First Crusade was a mix of horrors and miracles for the crusaders. The
first group of Crusaders were mostly peasants, untrained in the art of war. Therefore
when these pilgrims entered Muslim lands they were brutally massacred. Later that
year the main armies from France and England arrived in Constantinople and
marched toward the Holy Land. After many fierce battles and sieges, the cities of
Nicaea and Antioch fell to the Crusader army. While Nicaea was returned to the
Byzantines, Antioch was set up as the center for the newly created Kingdom of
Antioch. With their numbers greatly depleted and their supplies low the Crusaders
finally arrived at Jerusalem in 1099 CE. Initially the army was repelled by the Muslim
defenders, but after rallying behind their charismatic preachers the Crusaders rallied.
In a two-prong attack from the south and the north, the Christian army was able to
scatter the defenders and take the city. With the defense overrun the city’s
inhabitants were slaughtered by the Crusader forces. Muslims were killed with
extreme prejudice along with many Jews to the point where some sources
exaggerated that there was blood in the streets up to the knee7.
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Following the fall of the city the Crusaders declared a new Kingdom of
Jerusalem for Christianity. Frankish leaders of the army, Raymond IV of Toulouse
and Godfrey of Bouillon were both considered to be the first king with Godfrey
eventually being chosen. Godfrey was never crowned as he died shortly after and in
1100 his brother Baldwin was crowned king. For 187 years the Kingdom of
Jerusalem has ruled as a Christian state in the Levant.
For the past decade there has been great turmoil for the Kingdom of
Jerusalem. Political alliances and marriages come and go so quickly that many do
not know who they support anymore. From 1174 to 1185 CE the Leper King Baldwin
IV ruled Jerusalem. Being a leper meant that once he died there would be a
succession crisis, but that was a task for a later date. In the past few decades a
military genius by the name of Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb or Saladin had arisen
in Egypt as Sultan. Saladin was unprecedented in the Muslim world as a general and
fought many battles against the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Baldwin IV was able to
defeat him on many occasions and eventually create a truce between the two
nations. With the death of King Baldwin IV
in 1185 CE the crown passed to his young
nephew Baldwin V. Unfortunately Baldwin
died of illness after a few months and once
again there was a succession crisis.
Eventually it was decided that Sibylla, the
sister of Baldwin IV and mother of Baldwin
V, would rule as queen with her husband
Guy as king. Sensing the crisis within the
kingdom, Saladin renewed his war with the
Crusaders. After many small battles and
raids, Saladin was able to coax the entire
Crusader army into battle. This cumulated
in the Battle of Hattin on July 3rd, 1187. At
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http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/crusades/first-crusade.htm
Hattin the entire Crusader army was destroyed by Saladin whose own force took
very few casualties. Guy was captured by Saladin to hold for ransom, but many other
lords such as Balian of Ibelin escaped the battle. With the Crusader army destroyed,
Saladin has since been marching throughout the kingdom taking every city he
encounters8.
Siege Warfare
The main way to take a city during medieval warfare was the siege. This tactic
goes back thousands of years to the construction of the first walls around cities. Sieges
are very simple at the ground level. An army approaches the walls of the city and
demands its surrender to them. If the city refuses, the attacking army will surround the
city. Encircling the city cuts off supplies to and from the city. With the lines around the
city prepared there are primary ways of winning the siege. The first tactic is to surround
the city and simply do nothing. Eventually the city will run out of food and they will be
forced to surrender. Even when people know they will be killed by the attacking force,
the power of hunger usually leads some to open the gates. The second tactic is the
use of biological warfare against the city. This can be achieved if the city sits upon a
lake by the attackers poisoning the water. The Mongols were once cited to have thrown
the corpses of plague infested men over the walls to spread the pestilence. Primarily
the goal in this tactic is to kill everyone inside the city and then take it for yourself. The
third way to win a siege is by storming the walls. Storming the walls means an all-out
attack on the city, often with the use of siege weapons.
Each of these strategies has their own advantages and disadvantages.
Starving out a city takes it without having to risk the life of one attacker, however it is
a long process as cities might have enough resources to last months if not years. The
use of biological warfare allows the attacker to take the city faster than starvation and
with no native inhabitants to worry about, yet this leaves the city infested with disease
that could very well infect the new owners of the city. Storming the walls can be very
affective if time is not on your side and rids you of most of the defending soldiers that
might die in the fighting. Despite this, storming the walls is very risky as the attacker
could lose a large portion of their army and may not take the city after all.
24: Siege of Jerusalem
Tactics
Siege Weapons
Siege weapons are large contraptions created for aiding a storming army in
taking a city. There have been many different weapons of war over the centuries, but
we will focus on contemporary weapons. The first is the trebuchet which uses a sling
motion to hurl large stones at walls. Secondly there is the ballista which is a very large
crossbow that shoots large stones or javelins. Trebuchets and ballistae are very
versatile as they can be used by the attacker and the defender. Another weapon is the
siege tower which in tandem with ladders, helps the attacking forces get onto the walls
8
http://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Hattin
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of the city. A weapon worth mentioning is the battering ram. Battering rams are large
logs, often reinforced with metal that are used to knockdown the gates of the city.
Finally, it is noteworthy to mention a weapon/tactic that is often used when taking cities;
tunneling. Tunneling involves the use of men with picks and shovels making tunnels
under city walls. Once under the wall they destroy their support beams and bring down
the wall where the tunnel was. This tactic was highly dangerous and not always
successful9.
24: Siege of Jerusalem
Current Situation
September 20th, 1187, most of the Kingdom of Jerusalem has fallen to
Saladin with only Jerusalem still unconquered. The Eastern Orthodox Christians
along with the Muslims of the city are calling for the return of the city to Muslim
hands. Tensions are high as some think only the purging of other religions beside
their own can keep away death from the invading army. Fearing for his family who
are inside the city, Balian of Ibelin has asked Saladin to let him enter Jerusalem to
retrieve his wife and children. A mere hour ago Balian announced to the city that he
will be staying within the city’s walls to help defend it as requested by Patriarch
Heraclius. He has called together this counsel to discuss how to make the city
defensible before the imminent arrival of Saladin and his army. In a few hours the
Muslim army will arrive to take the city, but they will not have it without a fight.
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9
http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-weapons/siege-warfare.htm
Positions
The positions of the committee will not be actual people as the sources of the siege
only mention a few important people and the rest are not mentioned at all. For the
most part only two people are important to the sources: Balian of Ibelin and Sibila of
Jerusalem.
Philip, Master Stonemason
Living most of his life within the wall of Jerusalem the Master Stonemason
knows every nook and cranny of the city’s defenses. This knowledge will be vital in
determining which parts of the city will be the weakest and strongest. Along with this
knowledge, the Master Stonemason has the knowledge and skills to bolster the
defenses of walls and towers with the members of the stone mason’s guild.
It has been many years since Herman has seen his home in the Rhineland,
yet his heart could not be gladder. Many of his family members were killed for their
Jewish faith and he might have been one too if it was not for a kind monk who took
him in. To repay him Herman has made the trip to Jerusalem to pray for both of their
souls. Since coming to Jerusalem Herman has become the most skilled blacksmith
in the city. He knows how to make anything out of iron from nails to swords. His skill
is paramount to the defense of the city as he commands many other blacksmiths in
the preparation of iron into whatever is necessary.
24: Siege of Jerusalem
Herman, Master Blacksmith
Otto, Squire of Guy
Somehow surviving the devastating loss at Hattin, Otto has arrived to warn
the city that his master, and king of Jerusalem, has been captured. Otto is from a
noble Saxon house in the Kingdom of Germany, but has yet to really test himself in
battle. Instead his way of dealing with conflict is one with ink and quill. Well versed in
German, French, English, Arabic, and Hebrew, Otto believes he has the wit and
tongue to end this conflict.
Rynold, Master Carpenter
A Frankish man who only recently came to the holy land, the Master
Carpenter has a great wealth of knowledge on siege weapons, both offensive and
defensive. With this knowledge and the carpenters of the city he can make offensive
weapons on and behind the walls to fight any invader.
Sir Alfred, Knight of the Knights Templar
A former noble from England, the Knights Templar warrior is a battle
hardened commander and fighter. He knows the way of war with horse, lance and
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sword. As brother of the Knights Templar he will be able to communicate with his
brothers and masters.
Sir Roul, Knight of the Knights Hospitaller
A Frankish man who gave up a life spent in a monastery to travel to the holy
land, the Knights Hospitaller is both a skilled combatant and a capable surgeon. He
will be highly prized during and after the fighting, being able to heal those wounded
in combat. He will not be alone as he will have contact with the other knights of the
order.
Godfrey, Squire of Balian of Ibelin
A squire of Frankish origin as his master, the squire of Balian of Ibelin will
have direct contact to Balian. As Balian is the leader of the city after the disastrous
defeat at Hattin, his squire will act as diplomat sent out to talk in the name of Balian.
24: Siege of Jerusalem
Francis, Assistant of the Patriarch
The Patriarch of Jerusalem is the most holy man not only within the walls of
Jerusalem, but all of the Holy Land. The assistant to the Patriarch speaks with his
voice in the committee. The assistant will be the voice of Christendom within the
committee and will often be sent to deal with matters of faith.
Al-Kamil, Pitch Maker
The most important thing in life is pitch. That is the sales ‘pitch’ of Al-Kamil,
the master pitch maker in Jerusalem. Pitch is a substance made from oil which is
used for many different things. Primarily it is used to glue things together, however it
becomes much more malleable when heated up. At the right heat, pitch can be
poured on an attacker and set on fire. Al-Kamil has made his business the best in the
city despite the fact that he is a devout Muslim.
Sahjar, Leader of the Muslim Forces
Despite Jerusalem being a Christian city, there are a few Muslims that have
been allowed within the city walls. Sahjar was once a mighty cavalier in Saladin’s
army, but defected to Jerusalem after a battle scared him so badly that he vowed
never to take up the sword again. The fear of his family’s death has led him to once
again take up the sword and unite the few Muslims within the walls to defeat Saladin.
Mehmet, Muslim Merchant
The Muslim Merchant hails from the sands of Egypt, the vary sands which
Saladin comes from. However this man cares not for politics, but money. Due to this
he has control of funds that could be used for any purpose he or the committee
deems important.
Robin, Master of the Crossbowmen
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The Master of the Crossbowmen is Frankish like many of his soldiers. It is his
duty to drill and prepare those within the walls to attack from a distance with deadly
bolts. Once the battle starts he will be in charge of small squads of crossbowmen to
defend the walls.
Bernard, Master of the Men at Arms
This Englishman has fought the Saracen armies for years atop his trusted
horse. As a battle tested warrior he will be in charge of leading sorties out from the
gates of the city. When not in combat he is a zealous Christian, seeking only one
thing in life; a world with only Christianity.
Jocelyn, Handmaiden to the Queen
Although King Guy has been captured, Queen Sibylla is safe behind the walls
of Jerusalem. Her Frankish Handmaiden is the conduit of her will and therefore will
be used to spread goodwill and order within the city.
Things to remember
2. Keep in mind that this is a medieval committee, therefore there will be no
electronic devices allowed during committee. You will be allowed to use them only
during breaks.
IMPORTANT
This committee is by nature a religious conflict. Therefore there will be some harsh
language used in regards to Islam as to keep in the spirit and character of the time. If
at any point this gets out of hand, feel free to let someone on staff know. We will then
either tone it down or get rid of it from committee as a whole.
24: Siege of Jerusalem
1. Try to stay in character as much as possible. This will get progressively more
difficult as the night wears on, but it will allow for a more enjoyable experience.
Position Papers
No Position Papers are required.
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