It was October of 1097 when the Crusader army reached the massive walled city of Antioch. Word of the approaching Crusaders had reached the city well in advance of their arrival. Scouting parties reported that hoards of supplies were being brought into the city, and riders were seen heading south, which meant that the inhabitants were settling in for a long siege, or at least until a relief force could be gathered and come to their aid.
As the Crusaders approached the city from the north, they looked up in awe at the formidable defenses and the sheer size of the walls and the city itself. More than twice as large as Nicaea, Antioch stood like a stone sentinel, towering above the plain, dwarfing the Crusader army in its shadow. In addition to its intimidating size, natural defenses also ai
