Battle of Civetot

The unusual army of the People's Crusade was ferried by the Byzantines across the Bosporus in August 1096 and camped at Helenopolis (Civetot) to the west of Nicaea. The young Sultan Kilij Arslan I was absent, campaigning in the east against the Danishmends. 
While waiting for the main crusader force, the disorganized People’s Crusaders army started to plunder the villages surrounding Nicaea. A unit of 6000 Germans took the fortresss of Xerigordon but a force of 15000 Turks who arrived hastily under general Elchanes took it back in 8 days 
Back at the main camp, two Turkish spies had spread rumor that the Germans who had taken Xerigordon had also taken Nicaea, which caused excitement to get there as soon as possible to share in the looting. Peter the Hermit had gone back to Constantinople to arrange for supplies and most of the leaders argued to wait for him to return. However, Geoffrey Burel, who had popular support, argued that it would be cowardly to wait, and they should move against the Turks right away. His will prevailed and, on the morning of October 21, the entire army of 20,000 marched out toward Nicaea, leaving noncombatants behind. The Turks were waiting for them, in ambush, on the road to Nicaea. 
Three miles from the camp, where the road entered a narrow, wooded valley, the crusaders subjected to a hail of arrows. Panic set in immediately and within minutes, the army was in full rout back to the camp. Most of the crusaders were slaughtered; however, women, children, and those who surrendered were spared. Three thousand, including Geoffrey Burel, were able to obtain refuge in an abandoned castle. Eventually the Byzantines under Constantine Katakalon sailed over and raised the siege; these few thousand returned to Constantinople, the only survivors of the People's Crusade.

Crusaders	Seljuk Turks
Commander	Commander
Geoffrey Burel	Elchanes
Forces	Forces
20,000 and many noncombatants	15,000
Casualties	Casualties
all but 3,000 perished	Minimal

The Battles of History