Fall of Saruj

The Fall of Saruj in 1145 saw the main surviving Frankish fortress of Edessa fall to the Zengids.

Following the capture of Edessa in 1144, the Zengid ruler, Imad al-din Zengi, wanted to exploit his victory by clearing the remaining Crusader fortresses on the east of Euphrates, which was his main goal. In early January 1145, Imad al-Din marched towards the city of Saruj, the second-greatest Crusader fortress on the east of Euphrates. The Crusader garrison and the inhabitants evacuated the town to Birecik before the arrival of the Zengids. Imad al-Din captured the city without a fight. Zengi went to besiege Birecik after that, but after three months of siege, he retreated.