Today in History: Crusaders Take Sidon

On this day (December 5) in 1110, a crusader force involving land troops from the Kingdom of Jerusalem, a 60 ship navy under the command of King Sigurd I of Norway, and a supporting fleet from Venice, took the coastal city of Sidon away from the Fatamid Empire (based in Egypt) after a 47 day siege. As a reward for his efforts, Sigurd I was given a splinter of Christendom’s most sacred relic, a piece of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.