After the great Crusader defeat at the Battle of Harran in 1104, all of Antioch's strongholds east of the Orontes River were abandoned.
[1] In order to raise additional Crusader reinforcements, Bohemond of Taranto embarked for Europe, leaving Tancred as regent in Antioch.
The new regent began to patiently recover the lost castles and walled towns.
[3] Ridwan of Aleppo tried to interfere with the operation, gathering a host of 7,000 infantry and an unknown number of cavalry.
[2] After his victory, Tancred expanded his conquests east of the Orontes with only minor opposition.