After an extended stay in the European territories of the Byzantine Empire, the Imperial army crossed over to Asia at the Dardanelles from 22–28 March 1190.
[3] The passage of the Crusader army provoked armed resistance from the local Byzantine populations in Anatolia.
[9] They then proceeded to massacre Turkish women and small children in a fertile lowland area.
[9] The Minnesänger Friedrich von Hausen died on 6 May,[9] having accidentally fallen from his horse while pursuing fleeing Turkish troops.
[10] The Turks believed the Imperials to be completely exhausted from hunger and attacked the camp with 10,000 cavalry and infantry in the evening.
[11] The crusaders continued their march until they reached the Seljuk capital city of Iconium on 13 May, where a major battle would be fought on 18 May.