The coastal city of Sidon was captured by the forces of Baldwin I of Jerusalem and Sigurd I of Norway, with assistance from the Ordelafo Faliero, Doge of Venice.

In the summer of 1110, a Norwegian fleet of 60 ships arrived in the Levant under the command of King Sigurd.

Together they made a journey to the river Jordan, after which Baldwin asked for help in capturing Muslim-held ports on the coast.

Sigurd's answer was that "they had come for the purpose of devoting themselves to the service of Christ", and accompanied him to take the city of Sidon, which had been re-fortified by the Fatimids in 1098.

[3] By order of Baldwin and the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Ghibbelin of Arles, a splinter was taken off the holy cross and given to Sigurd.