VaFatimid vaitungamirirwa naVizier al-Afdal Shahanshah, uyo aitungamirira masoja anosvika zviuru makumi maviri (zvimwe zvinofungidzirwa zvinosanganisira kuwedzeredzwa mazana maviri ezviuru zveGesta Francorum). Hondo yake yaive neSeljuk maTurkey, maArabu, maPersia, maArmenian, maKurd, uye maEthiopia. Aive nechinangwa chekukomberedza vapanduki muJerusarema, kunyangwe anga asina kuunza michina yekukomba naye; zvisinei aive neuto, zvakare achiungana muchiteshi cheAscalon. Nhamba chaiyo yevapanduki haizivikanwe, asi nhamba yakapihwa naRaymond weAguilers idiki ndeye 1,200 knights uye 9,000 infantry. Kufungidzira kwepamusoro-soro hakugone asi izvi zvirokwazvo zviri padanho iri remusasa waAl-Afdal.
bani real-Majdal mumupata uri kunze kweAscalon