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The First Crusade's siege of Jerusalem began on June 7, 1099, with barely 1,500 knights and 12,000 foot soldiers remaining from the original force of approximately 35,000 that had left Europe three years earlier. The crusaders were starving, dehydrated, and running out of time. The Fatimid governor of Jerusalem, Iftikhar ad-Dawla, had poisoned wells outside the city, expelled the Christian population to prevent internal sabotage, and prepared the garrison for a prolonged defense. The first direct assault on the walls, launched on June 13, failed badly. The crusaders lacked siege equipment and were driven back with heavy casualties. The situation appeared hopeless until two Genoese supply ships arrived at the port of Jaffa, carrying ropes, nails, and other materials essential for building siege towers. Crusader engineers dismantled the ships and used the timber to construct two large siege towers and a battering ram. Foraging parties gathered additional wood from as far as Samaria, over 50 miles away. The final assault began on July 13. Raymond of Toulouse attacked from the south while Godfrey of Bouillon attacked from the north. After two days of fighting, Godfrey's men breached the northern wall on July 15. The slaughter that followed was one of the most notorious episodes of the Crusades. The crusaders killed thousands of Muslim and Jewish inhabitants, including civilians who had taken refuge in the al-Aqsa Mosque. Contemporary accounts, both Christian and Muslim, describe blood running in the streets. The Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem was established with Godfrey as its first ruler, though he refused the title of king, calling himself "Defender of the Holy Sepulchre." He died the following year.