Legend of the Spear which pierced the side of Christ - Hitler held this
spear, but could not retain it - once it was used by Phineas and to
Charlemagne......and returned to the museum, by General George Patton
who recognized on that day that the Free World Held this Great Power
which would be only used for good, not evil......
Today we have missiles and neutron bomb - Cinton gave these secrets of
life and death to the Chinese, some say they were stolen - but a big
pararaphy was left out.....the USA who has long held this great power,
failed to mention that should some of this stuff be launched at the USA,
we have the power to return same, like email bomb, upon the enemy.
Imagine such power.
In Saudi Arabia should they choose to attack Israelies - the Israelies
can retaliate within a minute....and beat their ploughshares into
swords....
So this is interesting story....this UN, is not Camelot....JFK was
closest thing we had, but then he spoke soft, carried big defense
system, and did not play games with the enemy.....for he knew who the
enemy was within.....
The Brotherhood of the Phineas Priests - this oh so secret group of men
- could count maybe on 10 fingers or 5 - held the secret of the nuclear
age.....as one said when they leased the demon upon us - this Manhattan
project - now we are all bastards.
The Spear that pierced the side of Christ will always return like a
boomerang on the enemies of Christ - by that I do not mean moslems or
jews - I mean the enemies of Christ, those who would destroy all
religion and morality.....like Chinse with that darn neutron bomb that
is like homing pigeon - send back to sender, unopened?
Saba
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Medieval Sourcebook:
Gesta Francorum
Circa 1100-1101, an anonymous writer connected with Bohemund of Antioch
wrote the Gesta francorum et aliorum Hierosolymytanorum (The Deeds of
the Franks) This text was used by the later writers as a source.
Selections:
1. Urban II: Speech at Clermont
2. End of the Popular Crusade
3. The Main Crusading Armies
4. Bohemund
5. Godfrey de Bouillon
6. Bohemund in Constantinople
7. Raymond of Toulouse in Constantinople
8. Victory at Nicea
9. The Battle of Dorylaeum
10. Siege of Antioch
11. Suffering of Crusaders at Antioch
12. Fall of Antioch
13. Kerbogha's Attack
14. The Discovery of the Holy Lance
15. The Defeat of Kerbogha
16. The March to Jerusalem
17. The Fall of Jerusalem
18. "The Vision of Peace"
See also:
Rosalind M. Hill, ed. and trans., Gesta francorum et aliorum
Hierosolymitanorum: The Deeds of the Franks (London: 1962), [Latin text
with English translation.]
1. Urban II: Speech at Clermont
When now that time was at hand which the Lord Jesus daily points out to
His faithful, especially in the Gospel, saying, "If any man would come
after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me," a
mighty agitation was carried on throughout all the region of Gaul. (Its
tenor was) that if anyone desired to follow the Lord zealously, with a
pure heart and mind, and wished faithfully to bear the cross after Him,
he would no longer hesitate to take up the way to the Holy Sepulchre.
And so Urban, Pope of the Roman see, with his archbishops, bishops,
abbots, and priests, set out as quickly as possible beyond the mountains
and began to deliver sermons and to preach eloquently, saying: "Whoever
wishes to save his soul should not hesitate humbly to take up the way of
the Lord, and if he lacks sufficient money, divine mercy will give him
enough." Then the apostolic lord continued, "Brethren, we ought to
endure much suffering for the name of Christ - misery, poverty,
nakedness, persecution, want, illness, hunger, thirst, and other (ills)
of this kind, just as the Lord saith to His disciples: 'Ye must suffer
much in My name,' and 'Be not ashamed to confess Me before the faces of
men; verily I will give you mouth and wisdom,' and finally, 'Great is
your reward in Heaven."' And when this speech had already begun to be
noised abroad, little by little, through all the regions and countries
of Gaul, the Franks, upon hearing such reports, forthwith caused crosses
to be sewed on their right shoulders, saying that they followed with one
accord the footsteps of Christ, by which they had been redeemed from the
hand of hell.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and
Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 28-30.
2. The End of the Popular Crusade
But the abovementioned Peter was the first to reach Constantinople, on
the Kalends of August, and with him was a very large host of Alemanni.
There he found assembled Lombards, and Longobards, and many others. The
Emperor had ordered such a market as was in the city to be given to
these people. And he said to them, "Do not cross the Strait until the
chief host of the Chritians has come, for you are not so strong that you
can do battle with the Turks." The Christians conducted themselves
badly, inasmuch as they tore down and burned buildings of the city and
carried off the lead with which the churches were constructed sold it to
the Greeks. The Emperor was enraged thereat and ordered them to cross
the Strait. After they bad crossed, they did not cease doing all manner
of evil, burning and plundering houses and churches. At length they
reached Nicomedia, where the Lombards and Longobards and Alemanni
separated from the Franks because the Franks were constantly swelled
with arrogance.
The Lombards and Longobards chose a leader over themselves whose name
was Reinald. The Alemanni did likewise. They entered Romania and
proceeded for four days beyond the city of Nicaea. They found a certain
fortress, Xerogord by name, which was empty of people, and they seized
it. In it they found an ample supply of grain, wine, and meat, and an
abundance of all goods. The Turks, accordingly, bearing that the
Christians were in the fortress, came to besiege it. Before the gate of
the fortress was a cistern, and at the foot of the fortress was a
fountain of running water, near which Reinald went out to trap the
Turks. But the Turks, who came on the day of the Dedication of St.
Michael, found Reinald and those who were with him and killed many of
them. Those who remained alive fled to the fortress, which the Turks
straightway besieged, thus depriving them of water. Our people were in
such distress from thirst that they bled their horses and asses and
drank the blood; others let their r girdles and handkerchiefs down into
the cistern and squeezed out the water from them into their mouths; some
urinated into one another's hollowed hands and drank; and others dug up
the moist ground and lay down on their backs and spread the earth over
their breasts to relieve the excessive dryness of thirst. The bishops
and priests, indeed, continued to comfort our people, and to admonish
them not to yield, saying, "Be everywhere strong in the faith of Christ,
and do not fear those who persecute you, just as the Lord saith, 'Be not
afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul."'
This distress lasted for eight days. Then the lord of the Alemanni made
an agreement with the Turks to surrender his companions to them; and,
feigning to go out to fight, he fled to them, and many with him. Those,
however, who were unwilling to deny the Lord received the sentence of
death; some, whom they took alive, they divided among themselves, like
sheep; some they placed as a target and shot with arrows; others they
sold and gave away, like animals. Some they took captive to their own
home, some to Chorosan, some to Antioch, others to Aleppo, or wherever
they themselves lived. These were the first to receive a happy martyrdom
in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Next, the Turks, hearing that Peter the Hermit and Walter the Penniless
were in Civitote, which is located above the city of Nicaea, went there
with great joy to kill them and those who were with them. And when they
had come, they encountered Walter with his men (all of) whom the Turks
soon killed. But Peter the Hermit had gone to Constantinople a short
while before because he was unable to restrain that varied host, which
was not willing to listen either to him or to his words. The Turks,
indeed, rushed upon these people and killed many of them. Some they
found sleeping, some lying down, others naked - all of whom they killed.
With these people they found a certain priest celebrating mass, whom
they straightway martyred upon the altar. Those who could escape fled to
Civitote; others hurled themselves headlong into the sea, while some hid
in the forests and mountains. But the Turks, pursuing them to the
fortress, collected wood to bum them with the fort. The Christians who
were in the fort, therefore, set fire to the wood that had been
collected, and the fire, turning in the direction of the Turks, cremated
some of them; but from the fire the Lord delivered our people at that
time. Nevertheless, the Turks took them alive and divided them, just as
they had done the others, and scattered them through all these regions,
some to Chorosan, and others to Persia. This all happened in the month
of October. The Emperor, upon hearing that the Turks had so scattered
our people, was exceedingly glad and sent for them (the Turks) had them
cross the Strait.. After they were across, he purchased all their arms.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and
Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 71-72
3. Account of Main Crusade Armies
Soon they departed from their homes in Gaul, and then formed three
groups.
One party of Franks, namely, Peter, the Hermit Duke Godfrey, Baldwin,
his brother, and Baldwin, Count of the Mount, entered the region of
Hungary. These most powerful; knights, and many others whom I do not
know, went by the way which Charles ; the Great, wonderworking king of
France, long ago had made,!, even to Constantinople. . . .
The second party - to wit, Raymond, Count of St. Gilles, and the Bishop
of Puy - entered the region of Slavonia.
The third division, however, went by the ancient road to Rome. In this
division were Bohemund, Richard of Principati, Robert, Count of
Flanders, Robert the Norman, Hugh the Great, Everard of Puiset, Achard
of Montmerle, Ysooard of Mousson, and many others. Next, they went to
the port of Brindisi, or Bari, or Otranto. Then Hugh the Great, and
William, son of Marchisus, took to the sea at the port of Bari and,
crossing the strait, came to Durazzo. But the governor of this place,
his heart touched with evil design, took these most renowned men captive
immediately upon hearing that they had landed there and ordered them to
be conducted carefully to the Emperor at Constantinople, where they
should pledge loyalty to him.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and
Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 57
4. Bohemund
But Bohemund, powerful in battle, who was engaged in the siege of Amalfi
on the sea of Salerno, heard that a countless host of Christians from
among the Franks had come to go to the Sepulchre of the Lord, and that
they were prepared for battle against the pagan horde. He then began to
inquire closely what fighting arms these people bore, and what sign of
Christ they carried on the way, or what battle cry they shouted. The
following replies were made to him in order: "They bear arms suitable
for battle; on the right shoulder, or between both shoulders, they wear
the cross of Christ; the cry, 'God wills it! God wills it! God wills
it!' they shout in truth with one voice." Moved straightway by the Holy
Spirit, he ordered the most precious cloak which he had with him cut to
pieces, and straightway he bad the whole of it made into crosses.
Thereupon, most of the knights engaged in that siege rushed eagerly to
him, so that Count Roger remained almost alone.
Returning again to his own land, Lord Bohemund diligently prepared
himself to undertake in true earnest the journey to the Holy Sepulchre.
At length, he crossed the sea with his army. With him were Tancred, son
of Marchisus, Richard of Principati, and Rainulf, his brother, Robert of
Anse, Herman of Cannae, Robert of Surda Valley, Robert, son of Tostanus,
Hunfred, son of Raoul , Richard, son of Count Rainulf, the Count of
Roscignolo, with his brothers, Boellus of Chartres, Albered of Cagnano,
and Hunfred of Mt. Seaglioso. All of these crossed the sea to do service
for Bohemund and landed in the region of Bulgaria, where they found a
very great abundance of grain, wine, and bodily nourishment. Thence
descending into the valley of Andronopoli, they waited for his forces,
until all bad likewise crossed the sea. Then the wise Bobemund ordered a
council with his people, comforting and admonishing all (with these
words). "Seignors, take heed all of you, for we are pilgrims of God. We
ought, therefore, to be better and more humble than before. Do not
plunder this land, since it belongs to Christians, and let no one, at
the cost of blessing, take more than be needs to eat."
Departing thence, we journeyed through great plenty from villa to villa,
city to city, fortress to fortress, until we reached Castoria. There we
solemnly celebrated the nativity of the Lord. We remained there for
several days and sought a market, but the people were unwilling to
accord it to us, because they feared us greatly, thinking that we came
not as pilgrims, but to devastate their land and to kill them. Wherefore
we took their cattle, horses, asses, and everything that we found.
Leaving Castoria, we entered Pelagonia, in which there was a certain
fortified town of heretics. This we attacked from all sides and it soon
yielded to our sway. Thereupon, we set it on fire and burned the camp
with its inhabitants, that is, the congregation of heretics. Later, we
reached the river Vardar. And then Lord Bohemund went across with his
people, but not with all, for the Count of Roscignolo with his brothers
remained behind.
Thereupon , an army of the Emperor came and attacked the Count with his
brothers and all who were with them. Tancred, hearing of this, went back
and, hurling himself into the river, reached the others by swimming; and
two thousand went into the river following Tancred. At length, they came
upon the Turcopoles and Patzinaks struggling with our men. They (Tancred
and his men) charged the enemy suddenly and bravely and overcame them
gloriously. Several of them they seized and led them, bound, into the
presence of Bohemund, who spoke to them as follows: "Wherefore,
miserable men, do you kill Christ's people and mine? I have no quarrel
with your Emperor." They replied, "We cannot do otherwise; we have been
placed in the service of the Emperor, and whatever he commands we must
fulfill." Bohemund allowed them to depart unpunished. This battle was
fought in the fourth day of the week, which is the beginning of the
fast. Through all, blessed is the Lord! Amen.
The unhappy Emperor sent one of his own men, whom be greatly loved, and
whom they call Corpalatius, together with our envoys, to conduct us in
security through his land until we should come to Constantinople. And as
we paused before their cities, he ordered the inhabitants to offer us a
market, just as those also did of whom we have spoken. Indeed, they
feared the most brave host of Lord Bohemund so greatly that they
permitted none of us to enter the walls of the city. Our men wanted to
attack and seize a certain fortified town because it was full of all
kinds of goods. But the renowned man, Bohemund, refused to consent not
only in justice to the land, but also because of his pledge to the
Emperor. Therefore, he was greatly angered on this account with Tancred
and all the rest. This happened toward evening. When morning came, the
inhabitants of the town came out, and, in procession, bearing crosses in
their hands, they came into the presence of Bohemund. Delighted, he
received them; and with gladness he permitted them to depart. Next we
came to a certain town, which is called Serrhae, where we fixed our
tents and bad a market sufficient for that time. There the learned
Bohemund made a very cordial agreement with two Corpalatii; and out of
regard for their friendship, as well as in justice to the land, he
ordered all the stolen animals which our men had to be returned. The
Corpalatius promised him that he would despatch messengers to return the
animals to their owners in order. Then we proceeded from castle to
castle and from villa to villa to the city of Rusa. The people of the
Greeks came out, bringing us the greatest market, and went joyfully to
meet Lord Bohemund. There we Pitched on, tents in the fourth day of the
week before the feast of the Lord.
There, also, the learned Bohemund left all his host an( went on ahead to
speak with the Emperor at Constantinople. He gave commands to his
vassals, saying, "Approach the city gradually. I, however, will go on in
advance." And he took with him a few at the head of the army of Christ,
and, seeing the pilgrims buying food, he said to himself that he would
go off the road and lead his people where they would live happily. At
length be entered a certain valley, filled with goods of all kinds that
are suitable nourishment for the body, and in it we most devoutly
celebrated Easter.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and
Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 62-64
5. Godfrey of Bouillon
Duke Godfrey was the first of all the seignors to come to Constantinople
with a great army. He arrived two days before the Nativity of Our Lord
and camped outside the city, until the, iniquitous Emperor ordered him
to be lodged in a suburb of the city. And when the Duke had been so
lodged, he used to send his squires, under pledge, day by day to fetch
hay and other necessities for the horses. When now they planned to go
wherever they wished, on the strength of their pledge, the evil Emperor
placed a watch upon them and commanded his Turcopoles and Patzinaks to
attack and kill them. Thereupon, when Baldwin, brother of the Duke,
heard of this, he placed himself in ambush and then found them killing
his people. He attacked them in great anger and, God helping, overcame
them. Capturing sixty of them, he killed some and presented the rest to
the Duke, his brother. When the Emperor had heard of this, he was
exceedingly angry. Then the Duke, seeing that the Emperor was enraged,
went with his men out of the suburb and encamped outside the city.
Moreover, toward evening the Emperor ordered his forces to attack the
Duke and the people of Christ. The unconquered Duke and the knights of
Christ pursued these, killed seven of them, and drove the rest even to
the gates of the city. The Duke, returning to his tents, remained there
for five days, until he had entered into an agreement with the Emperor.
The Emperor told him to cross the Strait of St. George, and promised to
have every kind of market there, just as at Constantinople, and to
distribute alms to the poor, upon which they could live.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and
Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 80
6. Bohemund
When the Emperor heard that the most honorable man, Bohemund, had come
to him, he commanded that he be received with honor and carefully lodged
outside the city. When he had been so lodged, the evil Emperor sent for
him to come to speak with him in secret. Thither, also, came Duke
Godfrey with his brother, and at length the Count of St. Gilles
approached the city. Then the Emperor in anxious and fervid rage was
pondering some way by which they might seize these knights of Christ
adroitly and by fraud. But Divine Grace disclosing (his plans), neither
time nor place was found by him, or his men, to do them ill. At last,
all the noble leaders who were at Constantinople were assembled. Fearing
lest they should be deprived of their country, they decided in their
counsels and ingenious calculations that our dukes, counts, or all the
leaders, ought to make an oath of fealty to the Emperor. These
absolutely refused and said: "It is indeed unworthy of us, and,
furthermore, it seems to us unjust to swear an oath to him." Perchance
we shall yet often be deceived by our leaders. In the end, what were
they to do? They say that under the force of necessity they humiliated
themselves, willy-nilly, to the will of the most unjust Emperor. To that
most mighty man Bohemund, however, whom he greatly feared because in
times past be (Bohemund) had often driven him from the field with his
army, the Emperor said that, if he willingly took the oath to him, he
would give him, in return, land in extent from Antioch fifteen days
journey, and eight in width. And he (the Emperor) swore to him in such
wise that, if he loyally observed that oath, he would never pass beyond
his own land. Knights, so brave and so sturdy, why did they do this? For
the reason that they were constrained by much necessity. The Emperor
also gave to all our men a pledge of security. He likewise took oath
that he, together with his army, would come with us, by land and by sea;
that be would afford us faithfully a market by land and sea, and that be
would diligently make good our losses; in addition, that be did not
wish, and would not permit, any of our pilgrims to be disturbed or come
to grief on their way to the Holy Sepulchre.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and
Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 93-94
7. Raymond of Toulouse
The Count of St. Gilles, however, was lodged outside the city in a
suburb, and his force bad remained behind. Accordingly, the Emperor bade
the Count do homage and fealty to him, as the others had done. And while
the Emperor was making these demands, the Count was meditating how he
might take vengeance on the army of the Emperor. But Duke Godfrey and
Robert, Count of Flanders, and the other princes said to him that it
would be unjust to fight against Christians. The wise man, Bohemund,
also said that if the Count should do the Emperor any injustice, and
should refuse to do him fealty, he himself would take the part of the
Emperor. Accordingly, the Count, after receiving the advice of his men,
swore that he would not consent to have the life and honor of Alexius
sullied either by himself or by anyone else. When be was called upon for
homage, he answered that he would not do this at the risk of his head.
Then the host of Lord Bohemund approached Constantinople. Tancred,
indeed, and Richard of Principati, and almost the whole of Bohemund's
force with him, crossed the Strait by stealth, to avoid the oath to the
Emperor. And now the army of the Count of St. Gilles approached
Constantinople. The Count remained there with his own band. Therefore
the illustrious man, Bohemund, stayed behind with the Emperor, in order
to plan with him how they might provide a market for the people who were
beyond the city of Nicaea.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and
Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 98-99
8. The Victory at Nicea
And thus Duke Godfrey went first to Nicomedia, together with Tancred and
all the rest, and they were there for three days. The Duke, indeed,
seeing that there was no road open by which he could conduct these hosts
to the city of Nicaea, for so great an army could not pass through the
road along which the others had passed before, sent ahead three thousand
men with axes and swords to cut and clear this road, so that it would
lie open even to the city of Nicaea. They cut this road through a very
Darrow and very great mountain and fixed back along the way iron and
wooden crosses on posts, so that the pilgrims would know the way.
Meanwhile, we came to Nicaea, which is the capital of all Romania, on
the fourth day, the day before the Nones of May, and there encamped.
However, before Lord Bohemund bad arrived, there was such scarcity of
bread among us that one loaf was sold for twenty or thirty denarii.
After the illustrious man, Bobemund, came, be ordered the greatest
market to be brought by sea, and it came both ways at the same time,
this by land and that by sea, and there was the greatest abundance in
the whole army of Christ.
Moreover, on the day of the Ascension of the Lord we began to attack the
city on all sides, and to construct machines of wood, and wooden towers,
with which we might be able to destroy towers on the walls. We attacked
the city so bravely and so fiercely that we even undermined its wall.
The Turks who were in the city, barbarous horde that they were, sent
messages to others who had come up to give aid. The message ran in this
wise: that they might approach the city boldly and in security and enter
through the middle gate, because on that side no one would oppose them
or put them to grief. This gate was besieged on that very day - the
Sabbath after the Ascension of the Lord - by the Count of St. Gilles and
the Bishop of Puy. The Count, approaching from another side, was
protected by divine might, and with his most powerful army gloried in
terrestrial strength. And so he found the Turks, coming against us here.
Armed on all sides with the sign of the cross, he rushed upon them
violently and overcame them. They turned in flight, and most of them
were killed. They came back again, reinforced by others, joyful and
exulting in assured (outcome) of battle, and bearing along with them the
ropes with which to lead us bound to Chorosan. Coming gladly, moreover,
they began to descend from the crest of the mountain a short distance.
As many as descended remained there with their beads cut off at the
bands of our men; moreover, our men hurled the heads of the killed far
into the city, that they (the Turks) might be the more terrified
thereat. Then the Count of St. Gilles and the Bishop of Puy took counsel
together as to how they might have undermined a certain tower which was
opposite their tents. Men were assigned to do the digging, with
arbalistae and bowmen to defend them on all sides. So they dug to the
foundations of the wall and fixed timbers and wood under it and then set
fire to it. However, evening had come; the tower had already fallen in
the night, and because it was night they could not fight with the enemy.
Indeed, during that night the Turks hastily built up and restored the
wall so strongly that when day came no one could harm them on that side.
Now the Count of Normandy came up, Count Stephen and many others, and
finally Roger of Barneville. At length Bohemund, at the very front,
besieged the city. Beside him was Tancred, after him Duke Godfrey, then
the Count of St. Gilles, next to whom was the Bishop of Puy. it was so
besieged by land that no one dared to go out or in. There all our forces
were assembled in one body, and who could have counted so great an army
of Christ? No one, as 1 think, has ever before seen so many
distinguished knights or ever will again!
However, there was a large lake on one side of the city, on which the
Turks used to send out their ships, and go back and forth and bring
fodder, wood, and many other things. Then our leaders counselled
together and sent messengers to Constantinople to tell the Emperor to
have ships brought to Civitote, where there is a fort, and that he
should order oxen to be brought to drag the ships over the mountains and
through the woods, until they neared the lake. This was done forthwith,
and he sent his Turcopoles with them. They did not want to put the ships
on the lake on the very day that they were brought across, but under
cover of night they launched them on the lake itself, (The boats were)
filled with Turcopoles well decorated with arms. Moreover, at earliest
daybreak the ships stood in good order and hastened through the lake
against the city. The Turks marvelled upon seeing them, not knowing
whether they were manned by their own forces or the Emperor's. However,
after they recognized that it was the host of the Emperor, they were
frightened even to death, weeping and lamenting; and the Franks were
glad and gave glory to God.
The Turks, moreover, seeing that they could have no further aid from
their armies, sent a message to the Emperor that they would willingly
surrender the city, if he would permit them to go entirely away with
their wives and children and all their substance. Then the Emperor, full
of vain and evil thinking, ordered them to depart unpunished, without
any fear, and to be brought to him at Constantinople with great
assurance (of safety). These he cared for zealously, so that he had them
prepared against any damage or hindrance from the Franks. We were
engaged in that siege for seven weeks and three days. Many of our men
there received martyrdom, and, glad and rejoicing, gave back their happy
souls to God. Many of the very poor died of hunger for the name of
Christ, and these bore triumphantly to heaven their robes of martyrdom
crying with one voice, "Avenge, Lord, our blood which has been shed for
Thee, who are blessed and praiseworthy forever and ever. Amen." In the
meanwhile, after the city had been surrendered and the Turks had been
conducted to Constantinople, the Emperor, more and more rejoiced because
the city had been surrendered to his power, ordered the greatest alms to
be distributed to our poor.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and
Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 101-103
9. The Battle of Dorylaeum
On the third day, the Turks made a violent assault on Bohemund and his
companions. The Turks began unceasingly to shout, babble, and cry in a
loud voice, making some devilish sound, I know not how, in their own
tongue. When the wise Bohemund saw from afar the innumerable Turks
shouting and crying a diabolical sound, be straightway ordered all the
knights to dismount and pitch the tents immediately. Before the tents
had been erected, be spoke to all the soldiers: "My lords and strongest
of Christ's soldiers! A difficult battle is now building up around us.
Let everyone advance against them courageously and let the infantry put
up the tents carefully and quickly."
By the time all this had been done, the Turks had already surrounded us
on all sides. They attacked us, slashing, hurling, and shooting arrows
far and wide, in a manner strange to behold. Although we could scarcely
bold them back or even bear up under the weight of such a host,
nevertheless we all managed to hold our ranks. Our women were a great
blessing to us that day, for they carried drinking water zip to our
fighting men and comforted the fighters and defenders. The wise Bohemund
at once commanded the others, namely the Count of St-Gilles, Duke
Godfrey, Hugh of France, the Bishop of Le Puy, and all the rest of
Christ's soldiers to make speed and to march quickly to the battle
scene. He said: "If they wish to fight today, let them come on with full
force." The strong and courageous Duke Godfrey and Hugh of France both
came on ahead with their forces. The Bishop of Le Puy followed with his
troops, and the Count of St-Gilles with a large force came after him.
Our people were very curious about where such a multitude of Turks,
Arabs, Saracens, and others whom I cannot name, had come from. Indeed
this excommunicated race filled all the mountains, hills, valleys, and
plains on all sides, both inside and outside of the battlefield. We had
a secret parley among ourselves and, after praising God and taking
counsel, we said: "Let us all unite in Christ's faith and the victory of
the Holy Cross, for, God willing, today we shall all be made rich."
Our forces were drawn up in one continuous battle line. On the left
there were Bohemund, Robert the Norman, the prudent Tancred, Robert of
Ansa, and Richard of the Principate . The Bishop of Le Puy approached by
way of another mountain and thus the unbelieving Turks were surrounded
on all sides. [note: Bishop Adh�mar of Le Puy had, in other words, led
a company of southern French knights through the mountains, around and
behind the Turkish lines. The sudden appearance on the field of the
Bishop and his knights, who came up behind the Turkish flanks, threw the
Turks into panic and assured victory for the Crusaders.] Raymond of
St-Gilles also fought on the left side. On the right there were Duke
Goddfrey, the Count of Flanders (a most valiant knight), and Hugh of
France, together with many others whose names I know not.
As soon as our knights arrived, the Turks, Arabs, Saracens, Angulans,32
and all the barbarian tribes speedily took flight through the byways of
the mountains and plains. The Turks, Persians, Paulicians, Saracens,
Angulans, and other pagans numbered 360, 000, besides the Arabs, whose
numbers are known only to God. With extraordinary speed they fled to
their tents but were unable to remain there long. Again they took flight
and we followed, killing them as we went, for a whole day. We took many
spoils: gold, silver, horses, donkeys, camels, sheep, cattle, and many
other things of which we know not. Had the Lord not been with us in the
battle and had he not suddenly sent us the other force, none of our men
would have escaped, for the battle lasted from the third to the ninth
hour. But Almighty God is merciful and kind. He did not allow his troops
to perish, nor did he deliver them into the hands of the enemy; rather
he sent help to us quickly. Two of our honored knights were killed,
namely Godfrey of Monte-Scaglioso and William the son of the Marquis and
the brother of Tancred. Some other knights and infantrymen whose names I
do not know were also killed.
Who will ever be wise or learned enough to dare to describe the
prudence, prowess, and valor of the Turks? They believed they could
terrify the Frankish race by threatening them with their arrows, as they
had terrified the Arabs, Saracens, Armenians, Syrians, and Greeks. But,
please God, they will never be as powerful as our men. Indeed, the Turks
say that they are related to the Franks and that no man ought by nature
to be a knight save the Franks and themselves. I speak the truth, which
no one can deny. that if they had always been steadfast in Christ's
faith and in Christianity, if they had wished to confess one triune
Lord, and if they had honestly believed in good faith that the Son of
God was born of the Virgin, that he suffered and rose from the dead and
ascended into heaven in the presence of his disciples, that he has sent
the perfect comfort of the Holy Spirit, and that he reigns in heaven and
on earth; if they bad believed all this, it would have been impossible
to find a people more powerful, more courageous, or more skilled in the
art of war. By the grace of God, however, we defeated them. The battle
took place on the first of July.
Source:
Translated by James Brundage, The Crusades: A Documentary History,
(Milwaukee, WI: Marquette University Press, 1962), 49-51
Copyright note: Professor Brundage informed the Medieval Sourcebook that
copyright was not renewed on this work. Moreover he gave permission for
use of his translations.
10. The Siege of Antioch
Now grain and all food began to be excessively dear before the birthday
of the Lord. We did not dare to go outside; we could find absolutely
nothing to eat within the land of the Christians, , and no one dared to
enter the land of the Saracens without a' great army. At last holding a
council, our seignors decided how they might care for so many people.
They concluded in the council that one part of our force should go out
diligently to collect food and to guard the army everywhere, while the
other part should remain faithfully to watch the enemy. At length,
Bohemund said, "Seignors, and most distinguished knights, if you wish,
and it seems honorable and good to you, I will be the one to go out
with, the Count of Flanders on this quest." Accordingly, when the
services of the Nativity had been most gloriously celebrated on Monday,
the second day of the week, they and more than twenty thousand knights
and footmen went forth and entered the land of the Saracens, safe and
unharmed.
There were assembled, indeed, many Turks, Arabs, and Saracens from
Jerusalem, Damascus, Aleppo, and other regions, who were on their way to
reinforce Antioch. So, when they heard that a Christian host was being
led into their land, they made themselves ready there for battle against
the Christians, and at earliest daybreak they came to the place where
our people were gathered together. The barbarians divided themselves and
formed two battle lines, one in front and one behind, seeking to
surround us from every side. The worthy Count of Flanders, therefore,
girt about on all sides with the armor of true faith and the sign of the
cross, which he loyally wore daily, went against them, together with
Bohemund, and our men rushed upon them all together. They immediately
took to flight and hastily turned their backs; very many of them were
killed, and our men took their horses and other spoils. But others, who
had remained alive, fled swiftly and went away to the wrath of
perdition. We, however, returning with great rejoicing, praised and
magnified God, Three in One, who liveth and reigneth now and forever,
Amen.
Finally, the Turks in the city of Antioch, enemies of God and Holy
Christianity, bearing that Lord Bohemund and the Count of Flanders were
not in the siege, came out from the city and boldly advanced to do
battle with us. Knowing that those most valiant knights were away, they
lay in ambush for us everywhere, more especially on that side where the
siege was lagging. One Wednesday they found that they could resist and
hurt us. The most iniquitous barbarians came out cautiously and, rushing
violently upon us, killed many of our knights and foot soldiers who were
off their guard. Even the Bishop of Puy on that bitter day lost his
seneschal, who was carrying and managing his standard. And had it riot
been for the stream which was between us and them, they would have
attacked us more often and done the greatest hurt to our people.
At that time the famous man, Bohemund, advancing with his army from the
land of the Saracens, came to the mountain of Tancred, wondering whether
perchance he could find anything to carry away, for they were ransacking
the whole region. Some, in truth, found something, but others went away
empty-handed. Then the wise man, Bohemund, upbraided them, saying: "Oh,
unhappy and most wretched people! O, most vile of all Christians! Why do
you want to go away so quickly? Only stop; stop until we shall all be
gathered together, and do not wander about like sheep without a
shepherd. Moreover, if the enemy find you wandering, they will kill you,
for they are watching by night and by day to find you alone, or ranging
about in groups without a leader; and they are striving daily to kill
you and lead you into captivity." When his words were finished, he
returned to his camp with his men, more empty-handed than laden.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and
Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 132-34
11. The Sufferings of the Crusaders at Antioch
When the Armenians and Syrians, however, saw that our men were returning
utterly empty-handed, they counselled together and went away through the
mountains and places of which they had previous knowledge, making subtle
inquiry and buying grain and other bodily sustenance. This they brought
to the camp, in which hunger was great beyond measure, and they sold a
single assload for eight perpre, which is worth one hundred and twenty
solidi of denarii. There, indeed, many of our men died because they did
not have the means wherewith to buy at such a dear price.
William Carpenter and Peter the Hermit secretly left because of the
great sorrow and misery. Tancred pursued and caught them,, and brought
them back in disgrace. They gave him a pledge that they would return
willingly to camp and render satisfaction to seignors. Then William lay
all that night, like an evil thing, in the tent of Bohemund. On the next
day at early dawn he came shamefacedly and stood in the presence of
Bohemund, who, addressing him, said, "O, the misfortune and infamy of
all France, the disgrace and villainy of Gaul! O, most evil of all whom
the earth endures! Why did you so vilely flee? Was it, perchance, for
the reason that you wished to betray these knights and the host of
Christ, as you betrayed others in Hispania?" He was entirely silent and
no speech proceeded from his mouth, Almost all those of Frankish race
gathered together and humbly asked Lord Bohemund not to let anything
worse befall him. He nodded, with calm countenance, and said, "To this I
willingly consent for love of you, if he will swear to me with his whole
heart and mind that be will never withdraw from the march to Jerusalem,
whether for good or evil; and if Tancred will agree not to let anything
untoward befall him, either through him or his men." When William had
heard these words, he willingly agreed, and Bohemund forthwith dismissed
him. Later, indeed, Carpenter, caught in the greatest villainy, slipped
away by stealth without long delay. This poverty and wretchedness God
meted out to us because of our sins. Thus in the whole army no one could
find a thousand knights who had horses of the best kind.
Meanwhile the hostile Tetigus, upon hearing that the army of the Turks
had come upon us, said that he was afraid, thinking that we would all
perish and fall into the hands of the enemy. Fabricating all the
falsehoods which be could industriously scatter, he said: "Seignors and
most illustrious men, you see that we are here in the greatest need, and
aid is coming to us from no side. So permit me now to return to my
country of Romania, and I will, for certain, cause many ships to come
hither by sea, laden with grain, wine, barley, meat, butter, and cheese,
and all the goods which you need. I shall also cause horses to be
brought for sale, and a market to be brought hither in the fealty of the
Emperor.
So I will swear all this loyally to you and attend to it. Also, my
servants and my tent are still in camp, from which you may believe
firmly that I will return as quickly as possible." And so he concluded
his speech. That foe went and left all his possessions in the camp, and
he remains., and will remain, in perjury.
Therefore in this way the greatest need came upon us, because the Turks
pressed us on all sides, so that none of us dared now to go out of the
tents, for they constrained us on one side, and excruciating hunger on
the other; but of succour and help we bad none. The lesser folk, and the
very poor fled to Cyprus, Romania, and into the mountains. Through fear
of the most evil Turks we dared not go to the sea, and the way was never
made open to us.
Accordingly, when Lord Bohemund heard that an innumerable host of Turks
was coming against us, be went cautiously to the others, saying:
"Seignors, most illustrious knights, what are we going to do? For we are
not so great that we can fight on two sides. But do you know what we may
do? Let us make two lines of ourselves; let a portion of the foot
soldiers remain together to guard the pavilions, and by feinting they
will be able to resist those who are in the city. Let the other portion,
however, consisting of knights, go with us to meet our enemy, who are
lodged here "ear us in the fortress Aregh beyond the Iron Bridge."
Moreover, when evening came the famous man, Bohemund, advanced with the
other most illustrious knights and went to lie between the river and the
lake. At earliest daybreak he straightway ordered scout to go out and
see how many squadrons of Turks there were, where (they were) and
definitely what they were doing. They went out., and began to inquire
craftily where the lines of the Turks were bidden. Then they saw
innumerable Turks, divided into two battle lines, coming from the side
of the river, with their greatest valor marching in the rear. The scouts
returned very quickly, saying, "Behold! See, they come! Be prepared,
therefore, all you, for they are already near us." And the wise man,
Bohemund, spoke to the others, "Seignors, most invincible knights, array
you selves for battle, each one for himself." They answered: "Wise and
famous man! Great and magnificent man! Brave and Victorious man! Arbiter
of battles, and judge of disputes! Make arrangements for us and
yourself." Thereupon, Bohemund commanded that each one of the princes
should himself form his line in order. They did so, and six lines were
formed. Five of them went out together to attack them (the enemy).
Bohemund, accordingly, marched short distance in the rear with his line.
Thus, when our men were successfully united, one band urged on the
other. The clamor resounded to the sky. All fought at the same time.
Showers of weapons darkened the air. When their troops of greatest
valor, who had been in their rear, came up, they attacked our forces
sharply, so that our men fell back a little. As the most learned man,
Bohemund, saw this, he groaned. Then he commanded his constable, that is
to say Robert, son of Girard, saying: "Go as quickly as you can, like a
brave man, and remember our illustrious and courageous forefathers of
old. Be keen in; the service of God and the Holy Sepulchre, and bear in
mind that this battle is not carnal, but spiritual. Be, therefore, the
bravest athlete of Christ. Go in peace. The Lord be with you
everywhere." And so that man, fortified on all sides with the sign of
the cross, went into the lines of the Turks, just as a lion, famished
for three or four days, goes forth from his cave raging and thirsting
for the blood of beasts and, rushing unexpectedly among the herds of
sheep, tears them to pieces as they flee hither and thither. So
violently did he press upon them that the tips of his renowned standard
flew over the heads of the Turks. Moreover, as the other lines saw that
the standard of Bohemund was so gloriously borne before them, they went
back to the battle again, and with one accord our men attacked the
Turks, who, all amazed, took to flight. our men, therefore, pursued them
even to the Iron Bridge and cut off their beads. The Turks, however,
rushed hastily back to their camps and, taking everything they could
find there, despoiled the whole camp, set it on fire, and fled. The
Armenians and Syrians, knowing that the Turks had utterly lost the
battle, went out and watched at the narrow places, where they killed and
captured many of them. And so by the favor of God our enemy was overcome
on that day. Moreover, our men were sufficiently rewarded with horses
and many other things which they greatly needed. And they carried the
heads of one hundred dead before the gate of the city, where the envoys
of the Emir of Babylon, who had been sent to the princes, were encamped.
During the whole day those who had remained in the tents had fought
before the three gates of the city with those who were inside. This
battle was fought on the Wednesday before the beginning of Lent, on the
fifth day before the Ides of February, with the favor of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth God
forever and ever. Amen. Our men returned triumphant and joyful from the
victory which, under God's guidance, they had obtained on that day over
their defeated enemy. The enemy, entirely beaten, fled, ever roaming and
wandering hither and thither. Some (at length) went to Chorosan, but
others entered the land of the Saracens.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and
Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 136-39
12. The Fall of Antioch
I can not enumerate all the things which we did before the city was
captured, beause there is no one in these regions, whether cleric or
layman, who can at all write or tell just how things happened.
Nevertheless, I will say a little.
There was a certain Emir of the race of the Turks, whose name was Pirus
[Firuz], who took up the greatest friendship with Bohemund. By an
interchange of messengers Bohemund often pressed this man to receive him
within the city in a most friendly fashion, and, after promising
Christianity to him most freely, he sent word that be would make him
rich with much honor. Pirus yielded to these words and promises, saying,
"I guard three towers, and I freely promise them to him, and at whatever
hour he wishes I will receive him within them." Accordingly, Bohemund
was now secure about entering the city, and, delighted, with serene mind
and joyful countenance, became to all the leaders, bearing joyful words
to them in this wise: "Men, most illustrious knights, see how all of us,
whether of greater or less degree, are in exceeding poverty and misery,
and how utterly ignorant we are from what side we will fare better.
Therefore, if it seems good and honorable to you, let one of us put
himself ahead of the rest, and if he can acquire or contrive (the
capture of) the city by any plan or scheme, by himself, or through the
help of others, let us with one voice grant him the city as a gift."
They absolutely refused and spurned (the suggestion) saying, "This city
shall be given to no one, but we will bold it equally; since we have had
equal effort, so let us have equal reward from it."
Bohemund, upon hearing these words, laughed a bit to himself and
immediately retired. Not much later we listened to messages concerning
(the approach of) an army of our enemy, Turks, Publicani, Agulani,
Azimites, and very many other gentile nations that I know not how to
enumerate or name. Immediately all our leaders came together, and held a
council, saying: "If Bohemund can acquire the city, either by himself,
or with the help of others, let us give it to him freely and with one
accord, on condition that if the Emperor comes to our aid and wishes to
carry out every agreement, as be swore and promised, we will return it
to him by right. But if be does not do this, let Bohemund keep it in his
power." Immediately, therefore, Bohemund began meekly to beseech his
friend in daily petition, holding out most humbly the greatest and
sweetest promises in this manner: "Behold, we have now truly a fit time
to accomplish whatever good we wish; therefore, now, my friend Pirus,
help me." Greatly pleased at the message, be replied that be would aid
him in every way, as he ought to do. Accordingly, at the approach of
night, he cautiously sent his son to Bohemund as a pledge, that he might
be the more secure about his entrance to the city. He also sent word to
him in this wise: "Tomorrow sound the trumpets for the Frankish host to
move on, pretending that they are going to plunder the land of the
Saracens, and then turn back quickly over the mountain on the right.
With alert mind, indeed, I will be awaiting those forces, and I will
take them into the towers which I have in my power and charge." Then
Bohemund ordered a certain servant of his, Malacorona by name, to be
called, and bade him, as herald, to admonish most of the Franks
faithfully to prepare themselves to go into the land of the Saracens.
This was so done. Thereupon Bohemund entrusted his plan to Duke Godfrey,
and the Count of Flanders, also to the Count of St. Gilles and the
Bishop of Puy, saying, "The grace of God favoring, Antioch will this
night be surrendered to us."
All these matters were at length arranged; the knights held the level
places and the foot soldiers the mountain. All the night they rode and
marched until dawn, and then began to approach the towers which that
person (Pirus) was watchfully guarding. Bohemund straightway dismounted
and gave orders to the rest, saying, "Go with secure mind and happy
accord, and climb by ladder into Antioch which, if it please God, we
shall have in our power immediately." They went up the ladder, which had
already been placed and firmly bound to the projections of the city
wall. About sixty of our men climbed up it and were distributed among
the towers which that man was watching. Pirus, upon seeing that so few
of our men had ascended, began to tremble with fear for both himself and
our men, lest they fall into the hands of the Turks. And be said, "Micro
Francos echome There are few Franks here! Where is most fierce Bohemund,
that unconquered knight?" Meanwhile a certain Longobard servant
descended again, and ran as quickly (as possible) to Bohemund, saying,
"Why do you stand here, illustrious man? Why have you come hither?
Behold, we already hold three towers!" Bohemund was moved with the rest,
and all went joyfully to the ladder. Accordingly, when those who were in
the towers saw this, they began to shout with happy voices, "God wills
it!" We began to shout likewise; now the men began to climb up there in
wondrous fashion. Then they reached the top and ran in haste to the
other towers. Those whom they found there they straightway sentenced to
death; they even killed a brother of Pirus. Meantime the ladder by which
we had ascended broke by chance, whereupon there arose the greatest
dismay and gloom among us. However, though the ladder had been broken,
there was still a certain gate near us which had been shut on the left
side and had remained unknown to some of the people, for it was night.
But by feeling about and inquiring we found it, and all ran to it; and,
having broken it open, we entered through it.
Thereupon, the noise of a countless multitude resounded through all the
city. Bohemund did not give his men any rest, but ordered his standard
to be carried up in front of the castle on a certain hill. Indeed, all
were shouting in the city together.
Moreover, when at earliest dawn those in the tents outside heard the
most violent outcry sounding through the city, they rushed out hurriedly
and saw the standard of Bohemund up on the mount, and with rapid pace
all ran hastily and entered the city. They killed the Turks and Saracens
whom they found there, except those who had fled into the citadel.
Others of the Turks went out through the gates, and by fleeing escaped
alive.
But Cassianus, their lord, fearing the race of the Franks greatly, took
flight with the many others who were with him and came in flight to the
land of Tancred, not far from the city. Their horses, however, were worn
out, and, taking refuge in a certain villa, they dashed into a house.
The inhabitants of the mountain, Syrians and Armenians, upon recognizing
him (Cassianus), straightway seized him, cut off his head, and took it
into the presence of Bohemund, so that they might gain their liberty.
They also sold his sword-belt and scabbard for sixty besants. All this
occurred on the third day of the incoming month of June, the fifth day
of the week, the third day before the Nones of June. All the squares of
the city were already everywhere full of the corpses of the dead, so
that no one could endure it there for the excessive stench. No one could
go along a street of the city except over the bodies of the dead.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and
Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 151-53
13. Kerbogha's Attack
Some time before, Cassianus, Emir of Antioch, had sent a message to
Curbara, chief of the Sultan of Persia, while he was still at Chorosan,
to come and help him while there was yet time, because a very mighty
host of Franks was besieging him shut up in Antioch. If the Emir would
aid him, he (Cassianus) would give him Antioch, or would enrich him with
a very great gift. Since Curbara had had a very large army of Turks
collected for a long time, and had received permission from the Caliph,
their Pope, to kill the Christians, he began a long march to Antioch.
The Emir of Jerusalem came to his aid with an army, and the King of
Damascus arrived there with a very large host. Indeed, Curbara likewise
collected countless pagan folk, Turks, Arabs, Saracens, Publicani,
Azimites, Kurds, Persians, Agulani and countless other peoples. The
Agulani were three thousand in number and feared neither lances, arrows,
nor any kind of arms, because they and all their horses were fitted with
iron all around, and they refused to carry any arms except swords into
battle. All of these came to the siege of Antioch to disperse the
gathering of Franks.
And when they neared the city, Sensadolus, son of Cassianus, Emir of
Antioch, went to meet them, and straightway rushed in tears to Curbara,
beseeching him with these words: "Most invincible chief, I, a
supplicant, pray thee to help me, now that the Franks are besieging me
on every side in the city of Antioch; now that they hold the city in
their sway and seek to alienate us from the region of Romania, or even
yet from Syria and Chorosan. They have done everything that they wished;
they have killed my father; now nothing else remains except to kill me,
and you, and all the others of our race. For a long time now I have been
waiting for your help to succor me in this danger."
To him Curbara replied: "If you want me to enter wholeheartedly into
your service and to help you loyally in this danger, give that town into
my hands, and then see how I will serve you and protect it with my men."
Sensadolus replied, "If you can kill all the Franks and give me their
heads, I will give you the town, and I will do homage to you and guard
the town in your fealty."
To this Curbara answered: "That won't do; hand over the town to me
immediately." And then, willy-nilly, he handed the town over to him.
But on the third day after we had entered the town, Curbara's advance
guard ran in front of the city; his army, however, encamped at the Iron
Gate. They took the fortress by siege and killed all of the defenders,
whom we found in iron chains after the greater battle had been fought.
On the next day, the army of the pagans moved on, and, nearing the city,
they encamped between the two rivers and stayed there for two days.
After they had retaken the fortress, Curbara summoned one of his emirs
whom he knew to be truthful, gentle, and peaceable and said to him, "I
want you to undertake to guard this fortress in fealty to me, because
for the longest time I have known you to be most loyal; therefore, I
pray you, keep this castle with the greatest care, for, since I know you
to be the most prudent in action, I can find no one here more truthful
and valiant."
To him the Emir replied: "Never would I refuse to obey you in such
service, but before you persuade me by urging, I will consent, on the
condition that if the Franks drive your men from the deadly field of
battle and conquer, I will straightway surrender this fortress to them."
Curbara said to him: I recognize you as so honorable and wise that I
will fully consent to whatever good you wish to do." And thereupon
Curbara returned to his army.
Forthwith the Turks, making sport of the gatherings of Franks, brought
into the presence of Curbara a certain very miserable sword covered with
rust, a very worn wooden bow, and an exceedingly useless lance, which
they had just recently taken from poor pilgrims, and said, "Behold the
arms which the Franks carry to meet us in battle!" Then Curbara began to
laugh, saying before all who were in that gathering, "These are the
warlike and shining arms which the Christians have brought against us
into Asia, with which they hope and expect to drive us beyond the
confines of Cborosan and to wipe out our names beyond the Amazon rivers,
they who have driven our relatives from Romania and the royal city of
Antioch, which is the renowned capital of all Syria!" Then be summoned
his scribe and said: "Write quickly several documents which are to be
read in Chorosan."
"To the Caliph, our Pope, and to our King, the Lord Sultan, most valiant
knight, and to all most illustrious knights of Chorosan; greeting and
honor beyond measure.
Let them be glad enough and delight with joyful concord and satisfy
their appetites; let them command and make known through all that region
that the people give themselves entirely to exuberance and luxury, and
that they rejoice to bear many children to fight stoutly against the
Christians. Let them gladly receive these three weapons which we
recently took from a squad of Franks, and let them now learn what arms
the Frankish host bears against us; bow very fine and perfect they are
to fight against our arms which are twice, thrice, or even four times
welded, or purified, like the purest silver or gold. In addition, let
all know, also, that I have the Franks shut up in Antioch, and that I
hold the citadel at my free disposal, while they (the enemy) are below
in the city. Likewise, I hold all of them now in my hand. I shall make
them either undergo sentence of death, or be led into Chorosan into the
harshest captivity, because they are threatening with their arms to
drive us forth and to expel us from all our territory, or to cast us out
beyond upper India, as they have cast out all our kinsmen from Romania
or Syria. Now I swear to you by Mohammed and all the names of the gods
that I will not return before your face until I shall have acquired with
my strong right hand the regal city of Antioch, all Syria, Romania, and
Bulgaria, even to Apulia, to the honor of the gods, and to your glory,
and to that of all who are of the race of the Turks." And thus he put an
end to his words.
The mother of the same Curbara, who dwelt in the city of Aleppo, came
immediately to him and, weeping said: "Son are these things true which I
hear?"
"What things?" he said.
"I have heard that you are going to engage in battle with the host of
the Franks," she replied.
And he answered: "You know the truth fully."
She then said, "I warn you, son, in the names of all the gods and by
your great kindness, not to enter into battle with the Franks, because
you are an unconquered knight, and I have never at all heard of any
imprudence from you or your army. No one has ever found you fleeing from
the field before any victor. The fame of your army is spread abroad, and
all illustrious knights tremble when your name is heard. For we know
well enough, son, that you are mighty in battle, and valiant and
resourceful, and that no host of Christians or pagans can have any
courage before your face, but are wont to flee at the mention of your
name, as sheep flee before the wrath of a lion. And so I beseech you,
dearest son, to yield to my advice never to let it rest in your mind, or
be found in your counsel, to wish to undertake war with the Christian
host."
Then Curbara, upon hearing his mother's warning, replied with wrathful
speech: "What is this, mother, that you tell me? I think that you are
insane, or full of furies. For I have with me more emirs than there are
Christians, whether of greater or lesser state."
His mother replied to him: "O sweetest son, the Christians cannot fight
with your forces, for I know that they are not able to prevail against
you; but their God is fighting for them daily and is watching over them
and defending them with His protection by day and night, as a shepherd
watches over his flock. He does not permit them to be hurt or disturbed
by any folk, and whoever seeks to stand in their way this same God of
theirs likewise puts to rout, just as He said through the mouth of the
prophet David,' 'Scatter the people that delight in wars,' and in
another place: 'Pour out Thy wrath upon the nations that know Thee not
and, against the kingdoms that call not upon Thy name.' Before they are
ready to begin battle, their God, all powerful and potent in battle,
together with His saints, has all their enemies already conquered. How
much more will He now prevail against you, who are His enemies, and who
are preparing to resist them with all:, your valor! This, moreover,
dearest, know in very truth: these'. Christians, called 'sons of Christ'
and by the mouth of the prophets 'sons of adoption and promise,'
according to the apostle are the heirs of Christ to whom He has already
given the promised inheritance, saying through the prophets, 'From the
rising to the setting of the sun shall be your border and no one shall
stand before you.' Who can contradict or oppose these words? Certainly,
if you undertake this battle against them, yours will be the very
greatest loss and disgrace, and you will lose many of your faithful
knights and all the spoils which you have with you, and you will turn in
flight with exceeding fear. However, you shall not die now in this
battle, but, nevertheless, in this year, because God does not with quick
anger immediately judge him who has offended Him, but when He wills, He
punishes with manifest vengeance, and so I fear He will exact of you a
bitter penalty. You shall not die, now, I say, but you shall perish
after all your present possessions."
Then Curbara, deeply grieved in his heart at his mother's words, replied
"Dearest mother, pray, who told you such things about the Christian
folk, that God loves only them, and that He restrains the mightiest host
from fighting against Him, and that those Chrisians will conquer us in
the battle of Antioch, and that they will capture our spoils, and will
pursue us with great victory, and that I shall die in this year by a
sudden death?" Then his mother answered him sadly: "Dearest son, behold
the times are more than a hundred years since it was found in our book
and in the volumes of the Gentiles that the Christian host would come
against us, would conquer us everywhere and rule over the pagans, and
that our people would be everywhere subject to them. But I do not know
whether these things are to happen now or in the future. Wretched woman
that I am, I have followed you from Aleppo, most beautiful city, in
which, by gazing and contriving ingenious rhymes, I looked back at the
stars of the skies and wisely scrutinized the planets and the twelve
signs, or count less lots. In all of these I found that the Christian
host would win everywhere, and so I am exceedingly sad and fear greatly
lest I remain bereft of you."
Curbara said to her: "Dearest mother, explain to me all the in credible
things which are in my heart."
Answering this, she said: "This, dearest, I will do freely, if I know
the things which are unknown to you."
He said to her: "Are not Bohemund and Tancred gods of the Franks, and do
they not free them from their enemies, and do not these men in one meal
eat two thousand heifers and four thousand bogs?"
His mother answered: "Dearest son, Bohemund and Tancred are mortals,
like all the rest; but their God loves them greatly above all the others
and gives them valor in fighting beyond the rest. For (it is) their God,
Omnipotent is His name, who made heaven and earth and established the
seas and all things that in them are, whose dwelling-place is in heaven
prepared for all eternity, whose might is everywhere to be feared."
Her son said "(Even) if such is the case, I will not refrain from
fighting with them." Thereupon, when his mother heard that he would in
no way yield to her advice, she returned, a very sad woman, to Aleppo,
carrying with her all the gifts that she could take along.
But on the third day Curbara armed himself and most of the Turks with
him and went toward the city from the side on which the fortress was
located. Thinking that we could resist them, we prepared ourselves for
battle against them, but so great was their valor that we could not
withstand them, and under compulsion, therefore, we entered the city.
The gate was so amazingly close and narrow for them that many died there
from the pressure of the rest. Meanwhile, some fought outside the city,
others within, on the fifth day of the week throughout the day until the
evening.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and
Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 163-68
14. The Discovery of the Holy Lance
But one day as our leaders, sad and disconsolate, were standing back
before the fortress, a certain priest came to them and said: "Seignorss,
if it please you, listen to a certain matter which I saw in a vision.
When one night I was lying in the church St. Mary, Mother of God, our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, appeared to me with His
mother and St. Peter, prince of the apostles, and stood before me and
said, 'Knowest thou me?"
I answered, 'No.' At these words, lo, a whole cross on His head.
"A second time, therefore, the Lord asked me 'Knowest thou, me?'
"To Him I replied: I do not know Thee except that I see cross on thy
head like that of Our Saviour.'
"He answered, 'I am He.'
'Immediately I fell at His feet, humbly beseeching that He help us in
the oppression which was upon us. The Lord responded: I have helped you
in goodly manner and I will now help you. I permitted you to have the
city of Nicaea, and to win all battles and I conducted you hither to
this point, and I have grieved at the misery which you have suffered in
the siege of Antioch. Behold with timely aid I sent you safe and
unharmed into the city, and lo! (you are) working much evil pleasure
with Christian and depraved pagan women, whereof a stench beyond measure
arises unto heaven.'
"Then the loving Virgin and the blessed Peter fell at His feet, praying
and beseeching Him to aid His people in this tribulation, and the
blessed I Peter said: 'Lord, for so long a time the pagan host has held
my house, and in it they have committed many unspeakable wrongs. But
now, since the enemy have been driven hence, Lord, the angels rejoice in
heaven.'
"The Lord then said to me: 'Go and tell my people to return to Me, and I
will I return to them, and within five days I will send them great help.
Let them daily chant the response Congregati sunt, all of it, including
the verse.'
"Seignors, if You do not believe that this is true, let me climb up into
this tower, and I will throw myself down, and if I am unharmed, believe
that this is true. If, however, I shall have suffered any hurt, behead
me, or cast me into the fire." Then the Bishop of Puy ordered that the
Gospel and the Cross be brought, so that be might take oath that this
was true.
All our leaders were counselled at that time to take oath that not one
of them would flee, either for life or death, as long as they were
alive. Bohemund is said to have been the first to take the oath, then
the Count of St. Gilles, Robert of Normandy, Duke Godfrey, and the Count
of Flanders. Tancred, indeed, swore and promised in this manner: that as
long as he had forty knights with him he would not only not withdraw
from that battle, but, likewise, not from the march to Jerusalem.
Moreover, the Christian assemblage exulted greatly upon hearing this
oath.
There was a certain pilgrim of our army, whose name was Peter, to whom
before we entered the city St. Andrew, the apostle, appeared and said:
"What art thou doing, good man?"
Peter answered, "Who art thou?"
The apostle said to him: "I am St. Andrew, the apostle. Know, my son,
that when thou shalt enter the town, go to the church of St. Peter.
There thou wilt find the Lance of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, with which
He was wounded as He hung on the arm of the cross." Having said all
this, the apostle straightway withdrew.
But Peter, afraid to reveal the advice of the apostle, was unwilling to
make it known to the pilgrims. However, he thought that he had seen a
vision, and said: "Lord, who would believe this?" But at that hour St.
Andrew took him and carried him to the place where the Lance was hidden
in the ground. When we were a second time situated in such (straits) as
we have stated above, St. Andrew came again, saying to him: "Wherefore
hast thou not yet taken the Lance from the earth as I commanded thee?
Know verily, that whoever shall bear this lance in battle shall never
'be overcome by an enemy." Peter, indeed, straightway made known to our
men the mystery of the apostle.
The people, however, did not believe (it), but refused, saying: "How can
we believe this?" For they were utterly terrified and thought that they
were to die forthwith. Thereupon, this man came forth and swore that it
was all most true, since St. Andrew had twice appeared to him in a
vision and had said to him: "Rise' go and tell the people of God not to
fear, but to trust firmly with whole heart in the one true God and they
will be everywhere victorious. Within five days the Lord will send them
such a token that they will remain happy and joyful, and if they wish to
fight, let them go out immediately to battle, all together, and all
their enemies will be conquered, and no one will stand against them."
Thereupon, when they beard that their enemies were to be overcome by
them, they began straightway to revive and to encourage one another,
saying: "Bestir yourselves, and be everywhere brave and alert, since the
Lord will come to our aid in the next battle and will be the greatest
refuge to His people whom He beholds' lingering in sorrow."
Accordingly, upon hearing the statements of that man who reported to us
the revelation of Christ through the words of the apostle, we went in
haste immediately to the place in the church of St. Peter which he had
pointed out. Thirteen men dug there from morning until vespers. And so
that man found the Lance, just as he had indicated. They received it
with great gladness and fear, and a joy beyond measure arose in the
whole city.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and
Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 174-76
15. The Defeat of Kerbogha
>From that hour we took counsel of battle among ourselves. Forthwith, all
our leaders decided upon the plan of sending a messenger to the Turks,
enemies of Christ, to ask them with assured address: "Wherefore have you
most haughtily entered the land of the Christians, and why have you
encamped, and why do you kill and assail servants of Christ?' When their
speech was already ended, they found certain men, Peter the Hermit and
Herlwin, and they told them as follows: "Go to the accursed army of the
Turks and carefully tell them all this, asking them why they have boldly
and haughtily entered the land of the Christians and our own?"
At these words, the messengers left and went to the profane assemblage,
saying everything to Curbara and the others as follows.. "Our leaders
and nobles wonder wherefore you have rashly and most haughtily entered
their land, the land of the Christians? We think, forsooth, and believe
that you have thus come hither because you wish to become Christians
fully; or have you come hither for the purpose of harassing the
Christians in every way? All our leaders together ask you, therefore,
quickly to leave the land of God and the Christians, which the blessed
apostle, Peter by his preaching converted long ago to the worship of
Christ. But they grant, in addition, that you may take away all your
belongings, horses, mules, asses, camels, sheep, and cattle; all other
belongings they permit you to carry with you, wherever you may wish."
Then Curbara, chief of the army of the Sultan of Persia, with all the
others full of haughtiness, answered in fierce language "Your God and
your Christianity we neither seek nor desire, a we spurn you and them
absolutely. We have now come even hither because we marvelled greatly
why the princes and nobles who you mention call this land theirs, the
land we took from an effeminate people. Now, do you want to know what we
are saying to you? Go back quickly, therefore, and tell your seignors
that if they desire to become Turks in everything, and wish to deny the
God whom you worship with bowed heads, and to spurn your laws, we will
give them this and enough more of lands, castles, and cities. In
addition, moreover, (we will grant) that none of you will longer remain
a foot soldier, but will all be knights, just as we are; and we will
ever bold you in the highest friendship. But if not, let them know that
they will all undergo capital sentence, or will be led in chains to
Chorosan, to serve us and our children in perpetual captivity forever."
Our messengers speedily came back, reporting all this most cruel race
had replied. Herlwin is said to have known both tongues, and to have
been the interpreter for Peter the Hermit, Meanwhile, our army,
frightened on both sides, did not know what to do; for on one side
excruciating famine harassed them, on the other fear of the Turks
constrained them.
At length, when the three days fast had been fulfilled, and a procession
had been held from one church to another, they confessed their sins,
were absolved, and faithfully took the communion of the body and blood
of Christ; and when alms had been give they celebrated mass. Then six
battle lines were formed from the forces within the city. In the first
line, that is at the very head, was Hugh the Great with the Franks and
the Count of Flanders; in the second, Duke Godfrey with his army; in the
third was Robert the Norman with his knights; in the fourth, carrying
with him the Lance of the Saviour, was the Bishop of Puy, together with
his people and with the army of Raymond, Count of St. Gilles, who
remained behind to watch the citadel for fear lest the Turks descend
into the city; in the fifth line was Tancred, son of Marchisus, with his
people, and in the sixth line was the wise man, Bohemund, with his army.
Our bishops, priests, clerics, and monks, dressed in holy vestments,
came out with us with crosses, praying and beseeching the Lord to make
us safe, guard us, and deliver us from all evil. Some stood on the wall
of the gate, holding the sacred crosses in their hands, making the sign
(of the cross) and blessing us. Thus were we arrayed, and, protected
with the sign of the cross, we went forth through the gate which is
before the mosque.
After Curbara saw the lines of the Franks, so beautifully formed, coming
out one after the other, he said: "Let them come out, that we may the
better have them in our power!" But after they were outside the city and
Curbara saw the huge host of the Franks, he was greatly frightened. He
straightway sent word to his Emir, who had everything in charge, that if
he saw a light burn at the head of the army he should have the trumpets
sounded for it to retreat, knowing that the Turks had lost the battle.
Curbara began immediately to retreat little by little toward the
mountain, and our men followed them little by little. At length the
Turks divided; one party went toward the sea and the rest halted there,
expecting to enclose our men between them. As our men saw this, they did
likewise. There a seventh line was formed from the lines of Duke Godfrey
and the Count of Normandy, and its head was Reinald. They sent this
(line) to meet the Turks, who were coming from the sea. The Turks,
however, engaged them in battle and by shooting killed many of our men.
Other squadrons, moreover, were drawn out from the river to the
mountain, which was about two miles distant. The squadrons began to go
forth from both sides and to surround our men on all sides, hurling,
shooting, and wounding them. There came out from the mountains, also,
countless armies with white horses, whose standards were all white. And
so, when our leaders saw this army, they were entirely ignorant as to
what it was, and who they were, until they recognized the aid of Christ,
whose leaders were St. George, Mercurius, and Demetrius. This is to be
believed, for many of our men saw it. However, when the Turks who were
stationed on the side toward the sea saw that that they could hold out
no longer, they set fire to the grass, so that, upon seeing it, those
who were in the tents might flee. The latter, recognizing that signal,
seized all the precious spoils and fled. But our men fought yet a while
where their (the Turks) greatest strength was, that is, in the region of
their tents. Duke Godfrey, the Count of Flanders, and Hugh the Great
rode near the water, where the enemy's strength lay. These men,
fortified by the sign of the cross, together attacked the enemy first.
When the other lines saw this, they likewise attacked. The Turks and the
Persians in their turn cried out. Thereupon, we invoked the Living and
True God and charged against them, and in the name of Jesus Christ and
of the Holy Sepulchre we began the battle, and, God helping, we overcame
them. But the terrified Turks took to flight, and our men followed them
to the tents. Thereupon, the knights of Christ chose rather to pursue
them than to seek any spoils, and they pursued them even to the Iron
Bridge, and then up to the fortress of Tancred. The enemy, indeed, left
their pavilions there, gold, silver, and many ornaments, also sheep,
cattle, horses, mules, camels, asses, grain, wine, butter, and many
other things which we needed. When the Armenians and Syrians who dwelt
in those regions heard that we had overcome the Turks, they ran to the
mountain to meet them and killed as many of them as they could catch.
We, however, returned to the city with great joy and praised and blessed
God, who gave the victory to His people.
Thereupon, when the Emir who was guarding the citadel saw that Curbara
and all the rest bad fled from the field before the army of the Franks,
he was greatly frightened. Immediately and with great baste be sought
the standards of the Franks. Accordingly, the Count of St. Gilles, who
was stationed before the citadel, ordered his standard to be brought to
him. The Emir took it and carefully placed it on the tower. The
Longobards who were there said immediately: "This is not Bohemund's
standard!" Then the Emir asked and said: "Whose is it?" They answered:
"It belongs to the Count of St. Gilles." Thereupon, the Emir went and
seized the standard and returned it to the Count. But at that hour the
venerable man, Bohemund, came and gave him his standard. He received it
with great joy and entered into an agreement with Bohemund that the
pagans who wished to take up Christianity might remain with him
(Bohemund), and that he should permit those who wished to go away to
depart safe and without any hurt. He agreed to all that the Emir
demanded and straightway sent his servants into the citadel. Not many
days after this the Emir was baptized with those of his men who
preferred to recognize Christ. But those who wished to adhere to their
own laws Lord Bohemund bad conducted to the land of the Saracens.
This battle was fought on the fourth day before the Kalends of July, on
the vigil of the apostles Peter and Paul, in the reign of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who has honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. And after our
enemies bad now been completely conquered, we gave fitting thanks to
God, Three and One, and the Highest. Some of the enemy, exhausted,
others, wounded in their flight hither and thither, succumbed to death
in valley, forest, fields, and roads. But the people of Christ, that is,
the victorious pilgrims, returned to the city, rejoicing in the happy
triumph over their defeated foes.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and
Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 182-85
16. The March to Jerusalem
Accordingly, we left the fortified town and came to Tripoli on the sixth
day of the week on the thirteenth day of incoming May, and we stayed
there for three days. At length, the King of Tripoli made an agreement
with the leaders, and he straightway loosed to them more than three
hundred pilgrims who had been captured there and gave fifteen thousand
besants and fifteen horses of great value; he likewise gave us a great
market of horses, asses and all goods, whence the whole army of Christ
was greatly enriched. But he made an agreement with them that if they
could win the war which the Emir of Babylon was getting ready against
them and could take Jerusalem, he would become a Christian and would
recognize his land as (a gift) from them. In such manner it was settled.
We left the city on the second day of the week in the month of May and,
passing along a narrow and difficult road all day and night, we came to
a fortress, the name of which was Botroun. Then we came to a city called
Gibilet near the sea, in which we suffered very great thirst, and, thus
worn out, we reached a river named Ibrahim. Then on the eve of the day
of the Ascension of the Lord we crossed a mountain in which the way was
exceedingly narrow, and there we expected to find the enemy lying in
ambush for us. But God favoring us, none of them dared to appear in our
way. Then our knights went ahead of us and cleared the way before us,
and we arrived at a city by the sea which called Beirut, and thence we
went to another city called Sidon, thence to another called Tyre, and
from Tyre to the city of Acre. But from Acre we came to a fortified
place the name of which was Cayphas, and then we came near Caesarea.
There was celebrated Pentecost on the third day of outgoing May. Then we
came to Ramlah, which through fear of the Franks the Saracens had left
empty. Near it was the famous church in which rested the most precious
body of St. George, since for the name of Christ he there happily
received martyrdom from the treacherous pagans. There our leaders held a
council to choose a bishop who should have charge of this place and
erect a church. They gave tithes to him and enriched him with gold and
silver, and with horses and other animals, that be might live the more
devoutly and honorably with those who were with him. He remained there
with joy.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and
Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 242-243
17. The Fall of Jerusalem
At length, our leaders decided to beleaguer the city with siege
machines, so that we might enter and worship the Saviour at the Holy
Sepulchre. They constructed wooden towers and many other siege machines.
Duke Godfrey made a wooden tower and other siege devices, and Count
Raymond did the same, although it was necessary to bring wood from a
considerable distance. However, when the Saracens saw our men engaged in
this work, they greatly strengthened the fortifications of the city and
increased the height of the turrets at night. On a certain Sabbath
night, the leaders, after having decided which parts of the wall were
weakest, dragged the tower and the machines to the eastern side of the
city. Moreover, we set up the tower at earliest dawn and equipped and
covered it on the first, second, and third days of the week. The Count
of St. Gilles erected his tower on the plain to the south of the city.
While all this was going on, our water supply was so limited that no one
could buy enough water for one denarius to satisfy or quench his thirst.
Both day and night, on the fourth and fifth days of the week, we made a
determined attack on the city from all sides. However, before we made
this assault on the city, the bishops and priests persuaded all, by
exhorting and preaching, to honor the Lord by marching around Jerusalem
in a great procession, and to prepare for battle by prayer, fasting, and
almsgiving. Early on the sixth day of the week we again attacked the
city on all sides, but as the assault was unsuccessful, we were all
astounded and fearful. However, when the hour approached on which our
Lord Jesus Christ deigned to suffer on the Cross for us, our knights
began to fight bravely in one of the towers - namely, the party with
Duke Godfrey and his brother, Count Eustace. One of our knights, named
Lethold, clambered up the wall of the city, and no sooner had he
ascended than the defenders fled from the walls and through the city.
Our men followed, killing and slaying even to the Temple of Solomon,
where the slaughter was so great that our men waded in blood up to their
ankles....
Count Raymond brought his army and his tower up near the wall from the
south, but between the tower and the wall there was a very deep ditch.
Then our men took counsel how they might fill it, and had it proclaimed
by heralds that anyone who carried three stones to the ditch would
receive one denarius. The work of filling it required three days and
three nights, and when at length the ditch was filled, they moved the
tower up to the wall, but the men defending this portion of the wall
fought desperately with stones and fire. When the Count heard that the
Franks were already in the city, he said to his men, "Why do you loiter?
Lo, the Franks are even now within the city." The Emir who commanded the
Tower of St. David surrendered to the Count and opened that gate at
which the pilgrims had always been accustomed to pay tribute. But this
time the pilgrims entered the city, pursuing and killing the Saracens up
to the Temple of Solomon, where the enemy gathered in force. The battle
raged throughout the day, so that the Temple was covered with their
blood. When the pagans had been overcome, our men seized great numbers,
both men and women, either killing them or keeping them captive, as they
wished. On the roof of the Temple a great number of pagans of both sexes
had assembled, and these were taken under the protection of Tancred and
Gaston of Beert. Afterward, the army scattered throughout the city and
took possession of the gold and silver, the horses and mules, and the
houses filled with goods of all kinds.
Rejoicing and weeping for joy, our people came to the Sepulchre of Jesus
our Saviour to worship and pay their debt [i.e. fulfil crusading vows by
worshiping at the Sepulchre]. At dawn our men cautiously went up to the
roof of the Temple and attacked Saracen men and women, beheading them
with naked swords. Some of the Saracens, however, leaped from the Temple
roof. Tancred, seeing this, was greatly angered.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and
Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 256-57 . [Last paragraph from Brundage,
Crusades: A Documentary History, (Milwaukee: 1962), 64]
18. "The Vision of Peace"
Then our leaders in council decided that each one should offer alms with
prayers, that the Lord might choose for Himself whom He wanted to reign
over the others and rule the city. They also ordered all the Saracen
dead to be cast outside because of the great stench, since the whole
city was filled with their corpses; and so the living Saracens dragged
the dead before the exits of the gates and arranged them in heaps, as if
they were houses. No one ever saw or heard of such slaughter of pagan
people, for funeral pyres were formed from them like pyramids, and no
one knows their number except God alone.
But Raymond caused the Emir and the others who were with him to be
conducted to Ascalon, whole and unhurt. However, on the eighth day after
the city was captured, they chose Godfrey as head of the city to fight
the pagans and guard the Christians. On the day of St. Peter ad Vincula
they likewise chose as Patriarch a certain very wise and honorable man,
Arnulf by name. This city was captured by God's Christians on the
fifteenth day of July, the sixth day of the week.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses and
Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 262
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A. Saba
Dare To Call It Conspiracy
A. Saba
Dare To Call It Conspiracy
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