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THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 THE ACCOUNTS OF EYE-WITNESSES 
 AND PARTICIPANTS 
 
 BY 
 
 AUGUST C. KREY 
 
 ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY IN THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA 
 
 PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS 
 PRINCETON 
 
 LONDON: HUMPHREY MILFORD 
 OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 
 
 1921 
 
Copyright, 1921, by 
 Princeton University Press 
 
 Published 1921 
 Printed in the United States of America 
 
 
To 
 DANA CARLETON MUNRO 
 
 DODGE PROFESSOR OF MEDIAEVAL HISTORY 
 IN PRINCETON UNIVERSITY 
 
PREFACE 
 
 When Henry Adams sought to triangulate the progress of 
 modern civilization he fixed his historical transit at Mont St. 
 Michel and Chartres in the days of the First Crusade and sighted 
 from them across the centuries. No earlier place in the Middle 
 Ages would have afforded a foundation of equal breadth in its 
 description of society. The spiritual character of the Crusade 
 lent a halo to even the most commonplace details connected with 
 it and thus gave to them a literary immortality hitherto confined 
 rather narrowly to matters of ecclesiastical interest. The wide- 
 spread enthusiasm for the movement and participation in it as- 
 sured its commemoration not only in monuments of stone but 
 in a variety of writings as well. The authors of these accounts 
 were neither sophisticated nor highly trained in their art. The 
 picture of society which they drew, though relatively complete, 
 has stood forth with all the simple and stark realism of a char- 
 coal sketch, full of feeling, action, and scenery, but lacking in 
 finish. The polish and finish have come with the later centu- 
 ries. For those, however, who would understand that society 
 even in its more finished form, a knowledge of the preliminary 
 sketch is still essential. 
 
 In these lack-o-Latin days students seeking to accomplish this 
 find their path too much beset with linguistic obstacles. It is to 
 ameliorate these difficulties that the present volume has been com- 
 piled. The plan of this work will be found reminiscent of 
 Archer's Crusade of Richard I and the Parallel Source Problems 
 of Medmeval History. The author gratefully acknowledges in- 
 debtedness to both. For assistance in the preparation of these 
 
 V 
 
VI 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 translations he is under great obligation to several of his former 
 students. Sj^ecial acknowledgment is due to Sister Frances Rita 
 Ryan, M.A. (Sisters of St. Joseph) for her contributions of the 
 passages from Fulcher and to Mrs. Willoughby M. Babcock, M.A. 
 for a like service in the case of Ekkehard. Both have also as- 
 sisted in reading the proof sheets. In the preparation of the in- 
 troduction and notes the works of numerous scholars in the 
 field have been placed under contribution. A few of these are 
 mentioned, but it would be quite impossible to enumerate them 
 all. The author must content himself with the expression of his 
 gratitude to Professor D. C. Munro, through whose seminar he, 
 like so many others, was first introduced to the study of this 
 period. Finally, I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to my 
 wife, without whose help at all stages this work would not have 
 
 been completed. 
 
 A. C. K. 
 Minneapolis, Alinn. 
 May 31, 1921. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
 PAGI 
 
 Introduction i 
 
 Prologue 22 
 
 Chapter I. The Summons 24 
 
 I. Conditions in Europe at the beginning of the Crusade 
 
 2. Urban's plea for a Crusade 3. The immediate response 
 
 4. Urban's instructions to assembUng Crusaders. 
 
 Chapter II. The March to Constantinople 44 
 
 I. The Departure 2.; The Mar ch of the Peasan t^ 3. The 
 
 Main Body. 
 
 Chapter III. Alexius and the Crusaders 69 
 
 I. Alexius and the Peasants. Fate of the Peasants' Crusade 
 
 2. The Emperor's treatment of Hugh 3. Godfrey at Con- 
 stantinople 4. Alexius and the minor leaders 5. Bohe- 
 
 mund and the Emperor 6. Raymond and the Emperor ■ 
 
 7. Robert of Normandy and Stephen at the Emperor's Court 
 8. Siege and capture of Nicaea 9. Alexius at the sur- 
 render of Nicaea 10. The views of Alexius on his relations , 
 
 with the Crusaders. 
 
 Chapter IV. From Nicaea to Antioch 112 
 
 I. Battle of Dorylaeum 2. Hardships of the march through 
 
 Asia Minor 3. Baldwin and Tancred depart from the main 
 
 army 4. The march through Armenia S. Beginning of 
 
 the siege of Antioch 6. Summary of the march to Antioch 
 
 and the beginning of the siege 7. The foraging expedition 
 
 of Bohemund and Robert of Flanders 8. . Suflferings in 
 
 camp before Antioch 9. Call for reinforcements 10. The 
 
 erection of a fortress. Fights with the Turks 11. Capture 
 
 of Antioch 12. Summary of the siege of Antioch. 
 
 Chapter V. Kerbogha and the Finding of the Lance 163 
 
 I. Kerbogha lays siege to the Crusaders in Antioch 2. Dire 
 
 straits of the Crusaders 3. Revelation of the Lance 
 
 4. Defeat of Kerbogha 5. Summary of events. 
 
 vii 
 
viii TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Chapter VI. Dissension among the leaders 194 
 
 I. Disorganization of the army 2. Disputes between Ray- 
 mond and Bohemund 3. Raymond finally starts for Jeru- 
 salem. Archas 4. Continued quarrels among the leaders. 
 
 The trial of the Lance 5. Another view of the revelation 
 
 and trial of the Lance. 
 
 Chapter VII. Capture of Jerusalem 242 
 
 I. March to Jerusalem 2. The Siege 3. Final assault and 
 
 capture 4. Arrangements for holding Jerusalem 5. Bat- 
 tle of Ascalon 6. Bohemund and Baldwin fulfil their vow 
 
 7. Official Summary of the Crusade. 
 
 Epilogue 280 
 
 Notes 282 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 It is now more than eight hundred years since Christian Europe 
 was first aroused to arms in an effort to wrest the Holy Land from 
 the hands of the Infidel, and yet the interest in those expeditions 
 still persists. Scarcely a generation has passed without demanding 
 a fuller and fresher account of the Crusades for its own perusal. 
 Sober historians have sought earnestly to answer the call, but, 
 voluminous as their work has been, the fanciful poet and novelist 
 have succeeded in keeping a pace in advance. It would require many 
 pages to list only the titles of the books and articles which the last 
 generation alone has produced. Apparently the subject will not 
 cease to appeal to the interest of the world so long as the history of 
 Syria remains a treasured memory. And the story of the first and 
 most successful Christian effort to retake possession of the Holy 
 Land will continue to be read with feeling by the descendants, blood 
 and spiritual, of those first Crusaders. It seems, therefore, not 
 out of place to make available for the English reader the story of 
 that expedition as related by the men who witnessed it and parti- 
 cipated in it. 
 
 I. General Importance of the Chronicles 
 Modern writers have viewed the Crusades with varying opinion. 
 Scholarly enthusiasts have seen in them "the first great effort of 
 mediaeval life to go beyond the pursuit of selfish and isolated am- 
 bitions; . . . the trial feat of the young world essaying to use, 
 to the glory of God and the benefit of many, the arms of its new 
 knighthood."^ Others, like Gibbon, more cynical in their attitude, 
 have seen in them only the mournful spectacle of hundreds of 
 thousands of human beings led on to inevitable slaughter by a spirit 
 of ignorant fanaticism.- However varied the opinion on the wisdom 
 and the expediency of the undertaking, there is less room for 
 difference in regard to the importance of the movement as a phase 
 in the development of European civilization. The highly localized 
 life of the eleventh century, in which the immediate horizon so often 
 served to limit men's vision of knowledge, was shaken from end to 
 end. Not all who started on this expedition to the Holy Land ever 
 reached the other end of Europe, to be sure, but even these saw 
 for the first time strange cities and men and returned home, if not 
 with glory, certainly with more experience than they had had before. 
 
2 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 As for the thousands who finally succeeded in overcoming the almost 
 superhuman obstacles involved in the conquest of the holy places, 
 what wonders did they not have to relate! Individuals and occa- 
 sional bands of pilgrims had journeyed over the same route before 
 the Crusaders, but they were relatively so few that their experiences 
 were absorbed within their own limited localities and left few traces. 
 The First Crusade, however, enlisted people of all classes, of both 
 sexes, and every age, drawing them from practically all parts of 
 Christian Europe. As the first bands proceeded through district 
 after district, others caught the spirit and started after them. And 
 thus the narrow highways were choked with a constant stream of 
 Crusaders, some hurrying eastward, others returning home. Nor 
 did the movement cease with the capture of Jerusalem. Ten years 
 later there w^ere Crusaders still going East in answer to Urban's 
 call for the First Crusade, while the actual possession of the Holy 
 City by the Crusaders afiforded the necessary impetus for a steady 
 stream of pilgrims between West and East. With the pilgrim and 
 the Crusader went also the merchant, courier, minstrel, and ad- 
 venturer. Thus wayfaring, with all its attendant good and evil, 
 became a habit over all of Europe. What this exchange of ideas 
 and wares meant transcends statistics and must be looked for in 
 the accelerated progress of Europe which followed, in the so-called 
 Renaissance of the Twelfth Century. 
 
 Quite apart from the Crusade itself, the eye-witness accounts of 
 the expedition have a peculiar value for the student of history as 
 the first fairly full description of European society since the fall 
 of the Roman Empire in the West. It is difficult to find in the 
 period between the fifth and twelfth centuries any writings which 
 describe contemporary life and society. Einhard's Life of Charle- 
 magne is the striking exception. Just as the meagre Germania 
 of Tacitus has been remorselessly tortured into a confession of 
 Germanic civilization, frequently made to serve all centuries from 
 the prehistoric to the eighth, and even beyond, so Einhard, with 
 but little help, has been pressed into equally heroic service for 
 the eighth and ninth centuries. The next two centuries, for lack 
 of a Tacitus or an Einhard, have been constrained to linger under 
 the infamy of the name "Dark Ages." This darkness, however, is 
 effectively dispelled at the end of the eleventh century, largely 
 through these chronicles of the First Crusades, while the steadily 
 swelling volume of writings thereafter obviates the danger for suc- 
 ceeding ages. The religious character of the Crusades drew the 
 sympathetic attention of clerical writers, the only writers of the 
 time. All that the leaders did on this journey "of the Lord," 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 3 
 
 whether petty or great, trivial or important, was thought worthy of 
 commemoration for the benefit of posterity. Under the circum- 
 stances, the varied composition of the crusading host was par- 
 ticularly fortunate. Practically the only classes of Europe not 
 personally represented on the Crusade were Emperor and King, 
 Pope and Archbishop. In other words, that portion of society 
 which alone was deemed worthy of attention in the ordinary brief 
 annals and chronicles of the time was absent, and those who de- 
 tailed the story of the expedition lavished their enthusiasm upon 
 ordinary nobles, knights, and foot soldiers, even the poor being 
 accorded a generous measure of notice. These accounts, accord- 
 ingly, present a picture of society in which the relationship of all 
 classes, ecclesiastical and lay, masculine and feminine, is portrayed 
 in its intimate aspects. Although ordinary affairs are at times 
 slighted, the extraordinary recur so frequently and with such variety 
 as to make the inference of the ordinary fairly easy. The descrip- 
 tions are so full and touch so many activities of society that they 
 illumine not only the civilization of the time, but also cast con- 
 siderable light on the preceding and following periods. As a re- 
 sult, it has been a common practice for master historians to initiate 
 their apprentices into the study of European history through the 
 accounts of the First Crusade. 
 
 The literary value of these writings is rather indirect than other- 
 •vise. They have afforded apparently inexhaustible material for 
 literature, but as literary productions themselves have been only 
 lightly appraised. Nevertheless, they are fair specimens of the 
 writings of that time, and, as such, they deserve some consideration 
 in a comprehensive history of literature. Some of them, such as the 
 letters of Stephen of Blois and Anselm of Ribemont, have a charm 
 which entitles them to much higher consideration. Here and there 
 in the chronicles the authors soar to fairly great heights. It would 
 be difficult to find anywhere a more graphic description of deep 
 despair than is presented by the anonymous author of the Gesta 
 in his account of the reception by Alexius and his army of the fate 
 of the Crusaders at Antioch. In like manner, the fanciful account 
 of the interview of Kerbogha and his mother before Antioch may 
 be ranked with many a better known piece of imagery. In general, 
 however, the literary merit of the following accounts consists chiefly 
 in their vivid realism, which the very crudeness of expression only 
 serves to accentuate. The hopes and fears, mournful sorrows and 
 exultant joys, the profound despair and terror of the army, as it 
 marched through one trial after another, are described with the 
 awful earnestness and sincerity of men who have actually shared 
 
4 THE FIRST CRUSx\DF 
 
 these experiences. It is this quality which causes the chronicles 
 themselves to be read with interest long after their material has been 
 adorned with finer language by more skilful writers. 
 
 II. The Distribution of News 
 
 But the absence of a polished literary finish was not wholly due 
 to a lack of skill on the part of the writers. It was partly due, also, 
 to the fact that these writings were intended for the information 
 of the contemporary world. They were the newspapers of the time 
 and in this they mark a distinct advance in the art of disseminating 
 current information. Hitherto, writing had been almost exclusively 
 confined to the Latin language and, hence, to churchmen. The few 
 exceptions in vernacular tongues before the twelfth century have 
 been deservedly treasured as rare monuments of philology. In the 
 Latin writings only such matters as were of interest to the clergy 
 were accorded much consideration. Theological writings. Scripture, 
 the writings of the Church Fathers, books of Church service, text- 
 books for the schools, and treatises on kindred subjects constituted 
 the chief themes for writers. Laws of kingdoms and meagre entries 
 in monastic annals composed the major portion of secular informa- 
 tion committed to writing. Occasionally the career of some ruler 
 was chronicled in panegyric fashion, usually because of some past or 
 expected favor to the Church. Even the histories of nations — e.g.. 
 The History of the Franks by Gregory of Tours, or The Ecclesiasti- 
 cal History of England by the Venerable Bede — were ecclesiastical 
 histories, in which the purely secular played but an incidental part. 
 
 The written description of contemporary events for contem- 
 porary men w'as left to letters. But in the narrow life of the time 
 people were rarely so far removed from their friends that they 
 found it necessary to resort to such means for exchanging informa- 
 tion. The churchmen, whose organization radiated from Rome, 
 and whose training had made them more familiar with the art of 
 writing, alone employed letters to any great extent. Here again, 
 however, ecclesiastical and scholastic matters received the pre- 
 ponderant share of attention, though often current bits of general 
 interest w-ere included. These latter items might be transmitted to 
 Church gatherings and, doubtless, were frequently so treated. But 
 for the most part the news of the day was passed orally from 
 neighbor to neighbor, or wider areas were momentarily linked 
 together by the tales of some warfaring minstrel or other traveller. 
 As the monasteries and castles were most famous for their hos- 
 pitality, so these were the best informed centers of the time. 
 
 The Crusade, however, created abnormal conditions. ]\Iost of 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 5 
 
 the people who went on the expedition did so with the expectation 
 of returning home after the fulfillment of their purpose. As a re- 
 sult, the social interests of the local communities were suddenly ex- 
 panded even to Palestine itself. Since, moreover, there were few 
 regions of western Europe which did not furnish some of their 
 people for the cause, many different lines of interest focused them- 
 selves upon the army and were constantly crossing one another. 
 Secular Europe was no longer limited by a local horizon ; it was 
 ever eager for news, and more news, from the East. Neighborhood 
 gossip could serve only as a local distributing agency in this work. 
 Wayfarers were eagerly accosted for news and probably supplied 
 the localities with much real information. But where the interest 
 was great and so constant, the temptation to expand small items 
 to magnificent proportions was too great to be resisted, and many a 
 glib-tongued impostor exchanged the fabrication of his fertile im- 
 agination for full fare and comfortable lodging. Some of these 
 wild tales found their way into writing and were transmitted to 
 a credulous posterity with all the authority which the written page 
 could lend. Authentic information — and even the common world 
 was soon forced to discriminate between kinds — had to be obtained 
 through more assured channels. The service of couriers, long 
 known to the official world, was expanded to meet the need, 
 
 III. Letters 
 
 In the earlier stages of the march it was a relatively easy matter 
 to detach squires or foot-soldiers and send them back with messages 
 and news. This continued even to the time when the army left 
 Nicaea; thereafter this method became impracticable, if not quite 
 impossible. Chance meetings with ships from the West then 
 offered almost the only opportunity to exchange greetings, and, as 
 the accounts show, these opportunities occurred but rarely. Letters 
 alone could be used under such circumstances. It was, therefore, 
 fortunate that the expedition represented a union of ecclesiastical 
 and secular interests, for the churchmen, priests, or clerics lent 
 themselves willingly to the task of drawing up letters — in Latin, of 
 course. The churchmen in the West, upon receiving these letters, 
 copied them and rapidly passed on the information to the waiting 
 world. Such letters, even when addressed to individuals, were re- 
 garded as common property, unless they were carefully sealed, and 
 their contents were widely diffused, usually at Church gatherings of 
 some sort. How eagerly the congregations everywhere must have 
 looked forward to such meetings for news from relatives, friends, 
 and acquaintances, gone so long and so far away! 
 
6 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 These letters,^ of which fourteen are here translated and distrib- 
 uted at their appropriate places in the narrative, constitute the most 
 important sources of our knowledge of the events which they de- 
 scribe. The authors are all men of prominence and responsibility. 
 Two of the letters are from popes. One is from the Emperor 
 Alexius. Five are from the leaders of the Crusade and may be re- 
 garded as official reports of progress, while the remaining four, 
 though also the works of leaders, are of a more personal nature. 
 The two letters of Stephen of Blois to his wife, Adele, are among 
 the literary gems of the period. In addition to the responsible char- 
 acter of their writers, the letters have the further merit of greater 
 proximity both of time and place to the events which they narrate. 
 The emotions of the moment grip the writers irresistibly, beyond the 
 power of epistolary formality to efface and thus lend a vividness 
 which the later chronicles sometimes lack. Our chief regret is that 
 there are not more of them. 
 
 IV. Chronicles 
 
 The interest of the world in the events of the First Crusade 
 could not be satisfied by letters alone. Numerous motives combined 
 to keep this interest inflamed. Patriotic pride in the achievements 
 of countrymen, natural enjoyment of the marvelous and adven- 
 turous, the continued need of both men and money to insure the 
 permanence of the conquest, and, no less, the pardonable pride of the 
 Crusaders themselves in preserving the memory of their deeds — 
 all these influences tended to the telling and the retelling of the 
 story. Book-making in itself offered little inducement, for the ab- 
 sence of publishing houses and the lack of copyright laws denied 
 prospective authors hope either of fame or wealth. Publishing, if 
 the multiplication of copies by the laborious process of hand-writing 
 may be so called, was done chiefly in the scriptoria of monasteries 
 or episcopal schools. But parchment was expensive, and only the 
 clerics could write. Ordinarily the military exploits of contem- 
 porary men seemed too ephemeral to justify description. How- 
 ever, the Crusade was a different matter in that its exploits, 
 though largely military and material, nevertheless had a deep 
 religious significance. Urban's remark at Clermont, that the re- 
 covery of the Holy Land would be a deed comparable to those 
 of the Maccabees, was not forgotten. The thought that he was 
 really adding a chapter to Sacred History served to carry more than 
 one writer over depressing periods of discouragement to the suc- 
 cessful completion of his history of the expedition. These varied 
 motives, both sacred and profane, combined to inspire the com- 
 
• THE FIRST CRUSADE 7 
 
 position of the f(^owing detailed accounts of the First Crusade.* ^ 
 
 The first complete account of the Crusade which has come down X ^"»* ^ ^ ' 
 to us is commonly known as the Gcsta. Its author has attained some ^5fJL. 
 measure of distinction as the Anonymous. What is known to him, 
 therefore, rests solely upon the inferences to be drawn from his 
 work. He accompanied the Italian Norman prince, Bohemund, 
 from the siege of Amalfi to the capture of Antioch. From 
 there he went to Jerusalem with the general band under Ray- 
 mond's leadership, whether with Raymond himself or, which 
 is more likely, with Tancred or Robert of Normandy, who were 
 associated with Raymond, is not clear. His book was written 
 before the close of iioi, for Ekkehard saw and used a copy of it at 
 Jerusalem in that year. So much may be stated fairly positively ; 
 the rest is only inferential, for in his book personal references are 
 singularly few. There is no preface or dedication, no parting re- 
 mark to the reader. However, certain expressions, certain modifica- 
 tions of the Latin which he employs, betray a high degree of famili- 
 arity with the verbal habits of southern Italy, while his constant 
 laudation of Bohemund, even though he abandoned him after the 
 capture of Antioch, tends to confirm the belief that his home was 
 in that region. He may have been a Norman ; if so, he left Nor- 
 mandy long before the First Crusade. His somewhat secular point 
 of view in regard to events, occasional impersonal remarks upon 
 the clergy, or participation in battle, have led modern critics to the 
 belief that he was a knight, though his lack of intimacy with the 
 leaders would indicate that he was a lesser knight. The style of 
 his work and the general lack of literary allusions do not bespeak 
 a very high degree of education. His use of language is that of an 
 amateur, and his vocabulary is decidedly limited. Unable adequately 
 to describe the achievements of the various crusaders, he strains 
 the superlative degree of his adjectives so constantly that occa- 
 sionally he finds it necessary to lapse into the simple positive as a 
 means of actual distinction. The Bible is practically the only work 
 which he quotes. His real piety is sustained both in his book and 
 in his own career, as is indicated by the fact that he chose to go on to 
 Jerusalem, instead of remaining with his leader at Antioch. What 
 he lacks elsewhere is greatly outweighed by his judgment in eval- 
 uating the relative importance of events, his restraint in preventing 
 intimate details from obscuring the perspective of his story, his 
 unusual fairness and impartiality toward the rival Christian leaders, 
 as well as toward his Turkish foes, and a certain native instinct for 
 the dramatic apparent throughout the book. Guibert, Balderic, and 
 Robert the Monk all criticized his style, but unwittingly paid him 
 
8 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 the lavish compHment of incorporating nearly the whole of his 
 work in their "literary" accounts of the expedition. The great his- 
 torical value of the work rests not only in the fact that it was 
 written by an eye-witness and participant, but also upon the fact 
 that it was probably composed from time to time on the journey 
 and finished immediately after the battle of Ascalon in September 
 1099, the last event which it mentions. It is the first full account 
 of the Crusade still extant, and almost every other history of the 
 First Crusade is based either directly or indirectly upon it. Six 
 MS copies of it still remain, and all of the material has been pre- 
 served in one form or another in the later accounts of the Crusade. 
 
 The second chronicle listed, on the other hand, does not at all 
 efface its author, for the preface sets forth the authorship and the 
 purpose in full : 
 
 "To my Lord Bishop of Viviers and to all the orthodox, from 
 Pontius of Balazun and Ravmond. Canon of Puv : greeting, and a 
 share in our labor. 
 
 "We have concluded that we ought to make clear to you and 
 to all who dwell across the Alps the great deeds which God in the 
 usual manner of His love performed, and did not cease constantly 
 to perform, through us ; especially so, since the unwarlike and the 
 fearful left us and strove to substitute falsehood for the truth. 
 But let him who shall see their apostacy shun their words and com- 
 panionship! For the army of God, even if it bore the punishment 
 of the Lord Himself for its sins, out of His compassion also stood 
 forth victor over all paganism. But since some went through 
 Slavonia, others through Hungary, others through . Longobardy, 
 and yet others by sea, it would be tedious for us to write about each. 
 Therefore we have omitted the story of others and have taken it 
 as our task to write about -the Count, the Bishop of Puy, and their 
 army." 
 
 Pontius of Balazun, a knight in the Provengal army, was killed at 
 Archas, and Raymond was thus left to complete the task alone. 
 Raymond had been elevated to the priesthood while on the Crusade 
 and had become the chaplain of Count Raymond of Toulouse, who 
 was the wealthiest leader on the expedition. The expense of compil- 
 ing the book was, therefore, a trivial matter. His intimacy with 
 Count Raymond and with Bishop Adhemar gave him access to much 
 information not available to such writers as the Anonymous. Critics 
 have been exceedingly harsh in their condemnation of both the form 
 and the content of the book. They condemn it as crude, bigoted, 
 intensely partisan, and a mass of confused and credulous mysticism. 
 Partisan it undoubtedly is, for Raymond was writing to correct a 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 9 
 
 probable impression conveyed by the returning Crusaders both as 
 to the bravery of the Provencal host and the validity of the Holy 
 Lance, especially the latter. He himself had been among the first 
 to accept the visions of Peter Bartholomew, had participated in the 
 digging for the Lance, and even the apparently adverse judgment 
 of the Ordeal was not sufficient to shake his faith in it. A large 
 part of his work, therefore, is a brief in defense of the Lance, in 
 support of which he adduces vision after vision and numerous wit- 
 nesses. The rest of his book is devoted to the part played by Count 
 Raymond, Bishop Adhemar, and the Provencal host in the Crusade. 
 All this is true, but it cannot be said in justice that he is totally 
 blind to the faults of either leader or people. To the historian the 
 book is second in importance only to the Gesta, for it was the work 
 of an eye-witness, written possibly no earlier than 1102, though 
 undoubtedly on the basis of notes taken during the journey. It 
 must be regarded as an independent account, even though, as Hagen- 
 meyer conjectures, its author may have used details from the 
 Gesta to correct his own account. For what may be termed the 
 sociological aspects of the Crusade, Raymond's history is the most 
 valuable of all the accounts. Six MS copies of the work are 
 extant. 
 
 The third account of the Crusade as a whole was written by J_5,*^ljv-t' 
 Fu lcher of Chartre s, whose career can be traced more fully than 
 fHat of any other eye-witness chronicler of the Crusade. Born 
 probably at Chartres in 1059, he was trained for the service of the 
 Church, and when the Council of Clermont was held in 1095 he 
 was a priest either at Chartres or at Orleans. The enthusiasm 
 which swept over the land claimed him, as it did so many of his 
 countrymen, so that when the army of Stephen of Blois moved from 
 Chartres, late in 1096, Fulcher was one of the band. He was with % 
 Stephen's army until October, 1097, when he became the chaplain 
 of Baldwin, Godfrey's brother. From this time until Baldwin's 
 death in 11 18 he remained in that capacity, closely associated with 
 the energetic leader. As a result, he was present neither at the 
 siege of Antioch nor at that of Jerusalem, being then at Edessa, 
 which place he did not leave until late in 1099, when he made a 
 pilgrimage to Jerusalem with Baldwin and Bohemund. When Bald- 
 win was summoned to take the reins of government upon the death 
 of Godfrey, Fulcher accompanied him to Jerusalem, where he re- 
 mained until the time of his own death in 1127 or 1128. 
 
 His Historia Hicrosolymitaiia, of which only the portion re- 
 lating events actually witnessed by Fulcher on the First Crusade 
 is here translated, was written upon the urgent solicitation of his 
 
10 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 friends. It first appeared in 1105, and the welcome then accorded 
 it encouraged him to go on with it. The latter part of his work 
 takes the form of an annalistic account of the Latin Kingdom of 
 Jerusalem, for the early history of which it is undoubtedly the most 
 important single source of information. He seems to have revised 
 the earlier portions of his history at least twice, and the final 
 version ends somewhat abruptly with the mention of a plague of 
 rats in the year 1127. Fulcher apparently had a more extensive 
 literary training than either of the two preceding writers. His 
 • fondness for quotation has been charged against him as an affecta- 
 tion by modern critics, but, as a fault, it mars only the latter portion 
 of his work, written when he was quite old. On the whole, his book 
 is free from either partisanship or bias. He seems to have been 
 interested chiefly in describing the events as they occurred, with 
 possibly an additional desire to attract soldiers from the West to 
 the support of the needy Latin state in Syria. He displays a strong 
 interest in nature and describes strange plants, animals, and natural 
 phenomena in a naive manner. His interest in the intrigues of the 
 lords, both lay and ecclesiastical, is very slight, but the general wel- 
 fare of the people he views with all the kindly concern of a simple 
 French cure. As a whole, the book is exceedingly valuable and 
 very soon was widely read and copied. It was second only to the 
 Gesfa as a mine for exploitation by later writers on the Crusade. 
 More than fifteen MS copies of the original are still extant. 
 
 Of the writings which contribute eye-witness testimony to but 
 a portion of the history of the Crusade, the Alexiad, by Anna 
 Comnena, is one of the most important. The writer was the 
 daughter of Alexius, and, though she was barely fourteen years of 
 ' age when the Crusaders came to Constantinople, it may be assumed 
 that the presence of so many rude strangers in the imperial city 
 made a most vivid impression on her mind. Both Anna and her 
 husband, Nicephorus Briennius, had been highly educated, and when 
 the palace intrigue in which they were both concerned proved un- 
 successful and she was shut up in a convent by her brother's order, 
 she undertook to complete the history which her husband had begun. 
 Forty years after the first Crusaders had passed through Antioch 
 she began her task. In the meantime there had been various bands 
 of Crusaders from the West. Bohemund had taken Antioch in 
 defiance of the Emperor and had even made war upon him. The 
 relations of Alexius with Count Raymond of Toulouse had under- 
 gone changes, and many other events relating to the Latins and 
 the Crusades had occurred. Thus, with so' much to confuse her 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE ii 
 
 memory, her chronology is uncertain, her statement of fact often 
 inaccurate, and her style highly rhetorical and affected. Never very 
 certain of the identity of the Latin leaders, as she herself con- 
 fesses, she calls them all counts and confuses one group with another 
 in hopeless fashion. Nevertheless, her work is exceedingly valuable 
 as a presentation of the Byzantine attitude toward the Latins, and 
 her conception of her father's feeling toward the Westerners can 
 probably be relied upon as correct. A MS copy of the account, 
 corrected by Anna herself, is preserved at Florence. Other frag- 
 ments also remain. 
 
 It is necessary to include in the list of eye-witness accounts of 
 the First Crusade the work by Peter Tudebode, a priest of Civray.^ 
 This work, once regarded as the original of the Gcsta, has been 
 dethroned from that position by recent criticism. It is almost h 
 verbatim copy of the latter, with portions added from the account 
 of Raymond of Agilles, together w^th a very few personal remarks 
 and observations. He speaks of the death of his brother in Antioch 
 and his own share in the funeral services. His account differs 
 from that of the Gesta primarily in the change of adjectives qualify- 
 ing Raymond of Toulouse and Bohemund, for Tudebode was a 
 follower of Count Raymond. However, this policy is not con- 
 sistently maintained. At best, the work may be regarded as an eye- 
 witness corroboration of the Gesta. It was written after both the 
 account by the Anonymous and by Raymond had been composed, 
 and sometime before mi, after which date it was quoted by other 
 writers. Four MS copies are preserved. 
 
 Ekkehard o f_Aiira, who is still regarded as one of the greatest 
 of the German historians of the Middle Ages, was a monk at Cor- 
 vey when the First Crusade was preached. He accompanied a 
 later band of crusaders in iioi as far as Constantinople by land, 
 and by sea from there to Joppa. At Jerusalem he saw a copy of 
 the Gesta, which he made a basis for his own history. This work 
 he wrote for the Abbot of Corvey in 1112, after he himself had 
 become Abbot of Aura. The language and the style of this book 
 reveal a greater familiarity with classical authors than is shown by 
 any of the preceding accounts of the Crusade. Its value rests chiefly 
 upon his eye-witness account of the Crusade of iioi, and his brief 
 items about the Peasants' Crusade, of which no direct chronicle 
 has come down to us. Only the latter material has been included in 
 the following translation. Six MS copies of the work are extant. 
 
 Raoul -.If t^aen, a Norman knight too young to accompany the 
 
12 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 Crusaders of 1096, enlisted in the army which Bohemund as- 
 sembled in T 107. He reached Syria and entered the service of 
 Tancred, then prince of Antioch, whom he served until the latter's 
 death. In his early years he had received instruction in letters from 
 Arnulf, who became Patriarch of Jerusalem after 11 12. He was 
 an accomplished knight and seems to have enjoyed the friendship 
 of Tancred. During the first five years of this relationship he 
 learned much about the First Crusade, especially Tancred's view 
 of events. He also visited Jerusalem and there conversed with 
 his former teacher, Arnulf, now the Patriarch, to whom he dedicated 
 his work, the Ccsta Tancredi. Though an important source of in- 
 formation, this work is not, strictly speaking, an eye-witness account. 
 It is a panegyric of the Norman princes of Antioch and is very hostile 
 to the Emperor Alexius and to Count Raymond. It deals with the 
 history of the First Crusade and of Tancred up to 1105, and its 
 chief value lies in the reflection of the Norman point of view. It 
 also contains some information not afforded by other writers. The 
 Latin is polished and adorned with numerous passages and quota- 
 tions from classical authors. Raoul writes chiefly in prose, but he 
 sometimes attempts to soar to poetic form in describing unusually 
 great achievements. On the whole, Patriarch Arnulf had reason 
 to be proud of his former pupil's achievement. The book was 
 written sometime between Tancred's death in 11 12 and that of 
 Arnulf in 11 18. A single MS copy is preserved at the Royal Library 
 of Brussels. His account of the Holy Lance, in which he takes 
 an opposite view from Raymond, is here translated in full. Other 
 material from the work is included in the notes. 
 
 The value of the account by Albert of A ix has been much dis- 
 puted. Little is known of the author, who is said to have been a 
 canon of the church of Aix-la-Chapelle about the middle of the 
 twelfth century. By his own confession he never visited the Holy 
 Land himself. Nevertheless, he wrote a history of the First Q'usade 
 and the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem down to the year 1120, of 
 which twelve MS copies exist. The date of this waiting has, there- 
 fore, been placed somewhere between 1120 and the middle of the 
 century. He obtained his information, he says, from the oral and 
 written testimony of participants. Much of the material is palpably 
 legendary ; more of it, however, seems entirely probable and stands 
 the test of comparison with well established accounts. The work 
 contains so much not treated by other writers and, therefore, in- 
 capable of corroboration that its value must stand or fall with the 
 reader's attitude toward the author. It has been conjectured that 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 13 
 
 much of the material was taken from a Lorraine chronicle now lost, 
 an explanation plausible enough, though thus far not substantiated. 
 At any rate, his items of information cannot be ignored, and they 
 may be of full value. Until further evidence is discovered, the 
 question cannot be settled positively.*' Only excerpts on the Peas- 
 ants' Crusade and Godfrey's march to Constantinople are here 
 translated from Albert. 
 
 The other three works included in this translation because their 
 authors were present at the Council of Clermont may be grouped 
 together as literary histories. None of the writers accompanied the 
 expedition, but each wrote a history of the whole Crusade, thus 
 illustrating the deep interest of the people of Europe in the subject. 
 All three were churchmen of high position, and each sought to 
 rewrite the crude account of the Gesta in more literary form. They 
 succeeded in varying degree, but their names are remembered, while 
 that of the original author has been irretrievably lost. Robert the 
 Monk is generally identified as the monk chosen Abbot of Saint- 
 Remi of Rheims in 1094, and later forced to retire to the priory of 
 Senuc. His work was written at the request of Bernard, Abbot of 
 Marmoutier, sometime before 1107. It adds little to the Gesta, 
 but was very popular in the twelfth century. More than eighty 
 MS copies of it are still extant. Balderic, Abbot of Bourgeuil, 
 and Archbishop of Dol after 1107, added little more than Robert 
 to the Gesta account. His work was written after 1107 and was 
 also quite popular. Seven MS copies remain. The best of these 
 three accounts is that of Guibert, who was Abbot of Nogent from 
 1 104 to 1 121. He composed his book between 1108 and 11 12 and 
 dedicated it to Lisiard, Bishop of Soissons. Guibert was one of 
 the leading scholars of his time, well versed in classical lore, which 
 he used to adorn his accounts of the Crusade. He was also fairly 
 well informed about matters in northern France. His additions to 
 the Gesta contain many valuable items about the crusading leaders 
 from that region. Four MS copies of his work are preserved. 
 
 V. Terminology. 
 
 In the translation of these accounts a conscious effort has been 
 made to reproduce as nearly as possible the style and manner of 
 expression of the original. Though the writers all used the same 
 language, they employed dififerent words and idioms to describe 
 the same occurrences, even the ordinary incidents of life. Under 
 the circumstances, it was felt that too much would be lost if the 
 expressions were all translated in the standard idiom of today. 
 The person of the twentieth century who is interested in the man- 
 
14 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 ners and customs of that time will find enough pleasure and profit 
 in this treatment, it is hoped, to repay him for whatever confusion 
 the variety of expressions may create. A brief explanation of some 
 of the more distinctive habits in the terminology of the period 
 may be of use. 
 
 I. Names of persons and places. 
 
 The names of the same persons and the same places are spelled 
 in many different ways not only by the different writers, but often, 
 too, by the same writer. While this is more true of Eastern persons 
 and places, it is, also, quite generally true with regard to the West, a 
 revelation of how much of the world was strange to the people of 
 eleventh century Europe. It must be remembered, however, 
 that dictionaries, gazetteers, and similar works of reference, which 
 greet the twentieth century person at every turn, were virtually un- 
 known, while newspapers and other periodicals, which serve to 
 standardize so much of life today, did not then exist. Almost the 
 only common descriptions of the world known at that time were 
 those contained in either the classical writings or in those of the 
 Church fathers. It is not strange, therefore, to find the names of 
 old Roman provinces and cities applied to places by some of the 
 more highly educated writers, such as Ekkehard, Raoul, or Guibert. 
 Less trained writers — and most of our writers fall within this 
 category — had to trust chiefly to their powers of hearing and their 
 ability to reproduce in writing what they heard. They had to follow 
 their own rules of phonetic spelling and, considering the difficulties 
 under which they labored, their results deserve genuine admiration. 
 In order to avoid undue confusion, a uniform spelling has been 
 adopted for the names of places which have been identified. In 
 most cases the mediaeval name has been employed, but where the 
 modern equivalent is much better known that form has been chosen. 
 
 The identification of the places mentioned by the writers presents 
 considerable difficulty at times. It would be asking almost too much 
 to expect the chroniclers to recall vividly and correctly both the 
 name and exact location of all the strange places which they mention 
 five or more years after they had passed through them. Important 
 towns and places in which they spent some time, or with which 
 they were able to associate some dramatic event, are usually located 
 quite accurately ; other lesser places cannot always be positively 
 identified. All places mentioned whose location can be identified 
 appear on the accompanying maps. The others, whose location is 
 uncertain, have been italicized. 
 
 Names of persons, such as Robert, Godfrey, Baldwin, and 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 15 
 
 Stephen were common enough, and Httle variation occurs. But 
 Adhemar, papal leader of the expedition, seems to have had a 
 baffling name, probably due to its similarity to a variety of names. 
 As a result, his name appears as Haymarus, Aimarus, Ademarus, 
 or Adhemarus, or not at all. Guibert, in describing the Pope's 
 appointment of a vicar for the Crusade, confesses that he does not 
 know his name, an interesting comment on the isolation of the time. 
 His use of the name later may be an indication that he was using 
 his original too closely, for the author of the Gesta, too, was igno- 
 rant of the name until later in the expedition. For the purposes of 
 this translation, however, the names of the Western leaders are 
 standardized. This is not the case with Oriental names, the un- 
 usual character of which occasioned the chroniclers a great deal 
 of trouble. The name of the Turkish ruler of Antioch may be 
 cited as a typical instance. The common spelling of his name today 
 is Yagi-Sian or lagi-Sian. It appears in the accounts, however, 
 wth the Latin ending as Aoxian-us, Cassian-us, Caspian-us, and 
 even Gracianus. Fulcher, who coined the first of these, succeeded 
 remarkably well on the whole. In the case of less prominent men 
 who are mentioned only once or twice, the variations have caused 
 considerable confusion, leading even to the belief that they were 
 different persons — e.g., Godfrey of Lastours, who appears as Gul- 
 ferrus de Daturre, Golprius de turribus, and Gosfridus de Dasturs. 
 This example seems to indicate the beginning of the use of surnames, 
 but it is probably fortunate for the reader that the movement had 
 not yet developed far. The efforts of the Crusaders to distinguish 
 between the numerous Raymonds, Roberts, Stephens, Baldwins, 
 and Godfreys, are of interest as early factors in the movement which 
 led to the growth of heraldry and the multiplication of names. 
 
 2. Expressions of time. 
 
 The reader will doubtless be impressed by the absence in the 
 chronicles of precise and minute statements of time, which are such 
 a marked feature of modern industrial life. The year seems to 
 have been of little account as a basis for reckoning time, for the 
 author of the Gesta mentions it only once during the whole nar- 
 rative which extends over a period of four years, and Raymond of 
 Agilles scarcely more often. The more learned Fulcher uses it, to 
 be sure, but rather as an ornament than because he feels the need 
 of such a measure of time. The great festival days of the Church 
 constituted the chief standards of time, and here, thanks to the in- 
 fluence of the Church, we find a fairly uniform practice among the 
 writers. The necessity of determining the variable date of Easter 
 
i6 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 compelled the Church to keep a calendar, while the custom of 
 regulating the ordinary affairs of life with reference to the chief 
 festival days of the Church had long since become an established 
 habit of Christian Europe. The old Roman Calendar, too, continued 
 to exert some influence despite the efforts of the Church to supplant 
 it with a Christian scheme. As a result, the days of the month are 
 reckoned both by Kalends, Nones, and Ides, and by the numerical 
 count of days from the incoming or outgoing month. Days of the 
 week bear the old Roman names and the canonical enumeration 
 from the Lord's Day, as well. Time of day is expressed usually by 
 means of the canonical hours. Matins, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, 
 Vespers, and Compline, though such expressions as cock-crow, 
 earliest dawn, and sunrise also occur. Time of day, and day of 
 year are sometimes noted by the psalms and prayers customary at 
 those times. Local variations in reckoning the beginning of the year 
 and seasons, or in expressing dates by festivals of loyal saints, a 
 practice quite common in the West, appear rather infrequently in 
 these accounts.'' 
 
 3. Numbers. 
 
 The figures used by mediaeval writers in stating numbers of 
 people have baffled modern investigators. In order to discover the 
 actual numbers involved, it has become almost a rule to divide the 
 figures of the chroniclers by ten. Perhaps it would be fairer to 
 regard almost all numbers over one thousand as figures of speech, 
 intended only to convey the impression of a very large number. 
 Roman numerals alone were in use, and neither the average writer 
 nor the average reader of the period had very much training in 
 arithmetic. It was certainly a difiicult task to describe, if not a 
 more difficult task to decipher, a very uneven number of six figures 
 in Roman numerals. Quite aside from the mere mechanical diffi- 
 culty of the task, few, if any persons, had had experience in dealing 
 with large numbers. Neither commercial, ecclesiastical, nor military 
 establishments dealt accurately in very large amounts or numbers 
 at this time. As a result, when these chroniclers found themselves 
 in the midst of the vast host which composed the crusading army 
 they were struck with amazement. Nothing in their previous ex- 
 perience afforded them a satisfactory basis for estimating the size of 
 the army. The numbers implied in their frequent resort to the 
 term "countless" and "innumerable," or "as the sands of the sea," 
 and "as the leaves of autumn," are probably almost as accurate as 
 the numerals which they employ. The actual number of persons 
 who took part in the First Crusade cannot be fixed with any cer- 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 17 
 
 tainty. Army rosters were not yet in use. It is, furthermore, ex- 
 tremely doubtful whether even among the better organized bands, 
 such as those of Raymond and Godfrey, the leaders themselves 
 knew exactly how many persons were in their following. The 
 more adventurous knights were constantly digressing in smaller 
 or larger companies from the main line of march; the more timid 
 were dropping behind or deserting; and new enthusiasts were join- 
 ing the march at almost every halting place. Thus the total number 
 in the army fluctuated from day to day. Fulcher's statement that 
 if all who had signed themselves with the cross had been present at 
 Nicaea, there would have been six million, instead of six hundred 
 thousand, armed men is probably more accurate in its proportions 
 than in its actual figures. A modern estimate of the number in the 
 army as it left Nicaea, ingeniously computed from the length of 
 time required to cross a certain bridge in Asia Minor, is I05,(XX) 
 persons.^ The combined army was then at its maximum size. It 
 dwindled rapidly thereafter, and the figures offered by the chroni- 
 clers themselves became more and more accurate, so that when 
 Fulcher reports the number of Crusaders left to garrison Jerusalem 
 as a few hundred, his statement may be accepted without great 
 question. 
 
 If they had so much difficulty in describing their own numbers, 
 little surprise need be felt at their estimate of the enemy's forces. 
 After chronicling battles against the Turks and Saracens for almost 
 thirty years, Fulcher reaches the following conclusion : "As to the 
 number of dead or wounded in this or any other battle, it is not 
 possible to determine the truth, for such great numbers cannot be 
 computed by anyone, except approximately. Often when different 
 writers deceive, the reason for their deception is to be attributed 
 to adulation; for they try to enhance the glory of the victors and 
 to extol the valor of their own land for people present and to come. 
 From this it is very clear why they so foolishly and falsely exagger- 
 ate the number of dead among the enemy, and minimize, or remain 
 entirely silent, about their own loss." This critical attitude, how- 
 ever, was not taken by the earlier writers, not even by Fulcher 
 himself in the period with which this translation deals. 
 
 4. Money and prices. 
 
 Europe was still dealing largely on a basis of natural economy 
 when the First Crusade started on its way. Money was regarded 
 rather as a luxury than as a matter of general need, and even 
 ordinary state obligations were discharged in kind rather than coin. 
 Indeed, there was no standard coin in the West, and coinage was a 
 
i8 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 right exercised by all the great feudal vassals. There were expres- 
 sions of value common to all Europe — e.g., the liber, or pound, 
 which equalled 20 solidi, or shillings, which equalled 240 denarii, or 
 pennies; and a marc which equalled two-thirds of a liber, or 160 
 denarii. But when these terms were applied to coins in actual cir- 
 culation, their meaning varied with the character of the coin in- 
 volved. The coin in most general use was the denarius, or penny. 
 This was usually of silver, but might be made of an alloy, or some- 
 times of copper alone. A large and a small denarius were known, 
 the latter often called an obol. The intrinsic value of the coin 
 varied somewhat according to the particular mint at which it was 
 coined, weight constituting, on the whole, the safest method of 
 determining value. Raymond mentions seven different denarii 
 from a limited region of the West as current in the army. Varia- 
 tion was caused by debasement through coin-clipping and kindred 
 practices, which, however, appear to have been less common 
 at this time than later. In view of such facts, generalizations 
 about monetary matters are exceedingly hazardous. However, it 
 is usually safe to assume when Western coins are mentioned that 
 denarii are meant. Solidi, liberi, and marci are moneys of account, 
 convenient in expressing large sums of denarii. The ordinary silver 
 denarius weighed from 20 to 24 gr. as compared with the American 
 dime which weighs 38.5 gr. In the East the Crusaders met with 
 gold coins, the besant and per perns of Constantinople, and the gold 
 besant of the Saracens. The besant of Constantinople weighed 
 about 65 gr. as compared with the American gold coinage, which 
 weighs about 25 gr. per dollar. The perperus, called also pur- 
 ptiratus, yperperus, yperperon, and perpre, is less well known. Its 
 value, as stated by the author of the Gesta, was equal to 15 solidi, 
 or 180 denarii. The gold besant of the Saracens, a Latin term for 
 the Arabian dinar, was about equal in weight and intrinsic value to 
 the besant of Constantinople. In seeking the modern equivalents 
 of these coins, it is necessary to bear in mind the relative value of 
 gold and silver in the middle ages. Another coin encountered in 
 the East was the tartaron, which appears to have been a cheap 
 copper coin of somewhat varying value. 
 
 From an economic point of view the First Crusade must be re- 
 garded as one of the most important factors in transforming the 
 basis of European exchange from the natural to the monetary. The 
 change was by no means complete with the end of the Crusades, 
 but a long step had been taken toward that goal when the first of 
 these expeditions was launched. Money was necessary to defray 
 the ordinary living expenses on the march, and the Crusaders re- 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 19 
 
 sorted to almost every conceivable device to obtain it. They tor- 
 tured Jews, melted plate, mortgaged their possessions, and sold 
 their goods for ridiculously small sums. Money, ordinarily scarce, 
 rose in value until, as Albert recounts, one peasant sold seven sheep 
 for a single denarius. Normally, a denarius was the equivalent of 
 a workman's dinner, but the Crusade created abnormal conditions. 
 Unfortunately, this abnormal state of affairs accompanied the 
 Crusaders along their whole line of march, for just as their arrange- 
 ments for departure caused the exchange value of money to soar, so 
 the arrival of so many people at one town or another caused the 
 limited food supply to take on incredible prices. Occasionally, in 
 time of famine, food rose to almost impossible heights, so that the 
 peasant who exchanged his seven sheep for one denarius in the 
 Rhine country might have exchanged his denarius, in turn, for a 
 single nut at Antioch during its siege by Kerbogha. The student of 
 economics will be able to find many such equations in the following 
 pages. The Crusaders had unwittingly become steady victims of 
 the law of supply and demand, but for lack of such knowledge they 
 blamed their misfortunes upon the cupidity of the Armenians and 
 Greeks. Thus, however, they learned to esteem the possession of 
 money, and in Saracen territory they lost few opportunities to 
 secure it either as tribute, extortion, or plain robbery. Sometimes 
 they even burned the dead bodies of their foes to obtain the coins 
 which they believed these people had swallowed or secreted about 
 their bodies. Actual money and its value was one of the most 
 important contributions of the returning Crusaders to Western 
 life, so much so that the besant of Constantinople and the Saracen 
 besant became well known coins in Europe. 
 
 5. Military arrangements. 
 
 A definite organization of the army as a whole did not exist. The 
 Pope's representative, Adhemar, who met all of his charges at 
 Nicaea for the first time, was social and ecclesiastical head of the 
 expedition until his death at Antioch, August i, 1098. For military 
 purposes, the Crusaders chose Stephen of Blois as their leader on 
 the march across Asia Minor, and, after his withdrawal, Bohemund 
 acted in that capacity for a time. Little real authority, however, 
 was accorded these leaders, except for the brief period of Ker- 
 bogha's siege, when Bohemund was entrusted with full powers. 
 Ordinarily, matters of policy were decided at a council of all the 
 leaders, both lay and ecclesiastical. For all practical purposes, each 
 band was almost a separate army in itself, and even within each 
 band matters were usually decided by a common council. Leaders 
 of the separate bands frequently had to resort to all the arts of 
 
20 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 persuasion at their command in order to keep their many-minded 
 and impulsive vassals in leash. Eloquence, entreaty, offers of pay, 
 and even threats were used time and time again. The feudal oath 
 of allegiance of vassal to over-lord was the only basis of obedience, 
 but the conditions under which the campaign was conducted were 
 so different from those of the West as to render the ordinary 
 feudal obligations quite inadequate. As a result, adventurous 
 knights frequently went off on raiding expeditions without regard 
 for the wishes of their lords, and companies of knights for these 
 forays were formed from many different bands. Disorganization 
 was further increased by the presence of great numbers of non- 
 combatants. Persons of both sexes and all ages had attached them- 
 selves to the army from various motives — serfs to perform menial 
 tasks ; peasants with their families seeking improvement, material, 
 social, or spiritual ; women, wives of Crusaders, or mere adven- 
 turers ; pious pilgrims of all ages; and clergy, both regular and 
 secular. At Nicaea this multitude probably largely outnumbered the 
 fighting men, and, as a rule, they were a great hindrance to the army. 
 
 The fighting men were of two classes — the mounted and armored 
 knight, and the more or less armored foot-soldiers. At first the 
 mounted knights were probably all of noble birth, but, as the exigen- 
 cies of the campaign multiplied, this condition was changed. At 
 times noble knights were compelled to ride on oxen or other 
 beasts, or to proceed on foot, and, again, ignoble foot-soldiers found 
 mounts and suits of armor. In the course of time, many of the 
 latter proved themselves worthy of knighthood, so that by the time 
 the army reached Jerusalem a great number of the so-called knights 
 were not of noble birth. 
 
 The knight, protected by his breastplate and his suit of chain- 
 mail, and equipped with shield, lance, and two-edged sword, was 
 the mainstay of the army. His squires, also mounted, usually ac- 
 companied the knight in battle. The foot-soldiers, whose chief 
 weapons were the cross-bow and javelin, were used both to break 
 up the line of the enemy in the opening charge and to dispose of 
 the dismounted enemy after the main charge of the knights. Non- 
 combatants were of some service in refreshing the fighters with 
 drinks, caring for the wounded, and helping to collect the spoils. 
 The clergy played an important part by administering the sacra- 
 ment before battle and offering up prayers during the course of the 
 fighting. Such was the practice against an enemy in the open field. 
 The tactics of the Turks, however, caused some modifications. 
 This foe, usually mounted on swift horses and armed with danger- 
 ous small bows, insisted upon encircling the Crusaders without 
 coming to close quarters. Their arrows, which they shot quickly 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 21 
 
 and in profusion, were calculated to shatter the ranks of the Cru- 
 saders and usually did great damage to the less heavily 
 armored foot-soldiers. If this device failed to open up the ranks, 
 they scattered in feigned flight, hoping thus to draw the Crusaders 
 after them in disorganized pursuit, when it was an easy matter to 
 turn and cut them down. The Emperor Alexius gave the Cru- 
 saders some very valuable advice on these matters. Actual ex- 
 perience proved an even more effective teacher, so that the Crusaders 
 regularly placed a strong line at their rear and on the flanks, as well 
 as in front, and did not pursue the enemy until they were actually 
 in rout. 
 
 To the Westerners siege warfare was less well known than open 
 fighting. In most of Western Europe there was little of the heavy 
 masonry of Roman days, such as had never gone out of use in the 
 East. The Italians had had relatively more experience than the 
 people north of the Alps, but both had much to learn. The military 
 engineers of Constantinople gave the Crusaders some important 
 lessons in siege-craft at Nicaea. The development of more power- 
 ful hurling engines for both stones and' arrows became a necessity. 
 These were of two kinds : the hallistae, used to shoot large arrows 
 or bolts with great force, and the Petraria, which hurled large 
 stones. The motive power was provided by the torsion of twisted 
 ropes or the sudden release of a heavy counter-poise, and great 
 ingenuity was exercised to increase their force. During the whole 
 expedition, however, they were not developed sufficiently to make 
 any considerable impression upon the walls. They were chiefly 
 effective in clearing the walls of defenders, which facilitated other 
 siege operations. Battering rams of various kinds were also used, 
 and, as a protection for the manipulators, mantlets made of wattled 
 stakes were constructed. Undermining the walls was an operation 
 also resorted to, but the most effective devices in overcoming 
 strongly fortified towns were the great movable towers and the 
 blockade. The first was used successfully both at Marra and Jeru- 
 salem, the latter at Nicaea and Antioch. These are fully described 
 in the text (see pages 256, 205, 105). Scaling ladders of wood were 
 of subsidiary value, but played a part at Marra and Jerusalem and 
 especially at Caesarea. In all these operations there was a great 
 demand for skilful engineers, as well as for unskilled labor. It 
 is significant that Greek engineers were employed at Nicaea and 
 Antioch, Italian at Antioch and Jerusalem. The Westerners had 
 much to learn, it is true, but that they were quick to do so is shown 
 not only by their success at Jerusalem, but also by the stronger 
 castles and fortifications which appeared in Western Europe during 
 the twelfth century. 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 PROLOGUE 
 
 (Fulcher.) It is a joy to the living and even profitable to the 
 dead when the deeds of brave men, and especially of those fighting 
 for God, are read from writings, or, committed to memory, are re- 
 cited with prudence in the midst of the faithful. For upon hearing 
 the pious purposes of those who have gone before them — how, re- 
 jecting the honor of the world, leaving their parents, wives, and 
 goods of whatsoever kind, they clung to God and followed Him 
 according to the counsel of the Gospel — those who live in the world 
 are themselves animated by His inspiration and aroused to love 
 Him most ardently. It is even beneficial to those who are dead in 
 the Lord, since the faithful, hearing their good and pious deeds, 
 therefore bless their souls and in charity offer alms and prayers 
 for them, whether these dead were known to them or not. 
 
 Moved, therefore, by the requests of former comrades, I have re- 
 lated in careful and orderly fashion the illustrious deeds of the 
 Franks in honor of the Saviour, when at the command of God they 
 made an armed pilgrimage to Jerusalem. In homely style, but, 
 nevertheless, truly, I have recounted what I deemed worthy to be 
 committed to memory, and I have told it as well as I can and just 
 as I saw it myself. Although I do not dare to put this work of the 
 Franks that I have mentioned on an equality with the distinguished 
 achievements of the people of Israel, or of the Maccabees\ or of 
 many other peoples whom God has honored by such frequent and 
 such wonderful miracles, still I consider it not far inferior to those 
 works, since in connection with it miracles worked by God were 
 often witnessed. These I have taken care to report in writing. 
 
 In what way, indeed, do these Franks differ from the Israelites 
 and the Maccabees? In those lands, by my very side, I have seen 
 them dismembered, crucified, flayed, shot with arrows, butchered, or 
 killed by other kinds of martyrdom for the love of Christ; or I 
 have heard of it when I was far away. And yet they could be over- 
 come neither by threats nor blandishments ! Nay, even if the slay- 
 er's sword had come, many of us would not have refused to perish 
 for the love of Christ. Oh, how many thousands of martyrs died 
 a happy death on this expedition ! Who is so hard of heart that he 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 23 
 
 can hear these deeds without being moved by deepest piety to break 
 forth in His praise ? Who will not wonder how we, a few people in 
 the midst of the lands of our enemies, were able not only to resist, 
 but to live ? Who has ever heard such things ? On one side of us 
 were Egypt and Ethiopia ; on another Arabia, Chaldea, Syria, 
 Parthia, Mesopotamia, Assyria, and Media ; on another Persia and 
 Scythia.- A great sea separated us from Christendom and shut 
 us up in the hands of our destroyers, as if God allowed it. But His 
 arm mercifully defended us. "Blessed indeed is the nation whose 
 God is the Lord."^ 
 
 The history which follows shall explain how this work was be- 
 gun, and how all the people of the West, once aroused to under- 
 take so great an expedition, more than willingly applied their hearts 
 and hands to it. 
 
 J I I 
 
CHAPTER I 
 
 The Summons 
 
 (After Fulcher's preface, which seems admirably suited to this account, 
 the chapter deals with the call for Crusaders from the West. The condition 
 of Europe on the eve of the Crusade is too large a subject to be treated 
 adequately here, but Fulcher's brief summary contains a very suggestive 
 survey of the situation and is interestingly supplemented by Ekkehard's 
 contrast of conditions in East and West Frankland. Alost of the causes 
 of the movement may be inferred from Urban's speech at Clermont. 
 
 The Council of Clermont was held in November 1095 and lasted for ten 
 days, from the eighteenth to the twenty-eighth of the month, the famous 
 address of Urban being delivered on the day before the close of the Council. 
 The four writers who were presumably present wrote their versions of the 
 speech several years after it occurred, that of Fulcher being perhaps the 
 earliest. Each may have preserved notes taken at the time, but it is ex- 
 tremely interesting to observe that each stresses that phase of the speech 
 which especially appealed to him. Robert the Monk seems to have responded 
 as a patriotic Frenchman, Balderic as a member of the Church hierarchy, 
 Guibert as a mystic, Fulcher, here, as always, as the simple cure — all as 
 churchmen.* Enough has been added by the writers to indicate that most 
 of Urban's audience, which consisted principally of the clergy, became un- 
 official preachers of the Crusade when they returned to their own districts. 
 This is indicated also by Urban's letter to the Crusaders in Flanders, written 
 less than a month after the Council, which was half plea and half instruc- 
 tion to men already aroused. Urban himself spoke at other places in France 
 before returning to Italy to stir up the people there, but he did not go to 
 Germany for the reasons mentioned by both Fulcher and Ekkehard. The 
 appeal there, though indirect, was powerful, as the second chapter proves. 
 The call to the Crusade was sounded and resounded by Urban, even to the 
 time of his death, and by hundreds of others both during his life-time and 
 long thereafter.) 
 
 I. Conditions in Europe at the beginning of the Crusades. 
 
 {Fulcher.) In the year of our Lord 1095, in the reign of the so- 
 called Emperor^ Henry in Germany and of King Philip in France, 
 throughout Europe evils of all kinds waxed strong because of vacil- 
 lating faith. Pope Urban H ® then ruled in the city of Rome. He 
 was a man admirable in life and habits, who always strove wisely 
 and energetically to raise the status of Holy Church higher and 
 higher. . . . 
 
 But the devil, who always desires man's destruction and goes 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 25 
 
 about like a raging lion seeking whom he may devour, stirred up 
 to the confusion of the people a certain rival to Urban, Wibert^ by 
 name. Incited by the stimulus of pride and supported by the shame- 
 lessness of the aforesaid Emperor of the Bavarians, Wibert at- 
 tempted to usurp the papal office while Urban's predecessor, Greg- 
 ory, that is Hildebrand, was the legitimate Pope ; and he thus caused 
 Gregory himself to be cast out of St. Peter's. So the better people 
 refused to recognize him because he acted thus perversely. After 
 the death of Hildebrand, Urban, lawfully elected, was consecrated 
 by the cardinal bishops, and the greater and holier part of the people 
 submitted in obedience to him. Wibert, however, urged on by the 
 support of the aforesaid Emperor and by the instigation of the 
 Roman citizens, for some time kept Urban a stranger to the Church 
 of St. Peter; but Urban, although he was banished from the Church, 
 went about through the country, reconciling to God the people who 
 had gone somewhat astray. Wibert, however, puffed up by the 
 primacy of the Church, showed himself indulgent to sinners, and 
 exercising the office of pope, although unjustly, amongst his ad- 
 herents, he denounced as ridiculous the acts of Urban. But in the 
 year in which the Franks first passed through Rome on their way 
 to Jerusalem, Urban obtained the complete papal power every- 
 where, with the help of a certain most noble matron, Matilda^ by 
 name, who then had great influence in the Roman state. Wibert 
 was then in Germany. So there were two Popes ; and many did 
 not know which to obey, or from which counsel should be taken, or 
 who should remedy the ills of Christianity. Some favored the one; 
 some the other. But it was clear to the intelligence of men that 
 Urban was the better, for he is righly considered better who con- 
 trols his passions, just as if they were enemies. Wibert was Arch- 
 bishop of the city of Ravenna. He was very rich and revelled in 
 honor and wealth. It was a wonder that such riches did not satisfy 
 him. Ought he to be" considered by all an exemplar of right living 
 who, himself a lover of pomp, boldly assumes to usurp the sceptre 
 of Almighty God? Truly, this office must not be seized by force, 
 but accepted with fear and humility. 
 
 What wonder that the whole world was a prey to disturbance and 
 confusion? For when the Roman Church, which is the source of 
 correction for all Christianity, is troubled by any disorder, the sor- 
 row is communicated from the nerves of the head to the members 
 subject to it, and these suffer sympathetically. This Church, indeed, 
 our mother, as it were, at whose bosom we were nourished, by whose 
 doctrine we were instructed and strengthened, by whose counsel 
 we were admonished, was by this proud Wibert greatly afflicted. 
 
26 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 For when the head is thus struck, the members at once are sick. 
 If the head be sick, the other members suffer. Since the head was 
 thus sick, pain was engendered in the enfeebled members ; for in 
 all parts of Europe peace, goodness, faith, were boldly trampled un- 
 der foot, within the church and without, by the high, as well as by 
 the low. It was necessary both that an end be put to these evils, 
 and that, in accordance with the plan suggested by Pope Urban, 
 they turn against the pagans the strength formerly used in prose- 
 cuting battles among themselves. . . . 
 
 He saw, moreover, the faith of Christendom greatly degraded by 
 all, by the clergy as well as by the laity, and peace totally disre- 
 garded; for the princes of the land were incessantly engaged in 
 armed strife, now these, now those quarrelling among themselves. 
 He saw the goods of the land stolen from the owners ; and many, 
 who were unjustly taken captive and most barbarously cast into 
 foul prisons, he saw ransomed for excessive sums, or tormented 
 there by the three evils, starvation, thirst, and cold, or allowed to 
 perish by unseen death. He also saw holy places violated, monas- 
 teries and villas destroyed by fire, and not a little human suffering, 
 both the divine and the human being held in derision. 
 
 When he heard, too, that interior parts of Romania were held 
 oppressed by the Turks, and that Christians were subjected to 
 destructive and savage attacks, he was moved by compassionate 
 pity; and, prompted by the love of God, he crossed the Alps and 
 came into Gaul. He there called a council at Clermont in Auvergne, 
 which council had been fittingly proclaimed by envoys in all direc- 
 tions. It is estimated that there were three hundred and ten bishops 
 and abbots who bore the crozier. When they were assembled on the 
 day appointed for the council. Urban, in an eloquent address full of 
 sweetness, made known the object of the meeting. With the plain- 
 tive voice of the afflicted Church he bewailed in a long discourse 
 the great disturbances which, as has been mentioned above, agitated 
 the world where faith had been undermined. Then, as a supplicant, 
 he exhorted all to resume the fullness of their faith, and in good 
 earnest to try diligently to withstand the deceits of the devil, and 
 to raise to its pristine honor the status of Holy Church, now most 
 unmercifully crippled by the wicked. 
 
 "Dearest brethren," he said, "1, Urban, invested by the permission 
 of God with the papal tiara, and spiritual ruler over the whole world, 
 have come here in this great crisis to you, servants of God, as a 
 messenger of divine admonition. I wish those whom I have be- 
 lieved good and faithful dispensers of the ministry of God to be 
 found free from shameful dissimulation. For if there be in you 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 2^ 
 
 any disposition or crookedness contrary to God's law, because you 
 have lost the moderation of reason and justice, I shall earnestly en- 
 deavor to correct it at once, with divine assistance. For the Lord 
 has made you stewards over His family, that you provide it with 
 pleasant-tasting meat in season. You will be blessed, indeed, if the 
 Lord shall find you faithful in stewardship. You are also called 
 shepherds; see that you do not the work of hirelings. Be true 
 shepherds and have your crooks always in your hands. Sleep not, 
 but defend everywhere the flock committed to your care. For if 
 through your carelessness or neglect the wolf carries off a sheep, 
 doubtless you will not only lose the reward prepared for you by 
 our Lord, but, after having first been tortured by the strokes of the 
 lictor, you will also be savagely hurled into the abode of the damned. 
 In the words of the gospel, 'Ye are the salt of the earth'?'* But, it 
 is asked, 'If ye fail, wherewith shall it be salted?' Oh, what a salt- 
 ing ! Indeed, you must strive by the salt of your wisdom to correct 
 this foolish people, over-eager for the pleasures of the world, lest 
 the Lord find them insipid and rank, corrupted by crimes at the 
 time when He wishes to speak to them. For if because of your 
 slothful performance of duty He shall discover any worms in them, 
 that is to say any sins. He will in contempt order them to be cast 
 forthwith into the abyss of uncleanness ; and because you will be 
 unable to make good to Him such a loss. He will surely banish you, 
 condemned by His judgment, from the presence of His love. But 
 one that salteth ought to be prudent, foresighted, learned, peaceful, 
 watchful, respectable, pious, just, fair-minded, pure. For how can 
 the unlearned make others learned, the immodest make others mod- 
 est, the unclean make others clean? How can he make peace who 
 hates it? If anyone has soiled hands, how can he cleanse the spots 
 from one contaminated? For it is written, 'If the blind lead the 
 blind, both shall fall into the pit.'^° Accordingly, first correct your- 
 selves, so that without reproach you can then correct those under 
 your care. If, indeed, you wish to be the friends of God, do gener- 
 ously what you see is pleasing to Him. 
 
 "See to it that the affairs of Holy Church, especially, are main- 
 tained in their rights, and that simoniacal heresy in no way takes 
 root among you. Take care lest purchasers and venders alike, 
 struck by the lash of the Lord, be disgracefully driven through nar- 
 row ways into utter confusion. Keep the Church in all its orders 
 entirely free from the secular power; have given to God faithfully 
 one-tenth of the fruits of the earth, neither selling them, nor with- 
 holding them. Whoever lays violent hands on a bishop, let him be 
 considered excommunicated. Whoever shall have seized monks, or 
 
28 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 priests, or nuns, and their servants, or pilgrims, or traders, and 
 shall have despoiled them, let him be accursed. Let thieves and 
 burners of houses and their accomplices be excommunicated from 
 the church and accursed. Therefore, we must consider especially, 
 as Gregory says, how great will be his punishment who steals from 
 another, if he incurs the damnation of hell who does not distribute 
 alms from his own possessions. For so it happened to the rich 
 man in the Gospel, who was punished not for stealing anything 
 from another, but because, having received wealth, he used it badly. ^^ 
 
 "By these evils, therefore, as I have said, dearest brethren, you 
 have seen the world disordered for a long time, and to such a de- 
 gree that in some places in your provinces, as has been reported to 
 us (perhaps due to your weakness in administering justice), one 
 scarcely dares to travel for fear of being kidnapped by thieves at 
 night or highwayman by day, by force or by craft, at home or 
 out of doors. Wherefore, it is well to enforce anew the Truce,^^ 
 commonly so-called, which was long ago established by our holy 
 fathers, and which I most earnestly entreat each one of you to have 
 observed in his diocese. But if any one, led on by pride or am- 
 bition, infringes this injunction voluntarily, let him be anathema in 
 virtue of the authority of God and by the sanction of the decrees 
 of this council." 
 
 When these and many other things were well disposed of, all those 
 present, priests and people alike, gave thanks to God and welcomed 
 the advice of the Lord Pope Urban, assuring him, with a promise of 
 fidelity, that these decrees of his would be well kept. 
 
 2. Urban' s plea for a Crusade. (November 27, 1095.) 
 
 (Gesta.) When now that time was at hand which the Lord 
 Jesus daily points out to His faithful, especially in the Gospel, say- 
 ing, "H 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 eloquent- 
 ly, saying: "Whoever wishes to save his soul should not hesitate 
 humbly to take up the way of the Lord, and if he lacks sufificient 
 money, divine mercy will give him enough." Then the apostolic 
 lord continued, "Brethren, we ought to endure much suffering for 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 29 
 
 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 re- 
 ward in Heaven.' "^^ And when this speech had already begun to 
 be noised abroad, little by little, through all the regions and coun- 
 tries 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. 
 
 {Fulcher.) But the Pope added at once that another trouble, not 
 less, but still more grievous than that already spoken of, and even 
 the very worst, was besetting Christianity from another part of the 
 world. He said: "Since, O sons of God, you have promised the 
 Lord to maintain peace more earnestly than heretofore in your 
 midst, and faithfully to sustain the rights of Holy Church, there 
 still remains for you, who are newly aroused by this divine correc- 
 tion, a very necessary work, in which you can show the strength of 
 your good will by a certain further duty, God's concern and your 
 own. For you must hasten to carry aid to your brethren dwelling 
 in the East, who need your help, which they often have asked. For 
 the Turks, a Persian people, have attacked them, as many of you 
 already know, and have advanced as far into the Roman terri- 
 tory as that part of the Mediterranean which is called the Arm of 
 St. George ; and, by seizing more and more of the lands of the 
 Christians, they have already often conquered them in battle, have 
 killed and captured many, have destroyed the churches, and have 
 devastated the kingdom of God. If you allow them to continue 
 much longer, they will subjugate God's faithful yet more widely. 
 
 "Wherefore, I exhort with earnest prayer — not I, but God — that, 
 as heralds of Christ, you urge men by frequent exhortation, men of 
 all ranks, knights as well as foot-soldiers, rich as well as poor, to 
 hasten to exterminate this vile race from the lands of your brethren, 
 and to aid the Christians in time. I speak to those present ; I pro- 
 claim it to the absent ; moreover, Christ commands it. And if those 
 who set out thither should lose their lives on the way by land, or in 
 crossing the sea, or in fighting the pagans, their sins shall be re- 
 mitted. This I grant to all who go, through the power vested in 
 me by God. Oh, what a disgrace, if a race so despised, base, and 
 the instrument of demons, should so overcome a people endowed 
 with faith in the all-powerful God, and resplendent with the name 
 of Christ ! Oh, what reproaches will be charged against you by 
 
30 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 the Lord Himself if you have not helped those who are counted, 
 like yourselves, of the Christian faith ! Let those who have been 
 accustomed to make private war against the faithful carry on to a 
 successful issue a war against infidels, which ought to have been 
 begun ere now. Let these who for a long time have been robbers 
 now become soldiers of Christ. Let those who once fought against 
 brothers and relatives now fight against barbarians, as they ought. 
 Let those who have been hirelings at low wages now labor for an 
 eternal rew^ard. Let those who have been wearing themselves out 
 to the detriment of body and soul now labor for a double glory. 
 On the one hand will be the sad and poor, on the other the joyous 
 and wealthy ; here the enemies of the Lord ; there His friends. Let 
 no obstacle stand in the way of those who are going, but, after 
 their afifairs are settled and expense money is collected, when the 
 winter has ended and spring has come, let them zealously under- 
 take the journey under the guidance of the Lord." 
 
 {Robert the Monk.) . . . "Oh, race of Franks, race from across 
 the mountains, race chosen and beloved by God — as shines forth in 
 very many of your works — set apart from all nations by the situa- 
 tion of your country, as well as by your Catholic faith and the honor 
 of the Holy Church ! To you our discourse is addressed, and for 
 you our exhortation is intended. We wish you to know what a 
 grievous cause has led us to your country, what peril, threatening 
 you and all the faithful, has brought us. 
 
 "From the confines of Jerusalem and the city of Constantinople a 
 horrible tale has gone forth and very frequently has been brought 
 to our ears ; namely, that a race from the kingdom of the Persians, 
 an accursed race, a race utterly alienated from God, a generation, 
 forsooth, which has neither directed its heart nor entrusted its 
 spirit to God, has invaded the lands of those Christians and has 
 depopulated them by the sword, pillage, and fire ; it has led away a 
 part of the captives into its own country, and a part it has destroyed 
 by cruel tortures ; it has either entirely destroyed the churches of 
 God or appropriated them for the rites of its own religion. They 
 destroy the altars, after having defiled them with their uncleanness. 
 They circumcise the Christians, and the blood of the circumcision 
 they either spread upon the altars or pour into the vases of the 
 baptismal font. When they wish to torture people by a base death, 
 they perforate their navels, and, dragging forth the end of the in- 
 testines, bind it to a stake ; then with flogging they lead the victim 
 around until his viscera have gushed forth, and he falls prostrate 
 upon the ground. Others they bind to a post and pierce with ar- 
 rows. Others they compel to extend their necks, and then, attack- 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 31 
 
 ing them with naked swords, they attempt to cut through the neck 
 with a single blow. What shall I say of the abominable rape of 
 the women ? To speak of it is worse than to be silent. The king- 
 dom of the Greeks is now dismembered by them and deprived of 
 territory so vast in extent that it can not be traversed in a march of 
 two months. On whom, therefore, is the task of avenging these 
 wrongs and of recovering this territory incumbent, if not upon you? 
 You, upon whom above other nations God has conferred remark- 
 able glory in arms, great courage, bodily energy, and the strength 
 to humble the hairy scalp of those who resist you. 
 
 "Let the deeds of your ancestors move you and incite your minds 
 to manly achievements ; likewise, the glory and greatness of King 
 Charles the Great, and his son Louis, and of your other kings, who 
 have destroyed the kingdoms of the pagans, and have extended in 
 these lands the territory of the Holy Church. Let the Holy Sepul- 
 chre of the Lord, our Saviour, which is possessed by unclean na- 
 tions, especially move you, and likewise the holy places, which are 
 now treated with ignominy and irreverently polluted with filthiness. 
 Oh, most valiant soldiers and descendants of invincible ancestors, 
 be not degenerate, but recall the valor of your forefathers ! 
 
 "However, if you are hindered by love of children, parents, and 
 wives, remember what the Lord says in the Gospel, 'He that loveth 
 father, or mother more than me, is not worthy of me.'^^ 'Every 
 one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or 
 mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake shall re- 
 ceive an hundred-fold and shall inherit everlasting life.'^® Let none 
 of your possessions detain you, no solicitude for your family affairs, 
 since this land which you inhabit, shut in on all sides by the sea 
 and surrounded by mountain peaks, is too narrow for your large 
 population ; nor does it abound in wealth ; and it furnishes scarcely 
 food enough for its cultivators. Hence it is that you murder and 
 devour one another, that you wage war, and that frequently you 
 perish by mutual wounds. Let therefore hatred depart from among 
 you, let your quarrels end, let wars cease, and let all dissensions and 
 controversies slumber. Enter upon the road to the Holy Sepul- 
 chre; wrest that land from the wicked race, and subject it to your- 
 selves. That land which, as the Scripture says, 'floweth with milk 
 and honey'^^ was given by God into the possession of the children 
 of Israel. 
 
 "Jerusalem is the navel of the world; the land is fruitful above 
 others, like another paradise of delights. This the Redeemer of 
 the human race has made illustrious by His advent, has beautified 
 by His presence, has consecrated by suffering, has redeemed by 
 
32 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 death, has glorified by burial. This royal city, therefore, situated 
 at the center of the world, is now held captive by His enemies, and 
 is in subjection to those who do not know God, to the worship of 
 the heathen. Therefore, she seeks and desires to be liberated and 
 does not cease to implore you to come to her aid. From you, espe- 
 cially, she asks succor, because, as we have already said, God has 
 conferred upon you, above all nations, great glory in arms. Ac- 
 cordingly, undertake this journey for the remission of your sins, 
 with the assurance of the imperishable glory of the kingdom of 
 heaven." 
 
 When Pope Urban had said these and very many similar things 
 m his urbane discourse, he so influenced to one purpose the desires 
 of all who were present that they cried out, "God wills it ! God 
 wills it!" When the venerable Roman pontiff heard that, with eyes 
 uplifted to heaven he gave thanks to God and, with his hand com- 
 manding silence, said : 
 
 "Most beloved brethren, to-day is manifest in you what the Lord 
 says in the Gospel, 'Where two or three are gathered together in 
 My name there am I in the midst of them.'-° Unless the Lord God 
 had been present in your minds, all of you would not have uttered 
 the same cry. For, although the cry issued from numerous mouths, 
 yet the origin of the cry was one. Therefore I say to you that God, 
 who implanted this in your breasts, has drawn it forth from you. 
 Let this then be your battle-cry in combat, because this word is 
 given to you by God. When an armed attack is made upon the 
 enemy, let this one cry be raised by all the soldiers of God : 'God 
 wills it ! God wills it !' 
 
 "And we do not command or advise that the old, or the feeble, 
 or those unfit for bearing arms, undertake this journey; nor ought 
 women to set out at all without their husbands, or brothers, or legal 
 guardians. For such are more of a hindrance than aid, more of a 
 burden than an advantage. Let the rich aid the needy ; and, ac- 
 cording to their means, let them take with them experienced sol- 
 diers. The priests and clerks of any order are not to go without 
 the consent of their bishops; for this journey would profit them 
 nothing if they went without such permission. Also, it is not fitting 
 that laymen should enter upon the pilgrimage without the blessing 
 of their priests. 
 
 "Whoever, therefore, shall determine upon this holy pilgrimage 
 and shall make his vow to God to that effect and shall offer himself 
 to Him as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, shall wear 
 the sign of the cross of the Lord on his forehead, or on his breast. 
 When, having truly fulfilled his vow, he wishes to return, let him 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 33 
 
 place the cross on his back between his shoulders. Such, indeed, 
 by two-fold action will fulfil the precept of the Lord, as He com- 
 mands in the Gospel, 'He that doth not take his cross and follow 
 after me, is not worthy of me,' "^^ . . . 
 
 (Balderic of Dol.) . . . "We have heard, most beloved brethren, 
 and you have heard what we cannot recount without deep sorrow — 
 how, with great hurt and dire sufiferings our Christian brothers, 
 members in Christ, are scourged, oppressed, and injured in Jerusa- 
 lem, in Antioch, and the other cities of the East. Your own blood- 
 brothers, your companions, your associates (for you are sons of the 
 same Christ and the same Church) are either subjected in their in- 
 herited homes to other masters, or are driven from them, or they 
 come as beggars among us ; or, which is far worse, they are flogged 
 and exiled as slaves for sale in their own land. CJiristian blood, 
 redeemed by the blood of Christ, has been shed, and Christian 
 flesh, akin to the flesh of Christ, has been subjected to unspeakable 
 degradation and servitude. Everywhere in those cities there is 
 sorrow, everywhere misery, everywhere groaning (I say it with a 
 sigh). The churches in which divine mysteries were celebrated in 
 olden times are now, to our sorrow, used as stables for the animals 
 of these people ! Holy men do not possess those cities ; nay, base 
 and bastard Turks hold sway over our brothers. The blessed Peter 
 first presided as Bishop at Antioch ; behold, in his own church the 
 Gentiles have established their superstitions, and the Christian re- 
 ligion, which they ought rather to cherish, they have basely shut 
 out from the hall dedicated to God ! The estates given for the sup- 
 port of the saints and the patrimony of nobles set aside for the sus- 
 tenance of the poor are subject to pagan tyranny, while cruel mas- 
 ters abuse for their own purposes the returns from these lands. 
 The priesthood of God has been ground down into the dust. The 
 sanctuary of God (unspeakable shame!) is everywhere profaned. 
 Whatever Christians still remain in hiding there are sought out 
 with unheard of tortures. 
 
 "Of holy Jerusalem, brethren, we dare not speak, for we are ex- 
 ceedingly afraid and ashamed to speak of it. This very city, in 
 which, as you all know, Christ Himself suffered for us, because our 
 sins demanded it, has been reduced to the pollution of paganism and, 
 I say it to our disgrace, withdrawn from the service of God. Such 
 is the heap of reproach upon us who have so much deserved it ! 
 Who now serves the church of the Blessed Mary in the valley of 
 Josaphat, in which church she herself was buried in body? But 
 why do we pass over the Temple of Solomon, nay of the Lord, in 
 which the barbarous nations placed their idols contrary to law. 
 
34 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 human and divine? Of the Lord's Sepulchre we have refrained 
 from speaking, since some of you with your own eyes have seen to 
 what abominations it has been given over. The Turks violently 
 took from it the offerings which you brought there for alms in such 
 vast amounts, and, in addition, they scoffed much and often at your 
 religion. And yet in that place (I say only what you already know) 
 rested the Lord ; there He died for us ; there He was buried. How 
 precious would be the longed-for, incomparable place of the Lord's 
 burial, even if God failed there to perform the yearly miracle!" 
 For in the days of His Passion all the lights in the Sepulchre and 
 round about in the church, which have been extinguished, are re- 
 lighted by divine command. Whose heart is so stony, brethren, 
 that it is not touched by so great a miracle? Believe me, that man 
 is bestial and senseless whose heart such divinely manifest grace 
 does not move to faith ! And yet the Gentiles see this in common 
 with the Christians and are not turned from their ways ! They 
 are, indeed, afraid, but they are not converted to the faith ; nor is it 
 to be wondered at, for a blindness of mind rules over them. With 
 what afflictions they wronged you who have returned and are now 
 piesent, you yourselves know too well, you who there sacrificed 
 your substance and your blood for God. 
 
 "This, beloved brethren, we shall say, that we may have you as 
 witness of our words. More suffering of our brethren and de- 
 vastation of churches remains than we can speak of one by one, for 
 we are oppressed by tears and groans, sighs and sobs. We weep and 
 wail, brethren, alas, like the Psalmist, in our inmost heart! We 
 are wretched and unhappy, and in us is that prophecy fulfilled : 
 'God, the nations are come into thine inheritance ; thy holy temple 
 have they defiled ; they have laid Jerusalem in heaps ; the dead 
 bodies of thy servants have been given to be food for the birds of 
 the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. 
 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem, and 
 there was none to bury them.'-^ Woe unto us, brethren ! W'e who 
 have already become a reproach to our neighbors, a scofiing, and 
 derision to them round about us, let us at least with tears condole 
 and have compassion upon our brothers ! We who are become the 
 scorn of all peoples, and worse than all, let us bewail the most 
 monstrous devastation of the Holy Land ! This land we have de- 
 servedly called holy in which there is not even a foot-step that the 
 body or spirit of the Saviour did not render glorious and blessed; 
 which embraced the holy presence of the mother of God, and the 
 meetings of the apostles, and drank up the blood of the martyrs 
 shed there. How blessed are the stones which crowned you, Ste- 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 35 
 
 phen, the first martyr ! How happy, O, John the Baptist, the waters 
 of the Jordan which served you in baptizing the Saviour ! The chil- 
 dren of Israel, who were led out of Egypt, and who prefigured you 
 in the crossing of the Red Sea, have taken that land by their arms, 
 with Jesus as leader ; they have driven out the Jebusites'* and other 
 inhabitants and have themselves inhabited earthly Jerusalem, the 
 image of celestial Jerusalem. 
 
 "What are we saying? Listen and learn! You, girt about with 
 the badge of knighthood, are arrogant with great pride; you rage 
 against your brothers and cut each other in pieces. This is not 
 the (true) soldiery of Christ which rends asunder the sheep-fold of 
 the Redeemer. The Holy Church has reserved a soldiery for her- 
 self to help her people, but you debase her wickedly to her hurt. Let 
 us confess the truth, whose heralds we ought to be; truly, you are 
 not holding to the way which leads to life. You, the oppressers of 
 children, plunderers of widows; you, guilty of homicide, of sacri- 
 lege, robbers of another's rights ; you who await the pay of thieves 
 for the shedding of Christian blood — as vultures smell fetid corpses, 
 so do you sense battles from afar and rush to them eagerly. Verily, 
 this is the worst way, for it is utterly removed from God! If, 
 forsooth, you wish to be mindful of your souls, either lay down the 
 girdle of such knighthood, or advance boldly, as knights of Christ, 
 and rush as quickly as you can to the defence of the Eastern 
 Church. For she it is from whom the joys of your whole salvation 
 have come forth, who poured into your mouths the milk of divine 
 wnsdom, who set before you the holy teachings of the Gospels. We 
 say this, brethren, that you may restrain your murderous hands 
 from the destruction of your brothers, and in behalf of your rela- 
 tives in the faith oppose yourselves to the Gentiles. Under Jesus 
 Christ, our Leader, may you struggle for your Jerusalem, in Chris- 
 tian battle-line, most invincible line, even more successfully than 
 did the sons of Jacob of old — struggle, that you may assail and 
 drive out the Turks, more execrable than the Jebusites, who are in 
 this land, and may you deem it a beautiful thing to die for Christ 
 in that city in which He died for us. But if it befall you 
 to die this side of it, be sure that to have died on the way is of 
 equal value, if Christ shall find you in His army. God pays with 
 the same shilling, whether at the first or eleventh hour. You 
 should shudder, brethren, you should shudder at raising a violent 
 hand against Christians ; it is less wicked to brandish your sword 
 against Saracens. It is the only warfare that is righteous, for it is 
 charity to risk your life for your brothers. That you may not be 
 troubled about the concerns of to-morrow, know that those who 
 
36 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 fear God want nothing, nor those who cherish Him in truth. The 
 possessions of the enemy, too, will be yours, since you will make 
 spoil of their treasures and return victorious to your own; or em- 
 purpled with your own blood, you will have gained everlasting 
 glory. For such a Commander you ought to fight, for One who 
 lacks, neither might nor wealth with which to reward you. Short is 
 the way, little the labor, which, nevertheless, will repay you with 
 the crown that fadeth not away. Accordingly, we speak with the 
 authority of the prophet: 'Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O 
 mighty one.'-'^ Gird yourselves, everyone of you, I say, and be 
 valiant sons ; for it is better for you to die in battle than to behold 
 the sorrows of your race and of your holy places. Let neither 
 property nor the alluring charms of your wives entice you from 
 going; nor let the trials that are to be borne so deter you that you 
 remain here." 
 
 And turning to the bishops, he said, "You, brothers and fellow 
 bishops ; you, fellow priests and sharers with us in Christ, make 
 this same announcement through the churches committed to you, 
 and with your whole soul vigorously preach the journey to Jerusa- 
 lem. When they have confessed the disgrace of their sins, do you, 
 secure in Christ, grant them speedy pardon. Moreover, you who 
 are to go shall have us praying for you ; we shall have you fighting 
 for God's people. It is our duty to pray, yours to fight against the 
 Amalekites.^*' With Moses, we shall extend unwearied hands in 
 prayer to Heaven, while yoti go forth and brandish the sword, like 
 dauntless warriors, against Amalek."' 
 
 As those present were thus clearly informed by these and other 
 words of this kind from the apostolic lord, the eyes of some were 
 bathed in tears ; some trembled, and yet others discussed the matter. 
 However, in the presence of all at that same council, and as we 
 looked on, the Bishop of Puy,^^ a man of great renown and of 
 highest ability, went to the Pope with joyful countenance and on 
 bended knee sought and entreated blessing and permission to go. 
 Over and above this, he won from the Pope the command that all 
 should obey him, and that he should hold sway over all the army 
 in behalf of the Pope, since all knew him to be a prelate of unusual 
 energy and industry. . . . 
 
 (Guibert of Nogent.) . . . 'Tf among the churches scattered 
 about over the whole world some, because of persons or location, 
 deserve reverence above others (for persons, I say, since greater 
 privileges are accorded to apostolic sees ; for places, indeed, since 
 the same dignity which is accorded to persons is also shown to 
 regal cities, such as Constantinople), we owe most to that church 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 37 
 
 from which we received the grace of redemption and the source of 
 all Christianity. If what the Lord says — namely, 'Salvation is from 
 the Jews — ,'-^ accords with the truth, and it is true that the Lord 
 has left us Sabaoth as seed, that we may not become like Sodom 
 and Gomorrah, and our seed is Christ, in whom is the salvation and 
 benediction of all peoples, then, indeed, the very land and city in 
 which He dwelt and suffered is, by witness of the Scriptures, holy. 
 If this land is spoken of in the sacred writings of the prophets as 
 the inheritance and the holy temple of God before ever the Lord 
 walked about in it, or was revealed, what sanctity, what reverence 
 has it not acquired since God in His majesty was there clothed in 
 the flesh, nourished, grew up, and in bodily form there walked 
 about, or was carried about ; and, to compress in fitting brevity all 
 that might be told in a long series of words, since there the blood of 
 the Son of God, more holy than heaven and earth, was poured forth, 
 and His body, its quivering members dead, rested in the tomb. 
 What veneration do we think it deserves? If, when the Lord had 
 but just been crucified and the city was still held by the Jews, it 
 was called holy by the evangelist when he says, 'Many bodies of the 
 saints that had fallen asleep were raised ; and coming forth out of 
 the tombs after His resurrection, they entered into the holy city and 
 appeared unto many,'^^ and by the prophet Isaiah when he says, 
 Tt shall be His glorious sepulchre,'^" then, surely, with this sanctity 
 placed upon it by God the Sanctifier Himself, no evil that may be- 
 fall it can destroy it, and in the same way glory is indivisibly fixed 
 to His Sepulchre. Most beloved brethren, if you reverence the 
 source of that holiness and glory, if you cherish these shrines which 
 are the marks of His foot-prints on earth, if you seek (the way), 
 God leading you, God fighting in your behalf, you should strive 
 with your utmost efforts to cleanse the Holy City and the glory of 
 the Sepulchre, now polluted by the concourse of the Gentiles, as 
 much as is in their power. 
 
 "If in olden times the Maccabees attained to the highest praise 
 of piety because they fought for the ceremonies and the Temple, 
 it is also justly granted you. Christian soldiers, to defend the liberty 
 of your country by armed endeavor. If you, likewise, consider that 
 the abode of the holy apostles and any other saints should be striven 
 for with such effort, why do you refuse to rescue the Cross, the 
 Blood, the Tomb? Why do you refuse to visit them, to spend the 
 price of your lives in rescuing them? You have thus far waged 
 unjust wars, at one time and another; you have brandished mad 
 weapons to your mutual destruction, for no other reason than 
 covetousness and pride, as a result of which you have deserved 
 
38 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 eternal death and sure damnation. We now hold out to you wars 
 which contain the glorious reward of martyrdom, which will re- 
 tain that title of praise now and forever. 
 
 "Let us suppose, for the moment, that Christ was not dead and 
 buried, and had never lived any length of time in Jerusalem. Sure- 
 ly, if all this were lacking, this fact alone ought still to arouse you 
 to go to the aid of the land and city — the fact that 'Out of Zion shall 
 go forth the law and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem !'^^ If 
 all that there is of Christian preaching has flowed from the foun- 
 tain of Jerusalem, its streams, whithersoever spread out over the 
 whole world, encircle the hearts of the Catholic multitude, that they 
 may consider wisely what they owe such a well-watered fountain. 
 If rivers return to the place whence they have issued only to flow 
 forth again, according to the saying of Solomon,^^ it ought to seem 
 glorious to you to be able to apply a new cleansing to this place, 
 whence it is certain that you received the cleansing of baptism and 
 the witness of your faith. 
 
 "And you ought, furthermore, to consider with the utmost de- 
 liberation, if by your labors, God working through you, it should 
 occur that the Mother of churches should flourish anew to the wor- 
 ship of Christianity, whether, perchance. He may not wish other 
 regions of the East to be restored to the faith against the approach- 
 ing time of the Antichrist.^^ For it is clear that Antichrist is to do 
 battle not with the Jews, not with the Gentiles ; but, according to 
 the etymolog}' of his name, He will attack Christians. And if Anti- 
 christ finds there no Christians (just as at present when scarcely 
 any dwell there), no one will be there to oppose him, or whom he 
 may rightly overcome. According to Daniel and Jerome, the in- 
 terpreter of Daniel, he is to fix his tents on the Mount of Olives ; 
 and it is certain, for the apostle teaches it, that he will sit at Jeru- 
 salem in the Temple of the Lord, as though he were God. And 
 according to the same prophet, he will first kill three kings of 
 Egypt, Africa, and Ethiopia, without doubt for their Christian faith. 
 This, indeed, could not at all be done unless Christianity was estab- 
 lished where now is paganism. If, therefore, you are zealous in the 
 practice of holy battles, in order that, just as you have received the 
 seed of knowledge of God from Jerusalem, you may in the same 
 way restore the borrowed grace, so that through you the Catholic 
 name may be advanced to oppose the perfidy of the Antichrist and 
 the Antichristians — then, who can not conjecture that God, who has 
 exceeded the hope of all, will consume, in the abundance of your 
 courage and through you as the spark, such a thicket of paganism 
 as to include within His law Egypt, Africa, and Ethiopia, which 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 39 
 
 have withdrawn from the communion of our belief ? And the man 
 of sin, the son of perdition, will find some to oppose him. Behold, 
 the Gospel cries out, 'Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gen- 
 tiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.'^* 'Times of the 
 Gentiles' can be understood in two ways: Either that they have 
 ruled over the Christians at their pleasure, and have gladly fre- 
 quented the sloughs of all baseness for the satisfaction of their 
 lusts, and in all this have had no obstacle (for they who have every- 
 thing according to their wish are said to have their time; there is 
 that saying: 'My time is not yet come, but your time is always 
 ready,'^^ whence the lustful are wont to say 'you are having your 
 time'). Or, again, 'the times of the Gentiles' are the fulness of 
 time for those Gentiles who shall have entered secretly before 
 Israel shall be saved. These times, most beloved brothers, will now, 
 forsooth, be fulfilled, provided the might of the pagans be repulsed 
 through you, with the co-operation of God. With the end of the 
 world already near, even though the Gentiles fail to be converted 
 to the Lord (since according to the apostle there must be a with- 
 drawal from the faith), it is first necessary, according to the proph- 
 ecy, that the Christian sway be renewed in those regions, either 
 through you, or others, whom it shall please God to send before 
 the coming of Antichrist, so that the head of all evil, who is to 
 occupy there the throne of the kingdom, shall find some support of 
 the faith to fight against him. 
 
 "Consider, therefore, that the Almighty has provided you, per- 
 haps, for this purpose, that through you He may restore Jerusalem 
 from such debasement. Ponder, I beg you, how full of joy and de- 
 light our hearts will be when we shall see the Holy City restored 
 with your little help, and the prophet's, nay divine, words fulfilled 
 in our times. Let your memory be moved by what the Lord Him- 
 self says to the Church: 'I will bring thy seed from the East 
 and gather thee from the West.'^^ God has already brought our 
 seed from the East, since in a double way that region of the East 
 has given the first beginnings of the Church to us. But from the 
 West He will also gather it, provided He repairs the wrongs of 
 Jerusalem through those who have begun the witness of the final 
 faith, that is the people of the West. With God's assistance, we 
 think this can be done through you. 
 
 "If neither the words of the Scriptures arouse you, nor our ad- 
 monitions penetrate your minds, at least let the great suffering of 
 those who desired to go to the holy places stir you up. Think of 
 those who made the pilgrimage across the sea ! Even if they were 
 more wealthy, consider what taxes, what violence they underwent, 
 
40 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 since they were forced to make payments and tributes almost every 
 mile, to purchase release at every gate of the city, at the entrance 
 of the churches and temples, at every side-journey from place to 
 place: also, if any accusation whatsoever were made against them, 
 they were compelled to purchase their release ; but if they refused to 
 pay money, the prefects of the Gentiles, according to their custom, 
 urged them fiercely with blows. What shall we say of those who 
 took up the journey without anything more than trust in their bar- 
 ren poverty, since they seemed to have nothing except their bodies 
 to lose? They not only demanded money of them, which is not an 
 unendurable punishment, but also examined the callouses of their 
 heels, cutting them open and folding the skin back, lest, perchance, 
 they had sewed something there. Their unspeakable cruelty was 
 carried on even to the point of giving them scammony to drink 
 until they vomited, or even burst their bowels, because they thought 
 the wretches had swallowed gold or silver; or, horrible to say, they 
 cut their bowels open with a sword and, spreading out the folds 
 of the intestines, with frightful mutilation disclosed whatever na- 
 ture held there in secret. Remember, I pray, the thousands who 
 have perished vile deaths, and strive for the holy places from which 
 the beginnings of your faith have come. Before you engage in His 
 battles, believe without question that Christ will be your standard- 
 bearer and inseparable fore-runner." 
 
 The most excellent man concluded his oration and by the power 
 of the blessed Peter absolved all who vowed to go and confirmed 
 those acts with apostolic blessing. He instituted a sign well suited 
 to so honorable a profession by making the figure of the Cross, 
 the stigma of the Lord's Passion, the emblem of the soldiery, or 
 rather, of what was to be the soldiery of God. This, made of 
 any kind of cloth, he ordered to be sewed upon the shirts, cloaks, 
 and byrra of those who were about to go. He commanded that if 
 anyone, after receiving this emblem, or after taking openly this 
 vow, should shrink from his good intent through base change of 
 heart, or any afifection for his parents, he should be regarded an 
 outlaw forever, unless he repented and again undertook whatever 
 of his pledge he had omitted. Furthermore, the Pope condemned 
 with a fearful anathema all those who dared to molest the wives, 
 children, and possessions of these who were going on this journey 
 for God. . . . 
 
 3. The immediate response. 
 
 (Fidcher.) After this speech, those present were very enthusi- 
 asttc in The cause, and many, thinking that nothing could be more 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 41 
 
 laudable than such an undertaking, at once offered to go and dili- 
 gently exhort the absent. Among these was the Bishop of Puy, 
 Adhemar by name, who later acting as the Pope's vicegerent pru- 
 dently and wisely led the whole army of God and vigorously in- 
 spired them to accomplish the undertaking. So, when those things 
 which have been mentioned were determined upon in the council 
 and unanimously approved of, and after the papal blessing was 
 given, they withdrew to their homes to make known to those who 
 were not present at the council what had been done. When these 
 tidings were proclaimed throughout the provinces, they agreed 
 under oath that the peace which was called the Truce should be 
 kept mutually by all. Finally, then, many persons of every class 
 vowed, after confession, that they were going with a pure intent 
 whither they were ordered to go. 
 
 Oh, how fitting and how pleasing to us all to see those crosses, 
 beautiful, whether of silk, or of woven gold, or of any kind of cloth, 
 which these pilgrims, by order of Pope Urban, sewed on the should- 
 ers of their mantles, or cassocks, or tunics, once they had made 
 the vow to go. It was indeed proper that soldiers of God who 
 prepared to fight for His honor should be signed and fortified by 
 this fitting emblem of victory ; and, since they thus marked them- 
 selves with this symbol under the acknowledgment of faith, finally 
 they very truly obtained the Cross of which they carried the symbol. 
 They adopted the sign that they might follow the reality of the sign. 
 
 It is evident that a good intention brings about the achievement 
 of a good work, and that good work earns the soul's salvation. For 
 if it is good to intend well, it is still better to accomplish a good 
 work which has been planned. Therefore the best thing one can 
 do is to provide for the salvation of his soul by a worthy action. 
 Let each one then plan good deeds, which by still more worthy ac- 
 tion he will fulfil, so that he shall at length receive the never end- 
 ing reward which he has earned. So Urban, a man prudent and 
 revered, conceived a work by which later the whole universe pros- 
 pered. For he restored peace and re-established the rights of thz 
 church in their pristine condition. And with a lively determination 
 he also made an effort to drive out the pagans from the Christian 
 lands. Therefore, since he endeavored in every way to glorify 
 everything which was God's, almost all voluntarily submitted them- 
 selves to his paternal direction. 
 
 ( E^keha rd.) The West Franks" could easily be induced to 
 leave their lands, since for several years Gaul had suffered, now / 
 from civil war, now from famine, and again from excessive mor-^ 
 tahty; and, finally, that disease which had its origin in the vicinity 
 
42 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 of the church of St. Gertrude of Nivelle^^ alarmed them to such an 
 extent that they feared for their lives. This was the nature of the 
 disease. The patient, attacked in any part of the body by invisible 
 fire, suffered unspeakable torment for a long time, and without 
 remedy, until either he lost his life from the agony, or he lost both 
 the torture and the afflicted limb at the same time. There are to 
 this day living witnesses of this disease, maimed either in hands or 
 feet by the scourge. 
 
 Of the other nations, some peoples or individuals acknowledged 
 that they had been called to the land of promise not only by the 
 proclamation of the Pope, but also by certain prophets who had 
 lately arisen among them, or by signs and revelations from heaven ; 
 others confessed that they had been constrained to take the vows 
 by reason of embarrassed circumstances. Indeed, the majority set 
 out encumbered with their wives and children and all their house- 
 hold effects. 
 
 But for the East Franks, the Saxons, the Thuringians, the Ba- 
 varians, and the AlemannP^ this trumpet call sounded only faintly, 
 particularly because of the schism between the empire and the 
 papacy, from the time of Pope Alexander*" even until today. This, 
 alas, has strengthened our hatred and enmity against the Romans, 
 as it has theirs towards us ! And so it came to pass that almost all 
 the Teutonic race, at first ignorant of the reason for this setting 
 out, laughed to scorn the many legions of knights passing through 
 their land, the many companies of foot soldiers, and the crowds of 
 country people, women, and little ones. They regarded them as 
 crazed with unspeakable folly, inasmuch as they were striving after 
 uncertainties in place of certainties and were leaving for naught 
 the land of their birth, to seek with certain danger the uncertain 
 land of promise ; and, while giving up their own possessions, they 
 were yearning after those of strangers. But although our people 
 are more perverse than other races, yet in consideration of the 
 promise of divine pity, the enthusiasm of the Teutons was at last 
 turned to this same proclamation, for they were taught, forsooth, 
 what the thing really meant by the crowds passing through their 
 lands. 
 
 4. Urhan's instructions to the assembling Crusaders. 
 
 Urban, bishop, servant of the servants of God, to all the faithful, 
 both princes and subjects, waiting in Flanders; greeting, apostolic 
 grace, and blessing. 
 
 Your brotherhood, we believe, has long since learned from many 
 accounts that a barbaric fury has deplorably afflicted and laid waste 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 43 
 
 the churches of God in the regions of the Orient. More than this, 
 blasphemous to say, it has even grasped in intolerable servitude its 
 churches and the Holy City of Christ, glorified by His passion and 
 resurrection. Grieving with pious concern at this calamity, we 
 visited the regions of Gaul and devoted ourselves largely to urging 
 the princes of the land and their subjects to free the churches of 
 the East. We solemnly enjoined upon them at the council of 
 Auvergne" (the accomplishment of) such an undertaking, as a prep- 
 aration for the remission of all their sins. And we have consti- 
 tuted our most beloved son, Adhemar, Bishop of Puy, leader of this 
 expedition and undertaking in our stead, so that those who, per- 
 chance, may wish to undertake this journey should comply with 
 his commands, as if they were our own, and submit fully to his 
 loosings or bindings, as far as shall seem to belong to such an 
 office. If, moreover, there are any of your people whom God has 
 inspired to this vow, let them know that he (Adhemar) will set out 
 with the aid of God on the day of the Assumption of the Blessed 
 Mary,*^ and that they can then attach themselves to his following. 
 
 (Written toward the end of December, 1095.) 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 The March to Constantixople 
 
 (Despite Urban's efforts to keep the expedition within the bounds of 
 a common plan and to maintain some degree of organization, the enthusiasm 
 which he aroused was too great to be restrained. Without waiting for the 
 appointed day, various bands, commonly known as the Peasants' Crusade, 
 started from the Rhine country, eager to be the first to gauT the great je- 
 wards. Neither the character nor the conduct of the groups seems to have 
 been such as to inspire any writer with a desire to recount their deeds. As 
 a result, our information about them comes wholly from the none too sym- 
 pathetic chronicles of the later writers. The versions given by the Anony- 
 mous, who met some of the survivors at Constantinople, by Ekkehard, and 
 by Albert, both of whom lived in the country through which these bands 
 passed, have been selected as the most accurate and complete. The persecu- 
 tions of the Jews, so common along the march of the Peasants, was by no 
 means, how^ever, confined to them, being almost as widespread as the en- 
 thusiasm for the Crusade itself. ^^ Though the final fate of the first of these 
 companies is described in the tTTird chapter, they had all started before the 
 main body, and their conduct had left a deep impression upon the peoples 
 through whose lands they journeyed. The difficulties of the main army in 
 these same regions were probably due in no small measure to the excesses 
 which the Peasants had committed. The main armies must be followed up 
 to Constantinople, as the leaders followed four different routes. The march 
 of Godfrey and Baldwin is described by Albert, that of Bohemund by the 
 Anonymous, who accompanied him, that of Raj-mond by his chaplain, Ray- 
 mond of Aguilers, and that of Robert of Normandy and Stephen of Blois 
 by Fulcher, who was with them. Hugh the Great and Robert of Flanders 
 had no chroniclers in their following, or, at any rate, no detailed account 
 of their journey to Constantinople has been preserved. Due to the diverse 
 routes chosen by the leaders, this portion of the history of the First Crusade 
 is least well substantiated, for each of the writers could render accurate 
 account of only his own army. References to other bands are often in- 
 accurate and confusing, and even in the story of a single route geographical 
 allusions are fregiiently uncertain or incorrect. This can be easily explained 
 by the fact that the Crusaders were moving fairly rapidly through strange 
 country, without the stimulus of actual warfare to fi.x place names in their 
 minds. Fortunately, the well worn Roman roads through the Balkan and 
 f Danube country can still be traced, while the reco^izable places mentioned 
 ^ by the chroniclers afford ample testimony that the Crusaders followed Ihem in 
 / the main.) 
 
 I. The Departure. 
 
 (Fulcher.) Now then, I must turn to the history of those who 
 went to Jerusalem and make clear to all who do not know 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 45 
 
 what happened to these pilgrims on the way, how, Httle by 
 little, by the grace of God, their undertaking and their labor 
 gloriously succeeded. I, Fulcher of Chartres, went with the other 
 pilgrims, and for the benefit of posterity I have carefully and 
 diligently stored all this in my memory, just as I witnessed it. 
 
 In the year 1096, and in the month of March following the coun- 
 cil, which, as has been said, Pope Urban held during November in 
 Auvergne, some who were more prompt in their preparation than 
 others began to set out on the holy journey. Others followed in 
 April, or May, in June, or in July, or even in August, or Septem- 
 ber, or October, as they were able to secure the means to defray 
 their expenses. That year peace and good crops of grain and grapes 
 flourished everywhere, by the disposition of God, lest those who 
 chose to follow Him with their crosses, in accordance with His 
 precept, should fail on the way for want of food. . . . 
 
 What further shall I say? The islands of the sea and all the 
 regions of the earth were shaken under foot, so that it would seem 
 that the prophecy of David was fulfilled, who said in the psalm, "All 
 the nations thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O 
 Lord"-; and that, also, which those who came later justly said, "Wc 
 will worship in the place where His feet have stood." Of this 
 journey, moreover, we have read much more in the Prophets, which 
 it would be tedious to repeat. Oh what grief, what sighs, what 
 weeping! What lamentations among friends, when the husband left 
 his wife so dear to him, and his children, and all his possessions, 
 his father, his mother, his brothers, or his relatives ! But m spite 
 of such tears which those who remained shed for departing friends 
 in their very presence, the crusaders were still in no wise weakened 
 by this; and for love of God they left all that they possessed, firmly 
 convinced that they would receive that hundred-fold which the 
 Lord has promised to those who love Him. Then husband advised 
 wife of the time of his return, assuring her that if he lived, by 
 God's grace, he would return to her. He commended her to the 
 Lord, he kissed her tenderly, and, weeping, he promised to return. 
 But she, fearing that she would never see him more, was unable to 
 stand and fell senseless to the ground and wept for her love, whom, 
 though living, she had lost as though already dead. He, like one 
 who had no pity — though he had — and as if moved neither by the 
 tears of his wife nor the grief of any friends — and still in his heart 
 he was moved — set out, keeping his purpose firm. Sadness was 
 the lot of those who remained, those who left were gladj What 
 then can we add further? "This is the Lord's domgs and it is 
 marvelous in our eyes."^ 
 
46 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 (Ekkehard.) Moreover, the sign which was described before as 
 seen in the sun, and many portents which appeared in the air, as 
 well as on the earth, stimulated many, who had been backward be- 
 fore, to undertakings of this kind. Some of these portents I have 
 deemed it desirable to insert here, but to tell all would certainly 
 take too long. For we, too, about the Nones of October, saw a 
 comet in the southern sky, its radiance extending out obliquely, like 
 a sword; and two years later, on the sixth day before the Kalends 
 of March, 1099, we saw another star in the east changing its posi- 
 tion by leaps at long intervals. There were also blood-red clouds 
 rising in the east, as well as in the west, and darting up into the 
 zenith to meet each other; and, again, about midnight, fiery splen- 
 dors rushed up in the north; and frequently we even saw torches of 
 fire flying through the air, as we proved by many witnesses. About 
 three o'clock one day some years before this, Sigger, a certain 
 priest of exemplary life, saw two knights rushing at each other in 
 the air, and after they had fought for a long time, the one who bore 
 a large cross, with which he seemed to strike the other, emerged 
 as victor. At the same time, the priest, G — , who now belongs to 
 the monastic profession with us, having paid the sheep which is 
 owed to Christ in place of the first born of the ass, was walking 
 one day at the noon Lorr in a wood, with two companions, when he 
 saw a sword of wondrous length (whicJi came, he knew not 
 whence) carried up on high by a whirlwind. Until the great height 
 hid it from his eyes, he not only saw the metal, but heard the crash- 
 ing of the weapon. Some men who were keeping watch in a horse 
 pasture also reported that they saw the semblance of a city in the 
 air, and that they saw divers companies, both on horseback and on 
 foot, hastening to it from dift'erent directions. Some even showed 
 the sign of the cross stamped by divine power upon their fore- 
 heads, or clothes, or upon some part of the body ; and by this sign 
 they believed that they had been predestined for the same army of 
 the Lord. Again, others, pricked by a sudden change of heart, or 
 taught by visions of the night, resolved to sell their lands and goods, 
 and to sew upon their clothes the sign of the cross. To all these 
 people, who flocked to the churches in incredible numbers, the 
 priests, in a new rite, distributed swords along with a blessing and 
 pilgrims' staves and bags. Why should I mention the fact that in 
 those days a certain woman continued pregnant for two years and, 
 at last, brought forth a boy who could speak from birth? Like- 
 wise, a child was born with a double set of limbs, and another with 
 two heads ; some lambs, also, with two heads. Again, foals were 
 born which possessed at birth the larger teeth which we commonly 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 47 
 
 call horse-teeth, and which nature does not provide until the colt 
 is three years old. 
 
 While by these and like signs all creation was being summoned 
 into the army of the Lord, that enemy of men, the evil one him- 
 self (ever on the watch, even while others are sleeping) did not 
 delay to sow his own tares, to rouse false prophets, and, under the 
 guise of religion, to mingle with the army of the Lord false breth- 
 ren and shameless women. And so, through the hypocrisy and 
 falsehoods of some and the gross immorality of others, the army 
 of Christ was polluted to such an extent that, according to the 
 prophecy of the good shepherd, even the elect were led astray. At 
 this time, the legend about Charles the Great was invented,'' that he 
 had been raised from the dead for this expedition, and about some 
 one else who was living again; and also that foolish story of the 
 goose that acted as its mistress's guide, and many tales of that kind. 
 Yet, since each one may be known by his fruits, even as wolves are 
 recognized under sheep's clothing, those same deceivers, especially 
 these who are still alive, may be questioned as to what port they 
 sailed from, according to their vows, and how they crossed the sea 
 without ships, or in what battles and places they worsted so many 
 pagans with their small forces, what fortresses of the enemy they 
 took there, and, finally, at what part of the v/all at Jerusalem they 
 had their camp, and so forth. And those who have nothing to 
 answer as to the alms which they have hypocritically taken from 
 the faithful, or as to the many bands which they have misled and 
 murdered for plunder, and, above all, as to their own apostacy, 
 may be compelled to do penance. 
 ^ (Guibert of Nogent) : Now then, while the princes who felt 
 ^ftVl^e need of large funds and the support of numerous followers 
 Jy, were making preparations carefully and slowly, the common people, 
 who were poor in substance but abundant in numbers, attached them- 
 selves to a certain Peter the Hermit^ who appeared as a master while 
 we were as yet still considering the project. 
 
 He was from the city of Amiens, if I am not mistaken, and we 
 learned that he had lived as a hermit in the garb of a monk some- 
 where in Northern Gaul, I know not where. We beheld him leav- 
 ing there, with what intent I do not know, and going about through 
 cities and towns under the pretext of preaching. He was sur- 
 rounded by such great throngs, received such enormous gifts, and 
 was lauded with such fame for holiness that I do not remember 
 anyone to have been held in like honor. 
 
 He was very generous to the poor from the wealth that had 
 been given him. He reclaimed prostitutes and provided them with 
 
\ 
 
 48 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 husbands, not without dowry from him ; and everywhere with an 
 amazing authority, he restored peace and concord in place of strife. 
 Whatever he did or said was regarded as Httle short of divine, to 
 such an extent that hairs were snatched from his mule as relics. 
 This we ascribe not so much to the popular love for truth as for 
 novelty. 
 
 He wore a plain woolen shirt with a hood and over this a 
 cloak without sleeves, both extending to his ankles, and his feet were 
 bare. He lived on wine and fish : he hardly ever, or never, ate 
 bread. . . . 
 
 2. The March of the Peasants. 
 
 A. Peter the Hermit and Walter the Penniless. (March-August, 
 1096.) 
 
 (Albert.) There was a priest, Peter by name, formerly a her- 
 mit. He was born in the city of Amiens, which is in the western 
 part of the kingdom of the Franks, and he was appointed preacher 
 in Berri in the aforesaid kingdom. In every admonition and ser- 
 mon, with all the persuasion of which he was capable, he urged 
 setting out on the journey as soon as possible. In response to his 
 constant admonition and call, bishops, abbots, clerics, and monks set 
 out ; next, most noble laymen, and princes of the different kingdoms ; 
 then, all the common people, the chaste as well as the sinful, adul- 
 terers, homicides, thieves, perjurers, and robbers; indeed, every 
 class of the Christian profession, nay, also, women and those in- 
 fluenced by the spirit of penance — all joyfully entered upon thib 
 expedition. . . . 
 
 In the year of the Incarnation of the Lord, 1096, in the fourth 
 Indiction, in the thirteenth year of the reigon of Henry IV, third 
 august Emperor of the Romans, and in the forty-third year of the 
 Empire, in the reign of Pope Urban II, formerly Odoard, on the 
 eighth day of March, Walter, surnamed the Penniless, a well- 
 known soldier, set out, as a result of the preaching of Peter the 
 Hermit, with a great company of Prankish foot-soldiers and only 
 about eight knights. On the beginning of the journey to Jerusalem 
 he entered into the kingdom of Hungary. When his intention, and 
 the reason for his taking this journey became known to Lord Colo- 
 man,*' most Christian king of Hungary, he was kindly received and 
 was given peaceful transit across the entire realm, with permission > 
 to trade. And so without giving offence, and without being .At- 
 tacked, he set out even to Belgrade, a Bulgarian city, passing over 
 to Malez'illa, where the realm of the king of Hungary ends. Thence 
 he peacefully crossed the Morava river. 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 49 ^ 
 
 But sixteen of Walter's company remained in Malevilla, that they 
 "might purchase arms. Of this Waher was ignorant, for he had 
 crossed long before. Then some of the Hungarians of perverse 
 minds, seeing the absence of Walter and his army, laid hands upon 
 those sixteen and robbed them of arms, garments, gold and silver and 
 so let them depart, naked and empty-handed. Then these distressed 
 pilgrims, deprived of arms and other things, hastened on their way 
 to Belgrade, which has been mentioned before, where Walter with 
 all his band had pitched tents for camp. They reported to him the 
 misfortune which had befallen them, but Walter heard this with 
 equanimity, because it would take too long to return for vengeance. 
 
 On the very night when those comrades, naked and empty-handed, 
 were received, Walter sought to buy the necessaries of life from 
 a chief of the Bulgarians and the magistrate of the city; but these 
 men, thinking it a pretense, and regarding them as spies, forbade 
 the sale of any thing to them. Wherefore, Walter and his com- 
 panions, greatly angered, began forcibly to seize and lead away the 
 herds of cattle and sheep, which were wandering here and there 
 through the fields in search of pasture. As a result, a serious strife 1 
 arose between the Bulgarians and the pilgrims who were driving | 
 away the flocks, and they came to blows. However, while the"""' 
 strength of the Bulgarians was growing even to one hundred and 
 forty, some of the pilgrim army, cut off from the multitude of 
 their companions, arrived in flight at a chapel. But the Bulgarians, 
 their army growing in number, while the band of Walter was weak- 
 ening and his entire company scattered, besieged the chapel and 
 burned sixty who were within ; on most of the others, who escaped 
 from the enemy and the chapel in defense of their lives, the Bul- 
 garians inflicted grave wounds. 
 
 After this calamity and the loss of his people, and after he had 
 passed eight days as a fugitive in the forests of Bulgaria, Walter, 
 leaving his men scattered everywhere, withdrew to Nish, a very 
 wealthy city in the midst of the Bulgarian realm. There he found 
 the duke and prince of the land and reported to him the injury 
 and damage which had been done him. From the duke he obtained 
 justice for all; nay, more, in reconciliation the duke bestowed upon 
 him arms and money, and the same lord of the land gave him 
 peaceful conduct through the cities of Bulgaria, Sofia, Philippopolis, 
 and Adrianople, and also license to trade. 
 
 He went down with all his band, even to the imperial city, Con- 
 stantinople, which is the capital of the eritire Greek empire. And 
 when he arrived there, with all possible earnestness and most hum- 
 ble petition he implored from the Lord Emperor himself permission 
 
\ 50 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 to delay peacefully in his kingdom, with license to buy the neces- 
 saries of life, until he should have as his companion Peter the 
 Hermit, upon whose admonition and persuasion he had begun this 
 journey. And he also begged that, when the troops were united, 
 they might cross in ships over the arm of the sea called the Strait 
 of St. George, and thus they would be able to resist more safely 
 the squadrons of the Turks and the Gentiles. The outcome was 
 that the requests made of the Lord Emperor, Alexius by name, 
 were granted. 
 
 Not long after these events, Peter and his large army, innumer- 
 able as the sands of the sea — an army which he had brought to- 
 gether from the various realms of the nations of the Franks, Swa- 
 bians, Bavarians, and Lotharingians — were making their way to 
 Jerusalem. Descending on that march into the kingdom of Hun- 
 gary, he and his army pitched their tents before the gate of Oeden- , 
 burg. . . . 
 
 Peter heard this report and, because the Hungarians and Bul- 
 garians were fellow Christians, absolutely refused to believe so 
 great crime of them, until his men, coming to Malevilla, saw hang- 
 ing from the walls the arms and spoils of the sixteen companions 
 of Walter who had stayed behind a short time before, and whom 
 the Hungarians had treacherously presumed to rob. But when Peter 
 recognized the injury to his brethren, at the sight of their arms and 
 spoils, he urged his companions to avenge their wrongs. 
 
 These sounded the trumpet loudly, and with upraised banners 
 they rushed to the walls and attacked the enemy with a hail of 
 arrows. In such quick succession and in such incredible numbers 
 did they hurl them in the face of those standing on the walls that 
 the Hungarians, in no wise able to resist the force of the besieging 
 Franks, left the walls, hoping that within the city they might be able 
 to withstand the strength of the Gauls. Godfrey, surnamed Burel — 
 a native of the city Etampes, master and standard-bearer of two 
 hundred foot-soldiers, himself a foot-soldier, and a man of great 
 strength — seeing the flight of the Hungarians away from the walls, 
 then quickly crossed over the walls by means of a ladder he chanced 
 to find there. Reinald of Broyes, a distinguished knight, clad in 
 helmet and coat of mail, ascended just after Godfrey; soon all the 
 knights, as well as the foot-soldiers, hastened to enter the city. The 
 Hungarians, seeing their own imminent peril, gathered seven thou- 
 sand strong for defense ; and, having passed out through another 
 gate which looked toward the east, they stationed themselves on the 
 summit of a lofty crag, beyond which flowed the Danube, where 
 they were invincibly fortified. A very large part of these were 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 51 
 
 unable to escape quickly through the narrow passage, and they fell 
 before the gate. Some who hoped to find refuge on the top of 
 the mountain were cut down by the pursuing pilgrims ; still others, 
 thrown headlong from the summit of the mountain, were buried 
 in the waves of the Danube, but many escaped by boat. About 
 four thousand Hungarians fell there, but only a hundred pilgrims, 
 not counting the wounded, were killed at that same place. 
 
 This victory won, Peter remained with all his followers in the 
 same citadel five days, for he found there an abundance of grain, 
 flocks of sheep, herds of cattle, a plentiful supply of wine, and an 
 infinite number of horses. . . . 
 
 When Peter learned of the wrath of the King and his very form- 
 idable gathering of troops, he deserted Maleznlla with all his follow- 
 ers and planned to cross the Morava with all spoils and flocks and 
 herds of horses. But on the whole bank he found very few boats, 
 only one hundred and fifty, in which the great multitude must pass 
 quickly over and escape, lest the King should overtake them with 
 a great force. Hence many who were unable to cross in boats tried 
 to cross on rafts made by fastening poles together with twigs. But 
 driven hither and thither in these rafts without rudders, and at 
 times separated from their companions, many perished, pierced with 
 arrows from the bows of the Patzinaks, who inhabited Bulgaria. 
 As Peter saw the drowning and destruction which was befalling his 
 men, he commanded the Bavarians, the Alemanni, and the other 
 Teutons, by their promise of obedience to come to the aid of their 
 Prankish brethren. They were carried to that place by seven rafts ; 
 then they sank seven small boats of the Patzinaks with their oc- 
 cupants, but took only seven men captive. They led these seven 
 captives into the presence of Peter and killed them by his order. 
 
 When he had thus avenged his men, Peter crossed the Morava 
 river and entered the large and spacious forests of the Bulgarians 
 with supplies of food, with every necessary, and with the spoils 
 from Belgrade. And , after a delay of eight days in those vast 
 woods and pastures, he and his followers approached Nish, a city 
 very strongly fortified with walls. After crossing the river before 
 the city by a stone bridge, they occupied the field, pleasing in its 
 verdure and extent, and pitched their tents on the banks of the river. 
 
 Peter, obedient to the mandate of the Emperor, advanced from 
 the city of Sofia and withdrew with all his people to the city Philip- 
 popolis. When he had related the entire story of his misfortune 
 in the hearing of all the Greek citizens, he received, in the name of 
 Jesus and in fear of God, very many gifts for him. Next, the third 
 
\ 
 
 \ 
 
 ■52 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 day after, he withdrew to Adrianopole, cheerful and joyful in the 
 abundance of all necessaries. There he tarried in camp outside the 
 walls of the city only two days, and then withdrew after sunrise on 
 the third day. A second message of the Emperor was urging him to 
 hasten his march to Constantinople, for, on account of the reports 
 about him, the Emperor was burning with desire to see this same 
 Peter. When they had come to Constantinople, the army of Peter 
 was ordered to encamp at a distance from the city, and license to 
 trade was fully granted. . . . 
 
 B. Folcmar and Gottschalk. (May-July, 1096.) 
 
 (Albert.) Not long after the passage of Peter, a certain priest, 
 Gottschalk by name, a Teuton in race, an inhabitant of the Rhine 
 country, inflamed by the preaching of Peter with a love and a desire 
 for that same journey to Jerusalem, by his own preachings like- 
 wise stirred the hearts of very many peoples of diverse nations to 
 go on that journey. He assembled from the various regions of 
 Lorraine, eastern France, Bavaria, and Alemannia, more than fif- 
 teen thousand persons of military station, as well as ordinary foot- 
 soldiers, who, having collected an inexpressible amount of money, 
 together with other necessaries, are said to have continued on their 
 way peacefully, even to the kingdom of Hungary. 
 
 When they arrived at the gate of IVieselbnrg and its fortress, 
 they were honorably received by the favor of King Coloman. They 
 were likewise granted permission to buy the necessaries of life, and 
 peace was commanded on both sides by an order of the King, lest 
 any outbreak should arise from so large an army. But as they 
 delayed there for several days, they began to roam about, and 
 the Bavarians and Swabians, spirited peoples, together with other 
 thoughtless persons, drank beyond measure and violated the peace 
 which had been commanded. Little by little they took away from 
 the Hungarians wine, grain, and all other necessaries ; finally, they 
 devastated the fields, killing sheep and cattle, and also destroying 
 those who resisted, or who wished to drive them out. Like a rough 
 people, rude in manners, undisciplined and haughty, they commit- 
 ted very many other crimes, all of which we cannot relate. As 
 some who were present say, they transfixed a certain Hungarian 
 youth in the market place with a stake through his body. Com- 
 plaints of this matter and of other wrongs were brought to the 
 ears of the King and their own leaders. . . . 
 
 When Gottschalk and the other sensible men heard this, they 
 trusted with pure faith in these words, and also because the Hun- 
 garians were of the Christian profession, they counselled the entire 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 53 
 
 assembly to give their arms in satisfaction to the King, according to 
 this command. Thus everything would return to peace and concord. 
 
 And yet, when all their arms had been placed under lock and 
 key, the Hungarians proved false regarding all the faith and 
 clemency which they had promised that the King would show to 
 the people ; nay, rather they fell upon them with cruel slaughter, 
 cut down the defenceless and unarmed and inflicted upon them 
 frightful slaughter, to such an extent (as those affirm for a truth 
 who were present and barely escaped) that the entire plain of Bel- 
 grade was filled by the bodies of the slain and was covered with 
 their blood. Few escaped from that martyrdom. 
 
 (Ekkehard.) Now, as has been said, a band followed Folcmar 
 through Bohemia. At the city of Neitra, in Pannonia, an uprising 
 took place, in which a part were killed, and a part were taken 
 prisoners, while the very few survivors are wont to testify that the 
 sign of the cross, appearing in the heavens above them, delivered 
 them from imminent death. 
 
 Then Gottschalk, not a true, but a false servant of God, entered 
 Hungary with his followers, and that not without injury to East 
 Noricum. Next, under an astonishing glamour of false piety, he 
 fortified a certain town situated on a height and placed a garrison 
 there and began, with the rest of his company, to ravage Pannonia 
 round about. This town, forsooth, was captured by the natives 
 without delay, and great numbers of the band having been killed 
 or taken prisoners, the rest were dispersed, and he himself, a hire- 
 ling, not the shepherd of the flock, was driven away from there in 
 disgrace. 
 
 C. Emico. (May-August, 1096.) 
 
 (Ekkehard.) Just at that time, there appeared a certain soldier, 
 Emico, Count of the lands around the Rhine, a man long of very 
 ill repute on account of his tyrannical mode of life. Called by 
 divine revelation, like another Saul, as he maintained, to the prac- 
 tice of religion of this kind, he usurped to himself the command 
 of almost twelve thousand cross bearers. As they were led through 
 the cities of the Rhine and the Main and also the Danube, they either 
 utterly destroyed the execrable race of the Jews wherever they 
 found them (being even in this matter zealously devoted to the 
 Christian religion) or forced them into the bosom of the Church. 
 When their forces, already increased by a great number of men and 
 women, reached the boundary of Pannonia, they were prevented by 
 well fortified garrisons from entering that kingdom, which is sur- 
 
 X 
 
54 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 rounded partly by swamps and partly by woods. For rumor had 
 reached and forewarned the ears of King Coloman ; a rumor that, 
 to the minds of the Teutons, there was no difference between kill- 
 ing pagans and Hungarians. And so, for six weeks they besieged 
 the fortress Wieselhurg and suffered many hardships there ; yet, 
 during this very time, they were in the throes of a most foolish 
 civil quarrel over w'hich one of them should be King of Pannonia. 
 Moreover, while engaged in the final assault, although the walls 
 had already been broken through, and the citizens were fleeing, and 
 the army of the besieged were setting fire to their own town, yet, 
 through the wonderful providence of Almighty God, the army of 
 pilgrims, though victorious, fled. And they left behind them all 
 their equipment, for no one carried aw^ay any reward except his 
 wretched life. 
 
 And thus the men of our race, zealous, doubtless, for God, though 
 not according to the knowledge of God, began to persecute other 
 Christians while yet upon the expedition which Christ had pro- 
 vided for freeing Christians. They were kept from fraternal blood- 
 shed only by divine mercy ; and the Hungarians, also, were freed. 
 This is the reason why some of the more guileless brethren, igno- 
 rant of the matter, and too hasty in their judgment, were scandal- 
 ized and concluded that the whole expedition was vain and 
 foolish. . . . 
 
 {Albert.) At the beginning of summer in the same year in which 
 Peter and Gottschalk, after collecting an army, had set out, there 
 assembled in like fashion a large and innumerable host of Chris- 
 tians from diverse kingdoms and lands ; namely, from the realms 
 of France, England, Flanders, and Lorraine. ... I know not 
 whether by a judgment of the Lord, or by some error of mind, 
 they rose in a spirit of cruelty against the Jewish people scattered 
 throughout these cities and slaughtered them without mercy, espe- 
 cially in the Kingdom of Lorraine, asserting it to be the beginning 
 of their expedition and their duty against the enemies of the Chris- 
 tian faith. This slaughter of Jews was done first by citizens of 
 Cologne. These suddenly fell upon a small band of Jews and 
 severely wounded and killed many ; they destroyed the houses and 
 synagogues of the Jews and divided among themselves a very large 
 amount of money. When the Jews saw this cruelty, about two hun- 
 dred in the silence of the night began flight by boat to Neuss. The 
 pilgrims and crusaders discovered them, and after taking away all 
 their possessions, inflicted on them similar slaughter, leaving not 
 even one alive. 
 
 Not long after this, they started upon their journey, as they had 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 55 
 
 vowed, and arrived in a great multitude at the city of Mainz. There 
 Count Emico, a nobleman, a very mighty man in this region, was 
 awaiting, with a large band of Teutons, the arrival of the pilgrims 
 who were coming thither from diverse lands by the King's highway. 
 
 The Jews of this city, knowing of the slaughter of their breth- 
 ren, and that they themselves could not escape the hands of so 
 many, fled in hope of safety to Bishop Rothard. They put an in- 
 finite treasure in his guard and trust, having much faith in his pro- 
 tection, because he was Bishop of the city. Then that excellent 
 Bishop of the city cautiously set aside the incredible amount of 
 money received from them. He placed the Jews in the very spa- 
 cious hall of his own house, away from the sight of Count Emico 
 and his followers, that they might remain safe and sound in a very 
 secure and strong place. 
 
 But Emico and the rest of his band held a council and, after 
 sunrise, attacked the Jews in the hall with arrows and lances. 
 Breaking the bolts and doors, they killed the Jews, about seven hun- 
 dred in number, who in vain resisted the force and attack of so 
 many thousands. They killed the women, also, and with their 
 swords pierced tender children of whatever age and sex. The 
 Jews, seeing that their Christian enemies were attacking them and 
 their children, and that they were sparing no age, likewise fell upon 
 one another, brother, children, wives, and sisters, and thus they 
 perished at each other's hands. Horrible to say, mothers cut the 
 throats of nursing children with knives and stabbed others, prefer- 
 ring them to perish thus by their own hands rather than to be killed 
 by the weapons of the uncircumcised. 
 
 From this cruel slaughter of the Jews a few escaped ; and a few 
 because of fear, rather than because of love of the Christian faith, 
 were baptized. With very great spoils taken from these people, 
 Count Emico, Clarebold, Thomas, and all that intolerable company 
 of men and women then continued on their way to Jerusalem, di- 
 recting their course towards the Kingdom of Hungary, where pas- 
 sage along the royal highway was usually not denied the pilgrims. 
 But on arriving at Wieselhurg, the fortress of the King, which the 
 rivers Danube and Leytha protect with marshes, the bridge and 
 gate of the fortress were found closed by command of the King 
 of Hungary, for great fear had entered all the Hungarians because 
 of the slaughter which had happened to their brethren. . . . 
 
 But while almost everything had turned out favorably for the 
 Christians, and while they had penetrated the walls with great 
 openings, by some chance or misfortune, I know not what, such 
 great fear entered the whole army that they turned in flight, just 
 
56 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 as sheep are scattered and alarmed when wolves rush upon them. 
 And seeking a refuge here and there, they forgot their companions. 
 
 Emico and some of his followers continued in their flight along 
 the way by which they had come. Thomas, Clarebold, and several of 
 their men escaped in flight toward Carinthia and Italy. So the 
 hand of the Lord is believed to have been against the pilgrims, who 
 had sinned by excessive impurity and fornication, and who had 
 slaughtered the exiled Jews through greed of money, rather than 
 for the sake of God's justice, although the Jews were opposed to 
 Christ. The Lord is a just judge and orders no one unwiUingly, 
 or under compulsion, to come under the yoke of the Catholic faith. 
 
 There was another detestable crime in this assemblage of way- 
 faring people, who were foolish and insanely fickle. That the crime 
 was hateful to the Lord and incredible to the faithful is not to be 
 doubted. They asserted that a certain goose was inspired by the 
 Holy Spirit, and that a she-goat was not less filled by the same 
 Spirit. These they made their guides on this holy journey to Jeru- 
 salem ; these they worshipped excessively ; and most of the people 
 following them, like beasts, believed with their whole minds that 
 this was the true course. May the hearts of the faithful be free 
 from the thought that the Lord Jesus wished the Sepulchre of His 
 most sacred body to be visited by brutish and insensate animals, or 
 that He wished these to become the guides of Christian souls, 
 which by the price of His own blood He deigned to redeem from 
 .the filth of idols ! . . . 
 
 3. The Main Body. 
 A. Composition. 
 
 (Fulcher.) It is fitting to keep in mind the names of the leaders 
 of the Crusades. Hugh the Great,^ brother of the King of France, 
 was the first hero to cross the sea. He landed with his force at 
 Durazzo, a city in Bulgaria ; but imprudently venturing forth with 
 too small an army, he was there captured by the inhabitants and 
 taken to the Emperor of Constantinople, where he was kept for x 
 long time, not altogether free. After him, Bohemund of Apulia,^ 
 son of Robert Guiscard of Norman extraction, journeyed with his 
 army over the same route; next, Godfrey, Duke of Lorraine,^ passed 
 with a great force through Hungary. Raymond,^" Count of Prov- 
 ence, with Goths and Gascons, and also with Adhemar, Bishop of 
 Puy, crossed through Dalmatia. Peter the Hermit, gathering to 
 himself a crowd of foot-soldiers, but few knights, first passed 
 through Hungary; afterwards the satrap of this horde was Walter 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 57 
 
 , the Penniless, who, together with many of his good soldiers, was 
 I killed by the Turks between the cities of Nicomedia and Nicaea. 
 Then in the month of October, Robert, Count of Normandy ,^^ and 
 son of William, King of England, started out, after having gathered 
 a large army of Normans, Angles^^ and Bretons. With him went 
 Stephen, Count of Blois,^^ his brother-in-law, and Robert, Count 
 of Flanders,^* together with many other nobles. Therefore, since 
 such a multitude came from all Western countries, little by little, 
 and day by day, the army increased to such a very great number 
 that, when finally convened, it formed an infinite host from many 
 regions and of many tongues. However, they did not unite into 
 a single army until we arrived at Nicaea. 
 
 (Gesta.) Soon they departed from their homes in Gaul, and then 
 formed three groups. One party of Franks, namely, Peter, the Her- 
 mit, 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, wonder-working 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, Rob- 
 ert the Norman, Hugh the Great, Everard of Puiset, Achard of 
 Montmerle, Ysoard 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 re- 
 nowned 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. 
 
 B. Godfrey's march to Constantinople. (August 15 (?) -Decem- 
 ber 23, 1096.) 
 
 (Albert) After the departure of Peter the Hermit and the most 
 dire destruction of his army; after the killing of the distinguished 
 soldier Walter the Penniless, and the grievous disaster to his army ; 
 shortly after the cruel slaughter of the priest, Gottschalk, and of 
 his army; after the misfortune of Hartmann, Count of Alemannia, 
 of Emico, and all the other brave men and leaders from the land 
 of Gaul (to wit, Drogo of Nesle and Clarebold of Vendeuil) ; and 
 after the cruel destruction of the army of Clarebold at the gate of 
 
58 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 Wiesclburg in the Kingdom of Hungary — after all these things, the 
 very noble Godfrey, Duke of Lorraine, and his brother Baldwin, 
 Werner of Grez, a kinsman of the Duke, and Baldwin of Burg, 
 likewise a kinsman, Reinard, Count of Toul, and Peter his brother, 
 Dodo of Cons, Henry of Ascha, and his brother, Godfrey, set out,^^ 
 in the same year, in the middle of the month of August. While 
 making a journey in direct march to Jerusalem, they halted in their 
 course near ToIIenburg in the realm of Austria, where the Leytha 
 terminates the kingdom of Gaul ^^ and separates it from the Austrian 
 realm. They remained there three weeks in the month of Septem- 
 ber, to hear and to understand why sedition had arisen ; why the 
 army had perished a few days before ; why those whom they met 
 returning in despair had been turned from their purpose of going 
 to Jerusalem with their chiefs and leaders. 
 
 Finally, after hearing very many evil rumors, they discussed what 
 should first be done to investigate the cruel attack which the Hun- 
 garians had made against their fellow Christians ; and with what 
 circumspection and deliberation the investigation should be made. 
 After having considered the matter at length, it seemed to all i 
 practical plan to send from those celebrated leaders only Godfrey 
 of Ascha to investigate so wicked and criminal a slaughter. (They 
 decided thus) because he was known to Coloman, King of Hun- 
 gary, having been sent some time before as ambassador of Duke 
 Godfrey to this same king. They sent with him twelve others 
 chosen from the retinue of the Duke — Baldwin, Stabclo, it is said, 
 and others whose names are unknown. . . . 
 
 The King struck a treaty with Duke Godfrey, and all the chiefs 
 of his kingdom were bound by oath not to do harm to the pilgrims 
 who were to pass that way. When, therefore, these agreements had 
 been confirmed on both sides, the King, upon the advice of his men. 
 demanded as hostages, Baldwin, the brother of the Duke, his wife 
 and family. This the Duke agreed to fulfil without dispute. After 
 eight days, the embassy was dismissed, and the Duke ordered the 
 army to hasten to the fortress Oedenburg, and to pitch their tents 
 on the banks of the river near the marshes. . . . Finally, Baldwin, 
 having put aside all doubt, consented to become a hostage and to 
 be taken into exile for the safety of his brethren. 
 
 And thus, when so distinguished a leader had become a hostage, 
 and when the King had returned with him to Pannonia, the entire 
 army, by order and permission of the King, was led over the bridge 
 across the marsh, and camp was pitched near the river Leytha. Then, 
 after camp was pitched, and after all were settled at rest, Duke 
 Godfrey appointed heralds to announce to each house and tent that, 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 59 
 
 under sentence of death, they should neither touch nor take by force 
 anything in the Kingdom of Hungary, and should stir up no quar- 
 rel, but that everything should be exchanged for a just price. Simi- 
 larly, the King commanded that it be proclaimed throughout his 
 realm that the army was to obtain every abundance of necessary 
 things, bread, wine, corn, oil, beasts of the field, and flying creatures 
 of the sky ; and he commanded, under penalty of life, that the 
 Hungarians should not burden and enrage the army by unjust sell- 
 ing, but, rather, should make all buying easy for them. 
 
 And so, day by day, in quiet and in peace, with full measure and 
 just sale, the Duke and his people crossed the Kingdom of Hungary 
 and arrived at the river Drave. A heap of wood was gathered and ' 
 a large raft was made, on which they crossed the river. Without 
 delay the King, coming from the left with a very powerful band of 
 horsemen, together with Baldwin and all the other hostages, ar- 
 rived at that place which is called Francavilla}^ There they re- 
 mained three days, purchasing the necessaries of life of which the 
 army was in need. Then they all went to Malemlla and spent five 
 days near the Save. 
 
 There it became known to the Duke and to the other leaders of 
 the army that an intolerable force of the Emperor of Constantinople 
 was present to prohibit the passage of the pilgrims through the 
 Kingdom of Bulgaria. The Duke, therefore, and all the leaders 
 entered upon a plan to send a part of the army across the river to 
 drive back the hostile soldiers of the Emperor, while the people 
 were crossing the river. Not more than three boats were found 
 there. In these a thousand knights in armour were carried across 
 to take possession of the shore. All the rest of the multitude gained 
 the other bank of the river by means of rafts made of wood and 
 bound together by twigs. 
 
 Scarcely had the people and their chiefs crossed the stream, when, 
 behold, the King appeared with all his retinue, and Baldwin, the 
 brother of the Duke, his wife, and all the hostages. There he re- 
 stored the hostages to the Duke. Next, after very afifectionately 
 favoring the Duke and his brother with many gifts and the kiss of 
 peace, he returned to the land of his own kingdom. But the Duke 
 and all his army, having settled on the opposite bank, passed the 
 night in the hospitality of the village Belgrade in Bulgaria — a cit>\ 
 which the army of Peter the Hermit had plundered and burned nod 
 long before. But when morning came, the Duke and his armyi 
 arose and advanced into the immense and indescribable forests in the' 
 Kingdom of Bulgaria. 
 
 There legates of the Emperor met them, bearing a message in 
 
6o THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 these words: "Alexius, Emperor of Constantinople, of the King- 
 dom of the Greeks, to Duke Godfrey and his fellow princes; sin- 
 cere affection. I ask, most Christian Duke, that you do not suffer 
 your people to plunder or to lay waste my lands and kingdom which 
 you have entered, but that you secure the privilege of buying. By 
 our order you will find everything in abundance for buying and 
 selling." Upon hearing this message, the Duke promised to obey in 
 all things the mandate of the Emperor. Thereupon, it was pro- 
 claimed to all that thereafter they should touch nothing with undue 
 violence, except food for their horses. And so, peacefully crossing 
 over at the request of the Emperor, they arrived at his fortress, 
 .^Nish, where a wonderful abundance of food-stuff, grain, barley, 
 wine, and oil, and very much game were brought to the Duke as the 
 gift of the Emperor. To the others was granted the privilege of 
 buying and selling. There, indeed, for four days they were re- 
 freshed with every abundance and pleasure. After those days, the 
 Duke with all his army departed to Sofia, where he was supplied 
 by the Emperor with gifts no less rich. Leaving there after some 
 days, he went down to Philippopolis, a famous city; there during 
 eight days he likewise received as gifts from the Emperor every 
 abundance of necessary things. 
 
 There a message was brought to him that the Emperor held in 
 chains and prison Hugh the Great, brother of the King of France, 
 Drogo, and Clarebold. When he had heard this, the Duke sent an 
 embassy to the Emperor, demanding that the Emperor should re- 
 store to liberty those princes of his land whom he was holding 
 captive; otherwise, he himself could not keep faith and friendship 
 with the Emperor. When Baldwin, Count of Hainault, and Henry 
 of Ascha found out that an embassy was to be sent to the Emperor, 
 they anticipated the journey to Constantinople by going out at day- 
 break, without the knowledge of the Duke, in order that by pre- 
 ceding the legates they might receive greater gifts from the Em- 
 peror. The Duke, hearing this, took it ill; but, concealing his wrath, 
 he set out to Adrianople. After crossing a river by swimming his 
 horses, he pitched his tents and passed the night there. On the 
 next day, a bridge which crosses a river in the middle of the city 
 was forbidden to him and his followers by the inhabitants. Then 
 arising and hastening to Salahria, they pitched their tents in pleas- 
 ant meadows. There the messengers of the Duke, who had re- 
 turned from the Emperor, reported that he had not given up the 
 captive princes. Thereupon the Duke and all his company burned 
 with wrath; and they refused any longer to keep faith and treaty 
 of peace with him. Immediately, by a command of the Duke, all 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 6l 
 
 that land was given over in plunder to the alien pilgrims and 
 knights, who, delaying there for eight days, laid waste the whole 
 region. 
 
 But the Emperor, upon learning that the country had been laid 
 waste, sent to the Duke Rudolph Peeldelan and Rotger, son of 
 Dagobert, very eloquent men, who were of the region and kinship 
 of the Franks. He asked that the army should cease from plunder- 
 ing and devastating his realm; and he said that without delay he 
 would give back the captives whom the Duke demanded. Then the 
 Duke was pleased with the message of the Emperor; and, after en- 
 tering upon a plan with the other leaders, he moved his camp and 
 forbade plunder. 
 
 C. March of the West Franks into Southern Italy. (Late Septem- 
 ber-November, 1096.) 
 
 (Fulcher.) Then we West Franks traversed Gaul, and, travelHng 
 through Italy, came to Lucca, a far-famed city. Near there we met 
 Pope Urban. Robert the Norman, and Stephen, Count of Blois, 
 talked with him, and others who wished likewise. Having received 
 his blessing, we joyfully advanced to Rome. And when we had en- 
 tered the church of St. Peter, we found before the altar the sup- 
 porters of Wibert, that pseudo-pope, who, sword in hand, wickedly 
 seized the offerings placed on the altar. Others, too, ran about on 
 the roof of St. Peter's itself and threw stones down where we 
 were prostrate, praying. For when they saw any one faithful to 
 Urban, they straightway wished to kill him. In one tower of the 
 church were adherents of Pope Urban, who were guarding it well 
 in faithfulness to him and, as far as they could, were resisting his 
 adversaries. We grieved much to see such an outrage committed in 
 that place; but we could do nothing except to desire that it be 
 avenged by God. Many who had come thus far with us waited no 
 longer, but at once, with disgraceful cowardice, returned to their 
 homes. 
 
 ^We, however, travelling through the center of Campagnia, 
 reached Bari, a rich seaport town. There we addressed our sup- 
 plications to God in the church of St. Nicholas. Then coming to 
 port, we decided to cross at once. But because we lacked seamen, 
 and because fortune might play us false, and because, furthermore, 
 it was winter time, which exposed us to dangers, Robert, Count of 
 Normandy, was obliged to withdraw into Calabria; and there he 
 spent the whole winter seasonT] Robert, Count of Flanders, how- 
 ever, with his followers crossed over, [^hen many of the Cru- 
 saders, abandoned by their leaders, and fearing future want, sold 
 
62 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 their weapons there and, taking up again their pilgrim's staves, 
 ignominiously returned to their homes. This desertion debased 
 them before God and man, and it redounded to their shame, y 
 
 D. Bohemund's march to Constantinople. (October 26, 1096- April 
 10, 1097.) 
 
 (Gesta.) 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 straighway by the 
 Holy Spirit, he ordered the most precious cloak which he had with 
 him cut to pieces, and straightway he had 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 pre- 
 pared 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 Roscignoio/'^ with his 
 brothers, Boellus of Chartres, Albered of Cagnano, and Hunfred of 
 Mt. Scaglioso. All of these crossed the sea to do service for Bohe- 
 mund 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 had likewise crossed the sea. Then the wise 
 Bohemund ordered a council with his people, comforting and ad- 
 monishing 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 be- 
 longs to Christians, and let no one, at the cost of blessing, take 
 more than he needs to eat." 
 
 Departing thence, we journeyed hrough 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 re- 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 63 
 
 mained 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 fol- 
 lowing 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 glori- 
 ously. Several of them they seized and led them, bound, into the 
 presence of Bohemund, who spoke to them as follows : "Where- 
 fore, 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 he 
 greatly loved, and whom they call Corpalatiiis,^^ 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, bear- 
 ing crosses in their hands, they came into the presence of Bohe- 
 
64 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 mund. 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 had a market sufficient for 
 that time. There the learned Bohemund made a very cordial agree- 
 ment 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 our tents in the fourth day 
 of the week before the feast of the Lord. 
 
 There, also, the learned Bohemund left all his host and went on 
 ahead to speak with the Emperor at Constantinople. He gave com- 
 mands to his vassals, saying, "Approach the city gradually. I, 
 however, will go on in advance." And he took with him a few 
 knights. Tancred remained 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 he entered a certain valley, filled with goods of all kinds 
 that are suitable nourishment for the body, and in it we most de- 
 voutly celebrated Easter. 
 
 E. The march of Raymond of Toulouse and Bishop Adhemar of 
 Puy. (October (?) 1096-April 21, 1097,) 
 
 (Raymond.) While advancing into the land of Slavonia they 
 suffered many losses on the way, especially because it was then 
 winter. For Slavonia was such a desert and so pathless and 
 mountainous that we saw in it neither wild animals, nor birds 
 for three weeks. The inhabitants of the region were so boorish and 
 rude that they were unwilling to trade with us, or to furnish us 
 guidance, but instead fled from their villages and their castles. In- 
 deed, they even butchered like cattle, or, as if they had done much 
 harm, the feeble aged and the weak poor, who, because of their 
 weakness, followed our army at a distance. Nor was it easy amidst 
 steep mountains and thick woods for our armed knights to pursue 
 the unarmed brigands who were acquainted with the country. But 
 they suffered them constantly, unable either to fight or to keep from 
 fighting. Let us not pass over a certain illustrious act of the Count. 
 When the Count with some of his knights had been hedged about 
 for some little time by the Slavonians, he made a charge upon them 
 and captured as many as six of them. And when, on this account, 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 65 
 
 the Slavonians pressed upon him the more violently, and the Count 
 was compelled to follow the army, he ordered the eyes of some of 
 them (the prisoners) to be torn out, the feet of others cut off, and 
 the nose and hands of still others to be slashed, so that while the 
 pursuers were thus moved at the sight and preoccupied with their 
 sorrow, the Count could safely escape with his companions. And 
 thus, by the grace of God he was delivered from the straits of 
 death and this difficult situation. 
 
 Indeed, what courage and wisdom the Count displayed in this 
 region is not easy to relate ! For we were in Slavonia for almost 
 forty days, during which time we encountered clouds so dense that 
 we could feel them and push them before us with a slight movement. 
 Amidst all this, the Count was fighting constantly at the rear and 
 ever defending his people. He was never the first, but always the 
 last, to encamp, and though the others went to rest at midday, or 
 at evening, the Count often did so at midnight, or at cockcrow. At 
 length, through the compassion of God, the labor of the Count, and 
 the advice of the Bishop, the army so crossed (Slavonia) that we 
 lost no one there from hunger, and no one in open battle. On that 
 account, I bear witness, God wanted his army to cross Slavonia, 
 in order that the boorish men who did not know God, upon recog- 
 nizing the valor and patience of His knights, might either lose some- 
 thing of their wildness or be brought without excuse to God's 
 judgment. And then, after many labors, we came to the king of the 
 Slavonians at Scutari. The Count swore friendship with him and 
 gave him a large tribute, so that the army might buy or seek nec- 
 essaries in security. But this was a (vain) expectation, for we did 
 penance enough for the peace we had sought when thereafter the 
 Slavonians, raging in their usual manner, killed our men and took 
 from the unarmed what they could. We sought not vengeance, but 
 a place of refuge. So much about Slavonia. 
 
 We came to Durazzo. We believed we were in our own country, 
 thinking that the Emperor and his satellites were our brothers and 
 helpmates. They, indeed, raging in the manner of lions, attacked 
 a peaceful people who thought of nothing less than arms. They 
 butchered them in secret places ; they stole what they could by 
 night, in the woods, and in villages remote from the camp. Al- 
 though they raged thus, their leader promised peace. But during 
 the intervals of peace, they killed Pontius Reinald and mortally 
 wounded his brother, Peter, and these were most noble princes. 
 However, when an opportunity was presented to us for revenge, 
 we chose to continue the journey, not to avenge our wrongs. On 
 the way, we had letters from the Emperor about peace, brotherhood. 
 
66 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 and, as I may also say, about alliance ; this, however, was a snare 
 in words. For in front and behind, to right and to left, Turks and 
 Cumans, Uzi, Tanaces,-'^ Patzinaks, and Bulgarians were lying in 
 ambush for us. 
 
 On a certain day, moreover, when we were in the valley of Pela- 
 gonia, the Bishop of Puy, who, in order to find a comfortable rest- 
 ing place, had withdrawn a little distance from the camp, was cap- 
 tured by the Patzinaks. They knocked him down from his mule, 
 robbed him, and beat him severely on the head. But since so great 
 a pontifl: was still necessary to the people of God, through God's 
 mercy he was saved to life. For one of the Patzinaks, in order to 
 obtain gold from him, protected him from the others. Meanwhile, 
 the noise was heard in the camp; and so, between the delay of the 
 enemy and the attack of his friends, he was rescued. 
 
 When we had come amidst treachery of this fashion to a certain 
 fortress called Bucinat,-^ the Count learned that the Patzinaks in- 
 tended to attack our army in the passes of a certain mountain. 
 Staying in hiding with some of his knights, he came upon the 
 Patzinaks, and, after killing several of them, he turned the rest to 
 flight. Meanwhile, pacifying letters from the Emperor reached us, 
 (and yet) by his evil design the enemy surrounded us on all sides. 
 When we came to Thessalonica, the Bishop was ill and remained in 
 the city with a few men. 
 
 After this, we came to a certain city, Rusa by name, where, since 
 its citizens were plainly disposed to do us evil, our usual patience 
 was somewhat disturbed. So, taking up arms, we destroyed the 
 outer walls, seized great plunder, and forced the city to surrender; 
 then, having taken our standards into the city and shouted "Tou- 
 louse !" which was the battle cry of the Count, we departed. 
 
 We came to another city, called Rodosto. When knights in the 
 pay of the Emperor there sought to carry out his vengeance upon 
 us, many of them were killed and a quantity of plunder taken. 
 There, also, the envoys whom we had sent ahead to the Emperor 
 came to us and, having received money from him, promised that 
 everything boded well for us with the Emperor. What more? The 
 message (brought) by our envoys and those of the Emperor was 
 that the Count, leaving his army behind, should hasten unarmed 
 and with a few men to the Emperor. For they said that Bohemund, 
 the Duke of Lorraine, the Count of Flanders, and other princes 
 made this prayer: that the Count should hasten to agree with the 
 Emperor about the march to Jerusalem; that the Emperor, having 
 taken the cross, should also become leader in the army of God. In 
 addition to this, they reported that the Emperor had said that he 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE dy 
 
 would make all arrangements with the Count, both about themselves 
 and whatever else should be necessary for the journey. They an- 
 nounced, furthermore, that a battle was imminent, and that without 
 the support of so great a man it would probably be unfavorable; 
 that the Count should therefore go ahead with a few men, so that 
 when his army should arrive, everything would have been arranged 
 with the Emperor, and there would be no delay for anyone. At 
 length, the Count was persuaded to go ahead of his army, in this 
 instance, alone, leaving his guard behind him in the camp. And 
 thus he went unarmed to Constantinople. 
 
 F, Robert of Normandy and Stephen of Blois on the way to Con- 
 stantinople. (April 5-May 14, 1097.) 
 
 (Fulcher.) Then in the month of March, 1097, as soon as spring 
 had returned, the Norman Count and Count Stephen of Blois with 
 his followers (for he likewise was awaiting an opportune time), 
 returned again to the coast. When the fleet was ready on the 
 Nones of April, which happened that year to be the feast of Easter,- 
 they embarked at the port of Brindisi."^ Oh how incomprehensible 
 and unsearchable are the judgments of God!"® For among all these 
 ships we saw one which was suddenly split through the middle 
 from no apparent cause. Then about four hundred of both sexes 
 were drowned, concerning whom joyous praises at once went up to 
 God. For when those standing around had collected as many as 
 possible of the dead bodies, they found on the shoulders of some 
 signs of the cross. For since they had worn the cross on their 
 clothes while living, it was the will of God that that same victorious 
 sign of faith should remain on the skin of those prematurely cut 
 ofif by death while in His service. So it was very fitting for such 
 a miracle to prove to those who witnessed it that the dead had 
 already received everlasting peace by the mercy of God ; thus, in 
 very truth, that was evidently fulfilled which is written, "But the 
 just man, even if he die too soon, shall nevertheless be at rest."^^ 
 Of the rest of our companions already struggling with death, few 
 survived. Their horses and their mules were swallowed up by the 
 waves, and much money also was lost. At the sight of this disaster 
 we were much afraid, so much so that many weak hearted, who had 
 not yet embarked, returned to their homes, giving up the journey, 
 and saying that never again would they trust themselves to the 
 treacherous sea. 
 
 r As lor us, however, we trusted implicitly in Almighty God and 
 launched out upon the sea, with flags flying aloft, and many trumpets 
 sounding, and a gentle breeze blowing. For three days the wind 
 
68 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 failed us, and we were detained in the midst of the billows. On 
 the fourth day, we reached land, about ten miles from the city 
 of Durazzo. Our fleet, however, anchored at two ports. Then 
 joyfully we again resumed the dry land and advanced beyond the 
 above mentioned city. So we passed by the regions of Bulgaria, 
 over steep mountains and desert places. Then we all came to the 
 rapid river, called by the natives the River of the Demon,^° and 
 appropriately so. For in this river we saw many people, who 
 hoped to wade across step by step, perish suddenly, engulfed by the 
 strong force of the torrent; and none of those looking on were able 
 to save them. Wherefore, moved by compassion, we shed many 
 tears, and had not knights with their mighty battle steeds brought 
 aid to the foot-soldiers, many of them would there have lost their 
 lives in the same manner. Then we pitched our tents near the 
 bank and there we spent one night. Great mountains, uninhabited, 
 were about us on all sides. Hardly had the morning dawned, when 
 the war trumpets sounded, and, resuming our way, we descended the 
 mountain called Bagora. Afterwards passing by the mountain and 
 the towns Ochrida, Bitolia, Wodena, and Stella,^'^ we came to the 
 river called Vardar. And what could not usually be done except 
 by boat, we did by the help of God; we waded across. The day 
 following we camped before the city of Thessalonica, a city rich in 
 goods of all kinds. After a four days delay here, we travelled 
 through Macedonia,. through the valley of the Strymon, and through 
 Crisopolis and Christopolis, Praetoria,^^ Messinopolis, Maera, Traia- 
 nopohs, Neapolis, Panedor, Rodosto, and Heraclea, Silivri, and 
 Natura; and we arrived at Constantinople. Pitching our tents be- 
 fore this city, we rested fourteen days. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 Alexius and the Crusaders 
 
 (The conduct of Alexius and the people of his empire toward the Cru- 
 saders, as they passed through the land on their way to Constantinople, 
 seemed incomprehensible to the Latins at the time and has been more or less 
 baffling to all later writers. There is some doubt as to whether or not 
 Alexius had sent a definite appeal for help to the West at this time. Chalan- 
 don, whose study of the reign of Alexius represents probably the most 
 authoritative modern investigation of the subject, maintains the thesis that 
 Alexius did not call for help, and that the empire in 1096 was less in need 
 of aid than at any time since 1071.1 Certainly, the Emperor's conduct ap- 
 pears more intelligible if the Crusaders can be regarded as his uninvited 
 guests. Their not infrequent acts of violence may even have led him to 
 suspect their motives, which suspicion the presence of Bohemund and his 
 Normans from southern Italy — old foes of the Eastern Empire — only served 
 to strengthen. Possibly there were other causes, also, to arouse the Emperor 
 Kohler has suggested that Urban, in arousing the expedition, cherished the 
 hope of gaining the submission of the Greek Church, either as a reward for 
 this help, or by intimidation and force, if necessary.^ But whether or not 
 there was any just cause for the Emperor's suspicions, the statements of 
 his daughter, together with his own unquestionable zeal to hasten each band 
 away from Constantinople and across the Bosporus before the next band 
 arrived, indicates very clearly that he did distrust the Latins. And yet, as •. 
 one reads the Latin accounts, it is difficult to find in them evidence of guile 
 toward Alexius or a covert design upon the possession of his empire. The 
 constant combination of friendly messages from the Emperor and rough 
 treatment from his soldiers aroused a good deal of distrust on the part of 
 the Crusaders, but at first they seemed to give the Emperor the benefit of 
 the doubt. 
 
 For almost every event narrated in this chapter there is testimony from 
 at least two independent writers. The fate of the Peasants' Crusade, though 
 not described by an eye-witness, is quite fully treated by both Anna and 
 Albert, as well as by the Anonymous, and Fulcher's mention of the heap of 
 bones near Nicomedia serves as a graphic confirmation of their statements. 
 Anna's account of Hugh's experiences is confirmed only by the brief men- 
 tion of his plight by Fulcher and Albert. The rather brief statement of the 
 Anonymous about Godfrey's dealings with Alexius is too condensed to settle 
 the disparities between the accounts of Anna and Albert, and the reader 
 must draw his own inferences. The identity of the Raoul mentioned by 
 Anna is somewhat uncertain. He could not have been Robert of Flanders, 
 who was with the other leaders both at Constantinople and Nicaea. The 
 
70 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 shipment of troops to Syria by water did occur in the Crusade of iioi, 
 which Anna may very easily have confused with earlier events. Her ac- 
 count of Bohemund and of Raymond, also, is colored by her knowledge of 
 later events, but the versions given by the Anonymous, Raymond, and the 
 others serve to establish the actual occurrences fairly well. For the arrival 
 and treatment of Robert of Normandy and Stephen of Blois at Constanti- 
 nople Fulcher's statements and those in Stephen's letter furnish ample evi- 
 dence. The siege and capture of Nicaea is the most fully attested event in 
 the history of the First Crusade. Certain minor incidents In the siege, how- 
 ever, are related by only one or two of the writers who were in the imme- 
 diate vicinity, and the connection of the various chroniclers with one band 
 or the other must be borne in mind. Throughout the whole chapter the 
 contrast of western and eastern civilization, as evidenced by the frequent 
 naive expressions of wonder and amazement, on the one hand, and blase 
 contempt and horror, on the other, forms an interesting background to the 
 progress of events,) 
 
 I. Alexius and the Peasants' Crusade. Fate of the Peasants' Cru- 
 sade. (August i-October 4, 1096.) 
 
 (Anna.) . . . Moreover, Alexius was not yet, or very slightly, 
 rested from his labors when he heard rumors of the arrival of in- 
 numerable Prankish armies. He feared the incursions of these 
 people, for he had already experienced the savage fury of their 
 attack, their fickleness of mind, and their readiness to approach 
 anything with violence. . . . 
 
 And finally, he kept ever in mind this information, which was 
 often repeated and most true — that they were known to be always 
 immoderately covetous of anything they strove after and to break 
 very easily, for any reason whatsoever, treaties which they had 
 made. Accordingly, he did not indulge in any rest, but made ready 
 his forces in every way, so that when occcasion should demand he 
 would be ready for battle. I For it was a matter greater and more 
 terrible than famine which was then reported. Forsooth, the whole 
 West, and as much of the land of barbarian peoples as lies beyond 
 the Adriatic Sea up to the Pillars of Hercules — all this, changing 
 its seat, was bursting forth into Asia in a solid mass, with all its 
 belongings, taking its march through the intervening portion of 
 Europe. 
 
 A certain Gaul, Peter by name, surnamed Kuku-Peter,^ had set 
 out from his home to adore the Holy Sepulchre. After suffering 
 many dangers and wrongs from the Turks and Saracens, who were 
 devastating all Asia, he returned to his own country most sorrow- 
 fully. He could not bear to see himself thus cut ofif from his pro- 
 posed pilgrimage and intended to undertake the expedition a sec- 
 ond time. . . . 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 71 
 
 After Peter had promoted the expedition, he, with 8o,cx30 foot- 
 soldiers and 100,000 knights, was the first of all to cross the Lom- 
 bard strait. Then passing through the territory of Hungary, he 
 arrived at the queenly city. For, as anyone may conjecture from 
 the outcome, the race of the Gauls is not only very passionate and 
 impetuous in other ways, but, also, when urged on by an impulse, 
 cannot thereafter be checked. Our Emperor, aware of what Peter 
 had suffered from the Turks before, urged him to await the ar- 
 rival of the other counts. 
 
 (Gesta.) But the above-mentioned' 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 Chris- 
 tians has come, for you are not so strong that you can do battle 
 with the Turks." The Christians conducted themselves badly, in- 
 asmuch as they tore down and burned buildings of the city and 
 carried off the lead with which the churches were constructed and 
 sold it to the Greeks. The Emperor was enraged thereat an3 
 ordered them to cross the Strait. After they had crossed, they did 
 not cease doing all manner of evil, burning and plundering houses 
 and churches. At length they reached Nicomedia, where the Lom- 
 bards and Longobards and Alemanni separated from the Franks be- 
 cause 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 en- 
 tered 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, hearing 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 girdles and handker- 
 chiefs down into the cistern and squeezed out the water from them 
 into their mouths ; some urinated into one another's hollowed hands 
 
^2 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 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, con- 
 tinued 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 re- 
 ceived 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 burn 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 di- 
 rection 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) and had them 
 cross the Strait. After they were across, he purchased all their 
 arms. . . . 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 73 
 
 (Albert.) The Emperor was moved by compassion on hearing 
 this humble narrative and ordered two hundred gold besants to be 
 given to Peter ; of that money which was called tartaron he dis- 
 bursed one measure for his army. After that, Peter retired from 
 the conference and from the palace of the Emperor. Although un- 
 der the kind protection of the Emperor, he rested only five days in 
 the fields and lands near Constantinople, where Walter the Penni- 
 less had likewise pitched his tents. Becoming companions from that 
 very day, thereafter their troops, arms, and all necessary provisions 
 were joined together. Next, after five days, they moved their tents 
 and, with the aid of the Emperor, passed by boat over the Strait 
 of St. George. Entering the confines of Cappadocia, they advanced 
 through mountainous country into Nicomedia and there passed the 
 night. After this, they pitched camp at the port called Civitote. 
 There merchants were constantly bringing ships laden with supplies 
 of wine, corn, oil, and barley, and with abundance of cheese, selling 
 all to the pilgrims with just measure. 
 
 While they were rejoicing in this abundance of necessities and 
 were resting their tired bodies, there came messengers from the most 
 Christian Emperor. Because of the danger of ambushes and at- 
 tacks from the Turks, they forbade Peter and his whole army from 
 marching towards the mountainous region of the city of Nicaea, 
 until a greater number of Christians should be added to their num- 
 ber. Peter heard the message, and he with all the Christian people 
 assented to the counsel of the Emperor. They tarried there for the 
 course of two months, feasting in peace and joy, and sleeping secure 
 from all hostile attacks. 
 
 And so two months later, having become wanton and unrestrained 
 because of ease and an inestimable abundance of food, heeding not 
 the voice of Peter, but against his will, they entered into the region 
 of the city of Nicaea and the realms of Soliman.^ They took as 
 plunder cattle, sheep, goats, the herds of the Greek servants of the 
 Turks, and carried them off to their fellows. Peter, seeing this, 
 was sorrowful in heart, knowing that they did it not with impunity. 
 Whereupon he often admonished them not to seize any more booty 
 contrary to the counsel of the Emperor, but in vain did he speak to 
 a foolish and rebellious people. . . . 
 
 But the Teutons, seeing that affairs turned out so well for the 
 Romans and the Franks, and that they returned unhindered so many 
 times with their booty, were inflamed with an inordinate desire for 
 plunder. About three thousand foot-soldiers were collected and 
 about two hundred knights. . . . 
 
 And thus, after all the stronghold had been captured and its in- 
 
74 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 habitants driven out, they rejoiced in the abundance of food found 
 there. And exulting in that victory, they in turn gave counsel that, 
 by remaining in that fortress, they could easily obtain, through their 
 own valor, the lands and principality of Soliman ; that they would 
 gather from all sides booty and food, and thus could easily weaken 
 Soliman, until the promised army of the great leaders should ap- 
 proach. Soliman, the leader and chief of the army of the Turks, 
 having heard of the arrival of the Christians, and of their plunder 
 and booty, assembled from all Romania and the territory of Cho- 
 rosan fifteen thousand of his Turks, most agile archers, very skilful 
 in the use of bows of horn and bone. . . . Next, it is said, that 
 after sunrise on the third day, Soliman with his followers arrived 
 from Nicaea at the fortress which the Teutons had invaded. . . . 
 
 Therefore, the Turks, unable to drive out the Alemanni with this 
 assault and shower of arrows, gathered all kinds of wood at the 
 very gate of the fortress. They set fire to it and burned the gate 
 and very many buildings which were within the citadel. As the heat 
 of the flames became greater, some were burned to death ; others, 
 hoping for safety, leaped from the walls. But the Turks who were 
 outside the walls cut down with swords those who were fleeing 
 and took captive about two hundred who were pleasing in appear- 
 ance and youthful in body; all the others they destroyed with sword 
 and arrow. . . . 
 
 In the meantime, the truth was discovered and tumult arose 
 among the people. The foot-soldiers came in a body to Reinald of 
 Broyes, Walter the Penniless, to Walter of Breteuil, also, and to 
 Folker of Orleans, who were leaders of Peter's army, to urge them 
 to rise in a body in vindication of their brethren and against the 
 audacity of the Turks. But they positively refused to go without 
 the presence and the counsel of Peter. Then Godfrey Burel, master 
 of the foot-soldiers, upon hearing their response, asserted that the 
 timid by no means avail so much in war as the bold ; and in sharp 
 words he frequently reproached those men who prevented their 
 other companions from pursuing the Turks to avenge their breth- 
 ren. On the other hand, the leaders of the legion, unable to endure 
 his insults and reproaches any longer, or those of their own fol- 
 lowers, were deeply moved by wrath and indignation and promised 
 that they would go against the strength and wiles of the Turks, 
 even if it should happen that they died in battle. 
 
 Nor was there delay ; at dawn on the fourth day, all the knights 
 and foot-soldiers throughout the entire camp were ordered to arm 
 themselves, to sound the trumpets, and to assemble for battle. Only 
 the unarmed, the countless sick, and the women remained in camp. 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 75 
 
 But all the armed men, to the number of 25,000 foot-soldiers and 
 500 knights in armor, pressed on their way together toward Nicaea, 
 in order to avenge their brethren by provoking Soliman and the rest 
 of the Turks to engage in battle. And so, divided and arrayed in 
 six battle lines, with standards uplifted in each, they advanced on 
 the right and on the left. 
 
 Boasting and shouting with vehement tumult and great clamor, 
 they had scarcely advanced through the aforesaid forest and moun- 
 tain region three miles from the port of Civitote, their halting place, 
 (Peter being absent and unaware of all this), when lo ! Soliman, 
 with all his intolerable following, entered that same forest from the 
 opposite side. He was coming down from the city of Nicaea to 
 fall suddenly upon the Gauls in camp, intending at the point of the 
 sword to wipe out and destroy them, unaware and unprepared. 
 Upon hearing the approach and the violent outcry of the Chris- 
 tians, he marvelled greatly what this tumult meant, for all that 
 the Christians had decided was unknown to him. Finding out 
 straightway that they were pilgrims, Soliman addressed his men 
 as follows : "Behold the Franks, against whom we were marching, 
 are at hand. Let us withdraw from the forest and the mountains 
 into the open plain, where we may freely engage in battle with them, 
 and they can find no refuge." Accordingly, this was done without 
 delay, at Soliman's command, and in deep silence they withdrew 
 from the forest and the mountains. 
 
 But the Franks, unaware of Soliman's approach, advanced from 
 the forest and the mountains with shouting and loud clamor. There 
 they first beheld the battle Hues of Soliman in the midst of the field, 
 awaiting them for battle. When they had seen the Turks, they 
 began to encourage one another in the name of the Lord. . . . 
 
 There Walter the Penniless fell, pierced by seven arrows which 
 had penetrated his coat of mail. Reinald of Broyes and Folker of 
 Chartres, men of the greatest renown in their own lands, fell in like 
 martyrdom, destroyed by the enemy, though not without great 
 slaughter of the Turks. But Walter of Breteuil, son of Waler- 
 amnus, and Godfrey Burel, master of the foot-soldiers, having 
 slipped away in flight through briars and thickets, turned back 
 along the narrow path where the entire band, withdrawn from bat- 
 tle, had gathered together. When the flight and desertion of these 
 men became known, all turned in flight, hastening their course 
 towards Civitote along the same route by which they had come, but 
 with little defense against the enemy. 
 
 And so the Turks, rejoicing in the pleasing success of victory, 
 were destroying the wretched band of pilgrims, whom they followed 
 
76 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 for a distance of three miles, killing them even at the camp of 
 Peter, And going within the tents, they destroyed with the sword 
 whomever they found, the weak and the feeble, clerics, monks, old 
 women, nursing children, persons of every age. But they led away 
 young girls whose face and form was pleasing in their eyes, and 
 beardless youths of comely countenance. They carried off to Nicaea 
 money, garments, mules, horses, and all valuable things, as well 
 as the tents themselves. 
 
 But above the shore of the sea, near the aforesaid Civitote, was 
 an ancient, deserted fortress. Towards that fortress three thousand 
 pilgrims rushed in flight. They entered the ruined fortress in hope 
 of defense. But finding no gates or other obstacles, and anxious 
 and deprived of aid, they piled up their shields for a gate, along 
 with a huge pile of rocks ; and with lances, wooden bows, and sling- 
 stones, they bravely defended themselves from the enemy. But the 
 Turks, seeing that they were having but little success in killing 
 those inside, surrounded the fortress, which was without a roof, 
 on all sides. They aimed their arrows high, so that, as they fell 
 from the air in a shower, they would strike the bodies of the en- 
 closed Christians, destroying the poor wretches ; and that all the 
 others, at the sight of this, might be compelled to surrender. In 
 this way very many are said to have been wounded and killed there ; 
 but the rest, fearing yet more cruel treatment from the impious 
 enemy, could not be compelled to come out either by force or by 
 arms. . . . 
 
 The Emperor was moved with pity when he had heard from 
 Peter about the siege and the fall of his men. So he summoned 
 the Turcopoles and all the nations of his kingdom, and commanded 
 them to go in all haste across the Strait to the aid of the fugitive 
 and besieged Christians, and to drive the assaulting Turks from 
 the siege. But the Turks, having learned of the Emperor's edict, 
 moved from the fortress at midnight with their Christian captives 
 and very great spoils, and so the pilgrim soldiers who had been shut 
 up and besieged by the impious (Turks) were freed. . . . 
 
 (Anna.) But relying on the multitude of those who followed 
 him, Peter did not heed the warning and, after crossing the strait, 
 pitched camp at a little town called Helenopolis. 
 
 But since there were also Normans in his army, estimated at 
 about ten thousand men, these, separating themselves from the 
 rest of the body, devastated the region lying around the city of 
 Nicaea, rioting most cruelly in every way. For they tore some of 
 the children apart, limb from limb and, piercing others through 
 with wooden stakes, roasted them in fire; likewise, upon those 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE -jy 
 
 advanced in years they inflicted every kind of torture. When 
 those in the city saw this being done, they opened the gates and 
 w^ent out against them. As a result, a fierce battle took place, in 
 which, since the Normans fought ferociously, the citizens were 
 hurled back into the fortress. The Normans, after gathering up all 
 the plunder, again returned to Helenopolis. There a quarrel arose 
 between themselves and the other pilgrims who had not gone off 
 with them, a thing which usually happens in an affair of this kind, 
 envy inflaming the wrath of those left behind, and a riotous fight 
 followed the quarrel. The fierce Normans again separated (from 
 the others) and captured Xerogord on their way at the first attack. 
 
 When this was learned, the Sultan sent Elchanes against them 
 with a suitable number of troops. When he reached them, he re- 
 captured Xerogord, killed some of the Normans with the sword, and 
 carried off the rest as captives, planning at the same time, also, an 
 attack upon those who had remained with Kuku-Peter, And he set 
 ambushes at opportune places into which, when they left for Nicaea, 
 they would unexpectedly fall and be killed. But knowing also of 
 the avarice of the Gauls, he had summoned two men of bold spirit 
 and ordered them to go to the camp of Kuku-Peter to announce 
 that the Normans had captured Nicaea and were now sacking it to 
 the utmost. This report, brought to the camp of Peter, excited all 
 violently; for when the mention of plunder and riches was heard, 
 they straightway set out in tumult on the road which leads to 
 Nicaea, forgetful of their military training and of observing dis- 
 cipline in going out to battle. For the Latins are not only most 
 fond of riches, as we said above, but when they give themselves to 
 raiding any region for plunder, are also no longer obedient to 
 reason, or any other check. Accordingly, since they were neither 
 keeping order nor forming into lines, they fell into the ambush of 
 the Turks around Draco aild were wretchedly cut to pieces. In- 
 deed, so great a multitude of Gauls and Normans were cut down 
 by the Ishmaelite sword that when the dead bodies of the killed, 
 which were lying all about in the place, were brought together, 
 they made a very great mound, or hill, or look-out place, lofty as a 
 mountain, and occupying a space very conspicuous for its width 
 and depth. So high did that mound of bones tower, that some 
 barbarians of the same race as the killed later used the bones of the 
 slain instead of stones in constructing a wall, thus making that 
 fortress a sort of sepulchre for them. It stands to this day, an 
 enclosure of walls built with mixed rocks and bones. 
 
 And thus, after all had been wiped out in the slaughter, Peter 
 returned with only a few to Helenopolis. The Turks, in their de- 
 
78 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 sire to get him into their power, again beset him with an ambush. 
 But when the Emperor heard of the whole affair and learned how 
 great was the slaughter of men, he held it very wrong that Peter 
 should also be taken. Immediately, therefore, he summoned Cata- 
 calon Constantine Euphorbenus," of whom mention has often been 
 made in this history, and sent him with suitable forces on war- 
 vessels across the sea as a succour to Peter. When the Turks saw 
 him approach, they fled. . . . 
 
 2. The Einperor's treatment of Hugh. (October, 1096- January, 
 1097.) 
 
 - {Anna.) As we said above, there were among the Latins such 
 "\ men as Bohemund and his fellow counsellors, who, eager to obtain 
 the Roman Empire for themselves, had been looking with avarice 
 upon it for a long time. Seeing an opening for their plans in the 
 expedition which was promoted by Peter, they stirred up this huge 
 movement; and, in order to deceive the more simple, they feigned 
 a crusade against the Turks to regain the Holy Sepulchre and sold 
 all their possessions. Moreover, a certain Hugh, brother of the 
 King of France, who conducted himself with the spirit of a navatus 
 on account of his wealth and power and the nobility of his birth, 
 decided to leave his fatherland, as if to set out for the Holy Sepul- 
 chre. Upon reaching this decision, he looked forward to a most 
 glorious meeting and announced in letters full of swollen insolence 
 to the Emperor: 
 
 "Know, O King, that I am King of Kings, and superior to all 
 who are under the sky. You are now permitted to greet me, on 
 my arrival, and to receive me with magnificence, as befits my no- 
 bility." 
 
 At this time the Governor^" of Durazzo was John, son of Isaac, 
 the Sebastocrator,^^ of whom we have spoken above. Nicolaus 
 Maurocatacalon, in command of the fleet, had arranged his ships at 
 stations around the port of Durazzo, so that he could make excur- 
 sions and watch the seas, lest, perchance, pirate ships might se- 
 cretly approach. To each of these men, therefore^ the Emperor, 
 after hearing this letter (from Hugh), immediately sent a message, 
 bidding the Governor of Durazzo watch closely by land and sea 
 for the arrival of this man, upon whose coming a messenger was to 
 be sent quickly to the Emperor. Hugh, however, was to be re- 
 ceived magnificently. He further ordered the commander of the 
 fleet to be constantly alert and on the watch with every faculty 
 . awake, not with his usual negligence. 
 
 Meanwhile Hugh reached the seacoast of Longobardy ; there he 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 79 
 
 sent envoys to the Governor of Durazzo, twenty-four in number, 
 each decorated with gold and red breastplates. Along with them 
 went Count Carpenter and that Helia who had fled from the Em- 
 peror at Thessalonica. These men addressed the following message 
 to the Governor : 
 
 "Be it known to you, O Governor, that our lord, Hugh, will soon 
 be here, bringing with him from Rome the golden banner of St. 
 Peter; moreover, know that he is the highest leader of all the 
 armies of France. Prepare yourself, therefore, to receive him and 
 the army obeying him according to the dignity of his power; and 
 gird yourself about to meet him." 
 
 While they were thus commanding the Governor, Hugh, as it is 
 said, came from Rome into Lx>ngobardy ; and leaving Bari toward 
 Illyricum, he was caught by a most awful storm and lost the greater 
 number of his ships, together with their oarsmen and passengers. 
 The little boat in which he saved himself was cast up by the waves, 
 as though they spewed it forth, on the seacoast which lies half 
 way between Durazzo and another place called Palus. It, too, was 
 half cut to pieces. Two men, who were on the watch for his ar- 
 rival, met him after he had been saved and pressed him with these 
 words : "The Governor is awaiting your arrival, desiring very 
 much to enjoy your coming." Thereupon, Hugh immediately asked 
 for a horse, and one of those men, dismounting from his horse, 
 very dutifully gave it over to him. As a result, the Governor, after 
 seeing that Hugh was safe, was the first to greet him and asked 
 whither, and whence, and what dangers and evils had befallen him 
 in sailing. And when he had been set upon his feet and refreshed 
 with kind words, the Governor then put before him a well-prepared 
 feast. After dinner he loosed him, but did not yet permit him to 
 walk about freely, for all these things had been quickly announced 
 to the Emperor, and the Governor was waiting to find out his 
 commands from him. 
 
 When the Emperor was informed, he quickly sent Butumites to 
 Epidamnus, which we have often called Durazzo, with orders 
 to bring Hugh back with him and not to return by the direct road, 
 but, by turning aside, to bring him to Constantinople through Philip- Tj^t/ 
 popolis; for he was afraid of the forces and throngs of Gauls who J [ 
 followed. The Emperor treated him honorably with all kindness 
 and gave him, in addition, considerable sums of money. He im- 
 mediately urged the man to attach himself to him (the Emperor), 
 and to bind himself by the customary oaths of the Latins. . . . 
 
8o THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 3. Godfrey at Constantinople. (December, 1096-May, 1097.) 
 
 {Gesta.) 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 Bald- 
 win, brother of the Duke, heard of this, he placed himself in am- 
 bush 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 at- 
 tack 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. 
 
 {Albert.) With his entire band of pilgrims Godfrey withdrew 
 to the city of Constantinople itself. There, after pitching their 
 tents, they lodged, a strong and powerful band, protected by armor 
 and all warlike equipment. And, behold, at the meeting Hugh, 
 Drogo, William Carpenter, and Clarebold, set free by the Emperor, 
 were present, rejoicing because of the arrival of the Duke and of 
 his multitudes, and meeting the embrace of the Duke and of the 
 others with many a kiss. And, likewise, the above mentioned mes- 
 senger of the Emperor met the Duke, asking him to come to the 
 palace of the Emperor with some of the chiefs of his army, that 
 he might hear the word of the King. The rest of his multitude 
 should remain outside the walls of the city. Scarcely had the 
 Duke received the message when, behold, some strangers from the 
 land of the Franks appeared by stealth in his camp. The strangers 
 cautioned the Duke very strongly to beware of the wiles and al- 
 luring appearance of the Emperor, and by no means to go to the Em- 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 8i 
 
 peror because of some flattering promise, but to sit outside the 
 walls and listen carefully to all which the Emperor should propose 
 to him. Thereupon, the Duke, so warned by the strangers, and 
 taught by the deception of the Greeks, did not go to the Emperor. _ 
 
 For this reason, the Emperor, moved by a violent indignation to- 
 wards the Duke and all his army, refused them the privilege of 
 buying and selling. But when Baldwin, brother of the Duke, 
 learned of the wrath of the Emperor and saw the need of the 
 people and their very great lack of necessaries, he pleaded with the 
 Duke and the leaders to plunder again the region and lands of the 
 Greeks, and to collect spoils and food, until the Emperor, com- 
 pelled by this damage, should again grant the privilege of buying 
 and selling. Therefore, when the Emperor saw devastation and 
 misfortune befalling the lands of his kingdom, he once more gave 
 to all the privilege of buying and selling. 
 
 It was the time of the Nativity of the Lord. At that festal time, 
 and in those days of peace and joy, it seemed to all praiseworthy, 
 good, and acceptable before God that peace should be restored on 
 both sides between the household of the Emperor and the Duke 
 and all the mighty ones of the army. And so, when peace had been 
 made, they withheld their hands from all plunder and hurt. Ac- 
 cordingly, during those four holy days they rested in all quiet and 
 happiness before the walls of the city Constantinople. 
 
 Four days after, the legation of the Emperor went to the Duke 
 asking, for the sake of the Emperor and his entreaties, that he would 
 move his camp, and with his army lodge in the houses situated on 
 the shore of the Strait, so that their tents might not become wet 
 and worn from wintry cold and snow, which was threatening in 
 that rainy season. Finally, the Duke and all the other leaders 
 yielded to the will of the Emperor, and, after moving their tents, 
 they, with all the Christian army, lodged in the castles and turreted 
 buildings which were along the shore for a distance of thirty miles. 
 From that day on successively they found and bought every abun- 
 dance of food and necessities by order of the Emperor. 
 
 Shortly after, an embassy of the Emperor again appeared before 
 the Duke, urging him to go and learn what the Emperor had to say. 
 This the Duke absolutely refused to do, having been warned by the 
 strangers of the craftiness of the Emperor. But he sent to him 
 as messengers the distinguished men Conon, Count of Montaigu, 
 Baldwin of Burg, and Godfrey of Ascha, who were to make ex- 
 cuses for him, speaking in this manner: "Duke Godfrey to the 
 Emperor; trust and obedience. Willingly and eagerly would I 
 come before you to look upon the wealth and glory of your house- 
 
82 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 hold, were it not that many evil rumors, which have come to my 
 ears regarding you, have terrified me. However, I know not 
 whether these reports have been invented and spread about from 
 envy or malice towards you." The Emperor, hearing this, warmly 
 protested his innocence of all these charges, saying that never should 
 the Duke or any of his followers fear any artifice on his part, but 
 that he would serve and honor the Duke as his son, and the Duke's 
 associates as his friends. Then the messengers of the Duke, on 
 their return, reported favorably on all the good and faithful prom- 
 ises which they had heard from the Emperor's lips. But the Duke, 
 still placing little faith in the honeyed promises of the Emperor, 
 again refused him a conference. And so, between these messages 
 back and forth, fifteen days rolled away. 
 
 Therefore the Emperor, recognizing the firmness of the Duke 
 and that he could not be lured before him, again took oft'ense and 
 withdrew the privilege of buying barley, and fish, and then bread, 
 so that the Duke, thus coerced, could not refuse to enter the pres- 
 ence of the Emperor. The Emperor, unsuccessful in changing th^ 
 -Duke's mind, one day had five hundred Turcopoles armed with 
 bows and quivers taken in ships across the strait. Early in the 
 morning, they shot the soldiers of the Duke with arrows; some 
 they killed, others they wounded, keeping them all from the shore, 
 so that they could not there buy the usual food. 
 
 ■ This cruel report was carried immediately to the chair of the 
 Duke. He thereupon ordered the trumpets to be sounded and all 
 the people to arm themselves and return to the city of Constanti- 
 nople itself, and there to replace their tents. After the trumpets 
 had been sounded at this command of the Duke, all rushed to arms. 
 They laid waste the buildings and towers in which they had been 
 lodged, setting fire to some, pulling others to pieces, thus causing 
 irreparable damage to Constantinople. 
 
 Finally, when the report of this great fire and destruction had 
 reached the palace, the Duke became excessively alarmed, fearing 
 that when the flaming buildings and the noise of a moving army 
 had been noticed, the knights and archers of the Emperor would 
 suddenly seize the bridge over which they had come from the city 
 of Constantinople to the palatial residences. Therefore, without 
 delay he sent Baldwin, his brother, with five hundred armored 
 knights to seize the bridge, lest any force of the Emperor, an- 
 ticipating him, should destroy it, and thus deny the pilgrims pas- 
 sage back and forth. 
 
 Baldwin had scarcely taken a stand on the middle of the bridge, 
 when, behold, from right and left, Turcopoles (the soldiers of the 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 83 
 
 Emperor brought over on the ships) rushed upon them from all 
 sides with arrows and fiercely attacked them. Baldwin, unable to 
 resist from the bridge, hastened to escape their arrows by going 
 across the bridge. Along the dry shore he swiftly betook himself 
 to the other side of the bridge, (hoping) to hold it and keep watch 
 upon the walls of the lord and master of the city while the entire 
 army passed over that bridge, and the Duke with his men kept 
 guard from the rear. In the meantime, from the gates opposite 
 St. Argenteus an infinite band of Turcopoles and soldiers of every 
 kind, equipped with bows and arms of every description, ran for- 
 ward to attack Baldwin and the whole band of Christian people. 
 But in the appointed place Baldwin, immovable and unconquered, 
 withstood their every attack from early morning even to vespers, 
 until the people were taken across the bridge and lodged in the 
 camps placed before the walls of the city. Baldwin, with his five 
 hundred knights, advanced fiercely upon these same Turcopoles 
 who had come out from the gates and were attacking the people. 
 Both sides having engaged in heavy battle, very many fell on this 
 side and that, and very many horses of the Franks perished by 
 arrows. But Baldwin, conquering at last, forced these harried 
 and fleeing soldiers of the Emperor to go inside the gates. Then 
 the Turcopoles and soldiers of the Emperor, indignant that they 
 had been beaten and put to flight in war, rushed forth again from 
 the gates in larger numbers to harass and attack the army. 
 
 Then the Duke arrived and, since it was night, brought an end to 
 the fight, advising his brother to return to camp with all his forces, 
 and to keep his men from fighting during the night. Likewise, the 
 Emperor himself, fearing that the tempest of war would become 
 more and more violent, and that his soldiers would fail and perish 
 in the darkness of evening, commanded peace to be made, rejoicing 
 that the Duke had been willing to withdraw his army from battle. 
 
 But after sunrise the next day, the people, surging forth at the 
 command of the Duke, wandered about plundering the lands and 
 kingdom of the Emperor for six days, so that, to say the least, the 
 pride of the Emperor and his men seemed to be humbled. When 
 this became known, the Emperor began to grieve and lament because 
 his lands and kingdom were being thus devastated. Taking coun- 
 sel immediately, he sent a message to the Duke to the effect that he 
 should prohibit plunder and fire, and that he himself would give 
 satisfaction in every respect to the Duke. The message ran as fol- 
 lows : "Let enmity between you and us cease. Let the Duke, 
 upon receiving hostages as a pledge from me, advance without any 
 doubt that he will come and return unharmed, assured of all the 
 
84 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 honor and glory which we are able to give him and his people." 
 The Duke graciously agreed, provided hostages were given to whom 
 he could trust his life and safety ; then without doubt he would 
 come to the Emperor, freely to speak by word of mouth. 
 
 Hardly had the legates of the Emperor departed after this re- 
 sponse of the Duke, when, behold, certain other legates, coming 
 to the same Duke from Bohemund, greeted him, speaking thus : 
 "Bohemund, the most wealthy prince of Sicily and Calabria, asks 
 that you by no means enter into peace with the Emperor; but that 
 you withdraw to Adrianople and Philippopolis, cities of the Bul- 
 garians, and pass the winter there. You may be certain that this 
 same Bohemund will come to your aid with all his troops early in 
 the month of March, to attack the Emperor and to invade his 
 kingdom." After he had heard the message of Bohemund, the Duke 
 put off answering it until the next day. Then, upon the counsel of 
 his followers, he replied that neither for gain nor for the destruc- 
 tion of Christians had he left his country and kindred, but, rather, 
 in the name of Christ to pursue the way to Jerusalem. He wished 
 to accomplish this and to fight the designs of the Emperor, pro- 
 vided he could regain and keep his favor and good will. The 
 messengers of Bohemund, upon learning the reply and intention of 
 the Duke, were graciously commended by him and returned to the 
 country of Apulia, reporting all as they had heard it from the 
 lips of the Duke. 
 
 Learning of this new embassy and suggestion from Bohemund, 
 the Emperor yet more earnestly urged the Duke and his friends to 
 enter upon an agreement with him; he would give his most be- 
 loved son, John, as hostage, on condition that they would make 
 peace, would pass through the country quietly, and would meet him 
 in conference face to face. Furthermore, he would favor Godfrey 
 and his followers with the privilege of buying all necessaries. When 
 the Duke learned that these promises of the Emperor had been 
 made in the form of a decree, he moved his camp from the wall of 
 the city by the advice of his council and again withdrew across the 
 bridge to take lodging in the fortified dwellings on the strait. He 
 admonished all his people to remain at peace, and to purchase what- 
 ever was necessary without disturbance. 
 
 On the following day, he commanded Conon, Count of Mon- 
 taigu, and Baldwin of Burg, most noble men and skilled in speak- 
 ing, to come before him. He then confidently directed them to re- 
 ceive as hostage the Emperor's son, which was done. When, there- 
 fore, the Emperor's son had been brought and placed in faithful 
 custody under the power of the Duke and his men, the Duke was 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 85 
 
 carried at once by boat through the Strait to Constantinople. Ac- 
 companied by the distinguished men, Werner of Grez, Peter of 
 Dampierre, and the other leaders, he boldly advanced to the Court 
 of the Emperor and stood before him, that he might hear his word 
 and reply to him by word of mouth. Baldwin, however, by no 
 means entered then into the palace of the Emperor, but remained 
 on the shore with the multitude. 
 
 Upon seeing the magnificence of the Duke and all his men, hon- 
 orably clad, as they were, in splendid and rich apparel of purple 
 and gold, bordered with ermine white as snow, with martin, and 
 other kinds of fur, such as the princes of Gaul, especially, wear, 
 the Emperor heartily admired their pomp and splendor. He first 
 graciously received the Duke, then all his chiefs and companions, 
 whom he honored with the kiss of peace. Moreover, the Emperor 
 sat in majesty upon his throne, according to his custom, and did 
 not rise to give the kiss to the Duke, or anyone. But the Duke, 
 together with his men, bowed with bended knees to kiss so glorious 
 and great an Emperor. When at last all had received the kiss, 
 according to their rank, he spoke to the Duke in these words : *T 
 have heard that you are the most mighty knight and prince in your 
 land, a man most prudent and of perfect trust. In the presence of 
 this multitude and more to come, I, therefore, take you for my 
 adopted son ; and all that I possess I place in your power, that 
 through you my empire and lands may be saved and freed." 
 
 The Duke, appeased and seduced by these friendly and lofty words 
 of the Emperor, not only recognized himself as his son, according 
 to the custom of the country, but, likewise, giving him his hand, 
 declared himself his vassal, together with the princes then present, 
 who followed the Duke in the ceremony. Nor was there delay. 
 Invaluable gifts of all kinds were brought from the treasury of 
 the Emperor, both gold and silver, purples, mules, and horses, and 
 all that he held valuable. So, indeed, the Emperor and the Duke 
 were bound by the indissoluble bond of perfect faith and friend- 
 ship, from the time of the Nativity of the Lord, when the agreement 
 took place, even to a few days before Pentecost. Every week, four 
 men, bearing gold besants, with ten measures of money called tar- 
 taron, were sent from the palace of the Emperor to the Duke to 
 provide sustenance for the soldiers. Wonderful to relate ! All, 
 that the Duke distributed to his men from the gifts of the Emperor 
 was forthwith returned to the treasury of the Emperor in exchange 
 for food. Nor is this to be wondered at, for none but the Emper- 
 or's wares (such as wine, and oil, as well as grain, barley, and every 
 kind of food) were in that whole kingdom. And thus the treasury 
 
86 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 of the Emperor was always filled with gold and could not be emptied 
 by any extravagance. 
 
 After peace and concord between the Emperor and the Duke had 
 been made on the conditions we have named, the Duke, still more 
 certain of the Emperor's faith and friendship, returned to lodge in 
 the buildings on the Strait and sent back with honor the Emperor's 
 son, who had remained a hostage up to this time. On the day 
 following, it was announced through the entire army, by order of 
 the Duke, that peace and honor should be shown to the Emperor and 
 to all in his command, and that justice should be preserved in trans- 
 actions of buying and selling. Similarly, the Emperor proclaimed 
 in all his realm that no one, under penalty of death, should harm 
 or defraud any one of the army, but that they should sell all things 
 with just weight and measure to the pilgrims, and, indeed, should 
 lessen the price. 
 
 After these events, at the beginning of Lent, the Emperor sum- 
 moned the Duke into his presence and begged him, on his pledge 
 of friendship, to cross the sea and pitch his tents in Cappadocia, on 
 account of the buildings which his incorrigible people were de- 
 stroying. The Duke graciously assented to this, and, after cross- 
 ing the river and pitching camp, he and his people tarried on the 
 plains of Cappadocia. 
 
 After this, everything was gradually sold more dearly to the 
 pilgrims, but, nevertheless, the gifts of the Emperor to the Duke 
 were not at all diminished, for he feared him greatly. But the 
 Duke, seeing the difficulty of buying necessaries and unable to en- 
 dure the clamor of his people, went often by ship to the Emperor 
 and complained to him about the high price of food stufifs. Then 
 the Emperor, as though unaware of this, and unwilling to have it 
 occur, again lightened the burden for all the pilgrims. 
 
 (Anna.) At that time, too, came Count Godfrey, who had 
 crossed the sea with the other counts and was accompanied by an 
 army of 10,000 knights and 70,000 foot-soldiers. He established 
 his force about the Propontis, his camp extending from the bridge 
 which was opposite Cosmidion up to St. Phocas. While the Emp- 
 eror urged him to cross the strait of the Propontis, he went on from 
 day to day contriving one excuse or another and put off the mat- 
 ter. The real reason, to state the matter simply, was that he was 
 awaiting the arrival of Bohemund and the other counts. For, 
 though in the beginning Peter had aroused this great expedition 
 to adore the Holy Sepulchre, the other counts, Bohemund above 
 all, were cherishing in mind the old grudge against the Emperor and 
 were awaiting a favorable opportunity to take vengeance on him 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 87 
 
 for the splendid victory which he had gained over Bohemund when 
 the latter engaged him in battle at Larissa. And dreaming that if 
 they were of one mind they could take Constantinople itself, they 
 had combined with the same thought and purpose of which we have 
 often made mention above. Thus, apparently they were making 
 an expedition to Jerusalem ; in reality, however, they wanted to 
 divest the Emperor of his kingdom and take Constantinople. But 
 the Emperor, long since acquainted with their wiles, by letter or- 
 dered forces of Gentiles with their leaders to be stationed by squad- 
 rons from the Athyras river up to Philea, a seaport on the Black 
 Sea. (He also ordered them) to watch in ambush for anyone sent, 
 perchance, by Godfrey to Bohemund and the rest of the counts who 
 were following, or by these, in turn, to him, and to deny these 
 messengers all passage. 
 
 In the meantime, while this was going on, the following incident 
 occurred, somewhat in this way. The Emperor had summoned be- 
 fore him some of the counts who had come with Godfrey, in order 
 to urge that they consent to persuade Godfrey to carry out the 
 promise which he had made under oath. While the time was thus 
 being dragged out longer (than expected), for the reason that the 
 Latin race is by nature exceedingly garrulous and wordy, there 
 was reported to these people the false rumor that the counts had 
 been taken into custody at the Emperor's command. Thereupon, 
 . the Latin legions surged together in a huge crowd and moved upon 
 Byzantium and without delay utterly destroyed the palaces which 
 are situated toward the swamp called Argyra. At the same time 
 they tried the walls of the city, not with siege machines, for they 
 were not at hand, but, trusting in their multitude, they resorted to a 
 piece of insolence : they dared to set fire to the lower gate of the 
 palace located near the Temple, which had been built in olden 
 times by one of the Emperors under the invocation of Nicolaus, 
 the greatest of the holy pontiffs. 
 
 At the sight of the Latin legions, not only did all of the basest 
 class, the foolish and the unwarlike, groan, cry out, and beat their 
 breasts in their fear, not knowing what else to do ; but even the 
 zealous adherents of the Emperor, mindful of that Friday on which 
 the seizure of the city had formerly taken place,^^ feared the pres- 
 ent day lest vengeance should fall violently upon them for the deeds 
 committed at that time. However, all who had any acquaintance 
 with military practice and skill poured in at the regal palace, 
 each man coming by himself. But the Emperor neither armed his 
 sides with breastplate of scale-armor, his left hand with a shield, 
 his right with a spear, nor girded himself about with a sword; 
 
88 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 but, clothed in royal raiment, he seated himself upon the imperial 
 throne, as though secure. Thus, on the one hand, he reassured all, 
 injecting courage into their hearts by his happy look, and, on the 
 other, he discussed with his advisers and military leaders plans for 
 coming events. First of all, he absolutely refused to have any 
 armed band led outside of the walls against the Latins, this for a 
 twofold reason : First, because this was the most sacred of days, 
 for it was Friday of the greatest, of Holy, Week, when the Saviour 
 had undergone ignominious death for all. In the second place, he 
 refused to engage in civil war between Christians. Therefore, by 
 means of frequent messengers to the Latins he wished to bring 
 about the cessation of the undertaking which they had begun, say- 
 ing: "Remember that on this day there died for us the Lord, who 
 for the sake of our salvation did not fear to endure the cross, nails 
 and the lance, punishments befitting criminals. But if your desire 
 for a fight is so great, we, too, will stand ready after the coming 
 day of the Lord's resurrection." 
 
 But the Latins were so far from yielding to him that they closed 
 their ranks and threw missies in such profusion that they struck 
 across the chest one of the men standing near the Emperor's throne. 
 At the sight of this, most of those who were standing near fell back, 
 here and there, from the Emperor, while he, meanwhile, remained 
 on his throne, not only without any sign of fear, but likewise re- 
 assuring them and chiding them greatly for their fear. All ad- 
 mired his presence of mind. 
 
 Finally, when he saw that the Latins, bereft of all shame, were 
 invading the walls of the city and scorning his useful counsel, 
 he first summoned his son-in-law, Nicephorus,^^ and commanded 
 him to take with him the strongest men and those skilled in shoot- 
 ing arrows and go to the top of the wall. He advised him, at the 
 same time, to hurl down weapons on the Latins as frequently as 
 possible, but, for the most part, harmlessly, with bad aim, in order 
 to frighten them, not to kill them. For, as was said above, the 
 Emperor respected the religious significance of the day and did not 
 wish to engage in civil war between Christians. At the same 
 time, he ordered some other chosen leaders (each with his co- 
 horts, most of them provided with bows, but some armed with 
 long lances) to charge forth suddenly from the gate which is close 
 to St. Romanus, thus presenting the appearance of violence to the 
 enemy. The battle line was so arranged that each spearman should 
 march protected on each side by bowmen armed with shields. Thus 
 arrayed, they were ordered to advance against the enemy at a slow 
 pace, and archers, instructed to turn about frequently here and 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 89 
 
 there, were sent ahead to wound the Gauls at close quarters. Now, 
 when the two lines were a slight distance apart, they were then to 
 order those bowmen who had spearmen at their side to use their 
 bows carefully, aiming at the horses of the enemy, sparing the 
 riders ; and it was further ordered that the spearmen should charge 
 with loose reins upon the Latins and with the full weight of their 
 horses. He gave that order with this in mind, that when their 
 horses were wounded, the violence of the Gallic attack would lan- 
 guish and the Romans would not easily be pursued by the knights ; 
 and this, also, which he especially desired, that as little Christian 
 blood as possible should be shed. These men with ready courage 
 did what they had been commanded by the Emperor, and, after the 
 gates had been suddenly opened, they rushed against the enemy, 
 now giving free rein to their horses, now checking them. Thus they 
 killed many of the enemy; a few of our men were wounded in this 
 affair that day. ... At length the Emperor sent in his own forces 
 and scattered and routed the legions of the Latins. 
 
 On the next day, Hugh set out to meet Godfrey and counselled 
 him to make peace with the Emperor, if he did not want to try the 
 warlike skill of the latter anew, to his own hurt, but especially to 
 pledge that he would keep inviolate his faith to the Emperor. God- 
 frey received him very bitterly saying, "Have not you, who came 
 from home in the spirit and surroundings of a king, with great 
 forces and wealth, now debased yourself from highest dignity to 
 the condition and lot of a humble client? And then, as if this were 
 some great and distinguished deed, you have come to urge me, too, 
 to this same fate !" In reply to him Hugh said, 'Tn the first place, 
 we ought not to have departed from our own lands, and we ought 
 to have stayed away from those of others; but after we have come 
 hither to this place, where we may have necessities by the benevo- 
 lent care and providence of him who rules here, our business will 
 not turn out happily unless we accede to his counsels and demands." 
 
 When Hugh had returned, the matter only made worse, the Emp- 
 eror, informed through other sources that the rest of the counts who 
 were following Godfrey E.t a distance were already near, sent chosen 
 leaders with their forces to the army of Godfrey with orders to 
 persuade him, but, if necessary, to compel him to cross the Strait. 
 When the Latins saw them coming, without delay or even question 
 of what was wanted, they sprang up immediately to blows and bat- 
 tle. There occurred a most bitter conflict between them, in which 
 many on both sides fell. Those of our men who rushed too boldly 
 into the fray were wounded, but, as the Romans were conducting 
 themselves valiantly, the Latins turned their backs. And thus, at 
 
90 
 
 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 V> 
 
 length, Godfrey after a short time obeyed the Emperor. He came 
 to him and in solemn manner took the oath which was demanded 
 of him: that whatever cities, lands, or fortresses he should thence- 
 forth capture from the barbarians (which cities, lands, or fortresses 
 had formerly belonged to the Emperor) he would in good faith 
 hand over to the military leaders or prefects who should be sent by 
 the Emperor for this very purpose. When this had been confirmed 
 by oath, Godfrey was enriched with great gifts by the Emperor; 
 he was received in the imperial palace and magnificently dined at 
 the royal table. He then crossed the Strait and pitched his camp at 
 Pelecanuni,^* the Emperor seeing to it that an ample supply of ne- 
 cessities was provided everywhere. 
 
 4. Alexius and the minor leaders. (February- April, 1097?) 
 
 f^ {Anna.) After this, there arrived shortly a count who was 
 
 ^called Raoul.^^ He encamped with the counts of his following near 
 r^ the Propontis, close to the monastery called the Patriarch's; the 
 
 }y rest of his forces he spread out even to Sosthenium itself. More- 
 over, as he, like Godfrey, was putting off the day of crossing, await- 
 ing the arrival of the other forces and counts who were yet to 
 come, the Emperor, conjecturing rightly about the future, feared 
 that they would arrive and took care with every act and counsel to 
 hasten the transportation of these men. For this task he summoned 
 Opus, a man second to none in valor, prudence, and military knowl- 
 edge, and ordered him to go with other valiant troops by land to the 
 camp of Raoul. He commanded him to use every means which 
 necessity should demand to compel him and all his men to cross the 
 Strait. When Opus saw that Raoul was by no means ready to obey 
 the Emperor, nay, was even insolent and haughty, offering many 
 threats against the Emperor, he made ready his arms and drew up 
 a line of battle, hoping, perchance, to terrify the barbarians with 
 this sight and thus to induce them to cross to the other shore. But 
 Raoul and his Gauls drew up their lines quicker than the w'ord and 
 immediately entered into a great battle with Opus. By chance 
 Pegasius arrived at that very time with ships in which to take the 
 forces to Asia. Watching the fight on shore from the sea, and 
 seeing that the Gauls were charging the Roman army too fiercely, 
 he disembarked and attacked the Gauls from the rear. Hence, 
 many were killed, and very many were wounded. Thus it was 
 brought about that those who survived the battle now sought pas- 
 sage over to the other side. But the Emperor, wnth his most far- 
 sighted caution, foresaw that when Raoul's knights should tell God- 
 frey what had befallen them, they would arouse the latter against 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 91 
 
 himself. So he very freely granted their request, but when they 
 had been placed on ship, he took them by sea to the Sepulchre of 
 the Lord, the very thing which they especially sought. He like- 
 wise sent messages to those counts who were even then expected 
 and held forth words of good-will, bidding them expect every good ; 
 and so, when they came to Constantinople, they did with alacrity 
 all that was demanded of them. But so much for Count Raoul. 
 
 Following the latter closely came an innumerable multitude gath- 
 ered from almost all the provinces and lands of Gaul, together with 
 the kings, dukes, counts, and even bishops, who led them. The 
 Emperor sent his men out to meet them and received them with 
 words full of grace, for he was conspicuous for his foresight of 
 what was to happen and for seizing with dexterity upon the means 
 useful for the occasion. In addition, he bade men appointed for 
 this purpose see that there was an abundance of food-stuffs and 
 needed articles ready everywhere for the coming armies, lest any 
 occasion, or pretext, be afforded them for venturing upon any hos- 
 tile act whatsoever. However, as they flowed together at Con- 
 stantinople, one might have likened them to the stars of the sky, 
 or to the sands which have been cast up on shores of the sea. Truly, 
 as Homer said, there were as many heads of men as there are leaves 
 and flowers that fall in the autumn. All these were hastening to 
 reach the city of Constantine. Nay, even though I desire to report 
 the names of their leaders themselves, I cannot bring them to mind 
 to set down ; for my tongue becomes dumb, partly at the barbarous 
 names, which it is not possible to pronounce because of their un- 
 explained sound, and partly, as I look back, at the huge number 
 of them. But what would be gained by taking the trouble to write 
 the names of such a multitude, the very sight of whom wearied 
 those who were there? 
 
 The armies which reached the city at the same time were located 
 by the Emperor's command near the monastery of Cosmidion, the 
 camp extending so widely that it touched the Temple itself. Not 
 nine heralds restrained this throng by shouting, as in ancient times 
 they restrained the Greeks, but valiant sturdy knights, who fol- 
 lowed the multitude of Latins in sufficient number, gave ample as- 
 surance that they would heed the commands of the Emperor. He 
 desired them to subscribe to the same oath by which Godfrey had 
 bound himself and called them before him, one by one, to discuss 
 wnth them separately what he wished. Those whom he found more 
 amenable he used as intercessors in overcoming the reluctance of 
 the more obstinate. Nevertheless, since those who were awaiting 
 the impending arrival of Bohemund were not won over, but were 
 
92 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 thinking up new demands to be made from the Emperor and adding 
 additional demands to those already made, the Emperor very easily 
 frustrated the designs which were concealed by them. Approach- 
 ing them in various ways, he at length compelled them to yield to 
 the oath of Godfrey, who had been summoned across the water 
 from Pelecanitm in order to be present at the taking of the solemn 
 oath. 
 
 When all were assembled for this purpose, Godfrey likewise pres- 
 ent, and the oath had already been taken, a certain one of the 
 counts, a noble, forsooth, mounted the Emperor's throne and seated 
 himself on it. The Emperor refrained from saying anything against 
 the man, for he had long been sufficiently acquainted with the un- 
 wonted arrogance of the Latins. Count Baldwin, however, ap- 
 proached and, grasping the man by the hand, shook him and, with 
 much cursing, said: "You are not permitted on solemn oath to do 
 anything like this here, especially after you have professed service 
 to the Emperor, for it is not customary for Roman Emperors to 
 let their subjects share their throne. Sworn servants, moreover, 
 should observe the customs of the land in which they are." Upon 
 hearing this, the man said nothing, indeed, to Baldwin, but gazing 
 on the Emperor with angry eyes, he muttered to himself in his 
 native tongue words like these, "Behold, how boorish a person sits 
 here alone, while such dukes as we stand about him!"' The motion 
 of the Latin man's lips did not escape the Emperor, who immedi- 
 ately called an interpreter acquainted with his tongue. When he 
 learned the meaning of the speech, he said nothing to the Latin 
 then, but kept his words in mind. When the ceremony was over 
 and the counts were saying farewell to the Emperor, one by one, 
 as they were about to leave, he had the very arrogant and impudent 
 Latin summoned and asked him who, and whence he was, and of 
 what race he was born. 
 
 He answered : "I am a pure Frank of noble birth. Moreover, 
 I know one (thing). In the section of the country where I was 
 born stands a temple, built long ago, in wdiich any person who 
 wishes to engage in battle with someone, and does not hesitate to 
 give his name freely in professing this boldness, is wont to implore 
 the aid of the saint, delaying there until an adversary appears who 
 dares to join hands with him. In this meeting place I remained for 
 a long time, awaiting someone to contend with me; but there was 
 never anyone who dared." 
 
 The Emperor, hearing these things, replied: "Well, if in your 
 quest of an adversary you did not then find one, the time is now 
 at hand which will afford you more than enough opponents. How- 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 93 
 
 ever, I advise you not to place yourself either among those who 
 bring up the rear line of battle or among those who precede the 
 standards, but that you take a place between the first and last 
 ranks. For I know from long experience the manner of fighting 
 among the Turks." 
 
 And he gave this salutary advice not only to him, but also to all 
 the others, to whom he told what was about to happen, urging 
 strongly that they should not pursue the Turks too eagerly, since by 
 the will of God they would conquer these barbarians anyway. He 
 urged, also, that they should look out for ambushes, lest they fall 
 into them and be killed. So much may be said about Godfrey and 
 Raoul and the others following them. 
 
 5. Bohemund and the Emperor. (April lO-May, 1097.) 
 
 (Gesta.) When the Emperor heard that the most honorable 
 man, Bohemund, had come to him, he commanded that he be re- 
 ceived 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 j 
 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, (,Jjif. 
 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, how- 
 ever, whom he greatly feared because in times past he (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 
 
94 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 likewise took oath that he, together with his army, would come with 
 us, by land and by sea; that he would afford us faithfully a market 
 by land and sea, and that he would diligently make good our losses; 
 in addition, that he 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. 
 
 (Anna.) But when Bohemund had arrived at Apri with his 
 companions, realizing both that he was not of noble birth, and that 
 for lack of money he had not brought with him a large enough 
 army, he hastened, with only ten Gauls, ahead of the other counts 
 and arrived at Constantinople. He did this to win the favor of 
 the Emperor for himself, and to conceal more safely the plans 
 which he was concocting against him. Indeed, the Emperor, to 
 w^hom the schemes of the man were known, for he had long since 
 become acquainted with the hidden and deceitful dealings of this 
 same Bohemund, took great pains to arrange it so that before the 
 other counts should come he would speak with him alone. Thus 
 having heard what Bohemund had to say, he hoped to persuade him 
 to cross before the others came, lest, joined with them after their 
 coming, he might pervert their minds. 
 
 When Bohemund had come to him, the Emperor greeted hini 
 with gladness and inquired anxiously about the journey and where 
 he had left his companions. Bohemund responded to all these 
 things as he thought best for his own interests, affably and in a 
 friendly way, while the Emperor recalled in a familiar talk his bold 
 undertakings long ago around Durazzo and Larissa and the hostili- 
 ties between them at that time. Bohemund answered, "Then I 
 confess I was your enemy, then I was hostile. But, behold, I now 
 stand before you like a deserter to the ranks of the enemy! I am 
 a friend of your Majesty." The Emperor proceeded to scrutinize 
 the man, considering him cautiously and carefully and drawing out 
 what was in his mind. As soon as he saw that Bohemund was ready 
 to consent to swear an oath of fealty to him, he said, "You must 
 be tired from the journey and should retire to rest. We will talk 
 tomorrow about anything else." 
 
 So Bohemund departed to Cosmidion, where hospitality w^as pre- 
 pared for him, and he found a table richly laden with an abundance 
 of food and condiments of all kinds. Then the cooks came and 
 showed him the uncooked flesh of animals and birds, saying: "Wc 
 have prepared this food which you see on the table according to out 
 skill and the custom of this region; but if, perchance, these please 
 you less, here is food, still uncooked, which can be prepared just 
 as you order." The Emperor, because of his almost incredible 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 95 
 
 tact in handling men, had commanded that this be done and said 
 by them. For, since he was especially expert in penetrating the 
 secrets of minds and in discovering the disposition of a man, he 
 very readily understood that Bohemund was of a shrewd and 
 suspicious nature ; and he foresaw what happened. For, lest Bohe- 
 mund should conceive any suspicion against him, the Emperor had 
 ordered that raw meats be placed before him, together with the 
 cooked, thus easily removing suspicion. Neither did his conjec- 
 ture fail, for the very shrewd Bohemund took the prepared food, 
 without even touching it with the tips of his fingers, or tasting it, 
 and immediately turned around, concealing, nevertheless, the suspi- 
 cion which occurred to him by the following ostentatious show of 
 liberality. For under the pretext of courtesy he distributed all 
 the food to those standing around ; in reality, if one understood 
 rightly, he was dividing the cup of death among them. Nor did he 
 conceal his cunning, so much did he hold his subjects in contempt; 
 for he this day used the raw meat which had been offered to him 
 and had it prepared by his own cooks after the manner of his 
 country. On the next day he asked his men whether they were 
 well. Upon their answering in the affirmative, that they were in- 
 deed very well, that not even one felt even the least indisposed, he 
 disclosed his secret in his reply: "Remembering a war, once car- 
 ried on by me against the Emperor, and that strife, I feared lest 
 perchance he had intended to kill me by putting deadly poison in 
 my food." 
 
 Such a man was Bohemund. Never, indeed, have I seen a man 
 so dishonest. In everything, in his words as well as in his deeds, he 
 never chose the right path ; and when anyone deviates from the 
 moderation of virtue, it makes little difference to whatsoever ex- 
 treme he goes, for he is always far from honesty. 
 
 For the rest, the Emperor then summoned Bohemund and ex- 
 acted from him the usual oath of the Latins. The latter, knowing 
 well his own resources, and realizing that he was neither of noble 
 birth nor well supplied by fortune with wealth, for he had no 
 great force, but only a moderate number of Gauls with him, and 
 being, besides, dishonest in character, readily submitted himself to 
 the will of the Emperor. 
 
 After this, the Emperor saw to it that a room in the palace was 
 so filled with a collection of riches of all kinds that the very floor 
 was covered with costly raiment, and with gold and silver coins, 
 and certain other less valuable things, so much so that one was not 
 able even to walk there, so hindered was he by the abundance of 
 these things. The Empcor ordered the guide suddenly and unex- 
 
96 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 pectedly to open the doors, thus reveahng all this to Bohemund. 
 Amazed at the spectacle, Bohemund exclaimed: "If such riches 
 were mine, long ago I would have been lord of many lands !" The 
 guide answered, "And all these things the Emperor bestows upon 
 you today as a gift." Most gladly Bohemund received them and 
 with many gracious thanks he left, intending to return to his rest in 
 the inn. But changing his mind when they were brought to him, he, 
 who a little before had admired them, said: "Never can I let myself 
 be treated with such ignominy by the Emperor. Go, take those thing.s 
 and carry them back to him who sent them." The Emperor, know- 
 ing the base fickleness of the Latins, quoted this common saying, 
 "Let the evil return to its author." Bohemund having heard this, 
 and seeing that the messengers were busily bringing these things 
 back to him, decided anew about the goods which he had sent 
 back with regret, and, like a polypus, changed in a moment, he now 
 showed a joyous countenance to the bearers. For he was quick, and 
 a man of very dishonest disposition, as much surpassing in malice 
 and intrepidity all the Latins who had crossed over as he was in- 
 ferior to them in power and wealth. But even though he thus ex- 
 celled all in great cunning, the inconstant character of the Latins 
 was also in him. Verily, the riches which he spurned at first, he 
 now gladly accepted. For when this man of evil design had left 
 his country in which he possessed no wealth at all (under the pre- 
 text, indeed, of adoring at the Lord's Sepulchre, but in reality en- 
 deavoring to acquire for himself a kingdom), he found himself in 
 need of much money, especially, indeed, if he was to seize the Ro- 
 man power. In this he followed the advice of his father and, so 
 to speak, was leaving no stone unturned. 
 
 Moreover, the Emperor, who understood fully his wicked inten- 
 tion and perverse mind, skillfully managed carefully to remove 
 whatever might further Bohemund's ambitious designs. Wherefore, 
 Bohemund, seeking a home for himself in the East and using Cretan 
 scheming against Cretans, did not obtain it. For the Emperor 
 feared lest, after obtaining power, he would use it to place the Latin 
 counts under obligation to him, finally thus accomplishing easily 
 what he wished. But since he did not want Bohemund to surmise 
 that he was already discovered, the Emperor misled him by this 
 hope : "Not yet," he said, "has the time come for the thing which 
 you say ; but after a little it shall come about by your fortitude and 
 trust in me." 
 
 After the Emperor had bestowed upon the Gauls promises, gifts, 
 and honors of every kind, the next day he solemnly took his seat 
 on the imperial throne. Summoning Bohemund and all the counts, 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 97 
 
 he talked about the things which would happen to them on the 
 journey. He wanted, likewise, to show what methods and means 
 of warfare the Turks were wont to employ, and to give directions 
 how the line of battle should be drawn up against them, how 
 ambushes should be set, and how they ought not to follow the flee- 
 ing Turks too far. And so, both by gifts of money and by flatter- 
 ing speeches, he soothed the rude nature of the people, and, after 
 giving useful advice, he persuaded them to pass over the sea, . . . 
 
 6. Raymond and the Emperor (April 21-May 16, 1097.) 
 
 {Raymond.) Although events have lightly accompanied the 
 writer so far with happy and favorable step, they now follow with 
 so great a weight of bitterness and sorrow that it grieves me to 
 have begun what I have vowed to finish. What, indeed, is the most 
 important and first matter that I shall proceed to mention? The 
 most false and detestable deceit of the Emperor's admonition? Or 
 the most base flight and unthinkable desperation of our army? Or 
 shall I leave a monument of perpetual sorrow by enumerating the 
 deaths of such great princes? Let any one who desires to know 
 this, however, seek it rather from others than from me. This one 
 very memorable event I consider to merit excuse from silence. 
 When our men thought of abandoning the camp, taking flight, de- 
 serting their fellows, and leaving everything that they had brought 
 along from such distant regions, they were brought back by the 
 saving deeds of penance and fast to such staunch fortitude that 
 only shame at their former desperate condition and flight most 
 deeply afifected them. So much may be said about this. 
 
 Accordingly, when the Count had been received most honorably 
 by the Emperor and his princes, the Emperor demanded of the 
 Count homage and the oath which the other princes had made to 
 him. The Count replied that he had not come hither to make an- 
 other his lord or to fight for any other than the One for whom he 
 had left his country and his possessions. Nevertheless, if the Emp- 
 eror would go to Jerusalem with the army, he would commit him- 
 self and his men and all his goods to him. But the Emperor ex- 
 cused himself from the journey by saying that he greatly feared 
 lest the Germans, Hungarians, Cumans, and other wild peoples 
 would devastate his empire, if he made the journey with the pilgrims. 
 Meanwhile the Count, upon hearing of the flight and death of hi? 
 men, believed that he had been betrayed, and through certain of our 
 princes he vehemently charged the Emperor with having committed 
 treason. But Alexius said that he did not know that our men had 
 devastated his kingdom, and that he and his men had suffered many 
 
98 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 injuries; that there was nothing of which the Count could complain, 
 except that while the army of the Count in its usual manner was 
 devastating the villages and towns, it took to flight upon seeing hi;^ 
 (the Emperor's) army. Nevertheless, he promised that he would 
 give satisfaction to the Count and offered Bohemund as a hostage 
 for the satisfaction. They went to trial ; the Count, according to 
 law, was compelled to give up his hostage. 
 
 Meanwhile, our army came to Constantinople; and after this the 
 Bishop, whom the army had left ill at Durazzo, followed us with 
 his brother. Alexius asked (homage) again and again and promised 
 that he would give much to the Count if he would do him the de- 
 sired homage as the other princes had done. The Count, however, 
 was constantly meditating how he might avenge the injury to his 
 men, and drive away from himself and his followers the disgrace 
 of such great infamy. But the Duke of Lorraine, the Count of 
 Flanders, and the other princes deprecated such action, saying that 
 it would be very foolish to fight with Christians when the Turks 
 were threatening. Bohemund, indeed, promised that he would aid 
 the Emperor, if the Count made any attempt against the Emperor, 
 or if he no longer refused homage and oath. Thereupon, the Count 
 took counsel with his men and swore that neither in person nor 
 through another would he sully the life or honor of Alexius. And 
 when asked about homage, he replied that he would not do it at the 
 risk of his head, wherefore the Emperor gave him few gifts. 
 
 (Gesta.) The Count of St. Gilles, however, was lodged outside 
 the city in a suburb, and his force had remained behind. Accord- 
 ingly, 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 un- 
 just 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 
 he 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 them, crossed the Strait by stealth, to 
 avoid the oath to the Emperor. And now the army of the Count 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 99 
 
 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. 
 
 (Anna.) One of them especially, the Count of St. Gilles, he par- 
 ticularly favored because he saw in him superior prudence, tested 
 sincerity, candor of bearing, and, finally, such great zeal for truth 
 that he never placed anything before it. He was as far superior to 
 all the other Latins in all virtues as the sun is above the other stars. 
 For this reason, therefore, the Emperor kept him near him for the 
 time being. 
 
 When at the wish of the Emperor all had crossed over the Pro- 
 pontis and had arrived at Damalium, Alexius, thus relieved from 
 care and trouble, had the Count of St. Gilles summoned and in talks 
 showed him very distinctly what he thought might happen to the 
 Latins on the way. At the same time, he disclosed to him what 
 suspicions he was cherishing about the intentions and plans of the 
 Gauls. He often spoke freely about them with the Count of St. 
 Gilles, opening the doors of his heart to him, as it were, and mak- 
 ing everything clearly known to him. He sometimes warned him, 
 also, to keep close watch against the malice of Bohemund, so as to 
 check him immediately if he should try to break his agreement, and 
 to strive in every way to destroy his schemes. The Count of St. 
 Gilles replied: "Since Bohemund has inherited perjury and deceit, 
 as it were, it would be very surprising if he should be faithful to 
 those promises which he has made under oath. However, I will 
 try to carry out what you command, in so far as I can." Then at 
 the wish of the Emperor he departed, joining himself to the forces 
 of the united Gauls. . . , 
 
 7. Robert of Normandy and Stephen at the Emperor's court. May 
 14-May 28, 1097.) 
 
 (Fulcher.) We could not enter that city, for the Emperor, fear-' 
 ing that possibly we would do some damage to him, did not wish 
 to let us. So it was necessary that we buy our daily supplies out- 
 side the walls. These, by the order of the Emperor, the citizens 
 brought to us. We were not allowed to enter the city many at a 
 time. Only five or six per hour were permitted ; thus, while some 
 were leaving, others were then entering to pray in the churches. 
 
 Oh, what a great and beautiful city is Constantinople ! How many 
 churches and palaces it contains, fashioned with wonderful skill ! 
 How many wonderful things may be seen even in the streets or 
 
loo THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 courts ! It would be too tedious to enumerate what wealth there 
 is there of every kind, of gold, of silver, of every kind of robes, 
 and of holy relics. There traders at all times bring by boat all the 
 necessities of man. They have, I judge, about twenty thousand 
 eunuchs constantly living there. 
 
 Then, after we were sufficiently rested, our leaders, having taken 
 counsel, made under oath a treaty with the Emperor at his own 
 instigation. This treaty Bohemund and Duke Godfrey, who had 
 preceded us, jiad already made. But Count Raymond then refused 
 to subscribe to it. The Count of Flanders, though, took the oath 
 like the rest. For it was essential that all establish friendship with 
 the Emperor, since without his counsel and aid we would not be 
 able to make the journey easily, nor would those who were to fol- 
 low us along the same route. The Emperor himself supplied them 
 with as much as they wished from his treasury and his wardrobe ; 
 and he gave therh horses and money, of which they were much in 
 need for completing such a journey. When this had been accom- 
 plished, we crossed the sea which is called the Arm of St. George 
 and hastened then to the city of Nicaea. 
 
 {Stephen.) Count Stephen to the Countess Adele, most sweet 
 friend, his wife; whatever more sweet or pleasing greeting her mind 
 can conceive. 
 
 Be it known, to your delight, that, after a successful journey to 
 Romania, I continue in all honor and bodily health. I took pains 
 to send you, by letter from Constantinople, a detailed account of 
 the course of my life and pilgrimage, but, lest some misfortune 
 befall that messenger, I am re-writing the letter to you. 
 
 I arrived at Constantinople with great joy, by the grace of God. 
 The Emperor, verily, received me with dignity and honor and with 
 the greatest affection, as if I were his own son, and he loaded me 
 with most bountiful and precious gifts. And in the whole of our 
 army of God there is neither duke, nor count, nor other person of 
 power whom he trusts or favors more than myself. Verily, my 
 beloved, his Imperial Highness has very often urged, and urges, that 
 we commend one of our sons to him; he promises, moreover, that 
 he will accord him so great and such distinguished honor that he 
 (the boy) will not in the least envy our own (position). In truth, 
 I say to you there is no man today like him under heaven, for he 
 is enriching all our princes most bountifully, is relieving all our 
 knights with gifts and refreshing all the poor with feasts. Near the 
 city of Nicaea there is a fortress, Civitote by name, near which 
 runs an arm of the sea. Through this the pious Emperor's own 
 ships rush by night and day to Constantinople, whence they carry 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE loi 
 
 food to the camp, where it is distributed daily among the countless 
 poor. Also, in our times, as it seems to us, there has not been a 
 prince so distinguished for general integrity of character. Your 
 father, my beloved, gave many and large gifts, but he was almost 
 as nothing in comparison with this man.^^ I have taken pleasure in 
 writing these little things about him to you, that you may know a 
 little what kind of man he is. J 
 
 8. Siege and capture of Nicaea. (May 14-June 19, 1097.) 
 
 {Gesta.) And thus Duke Godfrey went first to Nicomedia, to- 
 gether 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- 
 narrow 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 had arrived, 
 there was such scarcity of bread among us that one loaf was sold 
 for twenty or thirty denarii. After the illustrious man, Bohemund, 
 came, he 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 an- 
 other side, was protected by divine might, and with his most power- 
 ful 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 
 
102 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 turned in flight, and most of them were killed. They came back 
 again, reinforced by others, joyful and exulting in assured (out- 
 come) of battle, and bearing along with them the ropes with which 
 to lead us bound to Chorosan. Coming gladly, moreover, they be- 
 gan to descend from the crest of the mountain a short distance. 
 As many as descended remained there with their heads cut off at 
 the hands 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 strong- 
 ly 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 w^as 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 I 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 w^ere) filled with 
 Turcopoles well decorated with arms. Moreover, at earliest day- 
 break the ships stood in good order and hastened through the lake 
 against the city. The Turks marvelled upon seeing them, not know- 
 ing whether they were manned by their own forces or the Emper- 
 or's. However, after they recognized that it was the host of the 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 103 
 
 Emperor, they were frightened even to death, weeping and lament- 
 ing; 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 de- 
 part 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 martyr- 
 dom, 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 surren- 
 dered and the Turks had been conducted to Constantinople, the 
 Emperor, more and more rejoiced because the city had been sur- 
 rendered to his power, ordered the greatest alms to be distributed 
 to our poor. -^ 
 
 (Raymond.) Thereupon, we crossed the sea and went up to 
 Nicaea. For the Duke, Bohemund, and the other princes had pre- 
 ceded the Count and were engaged in the labors of the siege. The 
 city of Nicaea is very strongly fortified by nature, as well as by 
 art. It has on the west a very large lake flowing up to the wall ; 
 on the remaining three sides is a moat filled with the overflow of 
 certain little streams ; in addition, it is encircled by walls so high 
 that neither the assaults of men nor the attacks of any machine 
 are feared. Indeed, the hallistae^^ of the neighboring towers are 
 so turned with reference to one another that no one can approach 
 without danger ; however, if anyone wants to approach nearer, he 
 is easily overwhelmed from the top of the towers without being 
 able to retaliate. 
 
 Accordingly, this city, such as we have described, was besieged 
 by Bohemund from the north, by the Duke and the Alemanni from 
 the east, by the Count and Bishop of Puy from the middle, for the 
 Count of Normandy was not yet with us. But we believe this one 
 incident should not be passed over : — that when the Count was about 
 to encamp there with his men, the Turks, descending from the 
 mountains in two squadrons, attacked our army. Their plan, in- 
 deed, was that while one party of the Turks assailed the Duke and 
 
104 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 the Alemanni who were on the east, the other party, entering the 
 middle gate of the city and passing out through another, would 
 easily drive our men from the camp at a time when they were not 
 expecting such an attack. But God, who is wont to reverse the 
 plan of the impious, so altered their preparations that, as if it 
 had been arranged. He sent the Count, who was preparing to en- 
 camp with his men, upon the squadron of Turks which was now 
 about to enter the city. He put them to flight at the first charge 
 and, after killing several, pursued the rest to the top of the moun- 
 tain. The other party of Turks which wanted to attack the Ale- 
 manni was put to flight in the same way and destroyed. After this, 
 machines were constructed and the wall attacked in vain, for 
 it was very firm against us and was valiantly defended by ar- 
 rows and machines. So we fought five weeks with no result. At 
 length, through God's will, some men of the household of the Bishop 
 and the Count dangerously enough approached the corner tower 
 which faced the east, and having made a testudo,^^ they began, 
 after a struggle, to undermine one of the towers and by digging 
 threw it to the ground. Thus the city would have been taken, had 
 not the shadows of night prevented. However, the wall was re- 
 built during the night, and this rendered our former labor vain. 
 At length the city, terrified with fear, was compelled to surrender. 
 One reason was that the ships of the Emperor which had been 
 dragged over the land were let down into the lake. They therefore 
 gave themselves up to the Emperor, since they now expected no 
 further aid and saw the army of the Franks increasing daily, while 
 they were cut oflf from their forces. The Count of Normandy had 
 come. Alexius had promised the princes and the people of the 
 Franks that he would give them all the gold, silver, horses, and 
 goods within (the city), and that he would establish there a Latin 
 monastery and hospice for the poor Franks ; besides, that he would 
 give to each one of the army so much of his own possessions that 
 they would always want to fight for him. Accordingly, the Franks, 
 placing faith in these promises, approved the surrender. And so, 
 when Alexius had received the city, he afforded the army such an 
 example of gratitude that as long as they live the people will curse 
 him and proclaim him a traitor. 
 
 We recognized, then, that the Emperor had betrayed Peter the 
 Hermit, who had long before come to Constantinople with a great 
 multitude. For he compelled him, ignorant of the locality and of all 
 military matters, to cross the Strait with his men and exposed them 
 to the Turks. Moreover, when the Turks from Nicaea saw that 
 unwarlike multitude, they cut them down without effort and delay 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 105 
 
 to the number of sixty thousand. The rest, indeed, fled to a certain 
 fortified place and escaped the swords of the Turks. The Turks, 
 made bold and haughty by this, sent the arms and the captives which 
 they had taken there to the Saracens and the nobles of their own 
 race, and they wrote to the peoples and cities far ofif that the Franks 
 were of no account in battle. 
 
 (Fulcher.) Since the middle of May, Lord Bohemund and Duke 
 Godfrey and Count Raymond and the Count of Flanders had al- 
 ready been besieging this city. It was then in possession of Turks 
 from the East, a valiant race of very expert archers. These, in- 
 deed, had crossed the Euphrates river from Persia fifty years be- 
 fore and had subjected to themselves the whole land of Romania, as 
 far as the city of Nicomedia. Oh, how many severed heads and 
 bones of the dead we then found beyond Nicomedia, lying upon 
 the plains near the sea! These people, inexperienced in the use of 
 the arrow, the Turks had annihilated. Moved by pity at this sight, 
 we shed many tears. ^^ 
 
 When, as has been said, those who were already besieging Nicaea 
 heard that our leaders had arrived, namely the Count of Normandy 
 and Stephen of Blois, they gladly came out to meet them and us 
 and escorted us to the place before the city on the southern side, 
 where we pitched our tents. Once already the Turks had prepared 
 to unite, hoping to drive the besiegers from the city, if they could, 
 or at least to fortify the city more securely with their soldiers. But 
 they were fiercely repulsed by us, and about two hundred of them 
 were killed. When, moreover, they saw the Franks, so spirited, 
 and so strong in brave warfare, they retreated in haste into the in- 
 terior, awaiting an opportune time for attacking. It was in the 
 first week in June that we came, last of all, to the siege. 
 
 Then, one army was formed of the many, which those skilful in 
 numbers estimated to be 600,000 strong.^^ Of these 100,000 were 
 armed for battle with leathern corslets and helmets. Besides the 
 army were those unarmed, namely clerics, monks, women, and chil- 
 dren. What further then? If all who had departed from their 
 homes on the pious journey had been present there, without doubt 
 there would have been six million soldiers. But at Rome, in Apulia, 
 in Hungary, or in Dalmatia, some, unwilling to undergo hardships, 
 returned to their homes; in many different places thousands were 
 killed ; and some who went with us fell sick and died. Many grave- 
 yards were to be seen along the roads, on the plains, in the places 
 where our pilgrims were buried. 
 
 Be it known that as long as we besieged the city of Nicaea, food 
 for sale was brought to us in ships, by order of the Emperor. Then 
 
 -1^- 
 
io6 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 our leaders ordered machines of war to be made, rams, scrapers, 
 wooden towers, and slings. Arrows were shot from the bows, and 
 destructive stones were hurled. Our enemy fired at us. and we at 
 them, each doing his best in these encounters. With our machines 
 we often assailed the city, but because a strong wall resisted us, the 
 attack failed. Turks often perished, struck by arrows or stones, 
 and Franks likewise. Truly, you w^ould have grieved and sobbed 
 in pity, for when they slew one of our men before the wall in any 
 way, they let down iron hooks by means of ropes and took the 
 body up. They snatched it away, and none of us dared, or was 
 able, to wrest it from them. After stripping the corpse, they threw 
 the body outside. 
 
 Then, with the aid of oxen and ropes, we dragged some small 
 boats from Civitote over land to Nicaea and launched them in the 
 lake to guard the approach to the city, lest it be supplied with pro- 
 visions. But while we were wearying the city with siege for five 
 weeks and had often terrified the Turks with our attacks, a council 
 had meantime been held, and through ambassadors to the Emperor 
 the inhabitants secretly surrendered to him the city, which was al- 
 ready hard pressed by our forces and skill. Then the Turks admit- 
 ted into it the Turcopoles sent thither by the Emperor. They took 
 possession of the city, with all the money in it, in the name of the 
 Emperor, just as he had commanded. Wherefore, after all this 
 money was taken, the Emperor ordered gifts to be presented to our 
 leaders, gifts of gold, and silver, and raiment; and to the foot-sol- 
 diers he distributed brass coins, which they call tartarons. On the 
 day of the siege and the surrender of Nicaea, the month of June 
 had reached the solstice. 
 
 (Anselm.) To his reverend lord, Manasses, by grace of God 
 Archbishop of Rheims, Anselm of Ribemont, his liege-man and 
 humble servant in the Lord ; greeting. 
 
 Inasmuch as you are our lord, and as the kingdom of the whole 
 of France is especially dependent upon your care, we are notifying 
 you, father, of the events which have befallen us ; how, forsooth, 
 the army of the Lord is bearing itself. In the first place, we are 
 aware that a disciple is not above his master, nor a servant above 
 his lord ; yet, may it be pardoned us, we advise and beseech you in 
 the Lord Jesus to consider what you are, what also is the priestly 
 and pontifical duty. Provide, therefore, for our land, so that both 
 the nobles live in concord among themselves, and the people labor 
 in security on that which is theirs, and the ministers of Christ, 
 leading a quiet and peaceful life, be free to devote themselves to the 
 Lord. I likewise pray you and the canons of the Holy Mothe'^ 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 107 
 
 Church of Rheims, my fathers and lords, to be mindful of us, not 
 only of me and these who are still sweating in the service of God, 
 but also of those of the army of the Lord who have fallen in arms, 
 or died in peace. 
 
 / But these matters aside, let us return to our promise. Accord- 
 ingly, after our army arrived at Nicomedia and we were placed at 
 the gates of the land of the Turks, leaders, as well as followers, 
 cleansed by confession, fortified ourselves by partaking of the body 
 and blood of the Lord. Moving our camp thence, we set siege to 
 Nicaea on the second day before the Nones of May. When, more- 
 over, we had been attacking the city for some days with many 
 machines and various instruments of war, the cunning of the Turks, 
 as it had so often done, deceived us much. For one day when they 
 had promised to surrender themselves, Soliman and all the Turks, 
 seeking to attack us unawares, gathered together from regions far 
 and near and fell upon us. However, the Count of St. Giles, mak- 
 ing an attack upon them with some of the Franks, killed countless 
 numbers of them; all the others fled in confusion. Our men, more- 
 over, returning with victory, and bearing many heads fixed upon 
 spikes and spears, offered a spectacle joyful to the people of God. 
 This occurred on the seventeenth day before the Kalends of June. 
 At length the enemy, beset and routed in attacks by day and night, 
 surrendered the city, willy-nilly, on the thirteenth day before the 
 Kalends of July. Then the Christians, advancing through the walls 
 with the crosses and imperial standards, regained the city for the 
 Lord, the Greeks and Latins within and without the walls crying 
 out together, "Glory to Thee, O Lord !" When this had been ac- 
 complished, the princes of the army went to meet the Emperor, 
 who had come to render thanks. And having received from him 
 gifts of inestimable value, they returned, some with kindly feelings, 
 some otherwise. 
 
 {Stephen.) But, after ten days, during which time he kept me in 
 his company with the greatest respect, I separated from him as 
 from a father. He, however, commanded that ships be made ready 
 for me, by means of which I crossed very quickly the peaceful arm 
 of the sea which surrounds the city. Some people are wont to say 
 that the arm of the sea at Constantinople is raging and perilous, 
 which is false ; for one need feel no more uncertainty at all on it 
 than on the Marne or Seine. Thence we came to that other Strait 
 which is called the Arm of St. George. Along this we ascended, 
 since we could by no means find enough ships. We directed our 
 march to Nicomedia, where the aforesaid arm of the sea has its 
 source and head. This city, in which the blessed martyr, Panta- 
 
io8 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 leon,-* suffered for Clirist, has Ijeen made desolate by the Turks. 
 From here we hurried on to tlie very large city of Nicaea, singing 
 praise to God (as we marched). ^ 
 
 More than three hundred towersjmy beloved. With walls of mar- 
 velous construction enclose Nicaea.' We found the Turks within 
 it bold fighters; here we discovered that the infinite army of God 
 had now for four weeks been engaged in a death-dealing struggle 
 with the people of Nicaea. Shortly before we came to the army, 
 Soliman, prince of the Turks, had suddenly rushed upon our men 
 with a large army prepared for battle, thinking that by a certain 
 charge he could break into the city to aid his people. This base 
 design, through the compassion of God, turned out otherwise than 
 he thought. For our men, getting themselves ready most quickly,, 
 received the Turks with fierce spirit. All the latter turned their 
 backs in flight immediately. Our men, following them very closely, 
 killed many of them and pursued them over a wide space of terri- 
 tory, wounding and kilHng them; and had not the difficult moun- 
 tains been unknown to our men, on that same day they would have 
 driven the enemy to great and irremediable destruction. Of our 
 men, no one perished at that time, but afterwards, as our great 
 army together engaged in many most sharp encounters, killing many 
 of the Turks and their leaders with hurling engines and arrows, 
 some of our men were killed, though, truly, not many — no knight 
 of renown except Baldwin of Flanders, Count of Ghent. When our 
 worthy princes of God saw Nicaea so turreted, as we have said 
 above, they constructed with great labor very high wooden towers 
 provided with loop-holes and various engines. The Turks, upon 
 beholding this, were overcome with fear and surrendered the city 
 to the Emperor by envoys, on condition that he permit them to go 
 out of the city naked, under safe conduct, and that they be held 
 alive in captivity by the Emperor. 
 
 9. Alexius at the surrender of Nicaea. (June 22 ( ?)-June 27, 1097.) 
 
 (Stephen.) When the Emperor heard this, he came near, al- 
 most up to us. However, he dared not enter his own city of Nicaea 
 at all, for fear that the infinite throng of inhabitants, who revered 
 him as their benevolent father, would smother him in their exulta- 
 tion. He established himself on a certain island of the sea near us.") 
 All our princes, except myself and the Count of St. Gilles, ran to 
 him to celebrate so great a victory with him, and he received them, 
 as was proper, with very great aflfection. And, because he heard 
 that I had remained near the city, lest, by chance, a most hostile 
 horde of Turks should overcome our army and the city, he was 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 109 
 
 greatly delighted ; indeed, he valued it much more highly and was 
 better pleased that I had remained at such a time than if I had given 
 him a mountain of gold. On that same island on which he was 
 staying the great Emperor so ordered the distribution of the more 
 precious spoils of the city of Nicaea that the knights were to have 
 such things as gold, gems, silver, robes, horses, and the like ; all 
 victuals were to be distributed among the foot-soldiers ; all the 
 princes he arranged to enrich from his own treasure^ 
 
 As we have said before, God triumphing, the very large city of 
 Nicaea was surrendered on the 13th day before the Kalends of 
 July. It is read in (the history of) the primitive church that the 
 holy fathers celebrated a synod at Nicaea and, after the Arian heresy 
 had been destroyed, there confirmed by the teaching of the Holy 
 Spirit the faith of the Holy Trinity. And this city, which because 
 of its sins later became a mistress of error, now, by the mercy 
 of God, has been made, through His sinful servants, a disciple of 
 truth. I tell you, my beloved, that in five weeks we will reach 
 Jerusalem from Nicaea, the city so often mentioned, unless Antioch 
 resists us. Farewell. 
 
 (Anna.) But though the Emperor wished to attach himself to 
 the Gauls and advance with them against the barbarians, yet, fear- 
 ing their countless multitude, he decided to go to Pelecanum, in 
 order that by camping near Nicaea he might learn what was hap- 
 pening to the Gauls, and also learn the undertakings of the Turks 
 outside, as well as the conditions in the city. . . . 
 
 The august Emperor tarried about Pelacanum for some time, 
 since he desired those Gallic counts who were not yet bound to him 
 also to take the oath of loyalty. To this end, he sent a letter to 
 Butumites, asking all the counts in common not to start upon the 
 journey to Antioch until they had said farewell to the Emperor. 
 If they did this, they would all be showered with new gifts by him. 
 Bohemund was the first to prick up his ears at the mention of money 
 and gifts. Quickly won by these words of Butumites, he strove in- 
 dustriously to force all the others to return to the Emperor — so 
 greatly did cupidity move the man. The Emperor received them 
 on their arrival at Pelecanum with magnificence and the greatest 
 show of good-will. At length, when they were assembled, he ad- 
 dressed them thus : "You know that you have all bound yourselves 
 to me by oath; if you do not now intend to ignore this, advise and 
 persuade those of your number who have not yet pledged faith to 
 take the oath." They immediately summoned the counts who had 
 not sworn. All of these came together and took the oath. 
 
 Tancred, however, nephew of Bohemund and a youth of most 
 
no THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 independent spirit, professed that he owed faith to Bohemund alone, 
 and would serve him even to death. Rebuked by the loud protest 
 of those of his own fellows who stood near, and of the Emperor's 
 retinue, besides, he turned toward the tent in which the Emperor 
 was then dwelling — ^the largest and most capacious which anyone has 
 ever seen — and, as if to make sport of them, said, 'Tf you give me 
 this (tent) full of money and, in addition, all the other presents 
 which you gave all the counts, I, too, will take the oath." But 
 Palaeologus,-'' full of zeal for the Emperor, could not endure the 
 mocking speech of Tancred and pushed him away with contempt. 
 Then Tancred, very ready with his arms, sprang upon him. Seeing 
 this, the Emperor arose hastily from his seat and stood between 
 them. Bohemund, too, restrained the youth, saying "It is not fitting 
 shamefully to strike the kinsman of the Emperor." Then Tancred, 
 recognizing the disgrace of his insolence toward Palaeologus, and 
 persuaded by the advice of Bohemund and the others, offered to 
 take the oath himself. . . . 
 
 lo. The z'ieivs of Alexius on his relations with the Crusaders. 
 
 How much you have written to my empire, most venerable ser- 
 vant of God, abbot of the monastery of Monte Cassino ! I have 
 read your letter which declares honor and praise to my empire. 
 Toward me and my subjects there is, indeed, very great favor from 
 Almighty and Most Merciful God, for many are His blessings. 
 Through His compassion and by His grace He has honored and 
 exalted my empire. However, not only because I have nothing of 
 good within me, but because I sin above all men, I daily pray that 
 His compassion and patience may be sent to sustain my weakness. 
 But you, filled with goodness and virtue, judge me, sinner that I 
 am, a good man, and truly you have the advantage of me. My 
 empire, though it is praised without having work worthy of praise, 
 holds the praise to its own condemnation. 
 
 'T beseech you earnestly to furnish aid to the army of Franks," 
 your most thoughtful letters state. Let your Venerable Holiness be 
 assured on that score, io^_my empire has been spread over them and 
 will aid and advise them on all matters ; indeed, it has already co- 
 operated with them according to its ability, not as a friend, or rela- 
 tive, but like a father. It has expended among them more than 
 anyone can enumerate. And had not my empire so cooperated with 
 them and aided them, who else would have afforded them help? 
 Nor does it grieve my empire to assist a second time. By God's 
 grace, they are prospering up to this day in the service which they 
 have begun, and they will continue to prosper in the future as long 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE in 
 
 as good purpose leads them on. A multitude of knights and foot- 
 soldiers have gone to the Eternal Tabernacle, some of which were 
 killed ; others died. Blessed, indeed, are they, since they met their 
 end in good intent ! Besides, we ought not at all to regard them as 
 dead, but as living and transported to life everlasting and incor- 
 ruptiblerj As evidence of my true faith and my kind regard for 
 your monastery, my empire has sent you an epitoricum, adorned on 
 the back with glittering gold. 
 
 Sent in the month of June, (1098) sixth Indiction, from the 
 most holy city of Constantinople.^^ 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 From Nicaea To Antioch 
 
 (In the march across Asia Minor the Crusaders for the first time en- 
 countered their real enemy, the Seljukian Turks. These had previously con- 
 tented themselves with an effort to slip into Nicaea, their capital, but the 
 odds were too great and the city was allowed to fall. Now, however, with 
 the Crusaders on the march, the superior knowledge of the country enjoyed 
 by the Turks and their swifter horses combined to offset the numerical 
 advantage of the Christians. For the Latins considerably outnumbered the 
 Turks, in spite of the fact that they were so far away from home in the 
 heart of the enemy's territory. The explanation of this anomalous situa- 
 tion lies in the condition of the Turkish and Mohammedan realm. The 
 Caliph of Bagdad had become spiritual head of the Mohammedans. The 
 Caliph of Egypt was head of the Ishmaelite section of the Mohammedans 
 and bitterly opposed to the Caliph of Bagdad. Their fighting ground was" 
 Syria. Sixty years before the First Crusade, a new vitality had been in- 
 jected into the Caliphate of Bagdad by the creation of the Seljuk Sultanate. 
 These Seljuks, who were the most advanced of the Turks, had but recently 
 taken on the Mohammedan faith. With all the zeal of neophytes, they de- 
 voted themselves zealously to the spread of their religion. Under their 
 earlier Sultans, they had extended their domain across Western Asia to the 
 very gates of Constantinople. The second of their Sultans to rule Western 
 Asia, Alp Arslan, had won a brilliant victory over the Eastern Empire at 
 Manzikert In 1071, which opened Asia Minor to the Turks. Their ideas of 
 political organization, however, were as rudimentary as those of the peoples 
 of the West, and Asia Minor was given to a relative on the feudal basis 
 of personal loyalty and homage to the Sultan. The vast empire of the Sul- 
 tans soon became unmanageable. The third Sultan, Malik Shah, found his 
 vassals restless and had to suppress at least one revolt. Upon his death in 
 1092, quarrels arose among his sons which lasted for more than a genera- 
 tion. During this time, the numerous feudal vassals exercised practical in- 
 dependence. They not only participated in the wars between the rivals, but 
 often warred with one another. It was at this juncture that the Crusaders 
 came. The Turks were so embittered among themselves that they refused 
 to make common cause against the invaders, and, as a result, the Crusaders 
 were able to overcome one after another of their principalities. The first of 
 these, called the Sultanate of Rum (Romania), included practically all of 
 Asia Minor. This had been given to Suliman by Alp Arslan and had been 
 extended by him to Nicaea, which he made his capital. This Suliman was 
 well known and feared by the Greeks. His son, Kilij Arslan Daud, whom 
 the Crusaders called SoHman, was ruling at the time of the Crusade (1092- 
 1106) and led the fighting in Asia Minor against the Christians. • 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 113 
 
 At Nicaea the various bands were formed into one army, and thereafter 
 the different authors serve to correct and corroborate one another in the 
 account of their common experiences. Two exceptions occur; one in re- 
 gard to the battle of Dorylaeum, when the army was temporarily divided, 
 and the other when Baldwin and Tancred left the main army on journeys 
 of adventure in Cilicia. The division of the army before Dorylaeum was 
 ended by the battle, and the digression of Baldwin to Edessa took him per- 
 manently from the main army, while that of Tancred ended when the main 
 army joined him before Antioch. Fulcher, who accompanied Baldwin, there- 
 fore ceases at this time to qualify as an eye-witness of events which oc- 
 curred in the main army. For Tancred's separate acts the account by the 
 Anonymous may be supplemented by that of Raoul de Caen, who probably 
 gained his story from Tancred himself.^ Events followed one another in 
 such rapid succession as to confuse writers who delayed the composition of 
 their narratives for some time. This is especially true of Raymond, whose 
 story must be carefully checked by the letters and the Gesta. On most mat- 
 ters of importance in this chapter the accounts agree. The most notable 
 exception is that of the defection of the Greek commander Tetigus, called 
 also Tatic, Titidns, Tatantis, and Statiuus. The divergent view of Anna de- 
 serves consideration in view of the increased distrust between the Latins 
 and the Greeks.-) 
 
 I. Battle of Dorylaeum. (Jvtly i, 1097.) 
 
 (Gesta.) Then on the first day after leaving the city, we came 
 to a certain bridge and remained there for two days. On the third 
 day, however, before day had begun to dawn, our men arose. Since 
 it was night, they were unable to keep to one road, but were divided 
 into two lines and, thus divided, proceeded for two days. In one 
 line were the men, Bohemund, Robert of Normandy, the renowned 
 Tancred, and several others ; in the other were the Count of St. 
 Gilles, Duke Godfrey, the Bishop of Puy, Hugh the Great, the 
 Count of Flanders, and many others. But on the third day the Turks 
 rushed violently upon Bohemund and those who were with him. 
 Forthwith the Turks began to whistle and chatter and shout at the 
 top of their voices, uttering a diabolical sound, I know not how, in 
 their own tongue. The wise man, Bohemund, seeing innumerable 
 Turks whistling and shouting from afar with demoniacal voices, 
 straightway ordered all the knights to dismount and quickly pitch 
 their tents. Before the tents had been pitched, he spoke again to 
 all the knights: "Seignors and bravest knights of Christ, behob! 
 the battle is now close about us on all sides. Therefore, let all the 
 knights advance manfully against the enemy, and let the foot- 
 soldiers spread the tents carefully and very quickly." But after 
 this was all done, the Turks were already encircling us on all sides, 
 slashing, hurling, piercing, and shooting far and wide in wondrous 
 
114 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 fashion. Though we could not resist them, nor withstand the press 
 of so great an enemy, yet we (held out) there together. Our wo- 
 men, also, were on that day of greatest support to us. They brought 
 drinking water to our fighters, and, furthermore, ever comforted 
 those who were fighting and defending them. Accordingly, the 
 wise man, Bohemund, straightway sent word to the others (to wit, 
 the renowned Count of St. Gilles, the famous Duke Godfrey, Hugh 
 the Great, the most honorable Bishop of Puy, and all the other 
 knights of Christ) to hurry and come to the battle as quickly as 
 possible, saying that, if they wished to fight that day, let them come 
 bravely. They utterly refused (at first), laughing at the messengers 
 and saying, "Surely this is all false!" For we did not believe that 
 those people were so impudent that they already dared to rise up 
 and fight again with us. Finally, Duke Godfrey, bold and brave, 
 and Hugh the Great went ahead with their armies. The Bishop of 
 Puy also followed them with his army, and the Count of St. Gilles 
 after them with the great host. 
 
 Our men wondered exceedingly whence had arisen so great a 
 multitude of Turks, Arabs, Saracens, and others whom I know 
 not how to enumerate, for almost all the mountains and hills and 
 valleys and all the level places, within and without, were on all 
 sides covered with that excommunicate race. Accordingly, secret 
 speech was held among us, praising and advising and saying, "Be 
 of one mind in the faith of Christ, and in the victory of the Stand- 
 ard of the Holy Cross, because this day, if it please God, you will 
 all have been made rich." Straightway our lines of battle were 
 formed. On the left side was the wise man, Bohemund, Robert of 
 Normandy, the renowned Tancred, the most honorable Robert of 
 Anse, and the famous Richard of Principati. The Bishop of Puy, 
 indeed, came over another mountain, surrounding the incredulous 
 Turks on all sides. On the left side, also, rode the most mighty 
 knight, Raymond, Count of St. Gilles. On the right wing was the 
 honorable Duke Godfrey, and the most fierce knight, the Count of 
 Flanders, Hugh the Great, and many others whose names I do not 
 know. Immediately, however, upon the arrival of our troops the 
 Turks, Arabs, Saracens, Agulani,^ and all the barbarous nations 
 quickly turned in flight through the mountain passes and over the 
 level places. Moreover, the number of the Turks, Persians, Puhli- 
 cani* Saracens, Agulani and other pagans was three hundred and 
 sixty thousand, besides the Arabs, whose number no one knows, 
 unless it be God alone. They fled, indeed, very quickly to their 
 tents, but they were not permitted to remain there long. Again 
 they took to flight, and we followed them, killing them one whole 
 
,<J«ftfi*.^ 
 
 c:^ I 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 115 
 
 day ; and we took much booty — gold, silver, horses, asses, camels, 
 sheep, cattle, and very many other things which we do not know. 
 Had not God been with us in the battle and quickly sent us a sec- 
 ond battle line, not one of us would have escaped, for this fight 
 lasted from the third hour even to the ninth. But Almighty God, 
 holy and merciful, who neither permitted His knights to perish nor 
 to fall into the hands of the enemy, hastily sent us His aid. Two 
 honorable knights of ours, Godfrey of Mount Scaglioso, and Wil- 
 liam, son of Marchisus, brother of Tancred, died there, and (also) 
 other knights and foot-soldiers whose names I do not know. 
 
 Whoever will be wise or learned enough to dare to describe the 
 valor, skill, and fortitude of the Turks, who thought to frighten the 
 host of the Franks with the threats of their arrows, just as they 
 frighten the Arabs, Saracens, Armenians, Syrians, and Greeks? 
 But, please God, never will they be so powerful as our men. In- 
 deed, they say that they are of the Frankish race, and that no one 
 ought naturally to be a knight except the Franks and themselves. 
 I shall speak the truth, which no one will dare deny. Certainly, if 
 they had ever been firm in the faith of Christ and holy Christianity, 
 and had been willing to confess the One Lord in Trinity, and that 
 the Son of God was born of a Virgin Mother, suffered, and arose 
 from the dead, and ascended to heaven while His disciples looked 
 on, and then, finally, sent the consolation of the Holy Spirit, and 
 had believed with a right mind and faith in Him, ruling in heaven 
 and on earth, no one could have found more powerful, braver, or 
 more skilful fighters than they. And yet, by the grace of God, they 
 were conquered by our men ! This battle was fought on the first 
 day of July. 
 
 But after the Turks, enemies of God and holy Christianity, had 
 been entirely beaten, fleeing hither and thither for four days and 
 nights, it happened that Soliman, their Duke, son of the old Soli- 
 man, fled from Nicaea. He found ten thousand Arabs who said 
 to him, "O, unhappy and more unhappy than all the Gentiles ! why 
 do you flee, terrified?" To them Soliman tearfully replied: "Be- 
 cause just recently, when I had all the Franks beaten and thought 
 them already bound in captivity, and when I would soon have tied 
 them to one another, then, looking back, I saw such an innumerable 
 host of them that, if any of you had been there, you would have 
 thought that all the mountains, hills, valleys, and level places were 
 filled with their multitude. Upon seeing them, we began imme- 
 diately to take to sudden flight, so amazingly afraid that we hardly 
 escaped from their hands ; wherefore we are still in very great 
 terror. And if you wish to believe me and my words, take your- 
 
ii6 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 selves hence, because if they can only learn of you, scarcely one 
 of you will any longer remain alive." The enemy, upon hearing 
 such tidings, turned their backs again and spread out through all 
 Romania. 
 
 (Raymond.) Accordingly, we set out from the city of Nicaea 
 into Romania, and on the second day Bohemund with some of the 
 princes rashly separated from the Count and Bishop and Duke. 
 When on the third day of this digression Bohemund was planning 
 to pitch his tents, he saw a hundred and fifty thousand Turks ad- 
 vancing to battle. And while he was drawing up his lines tempo- 
 rarily and was preparing for battle, he lost several of his army. 
 In the midst of this, he sent word to the Count and Duke to help 
 him, for they were two miles away. Moreover, as soon as the 
 messenger of Bohemund came to the camp, all straightway seized 
 their horses and arms and hastened to go against the enemy. How- 
 ever, when Soliman and those who were with him recognized our 
 army coming to battle against them, they were forced to flee, de- 
 spairing of victory. And thus he who had taken captives and very 
 many tents from the camp of Bohemund through God's might aban- 
 doned his own. A wondrous miracle was reported, but we did not 
 see it; that two knights clad in shining armor and of wonderful 
 appearance advanced before our army and so threatened the enemy 
 that they granted them no chance to fight in any way. Indeed, 
 when the Turks wanted to strike them with lances they appeared 
 invulnerable to them. However, we learned these things which 
 we have stated from those Turks who spurned the companionship 
 of their own people and clung to us. What we add for testimony 
 is as follows : throughout the first and second day we found horses 
 of the enemy, together with their masters, dead along the road. 
 
 (Fnlcher.) When, therefore, our leaders had received the Em- 
 peror's permission to depart, we left Nicaea on the third day before 
 the Kalends of July, and, advancing, we came into the interior parts 
 of Romania. But when we had been on the way two days, it was 
 reported to us that the Turks had set ambushes for us and ex- 
 pected to join battle with us in the plains through which they 
 thought we were going to pass. We did not lose courage, however, 
 at this news. But that evening, when our scouts saw many of them 
 a long way ofif, they at once notified us of it. Therefore, on that 
 night we had our tents protected on all sides by guards. But early 
 in the morning, which was the Kalends of July, we took up our 
 arms, and at the signal of the trumpet we divided into wings, with 
 tribunes and centurians leading the cohorts and centuries. Then 
 with flags flying, we went out against the enemy in good order. 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 117 
 
 At the second hour of the day, behold, their advance guards ap- 
 proached our scouts. When we had heard this, we pitched our 
 tents near a certain marsh and took off our pack saddles, so that 
 we would be better able to fight. 
 
 When this was done, the Emir and chief of the Turks, Soliman, 
 who had held in his possession the city of Nicaea and Romania, 
 gathered together about him the Turks and pagan Persians who, 
 after a journey of thirty days at his command, had come to his aid. 
 There were present with him many chiefs and leaders such as 
 Admircaradigiim, Miriathos,^ and many others. Altogether they 
 numbered 360,000 fighters, all on horses and armed with bows, as 
 was their custom. We, on the other hand, had both foot-soldiers 
 and knights. But at that time Duke Godfrey and Count Raymond 
 and Hugh the Great had been two days absent from us. For some 
 unknown reason they had taken a branch road and withdrawn 
 themselves from us with a large number of our men. Therefore 
 an irreparable loss resulted, as much from the number of our 
 soldiers who were killed as from our failure to kill or capture the 
 Turks. And because those absent leaders received our messengers 
 late, they were therefore late in coming to our aid. The Turks 
 crept up, howling loudly and shooting a shower of arrows. Stunned, 
 and almost dead, and with many wounded, we immediately fled. 
 And it was no wonder, for such warfare was new to us all. Al- 
 ready from another part of the marsh, a large column of them 
 rushed violently up to our tents and, entering them, snatched our 
 possessions and killed our people. Then, by the disposition of 
 God, the advance guard of Hugh the Great and Count Raymond 
 and Duke Godfrey came from the rear upon this unhappy scene. 
 When we had been driven up to our tents, those of the enemy who 
 were there fled out, thinking that we had returned to attack them. 
 But what they took for bravery and courage they should have 
 thought great fear. 
 
 What further shall I say ? We were all huddled together, indeed, 
 like sheep shut in a pen, trembling and frightened, surrounded on 
 all sides by enemies, so that we were unable to advance in any 
 direction. It was clear to us that this befell us as a punishmenc 
 for our sins. For whomsoever luxury defiles, those, indeed, avarice, 
 or some other vice, corrupts. The air was lashed with a great out- 
 cry from men, women, and children, as well as from the pagans, 
 who rushed upon us. Now there was no hope of life left to us. 
 We then confessed that we were debtors and sinners and humbly 
 begged mercy from God. There were present the Bishop of Puy, 
 our patron, and four other prelates. Many priests, vested in white. 
 
ii8 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 were also there, who humbly besought God to destroy the power 
 of our enemy and shed upon us the gifts of his mercy. Weeping, 
 they sang, and singing, they wept. Then many, fearing that death 
 was near, ran to the priests and confessed their sins to them. Our 
 leaders. Count Robert of Normandy, and Stephen, Count of Blois, 
 and Robert, Count of Flanders, and Bohemund, also, resisted the 
 enemy with all their might and often tried to charge upon them. 
 They, also, were strongly attacked by the Turks. 
 
 But the Lord, no doubt appeased by our supplications, — for He 
 gives victory neither to the splendor of nobility nor to brilliance of 
 arms, but to the pure in heart and to him whose need is piously 
 fortified by divine strength, — little by little restored to us our 
 strength and weakened the Turks more and more. For we saw our 
 allies hastening to our aid from behind. Praising God, we regained 
 our courage and, forming into troops and cohorts, pressed forward 
 to resist them. Oh, how many of our men, coming slowly after us, 
 they killed that day! From the very first hour of the day until the 
 sixth, as I have said, difficulties checked us ; but then, little by lit- 
 tle, we recovered and were reinforced by our allies. Manifestly 
 Divine Grace was with us, for, as if by sudden impulse, all the 
 Turks turned their backs on us in flight. But we followed them 
 through the mountains and valleys, calling after them loudly. We 
 did not cease pursuing them until our advance guard had come up 
 to their tents. There some of our men loaded horses and camels 
 with their goods and even with the tents which the Turks in their 
 fright had left there. Others followed the fleeing Turks even until 
 night. But because our horses were famished and tired, we kept 
 a few of theirs. It was a great miracle of God that, during the fol- 
 lowing day and the third, the pagans did not halt in their flight, 
 although no one, unless it were God, followed them further. Ex- 
 ceedingly rejoiced at such a victory, we all gave thanks to God be- 
 cause He did not will that our expedition should be annihilated, 
 but that it should prosper more gloriously than usual, for the honor 
 of His own Christianity. Wherefore, from the East to West its 
 glory shall resound forever. 
 
 2. Hardships of the march through Asia Minor. (July 3-October. 
 1097.) (' ■ ' ' - 
 
 (Gesta.) Then we went on pursuing the most iniquitous Turks, 
 who daily fled before us. But they went to all the fortified towns 
 or cities, deceiving and deluding the inhabitants of those lands, 
 saying: "We have conquered all the Christians and have so over- 
 come them that no one of them will ever dare to arise before us; 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 119 
 
 only let us come in." They destroyed the churches, homes, and 
 everything else, upon entering, and carried off with them the horses, 
 asses, mules, gold, and silver, and whatever they could find. In 
 addition, also, they carried off the children of Christians with them 
 and burned and devastated everything that was convenient or use- 
 ful, fleeing, greatly frightened, before our faces. Accordingly, we 
 were following them through deserts, and dry and uninhabitable 
 land, from which we scarcely escaped and came out alive. Hunger 
 and thirst pinched us on all sides, and there was absolutely nothing 
 for us to eat, unless, by chance, tearing and grinding grain with our 
 hands, we continued to exist on such food as wretchedly as pos- 
 sible. There most of our cavalry ceased to exist, because (there- 
 after) many of these became foot-soldiers. For want of horses, 
 our men used oxen in place of cavalry horses, and because of the 
 very great need, goats, sheep, and dogs served as beasts of burden. 
 
 Meanwhile we began to enter the best land, filled with bodily 
 nourishment, delicacies, and goods of all kinds, and then we ap- 
 proached Iconium. The inhabitants of that land persuaded and 
 advised us to take along skins filled with water, because there is 
 the greatest lack of water about one day's march from there. We 
 accordingly did so, until we came to a certain river, and there we 
 lodged for two days. However, our scouts began to go on ahead 
 until they came to Heraclea, in which town there was a very large 
 gathering of Turks, waiting and plotting how they could harm and 
 put to grief the knights of Christ. The knights of Almighty God 
 found and boldly attacked these Turks, And thus our enemy was 
 overcome on that day, and they fled as swiftly as an arrow flies 
 when discharged with a mighty pull of string and bow. Our men, 
 accordingly, entered the city immediately and remained there for 
 four days. 
 
 (Fulchcr.) Then, indeed, we continued our journey quietly, one 
 day suffering such extreme thirst that many men and women died 
 from its torments. Whole troops of Turks, fleeing before us, sought 
 refuge by scattering throughout Romania. Then we came to that 
 Antioch which they called the lesser, in the province of Pisidia. 
 and thence to Iconium. In these regions we very often were in 
 need of bread and other foods. For we found Romania, a land 
 which is good and very rich in all products, thoroughly devastated 
 and ravished by the Turks. Still, you would often see this multi- 
 tude of people well refreshed by whatever little vegetation we found 
 at intervals on this journey throughout barren regions. This hap- 
 pened by the aid of God, who from five loaves and two fishes fed 
 the five thousand. Wherefore, glad and rejoicing, we declared that 
 
120 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 these were gifts of the mercy of God. Truly, one would not know 
 whether to laugh or to cry from pity, when many of our men 
 without pack-mules, since many of theirs had already perished, 
 loaded sheep, goats, hogs, and dogs with their supplies, such as 
 clothing, and food, and whatever luggage was necessary for pil- 
 grims. The skin of those animals was worn by the weight of the 
 baggage. And knights with their armor sometimes even mounted 
 oxen. But who ever heard such a mixture of languages in one 
 army? There were Franks, Flemish, Frisians, Gauls, Allobroges, 
 Lotharingians, Alemanni, Bavarians, Normans, Angles, Scots, 
 Aquitanians, Italians, Dacians, Apulians, Iberians, Bretons, Greeks 
 and Armenians.*^ If a Breton or Teuton questioned me, I would 
 not know how to answer either. But though we spoke diverse lan- 
 guages, we were, however, brothers in the love of God and seemed 
 to be nearest kin. For if one lost any of his possessions, whoever 
 found it kept it carefully a long time, until, by inquiry, he found 
 the loser and returned it to him. This was indeed the proper way 
 for those who were making this holy pilgrimage in a right spirit. 
 
 When we had reached the city of Heraclea, we beheld a certain 
 prodigy in the sky, which, shining in brilliant whiteness, appeared 
 in the shape of a sword with the point towards the East. We did 
 not know what it portended for the future ; but we left the present 
 and future to the Lord. Then we arrived at a certain flourishing 
 town which is called Marasch and we rested there for three days. 
 
 3. Baldwin and Tancred depart from the main army. (Early Sep- 
 tember, 1097.) 
 
 (Gesta.) There Tancred, son of Marchisus, and Baldwin, the 
 famous Count, brother of Duke Godfrey, separated from the others, 
 and together went into the valley of Botrcnthrot.'^ Tancred went 
 to Tarsus alone with his troops. At length, the Turks came out 
 fiom the city and advanced to meet them; then, gathered together, 
 they hastened to battle against the Christians. As our men ap- 
 proached and fought, our enemy fled, returning rapidly to the city. 
 
 But Tancred, distinguished and honorable knight of Christ, 
 loosened his breast-plate and encamped before the gate of the city. 
 From another side, thereupon, came the famous man. Count Bald- 
 win, with his army, demanding and praying Tancred, most harsh 
 knight, that with the greatest friendship he would deign to take 
 him most kindly into partnership in the city. To him Tancred said, 
 'T absolutely refuse to take you into partnership." And so when 
 night came, the terrified Turks took to flight in a body. Then the 
 inhabitants of the city came out under the shadows of the night, 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 121 
 
 shouting at the top of their voices, "Run! most invincible Franks, 
 run ! For the Turks, driven out by fear of you, are all departing." 
 Moreover at daybreak, the leaders of the city came and willingly 
 surrendered it, saying to those who were quarrelling about this 
 matter among themselves, "Stop, Seignors, stop! for we seek and 
 wish for lord and ruler him who yesterday so bravely fought with 
 the Turks." Baldwin, thereupon, wonderful Count, quarrelled and 
 disputed with Tancred, saying, "Let us enter together, and despoil 
 the city, and let him who is the more able hold it, and him who 
 caii, lake it." "On the contrary," most brave Tancred said, "I will 
 have none of this, for I am unwilling to despoil Christians. The 
 men of this city have chosen me lord over them, and they desire to 
 have me." Nevertheless the brave man, Tancred, was unable to 
 struggle long with Baldwin, most learned Count, because his army 
 wa? large. Therefore Tancred left the city, willy-nilly, and man- 
 fully withdrew with his army. Immediately there were surrendered 
 to him two very fine cities, Adana and Mamistra, and very many 
 fortified towns. 
 
 (Fulcher), (Middle of October, 1097.) But when we had tra- 
 versed a day's journey from there and were now not more than three 
 days from Syrian Antioch, I, Fulcher, withdrew from the main 
 army with Count Baldwin, brother of Duke Godfrey, and turned 
 towards the region of the province which is to the left. 
 
 Baldwin was indeed a very fine knight, who sometime before had 
 left the army. With his men he had very boldly taken the city 
 called Tarsus of Cilicia from Tancred, who, with the consent of 
 the Turks, had already sent his men into the city. Leaving guards 
 in it, Baldwin returned to the army.* So, trusting in God and in 
 his own strength, he collected a few soldiers and set out towards 
 the Euphrates ; and he there took many towns both by force and by 
 strategy. Among those which he captured was a very rich one 
 called Turbezel. The Armenians who dwelt there gave it up peace- 
 fully to him; and many others became subject to him. 
 
 Since his fame had circulated far and wide, the prince of the city 
 of Edessa sent a delegation to him. Edessa was a most celebrated 
 city and most fruitful in the products of the earth. This city is in 
 Syrian Mesopotamia, about twenty miles beyond the above men- 
 tioned Euphrates, and about a hundred or a few more miles from 
 Antioch. Baldwin was asked by the Duke to go there, and to agree 
 that they should be mutual friends as long as they both should live, 
 that they should be like father and son. And if by chance the Duke 
 of Edessa himself should die, Baldwin should immediately come into 
 possession of all his land, just as if he were his own son. Since he 
 
122 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 had no son or daughter, and since he was unable to defend himself 
 against the Turks, this Greek wished himself and his land to be 
 defended by this Baldwin, for he had heard that both he and his 
 soldiers were most brave fighters. 
 
 As soon as Baldwin had heard this offer, and had been persuaded 
 of its truth by the oath of the deputies from Edessa, he set out 
 with his little army of about eighty knights and crossed the Eu- 
 phrates. After we had crossed this river, we went on very hastily 
 all night and, very much afraid, we passed between the Saracen 
 forts, leaving them on either side of us. When the Turks in the 
 fortified town of Samosata had heard this, they set ambush for us 
 along the way by which they thought we would go. But the fol- 
 lowing night a certain Armenian most hospitably entertained us in 
 his castle and warned us to guard ourselves from the ambush of 
 the enemy. Wherefore, for two days we remained concealed in 
 this place. But the Turks, wearied by such delay, on the third day, 
 rushed down in a sudden onslaught from their place of hiding and, 
 with flags flying, ran before the stronghold in which we were; and 
 the booty which they found there in the pastures they seized before 
 our eyes. We went out against them ; but because we were too 
 few, we were unable to contend with them. They shot arrows, but 
 wounded none of us. However, they left in camp one of their men 
 killed with a lance. His horse was kept by the one who unhorsed 
 him. Then the pagans left, but we stayed there. The following 
 day we resumed our journey and passed in front of the Armenian 
 forts. When they heard that we were going to defend them from 
 the Turks, under whose yoke they had for so long been oppressed, 
 it was wonderful to see how they advanced to meet us, humbly and 
 for the love of God. They carried crosses and banners, and they 
 kissed our robes and our feet. 
 
 (February 20, 1098.) At length we reached Edessa where the 
 aforesaid Duke of the city and his wife, together with the citizens, 
 gladly received us; and what had been promised to Baldwin tfiey 
 fulfilled at once. After we had delayed there for fifteen days, the 
 citizens wickedly plotted to kill their prince because they hated 
 him, and to set up Baldwin as ruler over the land in his place. 
 This was suggested ; and it was done. Baldwin and his men were 
 much grieved that they were not able to obtain mercy for him: As 
 soon as Baldwin had accepted as a gift from the citizens the princi- 
 pality of this man who had been wickedly murdered, he began a 
 war against the Turks who were in the country. Often he con- 
 quered, either killing or taking them prisoners. However, it hap- 
 pened, also, that many of our men were killed by the Turks. 
 
TTTE FIRST CRUSADE 123 
 
 I, Fulcher of Chartres, was chaplain for the same Baldwin. I 
 shall now resume where I left off the narrative about the army 
 of God. . . . 
 
 4. The march through Armenia. (The third week in October, 
 1097.) 
 
 (Gesta.) The greater army, namely, Raymond, Count of St. 
 Gilles, the most learned Bohemund, Duke Godfrey, and the other 
 princes, entered the land of Armenia, thirsting and raging after 
 the blood of the Turks. At length, they came to a certain fortified 
 place which was so strong that they could do nothing to it. There 
 was there, however, a certain man named Simeon, who had been 
 born in that region, and who sought this land that he might defend 
 it against the hostile Turks. To him they willingly gave the land, 
 and he remained there with his people. Then, going from this 
 place, we came happily to Caesarea of Cappadocia. Going out of 
 Cappadocia, however, we came to a certain very beautiful and ex- 
 ceedingly fruitful city, which the Turks had besieged for three 
 weeks before our arrival, but had not conquered. Immediately upon 
 our arrival there, it straightway surrendered into our hands with 
 great pleasure. A certain knight whose name was Peter of the 
 Alps begged this from all the seignors to defend it in fealty to God, 
 the Holy Sepulchre, the seignors, and the Emperor. They granted 
 it to him freely, with great affection. On the following night Bohe- 
 mund heard that the Turks who had been engaged in the siege of 
 the city were ahead of us in great numbers. Straightway he made 
 himself ready to attack them on all sides with his knights alone, 
 but he could not find them. Then we came to a certain city, Coxon 
 by name, in which there was the greatest abundance of all goods 
 which we needed. Thereupon, the Christian inhabitants of that city 
 surrendered immediately, and we remained there three days very 
 well provided for, and our men were greatly refreshed. 
 
 When Raymond, Count of St. Gilles, heard that the Turks who 
 were in custody at Antioch had withdrawn, he concluded on his 
 6wn counsel that he would send thither some of his knights to guard 
 the place diligently. Then he chose those whom he wished to ap- 
 point, namely Peter, Viscount of Castillon, William of Montpellier.. 
 Peter of Roasa, Peter Raymond of Hautpoul, with five hundred 
 knights. They came, accordingly, into a valley near Antioch to a 
 certain fortified place of the Publicani, and there they heard that 
 the Turks were in the city and ready to defend it vigorously. Peter 
 of Roasa there separated from the others and with the approach of 
 night crossed near Antioch and entered the valley of Rugia. He 
 
124 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 found Turks and Saracens, fought with them, killed many of them, 
 and pursued the rest closely. The Armenian inhabitants of the 
 land, seeing that he had bravely overcome the pagans, straightway 
 surrendered to him. He immediately took the city of Rusa,^ and 
 very many fortified places. 
 
 However, we who had remained, going thence, entered a diaboli- 
 cal mountain, which was so high and steep that none of us dired 
 to step before another through the pass which was open in the 
 mountain. There horses fell headlong, and one pack animal pushed 
 over another. The knights stood there, sad ; they beat themselves 
 with their hands for their great grief and sadness, uncertain what 
 they should do about themselves and their arms, selling their shields 
 and their best breast-plates, together with their helmets, for only 
 three or five denarii, or whatever they could get. Those who could 
 not sell them threw them away for nothing and marched on. And 
 so we went out of the accursed mountain and came to a 
 city called Marasch. The inhabitants of that city came out re- 
 joicing to meet us, and bringing along the greatest market. There 
 we had all supplies while we waited for Lord Bohemund to arrive. 
 And thus our knights reached the valley in which is situated the 
 regal city of Antioch, the capital of all Syria, which the Lord Jesus 
 Christ handed over to the blessed Peter, chief of the Apostles, to 
 recall to the worship of the true faith — the same Lord Jesus who 
 liveth and reigneth with God the Father, in unity with the Holy 
 Ghost, forever and ever. Amen. 
 
 When we had begun to approach the Iron Bridge, our advance 
 guard, who were accustomed to precede us, found innumerably 
 Turks assembled to meet us. They were on their way to give aid to 
 Antioch, Accordingly, our men rushed upon them with one heart 
 and one mind and overcame the Turks. The barbarians were 
 thrown into consternation and fled, and many of them died in the 
 struggle. Our men, therefore, having defeated them by the grace 
 of God, captured great spoils — horses, camels, mules, asses laden 
 with grain and wine. At length our men went and encamped on 
 the bank of the river. Forthwith, the wise man, Bohemund, went 
 with four thousand knights to watch before the gate of the city, 
 (to see) whether, perchance, anyone was leaving or entering the 
 city secretly by night. 
 
 (Raymond.) And so, after conquering and scattering the Turks, 
 we came peacefully and quickly across Romania up to Antioch. 
 But the Count kept his army a short distance behind because of his 
 illness. A certain incident brought about by divine clemency should 
 not be passed in silence, even though we knew that it would be 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 125 
 
 sufficiently displeasing to the incredulous. There was in our army 
 a certain Count from Saxony, who came to Count Raymond and 
 asserted that he was the envoy of St. Gilles; and said that he had 
 been admonished once and a second time to say to the Count : "Rest 
 secure, you will not die of this illness; I have obtained a truce for 
 you from God ; I will always be with you." And though the Count 
 believed this fully, yet he was so affected by this illness that, when 
 he was put down from his bed on the ground, his pulse scarcely 
 throbbed. Therefore, the Bishop of the city of Orange read the 
 offices for him as for one dead, but divine clemency, which pre- 
 ferred him as a leader of his army, there lifted him from death 
 and restored him to health. 
 
 When we neared Antioch it was not the advice of many princes 
 to besiege it, especially since winter was at hand, and the army 
 was scattered among the castles and diminished by the stormy 
 weather. They said, likewise, that they ought to await the Em- 
 peror's forces and the army which was announced to be com- 
 ing from France, and thus they urged that we spend the winter up 
 to spring. But others of the princes, among whom was the Count, 
 said : "We have come by the inspiration of God ; through His 
 mercy we obtained Nicaea, a very strongly fortified city, and 
 through the same clemency we have obtained victory and security 
 from the Turks ; there has been peace and concord in our army. 
 Thus we should commit our lot to Him. We ought not to fear 
 kings, or the chiefs of kings, nor yet places, or times, when God 
 has snatched us from so many dangers." Accordingly, we went to 
 Antioch and pitched our camp so near that the enemy from their 
 towers frequently wounded our men and our horses in the tents. 
 
 5. Beginning of the siege of Antioch. (October 2i(?)-end of No- 
 vember, 1097.) 
 
 (Gesta.) On the next day, moreover, they came even to Antioch 
 at mid-day on the fourth day of the week, which is the twelfth day 
 before the Kalends of November. In marvelous fashion we be- 
 sieged three gates of the city, since on the other side there was no 
 place from which to besiege (them), for a very steep mountain 
 constrained us. However, our enemies, the Turks who were within 
 the city, were so afraid of us on all sides that none of them dared 
 to offend any of our men for a space of almost fifteen days. Camp- 
 ing immediately in front of Antioch, we found there every abun- 
 dance — vines full everywhere, pits full of grain, trees bent down 
 with fruit, and many other goods useful for the body. The Armen- 
 ians and Syrians who were within the city came out and, pretending 
 
<^p^' 
 
 T26 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 that they were fleeing, were with us daily, but their wives were in 
 the city. Indeed, they craftily investigated our condition and 
 strength and reported everything to those excommunicate who were 
 shut up in the city. But after the Turks had been informed of 
 our condition, they began little by little to go out from the city 
 and to harass our pilgrims, not only on one side, but on all sides, 
 for they were in hiding everywhere, from sea to mountain, to 
 meet us. 
 
 Moreover, there was at no great distance a certain fortress named 
 Aregh, where many very brave Turks, who frequently disturbed 
 our men, were gathered. Thereupon, when our seignors heard such 
 reports, they were exceedingly sorry, and sent some of the 
 knights to explore carefully the place where the Turks were. When 
 they had found the place where they were concealed, our 
 knights, who were seeking them, encountered them. But while our 
 men were retiring little by little to the place where they knew Bohe- 
 mund was located with his army, two of them were immediately 
 killed. Bohemund, upon hearing of this, arose with his men, like 
 the bravest athlete of Christ. The barbarians rushed against them, 
 because our men were few ; yet, united, they entered battle. Verily 
 many of our enemy were killed, and others, taken captive before 
 the gates of the city, were there beheaded, in order that those who 
 were in the city might become the sadder. Others, indeed, used to 
 come out from the city and climb upon a certain gate and shoot 
 arrows at us, so that their arrows fell into the camp of Lord Bohe- 
 mund, and one woman was killed by the shot of an arrqw._ Ac- 
 "f'cbrdingly, all our leaders assembled and held a council, saying, 
 , 4. "Let us build a fortress on the top of Mt. Maregart,^^ a mount 
 ^ above the hosts of Bohemund, by means of which we can remain 
 secure and safe from the fear of the Turks." And so when this 
 fortress was built and fortified, all the leaders guarded it in turn. 
 
 (Raymond.) Since the occasion ofifers itself to us, we ought to 
 speak about Antioch and its location so that the battles and 
 assaults which were made there may be easily understood by 
 those who have not seen it. There is a certain plain among the 
 mountains of Lebanon which in width is one day's travel, and in 
 length a day and a half. This plain has on its western side a cer- 
 tain swamp; on the east, a river which, after encircling a certain 
 part of this plain, so winds back to the foot of the mountains which 
 are in the middle of that land that there is no passage between the 
 mountains and the stream, and thus it flows into the Mediterranean, 
 which is very close to Antioch. Moreover, Antioch is so situated 
 in those passes which the river, clinging to the aforesaid mountains. 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 127 
 
 makes that on the west the river, flowing against the lower wall, 
 leaves a certain portion of land in the form of a bow between it 
 and the city. The city, situated in this manner on the east, rises up 
 toward the east, and within its embrace are enclosed the crests of 
 three mountains. That mountain, indeed, which is located on the 
 north is divided from the others by a very great precipice, so that 
 no access, or rather a most difficult one, is afforded from it to the 
 others. Moreover, on the northern hill there is a certain castle; on 
 the middle hill another castle, which is called in Greek Colax, and 
 on the third hill only towers. Moreover, this city, two miles in ^ 
 length, is so fortified by walls, towers, and fore-walls that it fears | 
 the attack of no machine and the assault of no man, even if every 
 race of man should come together against it. 
 
 This city, such as we have described, this well fortified city, the 
 army of the Franks besieged from the northern side. Nevertheless, 
 though there were one hundred thousand men in the army, they 
 made no assault there except that they pitched their camp near it. 
 There were, furthermore, in the city two thousand of the best ' 
 knights, and four or five thousand common knights, and ten 
 thousand and more footmen. Indeed, these very lofty walls were 
 fortified by a valley and swamp, so that, the gates being guarded, the 
 rest remained secure. When we first came we pitched camp 
 so rashly that if our practice had been known by the enemy be- 
 forehand, any part of our camp could have been destroyed by 
 them, since in our army no regular method of watches or encamp- 
 ing was observed. It happened, also, that all the castles of this 
 region and the neighboring cities had surrendered to our men, not 
 only from fear of our army, but also for the sake of escaping 
 Turkish servitude. This fact scattered our knights widely ; for each 
 one, wanting to look after his own affairs most, thought nothing of 
 the common interest. Meanwhile, those who remained in the camp 
 had such an abundance of food that they did not care to eat any- 
 thing except the thighs and the shoulders of cattle, and only a few 
 were willing to eat the breast ; but of grain and wine nothing is to 
 be said, except that they were taken most lightly. 
 
 While this was going on in the camp, the enemy at first hid 
 themselves within the walls, so that no one was seen there except 
 the watchmen. However, when they learned that our men, scattered 
 and unarmed, were devastating the villages and fields, the enemy 
 came, I know not whether from Antioch or from another city 
 two days distant, and began to kill our men whom they found thus 
 straggling and unarmed. These acts diminished the food supply 
 in our camp somewhat. The enemy, indeed, beset the roads much 
 too fiercely for any chance of robbery and destruction. 
 
128 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 However, since these matters had become clearly known in the 
 camp, Bohemund was chosen to go out against them. Moreover, 
 the Counts of Flanders and Normandy set out with him. They 
 could not lead out more than one hundred and fifty knights, and had 
 not the shame of returning restrained them, they would have turned 
 back because of the few knights. Thus, God urging them, they 
 set forth, found the enemy and pursued them and forced them to 
 destruction in the river. When they had thus gained the victor} 
 and spoils, they returned with great exultation to the camp. In 
 the meanwhile the Genoese ships had landed bn the coast, which was 
 about ten miles from the camp. That place, moreover, was called 
 the Port of St. Simeon. 
 
 And now the enemy, going forth from the city little by little, 
 killed the squires or peasants who were herding the horses and 
 cattle beyond the river, and they took great plunder into the city. 
 For we had placed the tents near the river and had made a bridge 
 of the ships which were found there. However, the city also had a 
 bridge, which was on the lower western corner, and there was a 
 certain little mountain opposite us, where there were two mosques 
 and some casalm of tombs. We mention these things, moreover, 
 that the deeds which we will describe as done there will be easily 
 clear. Just as we said, when the boldness of the enemy had some- 
 what increased, our men going forth from the camp, though fre- 
 quently fewer than the enemy, were, nevertheless, not afraid to 
 attack them. The Turks, however, though frequently scattered and 
 put to flight, rose up again for battle there, not only because they 
 had the swiftest horses and were nimble and unburdened with arms, 
 other than bows, but also because in the bridge, which we have 
 mentioned, they had a hope of refuge. They looked forward to 
 the chance of shooting arrows at a distance from the little moun- 
 tain, for their bridge was about one mile distant from our bridge. 
 On the plain, moreover, which lay between the two bridges there 
 were constant assaults and daily fights. It happened, indeed, at the 
 beginning of the siege that the Count and the Bishop of Puy placed 
 their camp near the river, and thus nearer the enemy, they were 
 most frequently attacked by them. And so it came about through 
 assaults of this kind that they lost all their horses, because the 
 Turks, not prepared to fight with lances or swords, but with ar- 
 rows at a distance, were to be feared while they fled, as well as 
 when they pursued. 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 129 
 
 6. Siiinvmry of the march to Antioch and the beginning of the 
 siege. (June 28-November, 1097.) 
 (Anselm.) However, moving camp from Nicaea on the fourth 
 day before the Kalends of July, we kept to the march for three 
 days. On the fourth day, the Turks, with forces gathered from all 
 sides, again attacked a smaller part of our army; moreover, they 
 killed many of our men and drove all the rest within the camp 
 itself. The men in command of this part of the army were Bohe- 
 mund, Xount of the Romans,^^ Count Stephen, and the Count of 
 JFlanders. To these in such fearful straits there suddenly appeared 
 the standards of the larger army ; in the front rode Hugh the Great, 
 and the Duke of Lorraine, but the Count of St. Gilles, as well as 
 the venerable Bishop of Puy, were following. For they had heard 
 of the battle and were hastening to their aid. Moreover, the Turks 
 are estimated as 260,000, upon whom our men advanced, killing 
 many and forcing the rest to flight. On this day I returned from 
 the Emperor, to whom the princes had sent me for our common 
 interest. ' From this day our princes, remaining together in one 
 army, did not separate from each other. And while we were thus 
 crossing the regions of Romania and Armenia we found no obstacle, 
 except that after we had passed Iconium our advance guard en- 
 countered a few Turks. These were put to flight, and on the twelfth 
 day before the Kalends of November we laid siege to Antioch. 
 Then we took by force the neighboring cities of Tarsus and Lao- 
 dicaea. One day, however, before we had surrounded the city in 
 siege, we put to flight at the Iron Bridge some Turks who had gone 
 out to devastate the region, and we snatched from them many 
 Christians; moreover, we led back horses and camels (laden) with 
 very great plunder. But after we had surrounded the city in siege, 
 the Turks of the nearest castle were daily killing those of the 
 army going in and out. The princes of our army came upon them 
 in hiding and killed four hundred of them and drove others head- 
 long into a certain river. Some, however, they brought along with 
 them. 
 
 Know that we are besieging Antioch with all diligence to take it 
 very shortly, as we think. We are abundantly supplied with grain, 
 wine, oil, and all goods beyond belief. However, I ask you and 
 all to whom this letter shall have come to pray God for us and for 
 our dead. The following are those who have perished in arms : At 
 Nicaea, Baldwin of Ghent, Baldwin Chalderuns, who was the first 
 to do battle with the Turks. On the Kalends of July in battle, 
 Robert of Paris, Lisiard of Flanders, Hilduin of Mazingarbe, An- 
 sellus of Caiiim, Manasses of Clermont. The following are those 
 
T30 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 who died in peace at Nicaea: Wido of Vitry, Odo of Varneuil, 
 Hugh of Rheims; at the castle Spanium, the venerable abbot Roger, 
 my chaplain; at Antioch, Alard of Spiniacum, Hugh of Calniacum}^ 
 Again and again I urge you, readers of this letter, to pray for us, 
 and you. Lord Archbishop, not to delay recommending the same 
 task to your bishops. And know for a fact that we have acquired 
 two hundred cities and fortresses for the Lord. Let the Mother 
 Church of the West be joyful; she who has borne such offspring 
 to acquire so glorious a name for her and to aid so marvelously the 
 Church of the East. And that you may believe this (to be genuine), 
 know that you have sent me a tapestry through Raymond of Cas- 
 sel.^^ Farewell. 
 
 (TJie Crusading Princes.) Bohemund, son of Robert, and Ray- 
 mond, Count of St. Gilles, likewise Duke Godfrey and Hugh the 
 Great, to the lords and vassals of the whole world who cherish the 
 Catholic faith in hope of eternal life. 
 
 In order that it may be known to all how peace has been made be- 
 tween ourselves and the Emperor, and how it has fared with us 
 in the land of the Saracens since we have come there, we are send- 
 ing to you this, our legate, who will diligently set forth in order all 
 that has been done by us. 
 
 The first matter to be told is that the Emperor, in the middle of 
 May, pledged us his faith and security on oath, giving us, likewise, 
 hostages, namely his nephew and his son-in-law. In addition to 
 this, he added that he would not further attempt to molest any 
 pilgrim to the Holy Sepulchre. Later, he sent his proto patron'^* 
 through all his land, sending him even to Durazzo, and commanded 
 that no one should dare to harm any pilgrim ; that if any one should 
 violate this command, he would fittingly suft'er the penalty of hang- 
 ing instantly. What more? Let us return now to these matters by 
 which your hearts should be filled with the greatest joy. 
 
 At the end of the month of May, indeed, we made a stand to do 
 battle with the Turks. Thanks to God, however, we overcame them. 
 Of them, moreover, thirty thousand are undoubtedly dead ; of us 
 but three thousand rest in peace, who are without any doubt glory- 
 ing in eternal life. There, indeed, all of us gained in countless 
 measure an abundance of gold, silver, and precious garments, as 
 well as armor. We also seized the huge city of Nicaea with great 
 valor, and beyond it we acquired forts and towns along a ten days' 
 journey. After this, however, we engaged in a great battle at 
 Antioch which we bravely won, to such an extent that of their 
 number seventy thousand were killed, but of our own only ten 
 thousand lie dead in peace. Who has seen such joy? For whether 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 131 
 
 we live or die, we are of the Lord! Besides this, know for a fact 
 that the King of the Persians has sent word that he will do battle 
 with us on the feast of All Saints, asserting that if he overcomes 
 us, he, with the King of Babylon and many other pagan kings, will 
 not cease to advance against the Christians; but if he should lose, 
 he has pledged his word that he and all whom he can persuade will 
 become Christians. Wherefore, we urgently pray you all constantly 
 to fast, give alms, and say masses with devotion. Help us especially, 
 however, with many devout prayers and alms on the third day be- 
 fore the festival, which is Friday, on which we will engage mightily 
 in battle, Christ triumphing. Farewell. 
 
 I, Bishop of Grenoble, send this letter which was brought to me 
 at Grenoble, to you, Archbishops and Canons of the Holy Church at 
 Tours, that through you it may be made known to all who will 
 gather together for the festival, and through them to the diverse 
 parts of the world to which they shall return. Let some of these 
 aid by just petition, prayers, and alms, but let others hasten to join 
 them with arms. 
 
 (Stephen.) Count Stephen to Adele, his most sweet and most 
 beloved wife, and to his very dear children and all his vassals, noble 
 and common ; the grace and blessing of his whole greeting. 
 
 You may believe most certainly, dearest, that this messenger, 
 whom I have sent for your delight, left me before Antioch in good 
 health and unharmed, and, through God's grace, in the greatest 
 prosperity. There, with the chosen army of Christ and in Flis 
 great might, we had already advanced toward the seat of the Lord 
 Jesus, for twenty-three successive weeks. [You may know for a 
 fact, my beloved, that I now have twice as much of gold, silver, and 
 other riches as your love assigned me at the time when I parted 
 from you. /For all our princes, with the common consent of the 
 whole army, constituted me, even though I was unwilling, their 
 lord and director and governor of all their acts up to the present 
 time. 
 
 You have heard (fully) enough that after the capture of Nicaea 
 we had a considerable battle with the treacherous Turks, and that 
 at first, the Lord God aiding us, we defeated them. After this, we 
 acquired the whole region of Romania and later Cappadocia. And 
 we learned that there dwelt in Cappadocia a certain Turkish prince, 
 Assam. ^■''' Thither we directed our march. We took by storm all 
 his fortresses and pursued him into a very strong castle situated on 
 the top of a cliff. Also, we gave the land of Assam himself to one 
 of our princes, and in order that he might conquer the aforesaid 
 Assam, we left him there with many soldiers of Christ. Then, 
 
132 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 through the midst of Armenia we routed the unspeakable Turks, 
 who had incessantly followed us, (and pursued them) up to the 
 great Euphrates river and even to the bank of this river, where 
 they dropped all their baggage and pack saddles and fled through 
 the river into Arabia. But the braver of these Turks, entering 
 Syria, hastened by forced marches night and day, in order that they 
 might enter the royal city of Antioch before our arrival. The whole 
 army of God, however, upon learning of this (victory), gave fitting 
 thanks and praise to the Omnipotent Lord. 
 
 (Simeon and Adhemar.) Simeon, Patriarch of Jerusalem and 
 Adhemar,^" Bishop of St. Mary of Puy, especially the latter, who 
 received from Pope Urban charge of the Christian army ; greeting, 
 peace, and eternal salvation from our God and Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 By common advice we clergy, bishops, and monks, as well as 
 dukes, counts, and other leading laymen are sending (envoys) to 
 you with most urgent prayers for the salvation of your souls. We 
 admonish all who dwell in the northern regions of the West not 
 to delay coming to us. However, let those come above all who de- 
 sire their salvation and have bodily health and means for the 
 journey. Even though you can come with but little, God Almighty 
 will provide for you so that you may live. We Christians, most 
 beloved brethren, are in Romania. Though with great difficulty, 
 we have, nevertheless, conquered the large city of Nicaea and sub- 
 jected it to our sway. We have fought three battles; our army has 
 moved from Nicaea to Antioch ; and we have taken by storm many 
 other cities and fortresses of the Turks. We have a hundred 
 thousand mounted knights and armored men, but what of it? We 
 are few in comparison with the pagans, but verily God is fighting 
 in our behalf. In this connection, hear, too, brethren, the miracle 
 which the same most holy Patriarch commends to all Christians — 
 how the Lord Himself appeared to him in a vision, promising that 
 each one now engaged in this expedition will march before Him 
 on that awful last day of Judgment wearing a crown. Therefore, 
 since you well know that those who have remained apostate in 
 deed, after having been signed with the cross, are in truth excom- 
 municate, we admonish and beseech you to smite them all with the 
 sword of anathema, if they do not make haste to follow us, so that 
 by next Easter they may be where we are in Romania. Farewell. 
 Be mindful of us who are laboring night and day. Pray for us. 
 
 7. The foraging expedition of Bohemund and Robert of Flanders. 
 (December 28, 1097-January 2(?), 1098.) 
 (Gesta.) Now grain and all food began to be excessively dear 
 before the birthday of the Lord. We did not dare to go outside; 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 133 
 
 we could find absolutely nothing to eat within the land of the 
 Christians, and no one dared to enter the land of the Saracens with- 
 out 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 col- 
 lect 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 ser- 
 vices of the Nativity had been most gloriously celebrated on Mon- 
 day, 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 them- 
 selves 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 bat- 
 tle 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 Bohe- 
 mund, and our men rushed upon them all together. They imme- 
 diately 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 re- 
 joicing, 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, hearing 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 es- 
 pecially 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 ofif their 
 guard. Even the Bishop of Puy on that bitter day lost his sene- 
 schal, who was carrying and managing his standard. And had it 
 
134 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 not been for the stream which \Vas 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 gath- 
 ered together, and do not wander about like sheep without a shep- 
 herd. 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. 
 
 {Raymond.) And since already in the third month of the siege 
 food was bought too dearly, Bohemund and the Count of Flanders 
 were chosen to lead an army into Hispania^^ for food, the Count 
 and the Bishop of Puy being left as a guard in the camp. For the 
 Count of Normandy was away at the time, and the Duke was very 
 ill. However, when the enemy learned this, they repeated their 
 customary assaults. The Count, moreover, was compelled to at- 
 tack them in his usual manner, and, after forming the ranks of the 
 foot-soldiers, he, with some knights, pursued the assailants. He 
 captured and killed two of them on the slope of the little mountain 
 and forced all the enemy to enter by the bridge. As our foot- 
 soldiers saw this, they left their posts and their standards and ran 
 in a mob up to their bridges. And when there, as if already in 
 safety, they cast stones and weapons upon those who were defending 
 the bridge. The Turks, after forming a line, began to rush against 
 our men by the bridge and by a path which was lower down. 
 Meanwhile, our knights chased toward our bridge a certain horse 
 whose master they had overthrown. When our people saw this, 
 thinking our knights in flight, they showed their backs to the at- 
 tack of the enemy without delay. Then the Turks killed without 
 ceasing those who fled. Even if the knights of the Franks wished 
 to resist and fight for their people, they were caught by the crowd of 
 fleeing footmen, by their arms, and by the manes and tails of the 
 horses, and were either thrown from their horses, or, out of com- 
 passion and regard for the safety of their people, were brought to 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 135 
 
 flight. The enemy, indeed, without delay, without pity, slaughtered 
 and pursued the living and despoiled the bodies of the dead. More- 
 over, it was not enough for our men to leave their arms, take flight, 
 despise shame, but they rushed into the river to be overwhelmed 
 with stones or arrows of the enemy, or to remain under water. If 
 skill and strength in swimming bore anyone across the river, he 
 reached the camp of his companions. However, our flight extended 
 from their bridge to our bridge. They there killed about fifteen 
 of our knights and about twenty foot-soldiers. The standard-bearer 
 of the Bishop was killed there, and his standard was captured. A 
 certain very noble youth, Bernard Raymond of Beziers, died there. 
 Let the servants of God neither complain nor be angry with us, if 
 our men bequeathed such open shame to the memory of our army; 
 since God, who in this way desired to drive to penance the minds 
 of adulterers and robbers, at the same time gladdened our army in 
 Hispania. For a rumor, going forth from our camp, announced to 
 Bohemund and his fellows that all was prosperous, and that the 
 Count had gained a most noble victory. Moreover, this report 
 aroused their spirits no little. After Bohemund had besieged a 
 certain village, he heard some of his peasants suddenly fleeing and 
 shouting, and when he had sent knights to meet them, they saw an 
 army of Turks and Arabs close at hand. Moreover, among those 
 who had set out to determine the cause of the flight and outcry 
 was the Count of Flanders, and with him certain Provengals. For 
 all from Burgundy, Auvergne, Gascony, and all Goths^^ are called 
 Provengals, while the others are called of the Frankish race : that 
 is, in the army; among the enemy, however, all are spoken of as 
 Frankish. This Count of Flanders, as we have said, however, 
 thinking it a disgrace to report about the enemy before attacking 
 them, rushed impetuously against the phalanxes of the Turks. The 
 Turks, indeed, unaccustomed to conduct battles with swords, took 
 to flight for refuge. Nor did the Count sheathe his sword until 
 he had removed a hundred of the enemy from life. When he 
 was now returning to Bohemund as victor, he saw twelve thousand 
 Turks coming behind him, and rising up on the nearest hill toward 
 the left he saw a countless multitude of foot-soldiers. Then, after 
 communicating his plan to the rest of the army, he took a number 
 of men back with him and violently attacked the Turks. Bohemund, 
 indeed, followed at a distance with the rest and guarded the rear 
 lines. For the Turks have this custom in fighting : even though they 
 are fewer in number, they always strive to encircle their enemy. 
 This they attempted to do in this battle also, but by the foresight 
 of Bohemund the wiles of the enemy were prevented. When, how- 
 
136 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 ever, the Turks and the Arabs, coming against the Count of Flan- 
 ders, saw that the affair was not to be conducted at a distance with 
 arrows, but at close quarters with swords, they turned in flight. 
 The Count followed them for two miles, and in this space he saw 
 the bodies of the killed lying like bundles of grain reaped in the 
 field. The ambushes which Bohemund had encountered were scat- 
 tered and put to flight in the same way. But the countless horde 
 of foot-soldiers, of which we spoke above, slipped away in flight 
 through places impassable to horses. I would dare, I say, were it 
 not arrogant to judge, to place this battle ahead of the fights of 
 the Maccabees, since if Maccabaeus with three thousand felled 
 forty-eight thousand of the enemy, more than sixty thousand of the 
 enemy were here turned in flight by a force of forty knights. I 
 do not, indeed, belittle the valor of the Maccabees, nor exalt the 
 valor of our knights, but I say that God, then marvelous in Macca- 
 baeus, was now more marvelous in our troops. 
 
 A (strange) result of this achievement was that after the enemy 
 had been put to flight the courage of our men decreased, so that 
 they did not dare to pursue those whom they saw headlong in 
 flight. Accordingly, when the army returned victorious and empty- 
 handed, there was such famine in the camp that two solidi were 
 scarcely enough to keep one man in bread for a day, nor were other 
 things to be obtained less dearly. 
 
 8. Sufferings in camp before Antioch. (January-March, 1098.) 
 
 (Gcsta.) When the Armenians and Syrians, however, saw that 
 our men were returning utterly empty-handed, they counselled to- 
 gether 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 
 ass-load for eight perprc, 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 the 
 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 shame- 
 facedly and stood in the presence of Bohemund, who, addressing 
 him, said, "O, the misfortune and infamy of all France, the dis- 
 grace and villainy of Gaul ! O, most evil of all whom the earth 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 137 
 
 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 Prankish race gathered together and humbly asked Lord Bohe- 
 mund 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 he will 
 never withdraw from the march to Jerusalem, whether for good 
 or evil ; and if Tancred will agree not to let anything untoward be- 
 fall 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. Fabri- 
 cating all the falsehoods which he 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 con- 
 cluded 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 ex- 
 cruciating hunger on the other; but of succour and help we had 
 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, he went cautiously to the 
 others, saying: "Seignors, most illustrious knights, what are we 
 
138 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 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 Hues 
 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 near 
 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 scouts 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 hidden. 
 Then they saw innumerable Turks, divided into two battle lines, 
 coming from the side of the river, with their greatest valor march- 
 ing in the rear. The scouts returned very quickly, saying, "Behold! 
 See, they come! Be prepared, therefore, all of you, for they are 
 already near us." And the wise man, Bohemund, spoke to the others, 
 "Seignors, most invincible knights, array yourselves for battle, each 
 one for himself." They answered: "Wise and famous man! Great 
 and magnificent man ! Brave and victorious man ! Arbiter of bat- 
 tles, and judge of disputes! Make arrangements for us and your- 
 self." 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 a short dis- 
 tance in the rear with his line. 
 
 Thus, wdien 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 illus- 
 trious 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 bloofl 
 of beasts and, rushing unexpectedly among the herds of sheep, tears 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 139 
 
 tlicm 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, there- 
 fore, pursued them even to the Iron Bridge and cut ofif their heads. 
 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 nar- 
 row places, where they killed and captured many of them. And so 
 by the favor of God our enemy was overcome on that day. More- 
 over, 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 Febru- 
 ary, 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 roam- 
 ing and wandering hither and thither. Some (at length) went to 
 Chorosan, but others entered the land of the Saracens. 
 
 (Raymond). And so the poor began to leave, and many rich 
 who feared poverty. If any for love of valor remained in 
 camp, they suffered their horses to waste away by daily hunger. 
 Indeed, straw did not abound ; and fodder was so dear that seven 
 or eight solidi were not sufiicient to buy one night's food for a 
 horse. Another calamity also befell the army, for Bohemund, 
 who had become most distinguished in Hispania said that he would 
 leave; that he had come for honor, and (now) beheld his men and 
 liorses perishing for want; and he (further) said that he was not 
 a rich man whose private resources would suffice for so long a siege. 
 We found out afterwards that he had said this for the reason that 
 he was ambitiously longing to become head of the city of Antioch. 
 
 Meanwhile, there was a great earthquake on the third day before 
 the Kalends of January, and we beheld a very marvelous sign in 
 the sky. For in the first watch of the night the sky was so red in 
 
I40 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 the north that it seemed as if dawn had arisen to announce the 
 day. And though in this way God chastised His army, so that we 
 were intent upon the hght which was rising in the darkness, yet 
 the minds of some were so bhnd and abandoned that they were 
 recalled neither from luxury nor robbery. At this time the Bishop 
 prescribed a fast of three days and urged prayers and alms, to- 
 gether with a procession, upon the people ; moreover, he commanded 
 the priests to devote themselves to masses and prayers, the clerics to 
 psalms. Thereupon, the merciful Lord, remembering His compas- 
 sion, put off the punishment of His children, lest the arrogance of 
 their adversaries increase."^ 
 
 There was, besides, in our army a certain member of the Em- 
 peror's household whom he had given to us in his place, Tatius 
 by name, mangled in nose and all virtue. I had almost forgotten 
 him, since he deserved to be abandoned to oblivion forever. This 
 man, however, was daily whispering in the ears of the princes that 
 they should scatter to the neighboring camp, and thence assail the 
 people of Antioch by frequent assaults and ambush. However, as 
 all this was made clear to the Count (for he had been sick since 
 the day when he was forced to flee at the bridge), he called his 
 princes and the Bishop of Puy together. After holding a council, 
 he gave them fifty marks of silver on this condition, truly, that if 
 any of his knights lost a horse, it should be restored to him out of 
 those fifty marks and other (resources) which had been given to 
 the brotherhood. Moreover, this kind of cooperation was of great 
 profit at that time, since the poor of our army, who wanted to cross 
 the river to gather herbs, feared the frequent assaults of the enemy, 
 and since very rarely did any care to go against the enemy, because 
 their horses were starved and weak, and, in addition, so few that 
 scarcely one hundred could be found in the whole army of the 
 Count and Bishop. A similar lot had befallen Bohemund and the 
 other princes. Accordingly, for this reason our knights were not 
 afraid to meet the enemy, especially those who had bad or weak 
 horses, since they knew that if they lost their horses they would 
 obtain better ones. Moreover, something else occurred, namely that 
 all the princes except the Count promised the city to Bohemund, pro- 
 vided it was taken. So Bohemund and the other princes swore to 
 this agreement, that they would not withdraw from the siege of 
 Antioch for seven years, unless the city was taken. 
 
 While these matters were happening in the camp, rumor also 
 announced that the army of the Emperor was coming. It was re- 
 ported to have been assembled from many peoples; namely, Slavs 
 and Patzlnaks and Cumans and Turcopoles. For they are called 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 141 
 
 Tiircopoles who either were reared among the Turks, or were born 
 of a Turkish father and a Christian mother. These peoples, more- 
 over, because they had hurt us on the march confessed that they 
 were afraid to meet us. All this, however, that mangled Tatius 
 had made up, and he had made such comments in order to be able 
 to get away. This man, after heaping up not only (these) state- 
 ments, but even the very greatest insults, betrayal of his com- 
 panions, and perjury, slipped away in flight, after having granted to 
 Bohemund two or three cities, Turso,-^ Mamistra, Adana. Accord- 
 ingly, after acquiring everlasting shame for himself and his people 
 in this way, he feigned a journey to the army of the Emperor, and, 
 leaving his tents and his servants, he set out with the curse of God.^- 
 
 It was announced to us at this time that the chief of the Caliph 
 was coming to the help of Antioch with a large army, which he was 
 leading from Chorosan. On this account, after a council had been 
 held in the house of the Bishop, it was decided that the foot-soldiers 
 should guard the camp and the knights should go out of the camp 
 against the enemy; for they said that if the many unwarlike and 
 fearful in our army saw a multitude of Turks, they would afiford 
 examples of fright, rather than of boldness. Our men, therefore, 
 set forth at night, lest those in the city should notice (their de- 
 parture) and report it to those who were coming to aid them, and 
 hid themselves among the little mountains about two leagues distant, 
 from our camp. 
 
 However, when it became morning, the enemy appeared with 
 the sun. Let them hearken, let them hearken, I beg, who have at 
 one time and another tried to hurt the army, so that, when they 
 recognize that God enlarges His compassion among us, they may 
 hasten to make restitution by lamentations of penance. Accord- 
 ingly, after the knights had been formed in six squadrons, God 
 multiplied them so much that they who had scarcely seemed to 
 number seventy before the formation, after it were sworn to number 
 more than two housand in each squadron. What, indeed, shall I 
 say of their boldness, when the knights even sang the military songs 
 so festively that they regarded the coming battle as if it were a 
 game? Moreover, the battle happened to be fought in this place 
 where the swamp and river are a mile apart. This, however, pre- 
 vented the enemy from spreading out, so that they could not encircle 
 us in their usual manner. For God, who had given us other things, 
 afforded us six successive valleys for advancing to battle. In one 
 hour after going forth the field was taken, and while the sun shone 
 brightly, the battle was committed to arms and shields. Our men, 
 moreover, at first advanced a little, while the Turks, though they 
 
142 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 scattered to shoot with their bows, yet made a move to retreat. 
 But our men suffered very much until the first ranks of the Turks 
 were pushed into the rear, for as we learned from their deserters, 
 there were said to be not less than twenty-eight thousand horsemen 
 in this battle. And when the first line of the Turks was sufticiently 
 mixed up with the following lines, the Franks called upon the Lord 
 and charged. Nor was there delay ; the Lord, strong and mighty 
 in battle, was present. He protected His children, and hurled down 
 the enemy. So the Franks pursued them even to their very strongly 
 fortified camp, which was about ten miles from the place of battle. 
 But the custodians of the camp, upon seeing this, set fire to it 
 and fled. We were, however, so rejoiced and exultant at this, that 
 we hailed as a second victory the burning of the camp. 
 
 And thus on that same day the light in the camp was so great 
 that there was no place toward the city where fighting was not 
 going on. For the enemy had arranged that, while we were most 
 fiercely engaged by the besieged, we should be overwhelmed by their 
 unexpected aid from the rear. But God, who granted victory to 
 our knights, fought among our foot-soldiers (also). And on that 
 day we obtained no less a triumph over the besieged than our 
 knights reported over the helpers. Accordingly, after the victory 
 and the spoils had been won, the several heads of the dead were 
 brought to the camp. And that we might cause fear among the 
 enemy by the evidence of the (fate of) their scattered allies, the 
 heads that had been brought along were suspended on stakes. This 
 we believed later to have been done by the disposition of God. 
 For when the standard of the Blessed Mary had been captured, they 
 put it point downward in the ground, as if to shame us. And thus 
 it happened that they were restrained from taunting us by the sight 
 of the uplifted heads of their men. 
 
 At this time there were in our camp envoys from the King of 
 Babylon, who, upon seeing the wonders which God was working 
 through His servants, glorified Jesus, the son of the Virgin Mary, 
 who through His poor had ground to dust their mightiest tyrants. 
 These envoys, moreover, promised us favor and good will with their 
 king; besides, they told of very many good deeds of their king 
 toward the Egyptian Christians and our pilgrims. Thereupon, our 
 envoys were sent back with them to enter upon a treaty and friend- 
 ship with the King.^^ 
 
 9. Call for reinforcements. 
 
 (Simeon and the bishops). The Patriarch of Jerusalem and the 
 bishops, Greek as well as Latin, and the whole army of God and 
 
TH-: FIRST CRUSADE 143 
 
 the Church to the Church of the West; fellowship in celestial 
 Jerusalem, and a portion of the reward of their lahor. 
 
 Since we are not unaware than you delight in the increase of the 
 Church, and we believe that you are concerned to hear matters ad- 
 verse as well as prosperous, we hereby notify you of the success 
 of our undertaking. Therefore, be it known to your delight that 
 God has triumphed in forty important cities and in two hundred 
 fortresses of His Church in Romania, as well as in Syria, and that 
 we still have one hundred thousand men in armor, besides the 
 common throng, though many were lost in the first battles. But 
 what is this? What is one man in a thousand? Where we have a 
 count, the enemy have forty kings ; where we have a company, 
 the enemy have a legion ; where we have a knight, they have a duke ; 
 where we have a foot-soldier, they have a count ; where we have 
 a camp, they have a kingdom. However, confiding not in numbers, 
 nor in bravery, nor in any presumption, but protected by justice 
 and the shield of Christ, and with St. George, Theodore, Demetrius, 
 and Basil,^* soldiers of Christ, truly supporting us, we have pierced, 
 and in security are piercing, the ranks of the enemy. On five 
 general battle-fields, God conquering, we have conquered. 
 
 But what more? In behalf of God and ourselves, I, apostolic 
 Patriarch, the bishops and the whole order of the Lord, urgently 
 pray, and our spiritual Mother Church calls out: "Come, my most 
 beloved sons, come to me, retake the crown from the hands of the 
 sons of idolatory, who rise against me — the crown from the begin- 
 ning of the world predestined for you. Come, therefore, we pray, 
 to fight in the army of the Lord at the same place in which the Lord 
 fought, in which Christ suffered for us, leaving to you an example 
 that you should follow his foot-steps. Did not God, innocent, die 
 for us? Let us therefore also die, if it be our lot, not for Him, 
 but for ourselves, that by dying on earth we may live for God. Yet 
 it is (now) not necessary that we should die, nor fight much, for 
 we have (already) sustained the more serious trials, but the task 
 of holding the fortresses and cities has been heavily reducing our 
 army. Come, therefore, hasten to be repaid with the twofold re- 
 ward — namely, the land of the living and the land flowing with milk 
 and honey and abounding in all good things. Behold, men, by the 
 shedding of our blood the way is open everywhere. Bring nothing 
 with you except only what may be of use to us. Let only the men 
 come ; let the women, as yet, be left. From the home in which there 
 are two, let one, the one more ready for battle, come. But those, 
 especially, who have made the vow, (let them come). Unless they 
 come and discharge their vow, I, apostohc Patriarch, the bishops. 
 
144 THE FIRST CRUS.vDE 
 
 .1*11(1 the whole order of the orthodox, do excommunicate them and 
 remove them utterly from the communion of the Church. And do 
 you likewise, that they may not have burial among Christians, 
 unless they are staying for suitable reasons. Come, and receive the 
 two-fold glory ! This, therefore, also write. 
 
 lo. TJic erection of a fortress. Fights with the Turks. (March 
 
 5 — end of May, 1098). 
 
 (Gesta). However, when our leaders saw that those of our 
 enemy who were in the city were doing us damage and harassing 
 us, watching and lying in ambush wherever they could hurt us, 
 they assembled together and said, "Before we lose our people, let 
 us build a fort at the mosque which is before the gate of the city, 
 where the bridge is ; and there, perchance, we will be able to harass 
 our enemy." All agreed, and approved it as a good thing to be 
 done. The Count of St. Gilles spoke first and said, "Help me build 
 the fort, and I will fortify and guard it." Bohemund answered, "If 
 it is your desire and the other lords approve, I will go with you to 
 the Port of St. Simeon diligently to fetch those men who are 
 there for this work. Let the others, who are to remain, fortify 
 themselves on all sides, lest, perchance, the enemies of God and 
 ourselves should go out from the city, and let all be gathered at the 
 place which we have pointed out." And thus it was done. 
 So the Count and Bohemund went forth to the Port of St. Simeon. 
 We who remained in one body began (to build) the fort, 
 until the Turks prepared themselves and came out of the city for 
 battle against us. And thus they rushed upon us and put us to 
 flight and killed several of us, whereat we were exceedingly sad. 
 On the next day, when the Turks saw that our leaders were 
 absent and that on the day before they had gone to the Port, 
 they made themselves ready and went out to meet them (Bohemund 
 and Raymond) as they came from the Port. Then, as they saw the 
 Count and Bohemund coming and escorting that host, they began 
 immediately to whistle, and chatter, and shout with the most violent 
 outcry, encircling us on all sides, hurling, shooting, wounding (our 
 men), and cruelly cutting them down with the sword. For so 
 fiercely did they attack our forces that the latter took to flight over 
 the top of the mountain, and wherever a passageway was open. 
 He who could advance at rapid pace escaped alive, but he who could 
 not flee met death. There were martyred on that day more than 
 a thousand of our knights and footmen, who, we believe, ascended 
 joyfully to heaven. Clothed in white and wearing the robe of 
 martyrdom that they had received, they there glorified and mag- 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 145 
 
 nified our Lord God, Three in One, in whom they happily triumphed, 
 crying aloud with one voice, "Wherefore didst thou not defend 
 our blood which to-day was shed for Thy name?" 
 
 Bohemund, therefore, did not hold to the road which they had 
 taken, but with a few knights came more quickly to us who were 
 gathered together. Then, angered at the killing of our men, we 
 called upon the name of Christ, and putting our trust in the march 
 to the Holy Sepulchre, together went out against them for battle 
 and attacked them with one heart and one mind. The enemies of 
 God and ourselves stood thoroughly astounded and greatly terrified, 
 thinking that our men would conquer and kill them, just as they 
 themselves had done the people of the Count and Bohemund. But 
 Almighty God did not accord them this end. Therefore the true 
 knights of God, armed on all sides with the sign of the cross, rushed 
 fiercely upon them and attacked them violently, but they fled 
 quickly by means of the narrow bridge to their entrance. Those 
 who could not cross the bridge alive, because of the multitude of 
 people and horses there, received eternal death and yielded their 
 unhappy souls to the devil and the ministers of Satan. And so 
 we overcame them, driving and hurling them down into the river. 
 The water of the rapid stream seemed to flow everywhere red 
 with the blood of the Turks. And if, perchance, any of these wished 
 to crawl upon the columns of the bridge, or by swimming tried to 
 reach the land, he was wounded by our men, who stood all around 
 on the bank of the river. Furthermore, the noise and outcry of 
 both our forces and theirs sounded to the sky. Showers of javelins 
 and arrows covered the sky and (obscured) the clearness of the 
 day ; voices (shrieked) within and without the city. Christian women 
 of the city came to the windows of the wall, where they beheld the 
 wretched fate of the Turks and stealthily applauded with their 
 hands, as was their custom. The Armenians and Syrians, willing 
 or unwilling, shot arrows out at us by order of the Turkish leaders. 
 Likewise, there were killed in body and soul at that battle twelve 
 Emirs of the Turkish horde, and others of the foremost and braver 
 knights who took a leading part in the defense of the city. The 
 number (of these) was fifteen hundred. The rest who remained 
 alive dared no longer shout or chatter by night or by day, as they 
 had formerly been wont to do. And so night alone overcame all 
 of them and us, and night prevented both sides from fighting, 
 hurling, piercing, and shooting. Thus our enemies were overcome 
 by the valor of God and the Holy Sepulchre, and they could no 
 longer have such strength, either in voice or deed, as they had 
 before. And thus on that day we were bountifully supplied with 
 
146 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 their liorscs and many other things which were necessary enough 
 for us. 
 
 On the next day, at earliest dawn, other Turks went out from 
 the city, and, collecting all the fetid corpses of the dead Turks 
 which they could find on the bank of the river, except those which 
 lay hidden in the sand of the same river, they buried them at the 
 mosque which is across the bridge in front of the city gate. At 
 the same time they buried with them their garments, gold besants, 
 bows, arrows, and very many other instruments which we were 
 unable to name. And so, when our men heard that the Turks had 
 buried their dead, all made preparation and came in haste to the 
 diabolical temple and ordered the bodies to be exhumed, the tombs 
 broken open, and the corpses dragged forth from the sepulchre. 
 They cast all the cadavers into a ditch and carried off the severed 
 heads to our tents, in order to find out their number exactly — all 
 the heads, that is, except those loaded upon the four horses of the 
 envoys of the Emir of Babylon and sent to the sea. The Turks 
 grieved exceedingly upon beholding this, and were sad even to 
 death ; grieving daily, they did nothing else except weep and lament. 
 ( But the third day we began with joined forces to construct the 
 above-mentioned fortress of stone, w^hich we took from the tombs 
 of the Turks. And so, when the fort was finished, we forthwith 
 began to press our enemies from every side. Their arrogance was 
 now reduced to nothing. We, however, roamed in security hither 
 and thither, to the Port and to the mountains, praising and glorify- 
 ing our Lord God, whose honor and glory is forever and ever, 
 Amen. 
 
 ' Now nearly all the roads were forbidden and closed to the Turks 
 on every side, except on that part of the river where there was a 
 fort and a certain monastery. If this fortress had been thoroughly 
 guarded by us, not one of these people would have dared to go out 
 of the gate of the city. At length our leaders held a council and 
 with unanimous accord said, "Let us select one of us to hold that 
 fort sturdily and close to our enemies the mountains and plains, the 
 entrance and exit of the city." But most of them refused to be 
 installed there themselves, unless there were many in a body 
 (with them). Tancred was the first to offer himself before 
 the others, saying: "If I knew what it would profit me, I would 
 carefully strengthen the fort with my men alone, and I would 
 energetically deny our enemy the road by which too frequently they 
 are wont to rage against us." They straightway promised him four 
 hundred marks of silver. Tancred did not tarry ; although alone, 
 he went forth with his most renowned knights and servants and 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 147 
 
 immediately shut off on all sides the road and pass from the Turks. 
 As a result, none of them, already terrified by fear of him, now 
 dared to go out either for fodder, wood, or any other necessities. 
 Tancred remained there with his men and began violently to harass 
 the city on all sides. That same day a very large party of Armenians 
 and Syrians, who were bringing food to the Turks in the city, came 
 dov/n from the mountains in fancied security. Tancred, coming 
 upon them, seized them with all that they carried — grain, wine, bar- 
 ley, oil, and other things of this kind. He conducted himself so 
 stoutly and successfully there that he now held all the roads and 
 paths closed to the Turks until the capture of Antioch. 
 
 (Raymond). At the same time it seemed best to our princes to 
 erect a fortified camp on the hill above the tents of Bohemund, so 
 that if the enemy should come against us again, they could in no • 
 way attack our tents. When this had been done, our camp would 
 be so strong that, like a city, we would be protected on all sides by 
 craft as well as by nature. For we had this fortress on the east ; 
 on the south, the walls of the city and the swamp which fortified 
 the walls likewise protected us, and did not give the people of the 
 city a chance to fight us, unless they came out through the gates. 
 On the west, there was the river; on the north, a certain old wall 
 which, descending from the mountain, extended up to the river. 
 The people, likewise, approved (the idea) that another fortress 
 should be established on the little mountain which was above their 
 bridge. Engines, too, were constructed in the camp to attack the 
 walls of the city ; but this was in vain. 
 
 And when now in the fifth month of the siege our ships landed 
 at our port with provisions, the Turks of the city began to besiege 
 the roads to the sea and to kill the bearers of supplies. Our princes 
 at first only endured this ; the Turks, however, unpunished for 
 their villainy and hoping for plunder, pressed us by day and by 
 night. At length, it was agreed to establish a camp toward their 
 bridge. But since many of our people had gone away to the Port, 
 the Count and Bohemund were chosen to bring them back from 
 there, together with mattocks and other instruments with which 
 the wall of the new castle might be made. And when it was found ' 
 out in the city that the Count and Bohemund were away, they began 
 their customary attacks. Our men, moreover, advancing too rashly 
 and without order, were basely scattered and put to flight. 
 
 And on the fourth day when the Count and Bohemund were 
 returning from the Port with a very great multitude they were 
 watched by the Turks. Our men thought themselves secure by 
 their numbers alone. But why do I grieve over many matters? 
 
148 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 It came to a liglit, and our men turned their backs. Indeed, we 
 lost up to three hundred men, but how much booty and how many 
 arms it is impossible to say. While we were being slaughtered and 
 pressed together like cattle among the mountains and precipices, 
 the men from the camp began to advance against the enemy. And 
 so it happened that they (the Saracens) were recalled from a slaugh- 
 ter of the fugitives. Why thus, Lord God? They in the camp 
 were beaten, and these two greatest princes in Thy army were also 
 beaten outside the camp! Should we flee to the camp? Or those 
 from the camp to us ? Arise and aid us, for Thy name's sake ! 
 Because if it had been learned back in the camp that the princes 
 were beaten, or if it had chanced that we knew of the flight of 
 those in the camp, all would have fled together. The Lord God 
 thus arose as our helper at the opportune time, and those whom He 
 had previously terrified. He now aroused to be first in battle. 
 
 When Gracianus,-^ ruler of the city, saw the spoils taken from 
 our men, and the victory of his people, and that some of the 
 men were still bold, he sent all his knights and foot-soldiers 
 out ; and, led on by hope of victory, he ordered the gates of the 
 city to be shut behind his men, ordering his knights to conquer or 
 to die. Meanwhile, our men advanced a short distance at command ; 
 the Turks, however, withdrew, shot with their bows, and charged 
 our men very boldly. But our men suffered it for a while, until 
 they could attack them in mass ; nor did they yield at the charge 
 of the enemy. There was, indeed, such lamentation and outcry to 
 God in the camp that you would have thought the mercy of God 
 must descend at the flowing of their tears. When they were about 
 to come to close quarters, a certain knight, Ysoard of Ganges, a 
 most noble Provengal with one hundred and fifty foot-soldiers, 
 called upon God on bended knees. Then, encouraging his compan- 
 ions by saying, "On, soldiers of Christ!" he rushed upon the enemy. 
 Our other lines attacked likewise. Thereupon, the arrogance of 
 the enemy is disturbed. The gate is shut, the bridge is narrow, but 
 the river is very wide. What result? The enemy in panic are 
 knocked down and killed and overwhelmed with stones in the river ; 
 no avenue of escape, moreover, lies open. And had not Gracianus 
 opened the gate of the city, we would on that day have had peace 
 from Antioch. I have heard from many who were there that with 
 boards taken from the bridge they destroyed twenty Turks and 
 more in the river. The Duke of Lorraine gained much glory there, 
 for he checked the enemy at the bridge and divided them in two as 
 they were climbing up. 
 
 Thereupon, when the victory had been achieved, our men re- 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 149 
 
 turned to camp with great rejoicing, many horses, and much booty. 
 A certain memorable incident occurred there, which would that 
 those who follow our vows could had seen! For, while a certain 
 horseman of the enemy through fear of death was rushing headlong 
 into the depths of the stream, he was caught by many of his own 
 people and cast down from his horse and brushed off in the middle 
 of the stream, together with that multitude which had caught him. 
 It was worth the trouble to have seen some of the poor returning 
 from the victory, for some of them, riding about among the tents on 
 Arabian horses, displayed to their companions the relief of their 
 poverty ; others, moreover, dressed in two or three silken garments, 
 magnified God, the Giver of victory and reward ; still others, pro- 
 tected by three or four shields, eagerly showed the evidence of 
 their triumph. And while by these and other displays they per- 
 suaded us to a belief in the magnificent victory, they could not 
 persuade us of the number killed. Since the victory had been 
 obtained at evening, the heads of the dead were not carried to 
 camp. And the next day, when the fortress was to be erected 
 before the enemy's bridge, some of the Turks were found in the 
 ditch, for that hill was used as a burial ground of the Saracens. 
 Thereupon, the poor, provoked at the remains of these people, 
 broke open all their tombs. And thus when the Turks had been 
 exhumed, no one had a doubt how great had been the victory, for 
 about fifteen hundred were counted. I am not speaking now about 
 those buried in the city and those carried off by the river. How- 
 ever, when the unbearable stench oppressed those who were at work 
 on the fortress, the corpses were cast forth into the river. The 
 sailors, indeed, who had been scattered and wounded in the flight 
 of the Count and Bohemund, were still dubious, because of their 
 fright, about the extent of the victory. However, when they saw 
 so great a multitude of dead, as though made well thereby, they 
 began to magnify God, who is wont to correct and gladden His 
 children. Therefore it had been so arranged by the disposition of 
 God that those who had given to the wild beasts and birds the 
 bearers of provisions destroyed on the coast and on the banks of 
 the river should themselves become food for the beasts and the 
 birds in the same places. Accordingly, when the victory had been 
 recognized and celebrated and the fortress constructed, the city of 
 Antioch was besieged from north and south. 
 
 Consultation was held at this time as to who of the princes could 
 go to garrison the fortress. Verily, a matter of common respon- 
 sibility is frequently neglected, since each one thinks that it is being 
 looked after by others. And while some of the princes, as if for 
 
150 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 a price, sought from the others the privilege of guarding it, the 
 Count took over the custody of the fortress against the will of his 
 men, both to avoid the charge of sloth and avarice, and to shov^ 
 the path of energy and valor to the torpid. For during the past 
 summer he had been tried by a severe and protracted illness and 
 had been so weak during the whole winter that he was said to be 
 ready neither to fight nor to pay. Although he had done many 
 things, yet because it was believed he could do more, he was pro- 
 claimed a nobody. Accordingly, having come upon this difficulty, 
 that is, a question of his valor, he suffered such great hatred from all 
 that he was almost cut off from his own people. In the meantime, 
 while the Count was ignoring this, hoping that the enemy, oppressed 
 on most sides, would flee thither from the city, he was early one 
 morning surrounded by the enemy. There shone forth then a great 
 miracle of divine protection, for sixty of our men sustained the 
 attack of seven thousand Saracens; all the more wonderful, since 
 the heavy showers of the past days had moistened the forest earth, 
 filling the moat of the new fortress. And thus no lack of ways, but 
 the valor of God alone checked the enemy. I do not think, how- 
 ever, that I should pass over the distinguished bravery of some of 
 the knights, who, cut off by the enemy while they were guarding 
 the bridge, could not return to the fortress for refuge, since it was 
 a bowshot away. Thereupon, these knights, after making a circle 
 in the multitude of the enemy, reached the corner of a neighboring 
 house, and there stoutly and without fear sustained the attacks of 
 the enemy, the rage of arrows, and the cloud of stones from all 
 sides. Meanwhile, the sound of battle heard in the camp aroused 
 our men. Thus the fortress was freed from the enemy, and though 
 they abandoned the siege when they saw aid coming from afar, 
 and though their bridge was very near, yet the last of them were 
 cut off. Thereupon, when the moat and the walls of the fortress 
 had been restored, the bearers of provisions could go back and 
 forth from the Port in security. Accordingly, the hatred which the 
 Count had borne was so lightened that he was called by all the 
 father and preserver of the army. From this time, therefore, the 
 fame of the Count increased, because he had borne the attacks of 
 the enemy alone. 
 
 When, therefore, the bridge and the gate of the bridge were be- 
 sieged, the Turks began going out by another gate, which faced 
 the south, beside the river ; and they sent their horses out to a cer- 
 tain retreat between the mountains and the river, which was a very 
 fine pasture. Thereupon, when the place had been discovered by our 
 men, they encircled the city by a difficult mountain at the close of 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE , 151 
 
 the day and came to that pasture. Others, crossing by a ford, led 
 from there two thousand horses, not counting the mules which were 
 recovered ; for in time past on the journey from the sea the enemy 
 had taken many mules from us, which were now captured, recog- 
 nized by their masters, and given to their former owners. 
 
 After this, Tancred fortified a certain monastery across the river, 
 for which the Count gave him one hundred marks of silver, and the 
 other princes whatever they could; for this fortress constrained 
 the enemy much. Therefore we were pleased to wait; the fewer 
 we were in number, the braver the grace of God made us. 
 
 II. Capture of Antioch. (End of May — June 3, 1098). 
 
 (Gesfa). I can not enumerate all the things which we did before 
 the city was captured, because 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,^*^ 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 he 
 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, he came 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 hold 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, 
 PuhUcani, Agulani, Azimites, and very many other gentile nations 
 that I know not how to enumerate or name. Immediately all our 
 
 Tv:x. 
 
152 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 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 agree- 
 ment, as he swore and promised, we will return it to him by right. 
 But if he 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 
 f i r iend £irjus, help me." Greatly pleased at the message, he replied 
 that he 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 God- 
 frey, 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 (Pirns) was watchfully guarding. Bohe- 
 mund 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 im- 
 mediately." 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 he said, "Micro Francos echome — There are few Franks here! 
 Where is most fierce Bohemund, that unconquered knight ?" Mean- 
 while a certain Longobard servant descended again, and ran as 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 153 
 
 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 Pints. 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 (Cassraniis^) , 
 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. 
 
 (Raymond). Meanwhile, messengers began to come very 
 
154 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 frequently, saying that aid was coming to the enemy. Moreover, 
 this report came to us not only from the Armenians and the Greeks, 
 but was also announced to us by those who were in the city. When 
 the Turks had obtained Antioch fourteen years before, they had 
 converted Armenians and Greek youths, as if for want of servants, 
 and had given them wives. When such men as these had a chance 
 to escape, they came to us with horses and arms. And when this 
 report became frequent, many of our men and the Armenian mer- 
 chants began to flee in terror. Meanwhile, good knights who were 
 scattered among the fortresses came and brought arms, fitted, and 
 repaired them. And when the gradually lessening swelling (of 
 pride) had flowed from our army, and courage, ever ready to under- 
 go dangers with brothers and for brothers, had come (in its place), 
 one of the converted who was in the city sent word to our princes 
 through Bohemund that he would surrender the city to us. 
 
 Accordingly, when the plan had been communicated, the princes 
 sent Bohemund and the Duke of Lorraine and the Count of Flanders 
 to try it out. And when they had come to the hill of the city at 
 midnight, an intermediary sent back by him who was surrendering 
 the city said, "Wait until the light passes." For three or four men 
 went along the walls of the city with lamps all night, arousing and 
 admonishing the watchers. After this, however, our men ap- 
 proached the wall, raised a ladder, and began to ascend it. A 
 certain Frank, Fulger by name, brother of Budellus of Chartres, 
 was the first boldly to ascend the wall ; the Count of Flanders, fol- 
 lowing, sent word to Bohemund and the Duke to ascend ; and since 
 all hurried, each to go ahead of the other, the ladder was broken. 
 But those who had climbed up went down into the city and opened 
 a certain little postern. Thus our men went in, and they did not 
 take captive any of those whom they found. When the dawn of 
 day appeared, they shouted out. The whole city was disturbed at 
 this shout, and the women and small children began to weep. Those 
 who were in the castle of the Count, aroused at this outcry since 
 they were nearer (it), began to say to one another, "Their aid has 
 come !" Others, however, replied, "That does not sound like the 
 voice of joyful people." And when the day whitened, our standards 
 appeared on the southern hill of the city. When the disturbed 
 citizens saw our men on the mountain above them, some fled through 
 the gate, others hurled themselves headlong. No one resisted ; in 
 truth, the Lord had confounded them. Then after a long time, a 
 joyful spectacle was made for us, in that those who had so long 
 defended Antioch against us were now unable to flee from Antioch. 
 Even if some of them had dared to take flight, yet they could not 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 155 
 
 escape death. A certain incident occurred there, joyful and dehght- 
 ful enough for us. For when some Turks strove to flee among the 
 clififs which divide the hill in two from the north, they encountered 
 some of our men, and when the Turks were forced to go back, the 
 repulsed fugitives went with such rapidity that they all fell over 
 the precipice together. Our joy over the fallen enemy was great, but 
 we grieved over the more than thirty horses who had their necks 
 broken there. 
 
 liow great were the spoils captured in Antioch it is impossible 
 for us to say, except that you may believe as much as you wish and 
 then add to it. Moreover, we cannot say how many Turks and 
 Saracens then perished ; it is, furthermore, cruel to explain by what 
 diverse and various deaths they died. When those foes who guarded 
 the castle on the middle hill saw the destruction of their men and 
 that our men were refraining from besieging them, they kept their 
 castle. Graciamis, however, who had gone out by a certain postern, 
 was captured and beheaded by some Armenian peasants, and his 
 head was brought to us. This, I believe, was done by the inefifable 
 disposition of God, that he who had caused many men of this same 
 race to be beheaded should be deprived of his head by them. The 
 city of Antioch was captured on the third day before the Nones of 
 June; it had been besieged, however, since about the eleventh day 
 before the Kalends of November. 
 
 12. Summary of the siege of Antioch. (End of October 1097— 
 June 3, 1098). 
 
 (Stephen). Hastening to the aforesaid city of Antioch with 
 great joy, we placed it in siege and there we very often had many 
 conflicts with the Turks. Seven times, in truth, we fought with the 
 inhabitants of Antioch, and with innumerable allies advancing to 
 their aid, whom we chanced to meet. We fought them with fiercer 
 spirits, Christ leading, and in all the seven aforesaid battles, the 
 Lord God cooperating, we were victorious; and most truly we 
 killed numbers of them beyond all count. But in these same battles, 
 and in very many attacks made against the city, they killed many 
 of our brothers who worship Christ, whose souls have truly gone 
 to the joys of Paradise. 
 
 Moreover, we found Antioch a city great beyond belief, very 
 strong and unassailable. And too, more than five thousand bold 
 Turkish knights had collected within the city, not to mention the 
 Saracens, Publicani, Arabs, Turcopoles, Syrians, Armenians, and 
 various other peoples, of whom an infinite multitude had come 
 toe-ether there. Thus, in the work of besieging these enemies 
 
156 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 of God and of ourselves, by the grace of God we have endured 
 up to this time many trials and countless afflictions. Likewise, 
 many have already consumed all their substance in this most holy 
 passion. Very many of our Frankish-born, indeed, would have 
 undergone temporal death through hunger, had not the clemency 
 of God and our wealth come to their aid. Furthermore, through the 
 whole winter we have endured excessive cold for the Lord Christ, 
 and an immoderate abundance of rain. What some say, that in all 
 Syria one can scarcely endure the heat of the sun, is false, for 
 winter among them is like our western winter. 
 
 Moreover, when Caspianus, Emir of Antioch, that is, its prince 
 and lord, saw himself so closely pressed by us, he sent his son, 
 Sensadolus-'^ by name, to the prince who holds Jerusalem, and 
 to Rodoan, Prince of Aleppo and to Docap, Prince of Damascus. 
 He likewise sent him into Arabia for Boliannth and into Chorosan 
 for Hamchmth.-^ These five emirs, with twelve thousand chosen 
 Turkish knights, suddenly came to aid Antioch. But unaware of 
 all this, we had sent many of our knights among the cities and fort- 
 resses. We have, indeed, one hundred and sixty-five towns and. 
 fortresses throughout Syria within our own dominion. But a short 
 time before they came to the city, we, with seven hundred knights, 
 went out three leagues to meet them at a certain plain near the 
 Iron Bridge. God, moreover, fought for us. His faithful, against 
 them; for on this day, with the might of God, we were victorious 
 in fighting them, and we killed large numbers of them, God ever 
 fighting in our behalf. We likewise brought back to the army more 
 than two hundred of their heads, so that Christ's people might 
 derive great joy therefrom. Moreover, the Emperor of Babylon-^ 
 sent his Saracen envoys with letters to us in camp, and by this means 
 he established peace and concord with us. 
 
 I love to tell you, dearest, what befell us this Lent. Our princes 
 decided to erect a fort before a certain gate which was situated 
 between our camp and the sea. The Turks, passing out through 
 this gate daily, used to kill our men on their way to the sea, for 
 the city of Antioch is five leagues distant from the sea. On this 
 account they sent the distinguished Bohemund and Raymond, Count 
 of St. Gilles, with a company of only sixty knights, to the sea, thence 
 to fetch sailors to aid in this work. However, when they were 
 returning to us with these sailors, an army of Turks, which had 
 assembled, came upon our two unsuspecting princes and drove them 
 into perilous flight. In this rout, unexpected, as we have said 
 before, we lost more than five hundred foot-soldiers to the glory 
 of God ; of our knights, we lost only two for certain. Moreover, 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE . 157 
 
 on that very day we went out along the road to receive our brothers 
 with joy, knowing nothing of their misfortune. 
 
 But while we were approaching the aforesaid gate of the 
 city, a horde of knights and foot-soldiers from Antioch, bearing 
 themselves in a triumphant manner, rushed likewise against us. 
 Upon seeing them, we sent word to the Christian camp that all 
 should follow us ready for battle. While our men were still 
 assembling, the separated princes — namely Bohemund and Ray- 
 mond, with the remainder of their army — came up and recounted 
 the great misfortune which had befallen them. At this very bad 
 news, our men, inflamed with anger against the sacrilegious Turks, 
 and ready to die for Christ, went into battle for the loss of their 
 brothers. However, the enemy of God and of ourselves fled before 
 us in haste and tried to enter their city, but by the grace of God 
 the affair turned out far otherwise. For when they wanted to cross 
 over the river by the bridge which ended at a mosque, we, following 
 them closely, killed many of them before they reached the bridge; 
 many we hurled off into the river, all of whom were killed; more- 
 over, we killed many on the bridge and likewise very many before 
 the entrance to the city. Verily I tell you, my beloved, and you 
 may believe most truly, that in that same battle we killed thirty 
 emirs, that is, princes, and three hundred other noble Turkish 
 knights, not to mention the other Turks and pagans. Indeed, the 
 dead Turks and Saracens are reckoned 1230 in number! Of our 
 jnen, however, we lost not one single man. ^ 
 
 Moreover, on the day following Easter, while my chaplain, 
 Alexander, was writing this letter with the greatest haste, a portion 
 of our men who were lying in wait for the Turks had a victorious 
 battle with them, the Lord leading, and they killed sixty of their 
 knights, whose heads they brought back to the army. 
 
 These things which I am writing to you, dearest, are indeed few 
 of the many (that have happened), and since I cannot express to you 
 all that my heart holds, dearest, I (only) bid you do well and make 
 excellent arrangement for your land, and treat your children and 
 your vassals with honor, as befits you, for you will surely see 
 me as soon as I can possibly come. Farewell. 
 
 (Anselm). In the name of the Lord! 
 
 To his lord and father, Manasses, by grace of God venerable 
 Archbishop of Rheims, Anselm of Ribemont, his loyal vassal and 
 humble servant ; greeting. 
 
 Let your Eminence, reverend father and lord, know that, even 
 though absent and not present, we are daily asking aid in our hearts 
 
158 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 from you — not only from you, but, also, from all the sons of the 
 Holy Mother Church of Rheims, in whom we have the greatest 
 faith. Likewise, inasmuch as you are our lord, and the counsel of 
 the w^hole kingdom of France is especially dependent upon you, we 
 are keeping you, father, informed of whatever happy and adverse 
 events have happened to us. Let the others, moreover, be informed 
 through you, that you may share equally in our sufferings, and re- 
 joice with us in our success. 
 
 We have informed you how we fared in the siege and capture 
 of Nicaea, in our departure thence and our journey through all 
 Romania and Armenia. It now remains for us to tell you a little 
 about the siege of Antioch, the many kinds of danger we there 
 tasted, and the innumerable battles which we fought against the 
 King of Aleppo, the King of Damascus, and against the adulterous 
 King of Jerusalem.'^" 
 
 Antioch has been besieged by the army of the Lord since 
 the thirteenth day before the Kalends of November with ex- 
 ceeding valor and courage beyond words. What unheard of 
 battles you might have perceived there at a certain gateway to the 
 west! How marvelous it would seem to you, were you present, 
 to see them daily rushing forth through six gates — both they and 
 ourselves fighting for safety and life ! At that time our princes, 
 seeking to enclose the city more and more closely, first besieged the 
 eastern gate, and Bohemund, having built a fort there, stationed a 
 part of his army in it. However, since our princes then felt some- 
 what elated, God, who chasteneth every son whom he loveth, so 
 chastened us that hardly seven hundred horses could be found in our 
 army; and thus, not because we lacked proven and valiant men, 
 but from lack of horses, or food, or through excessive cold, almost 
 all were dying. The Turks, moreover, supplied with horses and all 
 necessities in abundance, were wont daily to ride around our camp, 
 a certain stream which lay between serving as a wall. There was 
 likewise a castle of the Turks almost eight miles away ; and these 
 Turks were daily killing many of our men, who were going back and 
 forth from our army. Our princes went out against them and with 
 God's help put them to flight and killed many of them. Therefore 
 the ruler of Antioch, seeing himself afflicted, called the King of 
 Damascus to his aid. By God's providence, this King met Bohemund 
 and the Count of Flanders, who had gone to find food with a part of 
 our army, and, God's help prevailing, he was defeated and routed 
 by them. The ruler of Antioch, still concerned about his safety, 
 sent to the King of Aleppo and aroused him with promises of very 
 great wealth, to the end that he should come with all his forces. 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 159 
 
 Upon his arrival, our princes went forth from camp, and that day, 
 God being their helper, with seven hundred knights and a few foot- 
 soldiers they defeated twelve thousand Turks with their King, put 
 them to flight, and killed many of them. Our men regained not a 
 few horses from that battle, and returned rejoicing with victory. 
 Growing stronger and stronger, therefore, from that day our men 
 took counsel with renewed courage as to how they might besiege 
 the western gate which cut off access to the sea, wood, and fodder. 
 By common agreement, therefore, Bohemund and the Count of St. 
 Gilles went to the coast to fetch those who were staying there. 
 Meanwhile, those who had remained to look after the possessions, 
 seeking to acquire a name for themselves, went out incautiously one 
 day after breakfast, near that western gate from which they were 
 ingloriously repulsed and put to flight. On the third day after 
 this, Bohemund and the Count of St. Gilles, on their way back, sent 
 word to the princes of the army to meet them, (intending) together 
 to besiege the gate. However, since the latter delayed for a short 
 time, Bohemund and the Count of St. Gilles were beaten and put to 
 flight. Therefore all our men, grieving and bewailing their dis- 
 grace, as well, for a thousand of our men fell that day, formed 
 their lines and defeated and put to flight the Turks, who offered 
 great resistance. On this day, moreover, almost fourteen hundred 
 of the enemy perished both by weapons and in the river, which was 
 swollen with winter rains. 
 
 And so, when this had been accomplished, our men began to 
 built the fortress, which they strengthened, also, with a double 
 moat and a very strong wall, as well as with two towers. In it they 
 placed the Count of St. Gilles with machine men and bowmen. 
 Oh, with what great labor we established the fortress! One part 
 of our army served the eastern front, another looked after the 
 camp, while all the rest worked on this fortress. Of the latter, the 
 machine men and bowmen kept watch on the gate; the rest, in- 
 cluding the princes themselves, did not stop in the work of carry- 
 ing stones, and building the wall. Why recount the trials of 
 many kinds, which, even if passed over in silence, are sufficiently 
 evident in themselves — hunger, intemperate weather, and the de- 
 sertion of faint-hearted soldiers? The more bitter they were, the 
 more ready our men were in enduring them. Yet, indeed, we think 
 that we should by no means pass in silence the fact that on a certain 
 day the Turks pretended that they would surrender the city and 
 carried the deception so far as to receive some of our men among 
 them, and several of their men came out to us. While this was 
 going on in this manner, they, like the faithless people that they 
 
i6o THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 were, set a trap for us in which Walo, the Constable, and others 
 of them as well as of us were destroyed. A few days after this, 
 moreover, it was announced to us that Corhara,^^ chief of the army 
 of the king of the Persians, had sworn to our death, and had already 
 crossed the great Euphrates river with an innumerable army. God, 
 however, who does not desert those who place their trust in fTim, 
 did not abandon His people, but on the Nones of June compas- 
 sionately gave to us the city of Antioch, which three of its citizens 
 betrayed. We, however, devastated the city, and on that same day 
 killed all the pagans in it, except some who were holding out in the 
 castle of the city. 
 
 {The Crusadhiij Princes). To the venerable lord Pope Urban, 
 Bohemund and Raymond, Count of St. Gilles, Godfrey, Duke of 
 Lorraine, Robert, Count of Normandy, Robert, Count of Flanders 
 and Eustace, Count of Boulogne ; greeting and loyal service and, 
 as sons of their spiritual father, true subjection in Christ. 
 
 We all wish and desire that it be made known to you how, by the 
 compassion of God and by His most manifest assistance, Antioch has 
 been captured by us, and how the Turks, who had hurled many in- 
 sults at our Lord Jesus Christ, have been captured and killed: 
 how we, pilgrims of Jesus Christ on our way to Jerusalem, have 
 avenged the wrong against Most High God ; how we, who were at 
 first besieging the Turks, were later besieged by Turks coming from 
 Chorosan, Jerusalem, Damascus, and many other lands; and how, 
 by the compassion of Jesus Christ, we have been liberated. 
 
 Accordingly, when, after the capture of Nicaea, we had defeated 
 that very great multitude of Turks which met us, as you have 
 heard, in the valley of Dorylaeum on the Kalends of July, and 
 had put that great Soliman to flight, despoiled his land and all his 
 possessions, and had acquired and pacified all Romania, we went 
 to besiege Antioch. In this siege we suffered very many ills, 
 especially from battles with the neighboring Turks and pagans, who 
 rushed upon us so often, and in such numbers, that we might more 
 truly have been spoken of as besieged by those whom we were 
 besieging in Antioch. Nevertheless, when we had won all these 
 battles, the Christian faith being greatly exalted by their outcome, 
 I, Bohemund, by an agreement made wath a certain Turk, who 
 betrayed the city itself to me, shortly before daybreak, placed 
 scaling ladders against the wall with the help of many soldiers of 
 Christ. Accordingly, on the third day before the Nones of June, 
 we took the city, which before this time was resisting Christ. 
 Cassianus himself, the tyrant of the city, we killed, together with 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE i6i 
 
 many of his soldiers, and we kept their wives, children, and ser- 
 ^vants, together with their gold, silver, and all possessions. The 
 citadel, however, whirh had been previously fortified by the Turks, 
 we could not obtain. 
 
 {People of Lucca). To the primates, archbishops, bishops, and 
 other rectors, and to all the faithful of the lands of Christ any- 
 where; the clergy and people of Lucca (send) greeting full of peace 
 and gladness in the Lord. 
 
 To the praise and glory of the Redeemer, our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 we are truly and faitiifully making known to all (the news) which 
 we received truly and faithfully from participants in the affairs 
 themselves — at what time, with what great triumph, the most 
 mighty right hand of Christ gave complete victory over the pagans 
 to our brethren. His champions, after trial and perils. A certain 
 citizen of ours, Bruno by name, known and very dear to all of us, 
 in the year preceding this, went with the ships of the Angles even 
 to Antioch itself. There, as a partner in work and danger, sharer 
 of triumph and joy, he fought along with the fighters, starved with 
 the starving and conquered, also, with the conquering; and when 
 the complete victory had already been achieved, and he had re- 
 joiced three weeks there with all, he returned to us, after a happy 
 voyage. Placing him in our midst, we received from him the 
 pure and simple truth of the matter — lo! in his own account, as 
 follows : 
 
 "When we who were voyaging by sea had come to Antioch, the 
 army, which had gathered together from everywhere by land, had 
 already surrounded the city in siege, though not very well. On the 
 following day, our princes proceeded to the sea, for the sake of 
 visiting us. They urged us to get together an abundant supply of 
 wood for the construction of war engines, which we did at great 
 expense. On the third day, moreover, before the Nones of March, 
 that is the first Friday, our princes decided to erect a fortress at 
 the western gate of the city. This fortress, a very short ballista- 
 shot away (from the city), is now called by the name of the Blessed 
 Mary. There, on that same day, in an attack of the Turks, in 
 which they killed 2,055 of our men, we killed 800 of the enemy. 
 From the third day, morever, when the fortress had been erected, 
 until the third day before the Nones of June, our men endured many 
 hardships, and, weakened by hunger and the sword, they toiled 
 there at great cost. However, on this day the city was captured in 
 the following manner: Four brothers, noble men of Antioch, on 
 the second day of June promise to surrender the city to Bohemund, 
 
i62 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 Robert Curtose,''- and Robert, Count of Flanders. These, however, 
 with the common assent of all our princes, at nightfall conduct the 
 whole army to the wall of the city, without the knowledge of the 
 Turks. And in the morning, when the citizens of Antioch open the 
 gates to receive the three named princes alone, according to promise, 
 all of our men suddenly rush in together. There is the greatest 
 clamor: our men obtain all the fortified places, except the very high 
 citadel ; the Turks — these they kill, those they hurl to destruction 
 over the precipice." 
 
CHAPTER V. : 
 
 Kerbogha and the Finding of the Lance. 
 
 (When the Crusaders entered Syria, the Mohammedans whom they dis- 
 possessed fled as refugees to Bagdad. Their pitiable flight and their picas 
 moved the Caliph deeply. He sent a personal embassy to the warring Sul- 
 tans begging them to unite against the common foe, but they did not heed 
 him. Many of the lesser Turkish princes did respond, however, and a con- 
 siderable army was brought together, which the Caliph placed in charge of 
 Kerbogha as general. Kerbogha wasted three whole weeks before Edessa 
 and then moved on to Antioch, which he reached just as the Crusaders had 
 entered it — two days too late. The whole First Crusade forms an unpleasant 
 chapter in Saracen history, one which their historians do not love to describe. 
 They did not treat of it at length until the more favorable turn of events 
 under Nured-din and Saladin affords them the opportunity of contrasting 
 the period with the happier conditions of their own times. Hence, eye-witness 
 accounts of the First Crusade by Mohammedan writers do not exist. Later 
 Mohammedan authors have charged Kerbogha with incapacity and ill treat- 
 ment of his subordinate officers as an explanation of his failure to relieve 
 Antioch and destroy the Christian army. However, Baldwin's fortunate 
 presence at Edessa, which served to delay Kerbogha, and the astonishing 
 discovery of the Holy Lance, with its marvelous etfect upon the discouraged 
 Latins in Antioch, must be counted as no mean factors in that result. It is /.,^ 
 interesting to note the practically unanimous belief of the writers and Cru- 
 saders in the Lance at this time). 
 
 I. Kerbogha lays siege to the Crusaders in Antioch. (June 5, 
 1098). 
 (Gesta). Some time before, Cassianiis, 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 (Cassiamts) 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. 
 
i64 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 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, Sensadohis, son of Cassianus, 
 Emir of Antioch, went to meet them, and straightway rushed in 
 tears to Curhara, beseeching him with these words: "Most in- 
 vincible 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 Curhara replied: "If you want me to enter whole- 
 heartedly 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." 
 
 Sensadohis 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 Curhara 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, Curhara's 
 advance guard ran in front of the city ; his army, however, en- 
 camped 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, Curhara sum- 
 moned 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 
 
fUE FIRST CRUSADE 165 ^^ 
 
 field of battle and conquer, I will straightway surrender this fort- 
 ress 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 Ctirbafa 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 Chorosan 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 he 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 ; 
 how 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. Like- 
 wise, 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 
 
i66 ■ THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 gods, and to your glory, and to that of all who arc of the race of the 
 Turks." And thus he put an end to his words. 
 " The mother of the same Cnrhara, 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 Curhara, 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 w'ith 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 con- 
 quered. 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 Chris- 
 tians, called 'sons of Christ' and by the mouth of the prophets 'sons 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 167 
 
 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 immedi''tely 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 Curhara, 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 Chris- 
 tians 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 in- 
 genious rhymes, I looked back at the stars of the skies and wisely 
 scrutinized the planets and the twelve signs, or countless 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." 
 
 Curhara 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 
 hogs?" 
 
 His mother answered : "Dearest son, Bohemund and Tancred are 
 
i68 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 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 Ciirbara 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 compul- 
 sion, 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. 
 
 (Raymond). In the meantime, while our men, engaged in 
 counting and identifying their spoils, had desisted from the siege 
 of the upper fortress, and, while listening to the pagan dancing girls, 
 had feasted in splendor and magnificence, not at all mindful of 
 God who had granted them so great a blessing, they were besieged 
 by the pagans on the third day, on the Nones of the same June. 
 And so it was brought about that they who by the mercy of God 
 had so long besieged the Turks in Antioch were through His dis- 
 position in turn besieged by the Turks. And that we might be the 
 more fearful, the upper fortress which is a kind of citadel, was in 
 the hands of the enemy. Our men, accordingly, under the stress 
 of fear, took up the siege of the fortress. 
 
 Corbaga, however, lord of the Turks, expecting the battle to 
 take place there, fixed his tents at a distance of about two miles 
 from the city and, with ranks arrayed, came up to the bridge of the 
 city. Our men, however, had strengthened the fortress of the Count 
 on the first day, fearing that if they proceeded to battle it would be 
 seized by the enemy who were in the citadel, or, if they deserted the 
 fortress which was before the bridge and the enemy occupied it, 
 that the enemy would shut us off from a chance to fight and block 
 our exit. 
 
 There was in the army a knight most distinguished and very 
 dear to all, Roger of Banicvillc bv name, who, while pursuing the 
 
■" ■ THE FIRST CRUSADE 169 
 
 army of the retiring enemy, was captured and deprived of his head. 
 Fear and grief, accordingly, assailed our men, so that many were 
 led to the desperate hope of flight. Thereupon, when the Turks 
 had once and again sufifered a repulse in fighting, they besieged the 
 fortress on the third day; and the fighting was carried on there 
 with such violence that the might of God alone was believed to 
 defend the fortress and resist the adversaries. For when the Turks 
 were already prepared to cross the moat and destroy the walls, 
 they were taken with fright, I know not why, and rushed headlong 
 into flight. Then, seeing no reason for their flight, they returned 
 to the siege after they had run a short distance, blaming their own 
 timidity; and, as if to atone for the disgrace of the flight they had 
 made, they attacked more violently and again were more violently 
 terrified by the might of God. Therefore the enemy returned to 
 their camp on that day. On the next day, however, they returned 
 to the fortress with a very great supply of siege machinery, but 
 our men set fire to the fortress and thrust themselves within the 
 walls of the city. And thus, as the fear of the Franks was increased, 
 the boldness of the enemy grew; forsooth, we had nothing outside 
 the city, and the fortress, which was the head of the city, was held 
 by our foes. The Turks, emboldened by this, arranged to enter 
 against us by the fortress. Our men, however, relying on their 
 favorable and lofty location, fought against the enemy and at the 
 first attack overthrew them ; but, forgetful of the threatening battle 
 and intent upon plunder, they (in turn) were most vilely put to 
 flight. For more than a hundred men were suffocated in the gate 
 of the city, and even more horses. Then the Turks who had entered 
 the fortress wanted to go down into the city. For the valley 
 between our mountain and their fortress was not large, and in the 
 middle of it was a certain cistern and a little level place. Nor did 
 the enemy have a path down into the city except through our moun- 
 tain; wherefore they strove with every intent and all their might 
 to drive us out and remove us from their path. The battle was 
 waged with such force from morning to evening that nothing like 
 it was ever heard of. There was a certain frightful and as yet un- 
 heard of calamity befell us, for amidst the hail of arrows and 
 rocks, and the constant charge of javelins, and the deaths of so 
 ^many, our men became unconscious. If you ask for the end of 
 this fight, it was night. 
 2. Dire straits of the Crusaders. (June, 1098). 
 
 (Gesta). In the midst of this, William of Grandmesnil, his 
 brother Alberic, Wido Trursclliis, and Lambert the Pauper, all of 
 
I70 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 them frightened by yesterday's battle which had lasted until even- 
 ing, secretly slipped away by night and fled over the wall on foot 
 to the sea, so that nothing remained either on their hands or feet, 
 except bone alone. Many others whose names I do not know fled 
 with them. Accordingly, when they came to the ships which were 
 at the Port of St. Simeon, they said to the sailors : "Why do you 
 stay here, wretched men? All of our men are dead, and we barely 
 escaped with our lives, for the army of the Turks is besieging the 
 rest in the city on all sides." But when those men heard this, they 
 stood stupefied and, terrified with fear, rushed to the boats and 
 put out to sea. Then the Turks came up and killed all whom 
 they found, burned the ships which rested on the bed of the river, 
 and took off their spoils. We who remained could no longer with- 
 stand the force of their arms. We made a wall between them and 
 ; ourselves, which we guarded day and night. Meanwhile, we were 
 
 J oppressed by such need that we ate our horses and asses. 
 
 Then the Turks who were up in the castle pressed us on all sides 
 so closely that on a certain <lay they shut three of our knights in a 
 tower which was before their castle. For the Gentiles had gone 
 out and rushed upon the knights so fiercely that they could not 
 resist their force. Two of the knights went out from the tower 
 wounded, but the third manfully defended himself from the attack 
 of the Turks throughout the whole day with such skill that on that 
 day he stretched out two Turks over the entrance to the tower with 
 their spears broken. Thus, three were that day shattered in his 
 hands. But the Turks suffered the sentence of death. The knight's 
 name was Hugh de Forcenez of the army of Gosfrid of Mt. Scag- 
 lioso. However, when that venerable man, Bohemund, saw that he 
 could not again lead the people up into the fortress to battle (for 
 of those who were shut up in the houses, some feared starvation 
 and others the Turks), he was greatly angered and ordered fire to 
 be placed immediately throughout the city on that side where 
 the palace of Cassianus was located. When those who were in the 
 city saw this, they left their homes and everything that they had, 
 and fled, some to the castle, and others to the gate of the Count of 
 St. Gilles, others to the gate of Duke Godfrey — each one to his own 
 people. 
 
 Then a very severe storm so suddenly arose that no one could 
 guide himself aright. Thereupon, that wise man, Bohemund, was 
 exceedingly sad, fearing for the churches of St. Peter and St. Mary 
 and other churches. This fury lasted from the third hour even to 
 midnight, and almost two thousand churches and homes were 
 burned. However, at the approach of midnight all the fury of the 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 171 
 
 fire suddenly fell. Thereupon, the Turks who lived in the castle 
 fought with us inside the city day and night, and nothing else 
 separated us from our arms. However, when our men saw that 
 they could not long endure this, because whoever had bread was not 
 allowed (time) to eat it, and whoever had water did not get a chance 
 to drink it, they built a fortress and machines, that they might be 
 more secure. A part of the Turks, however, remained in the castle, 
 keeping up battle with us, but the other portion was lodged near 
 the castle in a valley. When the night came, forsooth, a fire from 
 heaven appeared, coming from the west; and, drawing near, it fell 
 within the army of the Turks, whereat both our men and the Turks 
 marvelled. Moreover, when it became morning, the Turks, terrified 
 by fear of the fire, all fled before the gate of Bohemund and were 
 there lodged. But that part (of the Turks) in the castle kept up 
 battle with us by day and night, shooting, wounding, and killing. 
 The other part, however, beset the city everywhere on all sides, so 
 that none of us dared go out or in, except at night, and (then) 
 stealthily. Thus were we besieged and oppressed by these pagans, 
 enemies of God and Christianity, whose number was innumerable.^ 
 
 These profane enemies of God held us so inclosed in the city of 
 Anlioch that many died of hunger because a little loaf of bread 
 sold for a besant. Of wine I won't speak. They sold and ate horse 
 and ass-flesh ; they also sold a cock for fifteen solidi, an ^gg for two 
 solidi, and a nut for a dcnariiis. Thus everything was very dear. 
 They cooked and ate the leaves of the fig tree, grapevine, and 
 thistle, and of all trees, so tremendous was their hunger. Others 
 cooked the dry hides of horses, camels, asses, cattle or bufifalos and 
 ate them. These and many such troubles and straits which I can- 
 not name, we suffered for the name of Christ, and to free the way 
 to the Holy Sepulchre. Such tribulation, famine, and fears we en- 
 dured for twenty-six days. ._^ 
 
 Then the base Stephen, Count of Chartres, whom all our nobles "" 
 had chosen to be our leader, and who had feigned very great illness ' 
 before Antioch was captured, basely withdrew to another fortified 
 place called Alexandretta. Therefore, we who had been shut up 
 in the city without saving aid daily besought him to come to our 
 relief. But after he heard that a host of Turks was surrounding 
 and besieging us, he stealthily climbed upon the mountain nearest 
 to Antioch and saw the countless tents. Seized with a most violent 
 fear, he turned and fled hastily with his army. Then coming to his 
 own fortress, he despoiled it and withdrew at rapid pace. But 
 after he came upon the Emperor at Philomelium, he called him 
 apart and said secretly: "Know for a truth that Antioch has been 
 
 v>; 
 
172 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 captured, but the citadel has not been taken ; all our men are be- 
 sieged with great pressure and, as I think, have now been killed 
 by the Turks. Go back, therefore, as quickly as you can, lest they 
 find you and this people which you are leading with you." 
 
 Then the Emperor, terrified with fear, secretly called Wide, 
 brother of Bohemund, and certain others and said to them: "Seig- 
 nors, what shall we do ? Behold, all our men have been held in close 
 siege, and perchance at this hour have all been killed .by the Turks, 
 or led into captivity, just as that ill-favored Count, who is basely 
 fleeing, reports. If you wish, let us turn back at a quick pace, 
 lest we, too, should die a sudden death, even as they, also, are 
 dead." When Wido, a knight most honorable, heard such false- 
 hoods, he began to weep with all the rest, and to complain with 
 most violent outcry. With one voice all exclaimed : "O true God, 
 Three and One, why hast Thou permitted this to come to pass? 
 Why hast Thou permitted the people who followed Thee to fall 
 into the hands of the enemy, and so quickly abandoned them who 
 wished to free the way of Thy journey and Sepulchre? Surely, if 
 this word which we have heard from these most iniquitous men be 
 true, we and the other Christians will depart from Thee, and no 
 more remember Thee, and not one of us will again dare to call 
 upon Thy name." And there was this most gloomy talk in the 
 whole army, so that none of them, whether bishop, abbot, cleric, or 
 lay, dared to call upon the name of Christ for several days. 
 
 And no one could console Wido, who wept and beat himself 
 with his hands and broke his fingers and said: "Woe is me! My 
 lord Bohemund, honor and glory of the world, whom all the world 
 was wont to fear and love ! Alas, what sadness is mine ! I did 
 not deserve in grief to see your most honorable face, I who desired 
 to see nothing else more. Who will let me die for you, sweetest 
 friend and lord? Why was I not dead, as I came from the womb 
 of my mother? Why did I come to this sad day? Why was I not 
 drowned in the sea? Why did I not fall from my horse to meet 
 sudden death from a broken neck? Would that I had gained a 
 happy martyrdom with you, so that I might behold you receiving a 
 most glorious end !" When all had run to him to console him, so as 
 to bring an end to his grief, he turned away and said to himeslf : 
 "Perchance you believe this grizzled, shameless knight? Truly, I 
 have not ever heard mention of any campaign which he has made. 
 But basely and dishonorably he turns back, like a most iniquitous 
 and ill-favored man, and whatever that wretch reports you may 
 know to be false." 
 
 Meanwhile, the Emperor commanded his men, saying: "Go and 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 173 
 
 lead all of the men of this land into Bulgaria, and seek out and 
 devastate all places, so that when the Turks come they will be able 
 to find nothing." Willy-nilly our men turned back, grieving most 
 bitterly even to death, and many of the pilgrims died. Failing in 
 strength, and unable vigorously to follow the army, they stopped 
 and died along the way. But all the rest returned to Constantinople.** 
 
 (Raymond). In the night, however, when our men should have 
 expected the mercy of God, many began to despair and let them- 
 selves down headlong from the top of the walls by ropes. Others, 
 moreover, withdrawing from the battle into the city, announced 
 to everybody that the general beheading of all had come; and, to 
 increase their fears, while some were urging others to resist bravely, 
 these same men turned in flight. . . . 
 
 In the meanwhile, there was such famine in the city that a 
 horse's head without the tongue was sold for two or three solidi, 
 the intestines of goats for five, a cock for eight or nine. What shall 
 I say about bread, five solidi' s worth of which was not enough to 
 satisfy the hunger of one person? This was not astonishing, nor 
 when they had abundant gold and silver and clothes could it have 
 weighed heavily upon those who bought at such a price. However, 
 these things were (now) so dear because the consciences of the 
 soldiers, troubled with crimes, were bereft of courage. Moreover, 
 they plucked unripe figs from the trees, cooked them, and sold them 
 very dearly. Indeed, the hides of cattle and horses and other 
 things which they had disregarded for a long time they now slowly 
 cooked and sold so dearly that any one could eat the worth of two 
 solidi. Most of the knights lived on the blood of their own horses ; 
 awaiting the mercy of God, they did not yet want to kill them. 
 Moreover, these and many other evils difficult to enumerate threat- 
 ened and besieged. Another very serious calamity happened in that 
 some of our men fled to the Turks and told them of the misery 
 in the city. The Turks, emboldened by this and other occurrences, 
 threatened us most violently. Moreover, one day at mid-day about 
 thirty Turks climbed into one of our towers, whereat our men 
 became exceedingly terrified. Nevertheless, because of the danger, 
 they fought with the help of God, killed some, and forced the others 
 to flee precipitately. For this reason, accordingly, all promised 
 obedience to Bohemund for fifteen days after the battle, so that 
 he might arrange about the battle and the custody of the city. For 
 the Count was very ill, also the Bishop; and Count Stephen, whom 
 the other princes had chosen as ruler before the capture of the city, 
 had fled when he heard rumors of the battle. 
 
174 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 3. Revelation of the Lance. (June 4, 1098.) 
 
 (Gesta). But one day as our leaders, sad and disconsolate, were 
 standing back before the fortress, a certain priest came to them and 
 said: "Seignors, if it please you, listen to a certain matter which 
 I saw in a vision. When one night I was lying in the church of 
 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 appeared 
 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 a 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 Peter said : 'Lord, for so long a time the pagan host 
 has held my house, and in it they have committed many unspeak- 
 able 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 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 un- 
 harmed, 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 he 
 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 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 175 
 
 oath, then the Count of St. Gilles, Robert of Normandy, Duke God- 
 frey, 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 assem- 
 blage exulted greatly upon hearing this oath. , — - 
 t~" 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 vic- 
 torious. 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 heard that their enemies were to be over- 
 come 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." 
 
176 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 Accordingly, upon hearing the statements of that man who re- 
 ported 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_. _^ 
 
 (Raymond) . And so, as we said, when our men were in a panic 
 and while they were on the verge of despair, divine mercy was at 
 hand for them; and that mercy which had corrected the children 
 when they were wanton, consoled them when they were very sad, 
 in the following way. Thus, when the city of Antioch had been 
 captured, the Lord, employing His power and kindness, chose a 
 certain poor peasant, Provengal by race, through whom He com- 
 forted us ; and He sent these words to the Count and Bishop of 
 Puy: 
 
 "Andrew, apostle of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ, has 
 recently admonished me a fourth time and has commanded me to 
 come to you and to give back to you, after the city was captured, 
 the Lance which opened the side of the Saviour. To-day, moreover, 
 when I had set out from the city with the rest to battle, and when, 
 caught between two horsemen, I was almost suffocated on the re- 
 treat, I sat down sadly upon a certain rock, almost lifeless. When 
 I was reeling like a woe-begone from fear and grief, St. Andrew 
 came to me with a companion, and he threatened me much unless 
 I returned the Lance to you quickly." 
 
 And when the Count and Bishop asked him to tell in order the 
 apostolic revelation and command, he replied: "At the first earth- 
 quake which occurred at Antioch when the army of the Franks 
 was besieging it, such fear assailed me that I could say nothing ex- 
 cept 'God help me.' For it was night, and I was lying down ; nor 
 was there anyone else in my hut to sustain me by his presence. 
 When, moreover, the shaking of the earth had lasted a long time, 
 and my fear had ever increased, two men stood before me in the 
 brightest raiment. The one was older, with red and white hair, 
 black eyes, and kindly face, his beard, indeed, white, wide, and thick, 
 and his stature medium; the other was younger and taller, hand- 
 some in form beyond the children of men. And the older said to 
 me 'What doest thou?' and I was very greatly frightened because 
 I knew that there was no one present. And I ans\vered, 'Who art 
 thou ?' 
 
 "He replied, 'Rise, and fear not ; and heed what I say to thee. 
 I am Andrew the Apostle. Bring together the Bishop of Puy and 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 177 
 
 the Count of St. Gilles and Peter Raymond of Hautpoul, and say 
 these words to them: "Why has the Bishop neglected to preach 
 and admonish and daily to sign his people with the cross which he 
 bears before them, for it would profit them much ?" ' And he added, 
 'Come and I will show thee the Lance of our father, Jesus Christ, 
 which thou shalt give to the Count. For God has granted it to 
 him ever since he was born.' 
 
 "I arose, therefore, and followed him into the city, dressed in 
 nothing except a shirt. And he led me into the church of the 
 apostle of St. Peter through the north gate, before which the 
 Saracens had built a mosque. In the church, indeed, were two 
 lamps, which there gave as much light as if the sun had illuminated 
 it. And he said to me, 'Wait here.' And he commanded me to sit 
 upon a column, which was closest to the stairs by which one ascends 
 to the altar from the south ; but his companion stood at a distance 
 before the altar steps. Then St. Andrew, going under ground, 
 brought forth the Lance and gave it into my hands. 
 
 "And he said to me 'Behold the Lance which opened His side, 
 whence the salvation of the whole world has come.' 
 
 "While I held it in my hands, weeping for joy, I said to him, 
 'Lord, if it is Thy will, I will take it and give it to the Count!' 
 
 "And he said to me 'Not now, for it will happen that the city will 
 be taken. Then come with twelve men and seek it here whence I 
 drew it forth and where I hide it,' And he hid it. 
 
 "After these things had been so done, he led me back over the 
 wall to my home ; and so they left me. Then I thought to myself 
 of the condition of my poverty and your greatness, and I feared to 
 approach you. After this, when I had set forth for food to a certain 
 fortress which is near Edessa, on the first day of Lent at cock-crow, 
 St. Andrew appeared to me in the same garb and with the same 
 companion with whom he had come before, and a great brightness 
 filled the house. And St. Andrew said 'Art thou awake?' 
 
 "Thus aroused, I replied 'No, Lord ; my Lord, I am not asleep.' 
 
 "And he said to me 'Hast thou told those things which I bade 
 thee tell some time ago?' 
 
 "And I answered 'Lord, have I not prayed thee to send some one 
 else to them, for, fearful of my poverty, I hesitated to go before 
 them ?' 
 
 "And he said 'Dost thou not know why the Lord led you hither, 
 and how much He loves you and why He chose you especially? 
 He made you come hither (to rebuke) contempt of Him and to 
 avenge His people. He loves you so dearly that the saints already 
 at rest, fore-knowing the grace of Divine arrangements, wished 
 
178 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 that they were in the flesh and struggHng along with you. God 
 has chosen you from all peoples, as grains of wheat are gathered 
 from the oats. For you excel in favor and rewards all who may 
 come before or after you, just as gold excels silver in value.' 
 
 "After this they withdrew, and such illness oppressed me that 
 I was about to lose the light of my eyes, and I was arranging to 
 dispose of my very meagre belongings. Then I began to meditate 
 that these things had justly befallen me because of my neglect 
 of the apostolic command. Thus comforted, I returned to the 
 siege. Thinking again of the handicap of my poverty, I began to 
 fear that if I went to you, you would say that I was a serf and 
 was telling this for the sake of food ; therefore, I was silent instead. 
 And thus in the course of time, w^hen at the Port of St. Simeon on 
 Palm Sunday I was lying down in the tent with my lord, William 
 Peter, St. Andrew appeared with a companion. Clad in the same 
 habit in which he had come before, he spoke thus to me, 'Why 
 hast thou not told the Count and Bishop and the others what I 
 commanded thee?' 
 
 "And I answered 'Lord, have I not prayed thee to send another 
 in my place who would be wiser and to whom they would listen? 
 Besides the Turks are along the way and they kill those who come 
 and go.' 
 
 "And St. Andrew said 'Fear not that they will harm thee. Say 
 also to the Count not to dip in the river Jordan when he comes there, 
 but to cross in a boat ; moreover when he has crossed, dressed in 
 a linen shirt and breeches, let him be sprinkled from the river. And 
 after his garments are dry, let him lay them away and keep them 
 with the Lance of the Lord.' And this my lord, William Peter, 
 heard, though he did not see, the apostle. 
 
 "Thus comforted, I returned to the army. And when I wanted 
 to tell you this, I could not bring you together. And so I set out 
 to the port of Mamistra. There, indeed, when I was about to sail 
 to the island of Cyprus for food, St. Andrew threatened me much 
 if I did not quickly return to you and tell you what had been com- 
 manded me. And when I thought to myself how I would return 
 to camp, for that port was three days distant from the camp, I 
 began to weep most bitterly, since I could find no way of returning. 
 At length, admonished by my lord and my companions, we entered 
 the ship and began to row to Cyprus. And although we were 
 borne along all day by oar and favoring winds up to sunset, a 
 storm then suddenly arose, and in the space of one or two hours we 
 returned to the port which we had left. And thus checked from 
 crossing a second and a third time, we returned to the island at the 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 179 
 
 Port of St. Simeon. There I fell seriously ill. However, when the 
 city was taken, I came to you. And now, if it please you, test what 
 I say." 
 
 The Bishop, however, thought it nothing except words ; but the 
 Count believed it and handed over the man that had said this to 
 his chaplain, Raymond, to guard. 
 
 Our Lord Jesus Christ appeared on the very night which fol- 
 lowed to a certain priest named Stephen, who was weeping for 
 the death of himself and his companions, which he expected there. 
 For some who came down from the fortress frightened him, saying 
 that the Turks were already descending from the mountain into the 
 city, and that our men were fleeing and had been defeated. For this 
 reason the priest, wishing to have God witness of his death, went 
 into the church of the Blessed Mary in the garb of confession and, 
 after obtaining pardon, began to sing psalms with some companions. 
 While the rest were sleeping, and while he watched alone, after 
 having said, "Lord, who shall dwell in Thy tabernacle, or who shall 
 rest in Thy holy hill?"^ a certain man stood before him, beautiful 
 beyond all, and said to him, "Man, who are these people that have 
 entered the city?" 
 
 And the priest answered "Christians." 
 
 "Christians of what kind?" 
 
 "Christians who believe that Christ was born of a Virgin and 
 suffered on the Cross, died, and was buried, and that He arose on 
 the third day and ascended into heaven." 
 
 And that man said "And if they are Christians, why do they fear 
 the multitude of pagans?" And he added, "Dost thou not know 
 me?" 
 
 The priest replied "I do not know thee, but I see that thou art 
 most beautiful of all." 
 
 And the man said, "Look at me closely." 
 
 And when the priest intently scrutinized him. he saw a kind of 
 cross much brighter than the sun proceeding from his head. And 
 the priest said to the man who was questioning him, "Lord, we 
 say that they are images of Jesus Christ which present a form 
 like thine." 
 
 The Lord said to him, "Thou hast said well, since I am He. Is 
 it not written of me that I am the Lord, strong and mighty in 
 battle? And who is the Lord in the army?" 
 
 "Lord," replied the priest, "there never was in the army but one 
 Lord, for rather do they put trust in the Bishop." 
 
 And the Lord said, "Say this to the Bishop, that these people 
 have put me afar from them by evil doing, and then let him speak 
 
i8o THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 to them as follows : 'The Lord says this : "Return to me, and I 
 will return to you." ' And when they enter battle, let them say 
 this 'Our enemy are assembled and glory in their own bravery ; 
 destroy their might, O Lord, and scatter them, so that they may 
 know that there is no other who will fight for us except Thee, O 
 Lord/ And say this also to them 'If ye do whatever I command 
 you, even for five days, I will have mercy upon you !' " 
 
 Moreover, while He was saying this, a woman of countenance 
 radiant beyond measure approached and, gazing upon the Lord, 
 said to him, "Lord, what are thou saying to this man?" 
 
 And the Lord said to her, "I am asking him about these people 
 who have entered the city, who they are." 
 
 Then the Lady replied, "O, my Lord, these are the people for 
 whom I entreat thee so much." 
 
 And when the priest shook his companion who was sleeping near 
 him, so that he might have a witness of so great a vision, they had 
 disappeared from his eyes. 
 
 However, when morning came the priest climbed the hill opposite 
 the castle of the Turks, where our princes were staying, all except 
 the Duke, who was guarding the castle on the north hill. And 
 thus, after assembling a gathering, he told these words to our 
 princes, and, in order to show that it was true, he swore upon the 
 Cross. Moreover, wishing to satisfy the incredulous, he was willing 
 to pass through fire, or to jump from the top of the tower. Then 
 the princes swore that they would neither flee from Antioch nor 
 go out, except with the common consent of all ; for the people at 
 this time thought that the princes wanted to flee to the fort. And 
 thus many were comforted, since in the past night there were few 
 who stood steadfast in the faith and did not wish to flee. And had 
 not the Bishop and Bohemund shut the gates of the city, very few 
 would have remained. Nevertheless, William of Grandmesnil fled, 
 and his brother, and many others, cleric and lay. It befell many, 
 however, that when they had escaped from the city with the greatest 
 danger, they faced the greater danger of death at the hands of the 
 Turks. 
 
 At this time very many things were revealed to us through our 
 brethren ; and we beheld a marvelous sign in the sky. For during 
 the night there stood over the city a very large star, which, after a 
 short time, divided into three parts and fell in the camp of the 
 Turks. 
 
 Our men, somewhat comforted, accordingly, awaited the fifth 
 day which the priest had mentioned. On that day, moreover, after 
 the necessary preparations, and after every one had been sent out 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE i8i 
 
 of the Church of St. Peter, twelve men, together with that man who 
 had spoken of the Lance, began to dig. There were, moreover, among 
 those twelve men the Bishop of Orange, and Raymond, chaplain of 
 the Count, who has written this, and the Count himself, and Pontius 
 of Balaznn, and Feraldus of Thouars. And after we had dug from 
 morning to evening, some began to despair of finding the Lance. 
 The Count left, because he had to guard the castle ; but in place of 
 him and the rest who were tired out from digging, we induced 
 others, who were fresh to continue the work sturdily. The youth 
 who had spoken of the Lance, however, upon seeing us worn out, 
 disrobed and, taking off his shoes, descended into the pit in his shirt, 
 earnestly entreating us to pray God to give us His Lance for the 
 comfort and victory of His people. At length, the Lord wgs minded 
 through the grace of His mercy to show us His Lance. And I, who 
 have written this, kissed it when the point alone had as yet appeared 
 above ground. What great joy and exultation then filled the city 
 I cannot describe. Moreover, the Lance was found on the eighteenth 
 day before the Kalends of July. 
 
 On the second night, St. Andrew appeared to the youth through 
 whom he had given the Lance to us and said to him "Behold, God 
 has given to the Count that which he never wished to give to anyone 
 and has made him standard-bearer of this army, as long as he shall 
 continue in His love." 
 
 When the youth asked mercy from him for the people, St. Andrew 
 replied to him that verily would the Lord show mercy to His people. 
 And, again, when he asked the same saint about his companion, who 
 it was he had so often seen with him, St. Andrew answered, "Draw 
 near and kiss His foot." 
 
 And so, when he was about to draw near, he saw a wound on 
 His foot as fresh and bloody as if it had just been made. When, 
 however, he hesitated to draw near because of the wound and blood, 
 St. Andrew said to him: 
 
 "Behold, the Father who was wounded on the Cross for us, 
 whence this wound. The Lord likewise commands that you cele- 
 brate that day on which He gave you His Lance. And since it was 
 found at vespers, and that day cannot be celebrated, celebrate the 
 solemn festival on the eighth day in the following week, and then 
 each year on the day of the finding of the Lance. Say, also, to 
 them that they conduct themselves as is taught in the Epistle of my 
 brother, Peter, which is read to-day." (And the Epistle was this: 
 "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God.")'^ "Let the 
 clerics sing this hymn before the Lance: Lustra sex qui jam pcr- 
 acta tempus implens corporis. And when they shall have said, 
 
i82 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 Agnus in criice levatus immolandus stipitc, let them finish the hymn 
 on bended knees." 
 
 When, however, the Bishop of Orange and I, after this, asked 
 Peter Bartholomew if he knew letters, he replied, 'T do not," think- 
 ing that if he were to say "I do," we would not believe him. He 
 did know a little ; but at that hour he was so ignorant that he neither 
 knew letters nor had any remembrance of the things he had learned 
 from letters, except the Paternoster, Credo in Dcum, Magnificat, 
 Glory in Excclsis Deo, and Bcnedictus Dominiis Dciis Israel. He 
 had lost the others as if he had never heard them, and though he 
 was able afterwards to recover a few, it was with the greatest effort. 
 
 4. Defeat of KerhogJva. (June 28, 1098.) 
 
 {Gesta). From that hour we took counsel of battle among our- 
 selves. Fortwith, 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 Herl- 
 win, 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 assem- 
 blage, 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, and we spurn 
 you and them absolutely. We have now come even hither because 
 we marvelled greatly why the princes and nobles whom you mention 
 call this land theirs, the land we took from an effeminate people. 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 183 
 
 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 hold 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 pro-j/, yS( ; . 
 cession 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 given, 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, 
 
i84 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 who had everything in charge, that if he saw a Hght 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, count- 
 less 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 little 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 Tan- 
 cred. 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 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 185 
 
 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 had fled from the field before the army of 
 the Franks, he was greatly frightened. Immediately and with great 
 haste he 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 im- 
 mediately: "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 Bohe- 
 mund 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 had 
 conducted to the land of the Saracens. 
 
 This battle was fought on the fourth day before the Kalends o£ 
 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 had now been completely conquered, YV.'X 
 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. 
 
 (Raymond). As we have said, when our men were beaten, 
 discouraged, and in narrow straits, divine aid appeared. And the 
 blessed Andrew taught us through the youth who had spoken of 
 the Lance how we ought to conduct ourselves before the battle 
 and in the battle : — 
 
 "You have all offended deeply, and you have been deeply humbled ; 
 and you have cried out to the Lord, and the Lord has heard you. 
 And now let each one turn himself to the Lord because of his sins, 
 and let him give five alms because of the five wounds of the Lord. 
 
i86 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 If he cannot do this, let him say the Paternoster five times. When 
 this has been done, begin battle in the name of the Lord by day or 
 by night, as the judgment of the princes deems best, because the 
 hand of God will be with you. If anyone has doubt of victory, 
 let the gates be opened for him, and let him go forth to the Turks, 
 and he will see how their God will save him. Moreover, if any- 
 one shall refuse to fight, let him be classed with Judas, the betrayer 
 of the Lord, who deserted the apostles and sold his Lord to the 
 Jews. Let them fight in the faith of St. Peter, holding in mind that 
 God promised him that after the third day He would arise and 
 appear to him, and for this reason, also, because this land is justly 
 St. Peter's, and not the pagans'. And let your battle-cry be 'God 
 help us !' and verily God will help you. All your brothers who died 
 since the beginning of the expedition are present with you in this 
 fight ; you have only to storm the tenth part of the enemy, because 
 they will assail nine parts in the might and command of God. And 
 do not put off the battle, because (if you do), the Lord will lead 
 as many enemies from the other sides as you have on this side, and 
 He will keep you shut up here until you devour one another. But 
 know certainly that those days are at hand which the Lord promised 
 to the Blessed Mary and to His apostles, saying that He would 
 raise up the kingdom of the Christians, after the kingdom of the 
 pagans had been cast down and ground into dust. But do not turn 
 to their tents in search of gold and silver." 
 
 Then the power of God was disclosed, in that He who had com- 
 manded the above words to be preached to us through His apostle so 
 comforted the hearts of all. that each one in faith and hope seemed 
 to himself already to have triumphed over his enemy. They urged 
 on one another, and in urging regained courage for fighting. The 
 crowd, too, which in the past days seemed to be consumed with 
 want and fright, now reproached the princes and complained of the 
 delay of the battle. However, when the day for battle had been 
 fixed, our princes sent word by Peter the Hermit to Corbara, leader 
 of the Turks, to give up the siege of the city, because it was by 
 right the property of St. Peter and the Christians. That proud 
 leader replied that, rightly or wrongly, he was going to rule over 
 the Franks and the city. And he compelled Peter the Hermit, who 
 was unwilling to bow, to kneel to him. 
 
 The question was raised at this time as to who should guard the 
 city against those who were in the citadel, "while the rest went forth 
 to fight. They built a stone wall and ramparts on our hill against 
 the enemy ; these they fortified with many rocks, finally leaving 
 Count Raymond, who was deathly ill, and about two hundred men 
 there. 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 187 
 
 The day of the fight had come. In the morning all partook of com- 
 munion and gave themselves to God, to death, if He willed, or to 
 the glory of the Roman church and the race of the Franks. More- 
 over, they decided about the battle as follows : that two double lines 
 should be made of the Count's and Bishop's people, so that the foot- 
 soldiers went before the knights and halted at the command of the 
 princes ; and the knights were to follow them and guard them from 
 the rear. Similar arrangement was made of the people of Bohe- 
 mund and Tancred; the like of the people of the Count of Nor- 
 mandy and the Franks ; likewise, of the people of the Duke and 
 the Burgundians. Moreover, trumpeters went through the city 
 shouting that each man should stay with the princes of his people. 
 It was likewise ordered that Hugh the Great, the Count of Flanders, 
 and the Count of Normandy should advance to the battle first, then 
 the Duke, the Bishop after the Duke, and Bohemund after the 
 Bishop. They assembled, each man to his own standard and kin- 
 folk, within the city before the gate of the bridge. 
 
 Oh, how blessed is the people whose Lord is God! Oh, how 
 blessed the people whom God has chosen ! Oh, how unaltered His 
 face ! How changed the army from sadness to eagerness ! Indeed, 
 during the past days princes and nobles went along the city streets 
 calling upon the aid of God at the churches, the common people 
 (walked) with bare feet, weeping and striking their breasts. They 
 had been so sad that father did not greet son, nor brother brother, 
 upon meeting, nor did they look back. But now you could see 
 them going forth like swift horses, rattling their arms, and bran- 
 dishing their spears, nor could they bear to refrain from showing 
 their happiness in word and deed. But why do I grieve about many 
 matters? They were given the power to go forth, and what had 
 been agreed upon by the princes was fulfilled in order. 
 
 Meanwhile Corbara, leader of the Turks, was playing at chess 
 within his tent. When he received the message that the Franks 
 were advancing to battle, he was disturbed in mind because this 
 seemed beyond expectation, and he called to him a certain Turk who 
 had fled from Antioch, Mirdalin by name, a noble known to us for 
 his military prowess. "What is this?" he said?" "Didn't you tell 
 me the Franks were few and would not fight with us?" And 
 Mirdalin replied to him, "I did not say that they would not fight, 
 but come, and I will look at them and tell you if you can easily 
 overcome them." 
 
 And now the third line of our men was advancing. When he 
 saw how the lines were arrayed, Mirdalin said to Corbara, "These 
 men can be killed ; but they cannot be put to flight." 
 
i88 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 And then Corbara said "Can none of them be driven back at all?" 
 
 And Mirdalin replied, "They will not yield a footstep, even if 
 all the people of the pagans attack them." 
 
 Then, although disturbed in mind, he drew up his many and 
 multiple lines against us. And when at first they could have pre- 
 vented our exit, they allowed us to go out in peace. Our men, how- 
 ever, now directed their lines toward the mountains, fearing that 
 the Turks might surround them from the rear. However, the 
 mountains were about two long miles from the bridge. We were 
 advancing in open file as the clergy are wont to march in processions. 
 And verily we had a procession ! For the priests and many monks, 
 dressed in white robes, went in front of the lines of our knights, 
 chanting and invoking the aid of the Lord and the benediction of 
 the saints. The enemy, on the contrary, rushed against us and shot 
 arrows. Corhara, now ready to do what he had just recently re- 
 fused, likewise sent word to our princes (proposing) that five or ten 
 Turks should do battle with a like number of Franks, and that 
 those whose knights were conquered should peacefully yield to 
 the others. To this our leaders replied, "You were unwilling when 
 we wanted to do this ; now that we have advanced to fight, let each 
 fight for his right." 
 
 And when we had occupied the whole plain, as we said, a certain 
 portion of the Turks remained behind us and attacked some of 
 our foot-soldiers. But those foot-soldiers, turning about, sustained 
 the attack of the enemy vigorously. When, indeed, the Turks could 
 in no way drive them out, they set fire around them, so that those 
 who did not fear the swords might at all events be terrified by fire. 
 And thus they forced them to give way, for that place had much 
 dry hay. 
 
 And when the lines had gone forth, the priests, with bare feet and 
 garbed in their priestly vestments, stood on the walls of the city, 
 calling upon God to defend His people, and through the victory of 
 the Franks in this battle to aflford a testimony hallowed by His 
 blood. Moreover, as we were advancing from the bridge up to 
 the mountain, we met with great difficulty because the enemy wanted 
 to surround us. In the midst of this, the lines of the enemy fell 
 upon us who were in the squadron of the Bishop, and though their 
 forces were greater than ours, yet, through the protection of the 
 Holy Lance which was there, they there wounded no one; neither 
 did they hit any of us with arrows. I beheld these things of which 
 I speak and I bore the Lance of the Lord there. If anyone says 
 that Viscount Heraclius, the standard-bearer of the Bishop, was 
 wounded in this battle, let him know that he handed over this 
 standard to another and fell behind our line some distance. 
 
T]IE FIRST CRUSADE 189 
 
 When all our fig) ting men had left the city, five other lines 
 appeared among us. For, as has already been said, our princes had 
 drawn up only eight, and we were thirteen lines outside the city. In 
 the beginning of the march out to battle the Lord sent down upon 
 all His army a divine shower, little but full of blessing. All those 
 touched by this were filled with all grace and fortitude and, despising 
 the enemy, rode forth as if always nourished on the delicacies of 
 kings. This miracle also aflfected our horses no less. For whose 
 horse failed until the fight was over, even though it had 
 tasted nothing except the bark or leaves of trees for eight days? 
 God so multiplied our army that we, who before seemed fewer 
 than the enemy, were in the battle more numerous than they. And 
 when our men had thus advanced and formed in line, the enemy 
 turned in flight without giving us a chance to engage in battle. Our 
 men pursued them until sunset. There the Lord worked mar- 
 velously as well in the horses as in the men ; forsooth, the men were 
 not called away from battle by avarice, and those pack horses which 
 their masters had led into battle, after a scant feeding, now very 
 easily followed the sleekest and swiftest horses of the Turks. 
 
 But the Lord did not wish us to have this joy only. For the 
 Turks who were guarding the citadel of the city gave up hope upon 
 seeing the headlong flight of their people ; some, on the pledge of 
 their lives alone, surrendered themselves to us, and the rest fled 
 headlong. And though this battle was so terrible and frightful, yet 
 few knights of the enemy fell there ; but of their foot-soldiers scarcely 
 any escaped. Moreover, all the tents of the enemy were captured, 
 much gold and silver, and the greatest amount of spoils — grain and 
 cattle and camels without measure or number. And that incident 
 of Samaria^° about the measures of wheat and barley which wer^ 
 bought for a shekel was renewed for us. Moreover, these events 
 occurred on the vigils of St. Peter and Paul, through which inter- 
 cessors was granted this victory to the pilgrim church of the Franks 
 by the Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth God through all 
 ages. Amen. 
 
 5. Summary of events. (June 5 — beginning of July 1098). 
 
 (Anselm.) But on the following day Corbara approached with 
 the King of Damascus, Duke Baldach,^^ the King of Jerusalem, and 
 very many others and laid siege to the city. Accordingly, we were 
 both besieged by them, and (were ourselves) besieging the afore- 
 said few in the castle of the city, and we were thus driven to eat 
 the flesh of horses and asses. Moreover, on the second day after 
 their arrival they killed Roger of Bameville}'^ On the third day, 
 
I90 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 they attacked the fortress which we had ert pted against the An- 
 tiochenes, but accompHshed nothing. Howe^ ^r, they did inflict a 
 wound upon Roger, chatelain of Lille, from which he died. Seeing 
 that they were accomplishing nothing on that side, they ascended the 
 hills. However, when we went out against them, we were beaten 
 and put to flight. Then they entered inside the wall, and that 
 day and the following night we were only a stone's throw from 
 each other. On the following day at daybreak they called upon 
 Baphometh^^ at the top of their voices, but we, calling upon our 
 God in our hearts, made a charge upon them and drove them all 
 outside the walls of the city. There Roger of Bethenimtle died. 
 But they moved their camp and set siege to all the gates of the city, 
 seeking to compel our surrender through lack of food. 
 
 Thereupon, when His servants had been placed in such tribula- 
 tion, God stretched forth His right hand in aid and mercifully 
 revealed the Lance with which the body of Christ was pierced. It 
 lay buried, moreover, to a depth of two men's stature beneath the 
 floor in the church of St. Peter.C_So, when this precious gem was 
 found, all our spirits were revived.' f 
 
 On the vigil of the apostles Pefer and Paul,^* (our princes), 
 after taking counsel among themselves, sent envoys to Corbara to 
 say: "The army of the Lord sends this message: 'Leave us and 
 the inheritance of St. Peter, or, otherwise, thou shalt be put to flight 
 by arms !' " When he heard this, Corbara unsheathed his sword 
 and swore by his kingdom and throne that he would defend himself 
 from all the Franks ; and he further said that he himself owned the 
 land and would possess it, justly or unjustly. For, he answered, 
 they would hear no word from him until, abandoning Antioch, they 
 denied Christ and professed the law of the Persians.^^ When this 
 message was heard, the Christians, cleansed by confession, and 
 stoutly armed by partaking of the body and blood of Christ, went 
 out from the gate ready for battle. J The first to go forth was 
 Hugh the Great, with his Franks ; next the Count of the Normans 
 and the Count of Flanders ; after them, the venerable Bishop of 
 Puy and the battle line of the Count of St. GUles ; after him, 
 Tancred ; and last of all, unconquered Bohemund. i When, accord- 
 ingly, the lines had been formed, with the Lance of the Lord and 
 the Cross before them, they began battle with the greatest con- 
 fidence. God helping, they turned in flight the Turkish princes, 
 who were confused and utterly beaten, and killed countless numbers 
 of them. Returning, therefore, with victory, we gave thanks to the 
 Lord and celebrated the festival of the apostles with the greatest 
 rejoicing. On that day the citadel was surrendered to us, the son 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 191 
 
 of the King of Antioch having fled with Catrbara. The King him- 
 self had been killed by peasants while fleeing in the mountains on 
 the day that the city was surrendered. ,' 
 
 We have sent this news to you, f ather^ ihat you may take pleasure 
 in the rescue of the Christians and the liberation of Antioch, and 
 that you may pray God with greater devotion for all of us. For 
 we place great faith in 'your prayers, and all that we accomplish 
 we ascribe, not to our merit, but to your prayers. Now we pray you 
 to keep our land in peace, and to defend the churches and the poor 
 from the hands of tyrants. We pray, likewise, that you take counsel 
 about the false pilgrims, either that they again take up the sign of 
 the saving cross with penance, and resume the journey of th^ 
 Lord, or that they undergo the peril of excommunication. Know 
 for certain that the door of the land has been opened to us, and that, 
 among our other good fortunes, the King of Babylon, by envoys 
 sent to us, has said that he will obey our will. Farewell. We be- 
 seech in the name of the Lord Jesus that all whom this letter reaches 
 pray God for us and our dead. 
 
 {The People of Lucca). "One day later, however, an innumerable 
 army of Turks was at hand. They immediately besieged all the 
 gates of the city; they shut us off from all exit or entrance. Those 
 of our men, moreover, who were stationed at the sea coast, they 
 destroyed by fire and sword. 
 
 "And, too, with this wretchedness of living and distress of dying, 
 a great famine began to afi^ict us extremely. Moreover, Count 
 Stephen, William, Bohemund's relative,^** and very many others, 
 terrified with fear at this, went down to Constantinople. As a re- 
 sult, anyone who heard that these men had thus withdrawn aban- 
 doned the expedition which he had begun, thinking that the whole 
 army had perished. In the city, moreover, bread now failed those 
 whom the greatest famine was wasting ; then the flesh of horses and 
 asses failed, and, finally, every means of subsistence. 
 
 "But the holy and merciful Lord was moved to pity at their 
 lamentations, wailing, and tears and granted this favor. For there 
 was a certain man, the poorest and nearly the most abject of all, a 
 Provengal by birth, to whom St. Andrew appeared most clearly 
 and, taking him by the hand, led him to the church of St. Peter and, 
 pointing out a place with his finger, said: 'Here lies buried the 
 Lance with which the Lord was wounded as He hung upon the 
 Cross ; go to the princes of the army of the Lord and tell them what 
 thou hast seen.' That poor man was frightened and unwilling to 
 go. Warned a second time, he went and set forth the vision. The 
 faithful dug and found it; then, rejoicing and certain of the com- 
 
t92 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 passion of God, they glorified Christ, Moreover, after a fast of 
 three days had been prescribed, they devoted themselves to prayer, 
 confessed what wrongs they had done, and marched around the 
 churches with bared feet. After this was done, each army equipped 
 itself for battle. 
 
 "On the vigils of the apostles Peter and Paul, our men, after 
 invoking the name of Christ, marched out of the city. The Bishop 
 of St, Mary of Puy preceded, bearing the Cross and the triumphal 
 Lance of the Saviour, The priests and many clerics followed, 
 dressed in white vestments. And when they had advanced thus for 
 about three miles to the field, they beheld a wonderful standard, 
 white and exceeding high, and with it a countless host of knights. 
 At the same time a wind and cloud of dust arose and drove the 
 Turks into such flight that the fugitives cast away their arms, and 
 even their very garments. And thus, God scattering them, they 
 melted away never more to appear to us. Marvelous it is to relate, 
 for no one was certain whence came either the standard or those 
 who were with it. And so, our men, collecting the equipment and 
 huge plunder of the fugitives, went into the city, exulting with 
 great joy. Moreover, on that day the Lord gave them a greater 
 abundance of food and other supplies than we have at home in 
 harvest time. And now they possess freely the stronghold of the 
 city, and all the region about, even to upper Nicaea." 
 
 This Bruno faithfully explained in the presence of all. We, more- 
 over, dearest brethren, pray and beseech you who are in charge of 
 the people to recount and explain to your sons the victory of Christ, 
 and by admonishing and enjoining remission of sins to prevail upon 
 all who are fit, paupers and women excepted, to go and join their 
 brothers. And do you also devote yourselves assiduously to psalms, 
 vigils, and prayers, that, fortified by the merits of intercessors as 
 well as by the arms of warriors, they may lead a safe and tranquil 
 life along the way which they are to take among barbarous nations. 
 We also make it known to you that Lord Pope Urban holds a 
 council at Bari, considering and arranging (matters) with many 
 senators of the land (who are) soon to take the road to Jerusalem, 
 Farewell. 
 
 (Crusading Princes). But when we wished to attack the citadel 
 on the next day, we saw overrunning all the fields an infinite multi- 
 tude of Turks, whose coming we had been expecting for many 
 days, while outside the city. These besieged us on the third day, 
 and more than one hundred of their soldiers entered the citadel; 
 for they wanted to break through the gate into the portion of the 
 city located below the citadel, common to both ourselves and them. 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 193 
 
 But taking a stand on another hill opposite the citadel, we guarded 
 the road passing between the two armies down to the city, lest 
 many more of them break in upon us. Fighting night and day, 
 within and without, we forced them to enter the gates of the citadel 
 which led them to the city, and to return to their camp. Accordingly, 
 when they saw that they could do no harm on that side, they sur- 
 rounded us all about, so that none of our men could go out or come 
 to us. As a result of this, we were all so destitute and afflicted that 
 many of our men, dying of starvation and many other wants, killed 
 and ate our famished horses and asses. 
 
 But meanwhile, by the most kind compassion of Almighty God, 
 who comes to our aid, and is watchful in our behalf, we found the 
 Lance of the Lord by which the side of our Saviour was pierced 
 at the hands of Longinus.^'' St. Andrew the apostle thrice appeared 
 to a certain servant of God and pointed out where the Lance lay 
 buried in the church of St. Peter, chief of the apostles. We were so 
 comforted and strengthened by finding it, and by many other divine 
 revelations, that we, who before had been afflicted and timid, were 
 then most boldly and eagerly urging one another to battle. 
 
 Accordingly, on the vigil of the apostles, Peter and Paul, after 
 we had been besieged for three weeks and four days, we placed 
 our trust in God and, having confessed all our iniquities, sought the 
 gates of the city from which we went out with the whole army, 
 ready for battle. We were so few that they were sure that we were 
 not fighting against them, but rather fleeing. However, when all 
 our men were ready, and the lines of foot-soldiers, as well as of 
 knights, had been definitely formed, we boldly sought out with the 
 Lance of the Lord (the points) where their valor and endurance 
 was greatest; and from the first stand of battle we forced them to 
 flee. However, as is their custom, they began to scatter themselves 
 everywhere, and, by occupying hills and seizing roads wherever they 
 could, they wanted to encircle us. But the grace and mercy of God 
 so aided us, who had been instructed against their wiles and strata- 
 gems by many battles, that we, who were very few in comparison 
 with them, forced them all together into one body; and God's right 
 hand fighting with us, we forced them, so gathered, to flee and 
 abandon their camp with all that was in it. When we had con- 
 quered them, after pursuing them all day and killing very many 
 of their knights, we returned to the city, happy and rejoicing. 
 Moreover, a certain Emir who was in the aforesaid citadel with a 
 thousand men surrendered to Bohemund, and at his hand they un- 
 animously yielded to the Christian faith. And thus our Lord Jesus 
 Christ has bound the city of Antioch to the Roman religion and 
 faith. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 Dissension Among the Leaders 
 
 (With the overthrow of Kerbogha all pressing danger from the Seljukian 
 Turks and the Caliph of Bagdad was ended for several years at least. 
 Henceforth the most serious obstacle from the Mohammedan side consisted 
 in the Fatimite Caliph of Egypt. The latter, however, had entered into 
 negotiations with the Crusaders, so that there was little cause to worry on 
 that score. All Syria was now at the disposal of the Christians, and the fear 
 of immediate danger was removed. But this situation threatened even greater 
 perils to the cause of the Crusaders. For the main incentive for close co- 
 operation and harmony was lost with the removal of danger from common 
 foes. The death of Adhemar, papal vicar, at this juncture aggravated the 
 state of affairs, for it took away the only leader who had claims upon the 
 allegiance of them all. As a result, the leaders quarrelled and all but fought 
 with each other. On one pretext and another the journey to Jerusalem was 
 postponed to satisfy their selfish ambitions. The amazing pressure exerted 
 at length by the common knights and foot-soldiers for some unity of action 
 and adhesion to the original vow deserves much greater attention in the 
 history of feudal organization than has usually been accorded it. Count 
 Raymond's use of Peter Bartholomew to support his personal plans was 
 undoubtedly the chief cause for questioning the Lance, on which Peter's 
 reputation was primarily based. Mediaeval history affords few instances of 
 the trial by the ordeal of fire so stringent or so graphically described, and 
 the varied account of the outcome betrays what intense feeling had sprung 
 up among the parties since the capture of Antioch. The elaborate version 
 by Raymond, in marked contrast with the absolute silence of the Anonymous, 
 necessitates the addition of the less direct testimony of Raoul de Caen and 
 Fulcher. The question continued a subject of debate for years in the West, 
 as well as in the East, but for the time being the Ordeal made united action 
 again possible.) 
 
 I. Disorganization of the Army. (June-November i, 1098.) 
 
 (The Crusading Princes.) B«t since some sorrow is ever wont 
 to occur in the midst of happiness, that Bishop of Puy whom you 
 committed to us as your vicar died on the Kalends of Augustjafter 
 the battle in which he had taken an honorable part was over and the 
 city pacific^;";-;». Now, therefore, we, your sons, bereft of the father 
 committed to" us, bid you, our spiritual father, who started this ex- 
 pedition, who, by your sermons, caused us all to leave our lands and 
 all that was on those lands, commanded us to take up the cross to 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 195 
 
 follow Christ, and admonished us to exalt the Christian name — we 
 bid you complete the task which you urged ; come to us and per- 
 suade all whom you can to come with you. For here the blessed 
 Peter was enthroned in the church which we see daily, and those 
 who before were called Galileans^ were here first in general called 
 Christians. What in the world, therefore, can seem more proper 
 than that you, who stand forth as the father and head of the Chris- 
 tian religion, should come to the first and chief city of the Chris- 
 tian name, and complete on your part the war which is your own? 
 For we have driven out the Turks and pagans ; the heretics, how- 
 ever, Greeks and Armenians, Syrians, and Jacobites,- we cannot 
 expel. We bid you, therefore, again and again, our most beloved 
 father, come as father and head to the place of your fatherhood, 
 and, as the vicar of St. Peter, take your seat in his church and have 
 us as your obedient sons in well doing. Root out and destroy all 
 heresy of whatever kind by your authority and our valor, and thus 
 complete the expedition of Jesus Christ, begun by us, and preached 
 by yourself. And, likewise, open to us the gates of both Jerusalems, 
 make free the Sepulchre of the Lord and exalt the Christian name 
 above every name. For, if you will come to us, and with us finish 
 the expedition begun by you, all the world will be obedient to you. 
 May He Himself cause you to do this. Who liveth and reigneth God 
 for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 A matter has been related to me which, indeed, is very much 
 against God and all worshippers of Christ; namely, that persons 
 signed with the cross hold permission from you to remain among 
 Christians. I marvel greatly at this, because, since you are the 
 instigator of this holy journey, those who put off that journey ought 
 to receive neither counsel nor anything good from you until they 
 have fulfilled the journey which they began. And it is not only our 
 concern that you thus disturb the good which you have begun but, 
 also, that you should strengthen us by the coming of yourself and 
 all whom you can lead with you. For it is fitting that we, who by 
 God's help and your pious prayers are possessors of all Romania, 
 Cilicia, Asia, and Syria, should have you, after God, as our aid and 
 succour. Moreover, most holy father, you ought to separate us, 
 sons obedient to you in all things, from the unjust Emperor who 
 has made us many good promises, but has not at all carried them 
 out. For he has caused us all the ill and hindrance which he could. 
 
 This document was written on the nth day of the beginning of 
 September, Fourth Indiction. 
 
 (Gesta.) Immediately all our leaders, Godfrey, Raymond, Count 
 of St. Gilles, Bohemund, Lord Robert, Count of Normandy, the 
 
196 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 Count of Flanders, and all the rest sent the most noble knight Hugh 
 the Great to the Emperor at Constantinople (with a message) to 
 come and receive the town and fulfil the agreements which he had 
 with them. He went and never afterward returned. After all 
 this had been done, all our leaders assembled and held a council as 
 to how they could successfully lead and rule over this multitude 
 until they should have accomplished the march to the Holy Sepul- 
 chre, for which they had already up to this point suffered so many 
 dangers. It was decided in the council that they should not yet 
 dare to enter the land of the pagans, because in the summer time it 
 is very dry and has no water, and so they agreed to wait until the 
 Kalends of November. Then the leaders separated, and each one 
 set out into his own land, (to wait) until the time for going. And 
 the princes had the trumpets sounded throughout the whole city, 
 announcing that if any needy person without gold and silver wished 
 to remain with them, he would be gladly maintained by them, upon 
 making an agreement. 
 
 There was a certain knight of the army of the Count of St. 
 Gilles, whose name was Raymond Piletus. He retained very many 
 vassels, knights, and foot-soldiers. He went out with this assembled 
 army and entered the land of the Saracens and, setting out beyond 
 two cities, came to a certain fortified place, the name of which was 
 Talamania. The inhabitants of the place, Syrians, immediately sur- 
 rendered to him of their own accord. And when all had been there 
 for eight days, messengers came to him saying: "There is near us 
 here a fortress filled with a multitude of Saracens." To this camp 
 went the pilgrim knights of Christ and attacked it on all sides, and 
 it was straightway captured by them with the aid of Christ. There- 
 upon, they took all the inhabitants of this place and killed those 
 who were unwilling to receive Christianity. And when this had 
 been accomplished, our Franks returned with great joy to their 
 former camp. 
 
 But on the third day they went out and came to a certain city 
 near them, Marra by name. Moreover, there were gathered there 
 many Turks and Saracens from the city of Aleppo, and from all 
 the cities and towns which were around it. The barbarians, accord- 
 ingly, came out against us to do batle, and our men, thinking 
 to struggle with them in fighting, forced them to flight ; but they, 
 returning, attacked our men from time to time throughout the whole 
 day, and their attack lasted up to evening. The summer being hot 
 beyond measure, our men were already unable to endure such great 
 thirst because they could nowhere find water to drink ; nevertheless, 
 they wished to return in safety to their fortress. But because of 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 197 
 
 their sins the Syrians and the poor people, seized with great fear, 
 began immediately to take the way back again. As the Turks saw 
 them coming back, they began at once to pursue them, and victory 
 ministered strength to them; thus many of these people gave up 
 their souls to God for love of whom they had there assembled. This 
 slaughter occurred on the fifth day in the month of July. However, 
 the Franks who had remained returned to their camp, and there 
 Raymond lingered with his people for several days. But the others 
 who had remained in Antioch stayed in the city with great joy and 
 gladness. 
 
 Their guide and shepherd was the Bishop of Puy, who at the 
 nod of God was taken with a serious illness and, as it was the will 
 of God, departed from this earth and, resting in peace, slept in the 
 Lord on the festival of St. Peter which is called Ad Vincula.^ As 
 a result, there was great anguish, tribulation, and very great grief 
 in the whole Christian army, because he had been a support to the 
 poor, counsel to the rich, and he had ordained clergy. He had 
 preached and admonished the leaders saying: "No one of you can 
 be saved, unless he respects and refreshes the poor. You cannot be 
 saved without them, they cannot live without you; it is fitting, 
 therefore, that they pray God in daily supplication for your sins, 
 because you offend Him daily in many ways. Therefore, I ask you 
 for the love of God to cherish them and sustain them as much as 
 you can." 
 
 Not long after this, the venerable man, Raymond, Count of St. 
 Gilles, went out, and, entering the land of the Saracens, he came to 
 a certain city called Barra, which he attacked with his army and 
 straightway captured. He killed all the Saracen men and women, 
 noble and common, whom he found there. After he held it in his 
 power, he recalled it to the faith of Christ. He then sought coun- 
 sel from his wisest men, that he might have a bishop most devoutly 
 ordained in this city, to recall it loyally to the worship of Christ 
 and out of the house of the devil to consecrate a temple and altars 
 of the saints to the true and living God. They straightway chose 
 a certain honorable and very wise man and conducted him to Anti- 
 och to be consecrated, and this was done. The rest, however, who 
 had remained in Antioch were there with great joy and gladness. 
 
 {Raymond.) After this victory it happened that our princes, 
 Bohemund, the Count, the Duke, and the Count of Flanders, re- 
 ceived the fortress of the city; but Bohemund took the highest 
 towers, already at that time plotting the wiles by which he caused 
 an injustice. For he next drove the men of the Duke, of the 
 Count of Flanders, and of the Count of St. Gilles violently from 
 
198 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 the citadel, saying that he had given oath to that Turk who had 
 surrendered the city that he alone would hold it. On this account, 
 too, since he had done this with impunity, he began to seek the 
 castles and gates of the city which the Count, Bishop, and Duke had 
 guarded during the time that we were besieged. All gave in to him, 
 except the Count. For, though ill, he was yet unwilUng to give up 
 the gate of the bridge either for prayer, promises, or threats. Dis- 
 cord at this time not only disturbed our princes, but it also so de- 
 stroyed harmony among the people that there were few who did not 
 quarrel with their companions or servants about matters of theft 
 or plunder. Nor was there in the city any judge who could, or 
 would, settle these disputes, but as much injustice as he could bear 
 befell each man. Moreover, the Count and Bishop were very ill 
 and could not in the least protect their men from wrong. But why 
 do we delay over these matters? Forsooth, our men, once more 
 enjoying ease and riches against the command of God, put off to the 
 Kalends of November the journey on which account they had come, 
 although at this time the cities of the Saracens were so terrified and 
 beset with fear at the flight of the Turks that if our Franks had 
 ridden forth then we believe there would not have been a city, even 
 to Jerusalem, which would have thrown a stone at them. 
 
 Meanwhile Lord Bishop, Adhemar of Puy, beloved of God and 
 men, a man dear in everything to all, passed in peace to the Lord 
 on the Kalends of August. So great was the grief of all the Chris- 
 tains at his death that, when we undertook to describe it, we who 
 saw it could not at all comprehend it because of its magnitude. How 
 useful he had been to the princes and the army of God was mani- 
 fest after his death when the princes were divided among them- 
 selves, Bohemund going back to Romania and the Duke of Lorraine 
 setting out toward Edessa. , 
 
 On the second night after the Bishop had been buried in 
 the church of St. Peter at Antioch, the Lord Jesus Himself, together 
 with St. Andrew and the same Bishop, stood before that Peter 
 Bartholomew who had spoken of the Lance, in the chapel of the 
 Count where the Lance of the Lord was. And the Bishop spoke to 
 him, saying: 
 
 "Thanks be to God, to Bohemund, and to all of you, my brothers, 
 who have delivered me from hell. For I had sinned gravely after 
 the Lance of the Lord was found. On this account I was led down 
 into hell and there most severely punished, and my head and face 
 were burned, as you can see. My soul was there from the hour in 
 which it went forth from my body until my poor body was given to 
 the dust. The Lord gave to me amidst the burning flames the gar- 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 199 
 
 ment that you see, because when I received the order of the episco- 
 pate I gave it in the name of God to a certain poor man. And 
 though Gehenna was exceedingly hot and the ministers of Tartarus 
 raged against me, yet they could do no harm beneath it. Nothing 
 of all that I brought from my fatherland has been of such value 
 to me as this candle which my friends offered here for me and 
 those three denarii which I offered to the Lance, for these have 
 restored me when, suffering in hell, I was near unto death. Lord 
 Bohemund said that he would bear my body to Jerusalem. Let 
 him know that it is to his advantage not to move me, for the blood 
 of the Lord who accompanies me is still there. But if he doubts 
 this which I say, let him open my tomb and he will see my head 
 and face burned. I have committed my following to my lord the 
 Count; let it comfort him that God bestows His mercy upon him 
 and fulfils what He has promised him. And let my brothers not 
 grieve that I have finished life, since I never was so useful as I will 
 now be, if they are willing to observe the commands of God. For 
 I shall dwell with them and likewise all my brothers who, like 
 myself, have ended this life; and I shall appear and shall counsel 
 them much better than hitherto. And you, my brothers, be mindful 
 of the punishments of hell which are so severe and so dreadful. 
 Accordingly, serve God who can deliver you from these and other 
 evils. How well-born is he who shall know not the punishments of 
 hell ! This the Saviour can grant to those who observe His pre- 
 cepts. Keep what remains of this candle in the morning. And let 
 the Count, together with those he may wish, choose a bishop in my 
 place, since it is not just for the Blessed Mary to have no bishop 
 after my death. Give one of my cloaks to the church of St. An- 
 drew." 
 
 And the blessed Andrew knelt down to Him. After this, St. 
 Andrew, sitting nearer, spoke as follows : "Let all hear what the 
 Lord speaks through me: Be mindful, Count, of that gift which the 
 Lord gave to thee ; strive to work in His name, that the Lord may 
 direct thy deeds and words, and heed thy prayer. The first gift 
 which the Lord conferred upon thee, Nicaea, has been turned from 
 Him. God gave thee His city and took it from His enemies and 
 afterwards was not recognized there. If anyone invoked the name 
 of the Lord, he was beaten there, and the deeds of the Lord were 
 not done there. But because of His kindness the Lord has not 
 willed to refuse that which thou seekest, and even more than thou 
 hast dared to ask. For he gave thee the Lance which wounded 
 His body, whence the blood of our redemption flowed forth. 
 But He did not give it thee to do with as thou didst with the 
 
200 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 other; thou canst see that the Lord has "iven thee this be- 
 cause of thy deserts. The Lord commands thee, O Count, to 
 find out who will be willing to make himself lord of this city over 
 the others ; and to seek from him what kind of dominion he shall 
 wish to establish for the sake of the Lord. If thou and thy brothers 
 to whom God gave this city know that he is faithful and wishes to 
 maintain the justice of God, let him have it. And if he is unwilling 
 to do and hold justice and judgment, but wishes to keep the city 
 through his might, do thou alone, and through thy brothers, ask ad- 
 vice of God, and He will give it thee. And those men who have fol- 
 lowed the right path, or whom God cherishes, will not fail thee ; let 
 those, however, who are unwilling to keep the right way, turn to 
 him who is unwilling to execute justice, and it will be seen how God 
 will save them. For they shall have the same curse from God and 
 His Mother which Lucifer had when he fell from heaven. And 
 do you, if you are all of one mind, ask advice in prayer and God 
 will give it to you. And if there is concord among you, take coun- 
 sel about a patriarch who is of your law. Moreover, do not loose 
 those men who have come to you from captivity to keep your law. 
 Do not receive those who have wandered into Chorosan to adore 
 the God of the Turks, but hold them as Turks and send two or 
 three of them to prison and they will betray the rest to you. More- 
 over, after the deeds above named have been done, seek advice- 
 from the Lord about the journey because of which you came, and 
 He will advise you. Jerusalem is ten days from you, and if you 
 are not willing to keep the above written commands, you shall not 
 go into Jerusalem in ten years. And after ten years I will lead back 
 the infidels in honor, and a hundred of them shall prevail against 
 a thousand of you. Do you, men of Christ, seek from the Lord the 
 petition which the apostles sought. And just as He gave it to them, 
 so also will He now give it to you. You, Count and Bohemund, go 
 to the church of St. Andrew, and he will give you the best counsel 
 from God. And that which God shall place in your hearts (to do), 
 do. And after St. Andrew has visited you, visit him and have your 
 brothers visit him. Between you, Count and Bohemund, let there 
 be concord and love of God and neighbor. And if, indeed, you have 
 fortunately come to agreement, nothing will be able to separate 
 you. It is well to show first the justice which you ought to main- 
 tain. According as the men are followers of their individual 
 bishops, let them profess their wealth ; let them aid the poor of 
 their kind just as they can, and as there shall be need. Moreover, 
 about other matters do as you shall agree. If any are unwilling to 
 do this and other justice, constrain them. And if anyone shall wish 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 201 
 
 to retain any other city of those which God shall give you, make 
 him conduct himself according to the above directions. If, hovi^- 
 ever, they are unwilling to do this, let the Count with the children 
 of God punish them." 
 
 These words, at first believed, were then forgotten, for some said, 
 "Let us return the city to the Emperor." Others, however, said not. 
 
 When, indeed, Peter was pressed by death at the siege of Archas, 
 he called the Count to him and said, "When you have reached 
 Jerusalem, have the army ask God to prolong your life and continue 
 it, and God will prolong it as much as you have already lived. How- 
 ever, when you shall have returned, place the Lance of God five 
 leagues from the church of St. Trophim, and have a church built 
 there, and let there be a medal which you shall swear is not falsified, 
 and do not allow anything else to be falsified there. That place will 
 be called the Mount of Joy. Let these things be done within Pro- 
 vence, for St. Peter promised to his disciple, St. Trophim,* that 
 he would send the Lance of God to him." 
 
 And thus through discord and seditions of this kind the property 
 of the poor was wiped out. Of this advice which the princes re- 
 ceived from St. Andrew nothing came. 
 
 Meanwhile, the Turks of the Caliph besieged a certain fortified 
 place called Asa. Therefore the afflicted Turks who were within 
 sent word to the Duke, who was in that region, to receive their 
 fortress ; that they then wished to have no lord except one of the 
 race of the Franks. On this account, therefore, the Duke, return- 
 ing to Antioch, summoned together the Count, who had already 
 convalesced from his illness, and all his knights and foot-soldiers, 
 for the sake of the poor to lead them into Hispania for plunder. 
 He urged greatly that the Count, for God, for the glory of the race 
 of the Franks, and for himself, should aid the Turks who were call- 
 ing upon God, adding that the besieged Turks held forth the Cross 
 against the machines of the besieging Turks. After these and 
 many other prayers of this kind, the Count set out with the Duke. 
 However, when this was found out by the Turks, they withdrew 
 from the siege. As our army came to Asa, the Duke received hos- 
 tages from the fortress for fealty thereafter, and the Count, with 
 a heavy expense to his army, returned to Antioch. Again the Count 
 assembled his army to lead the poor people into Hispania because 
 they were failing from hunger and illness at Antioch. 
 
 However, St. Andrew appeared to Peter Bartholomew, this time 
 at Rugia, in a tent where the Bishop of Agde was staying and the 
 chaplain of Count Raymond and another chaplain, Simon by name. 
 This Simon, moreover, hearing them speaking together, that is, 
 
202 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 St. Andrew with Peter Bartholomew, lent his ears, and, as he said, 
 heard very many things, but remembered only this: "Lord, I say." 
 
 But the Bishop of Agde said : 'T know not whether it was in a 
 dream or not. A certain old man dressed in a white cloak and 
 holding in his hand the Lance of the Lord stood before me and said 
 to me, 'Dost thou believe that this is the Lance of Jesus Christ?' 
 
 "And I replied, 'I believe. Lord.' 
 
 "And when he had thus questioned me a second and a third time, 
 I said 'Verily I believe, Lord, that this is the Lance which drew 
 forth from the side of Jesus Christ the blood whence we all have 
 been redeemed.' " 
 
 And after this, the Bishop violently aroused me, who was sleep- 
 ing near. When I looked out, I saw an unwonted splendor, and, 
 feeling a certain grace of spirit, I began to ask of those who were 
 present whether they had noticed any disturbance among the people. 
 And all began to say, "Not at all." But when we said to one another 
 the things which we said above, that Peter to whom this revelation 
 had been made replied, "And truly enough did you here see a grace- 
 giving splendor, since the Father from whom all grace proceeds 
 stood here for some time." 
 
 When, moreover, we asked him to make clear what had been told 
 him, he said this to us and the Count: 
 
 "On this night the Lord and St. Andrew came here in the form 
 in which they have been wont to come before, together with a cer- 
 tain third person with a very long beard whose stature was slight 
 and who was dressed in linen. Then St. Andrew threatened me 
 much because I had left in an unworthy place the relics of his 
 body which were found in his church at Antioch, and said 'When 
 I was hurled headlong from a mountain near Antioch by the 
 infidels, I broke two of my fingers, and after my death this man 
 took them and brought them to Antioch. But thou, when thou 
 didst find them, neglected them ; one thou hast permitted to be 
 taken away from thee, the other thou hast unworthily neglected.' 
 And he showed his hand without the fingers. Then, Count, he 
 complained much about you, for, although you have received the 
 ineffable reward granted to no one else by the Lord, you do not 
 fear to sin gravely and wickedly in the sight of God. Therefore 
 the Lord showed you this sign. For five days ago when you offered 
 a candle on the festival of the blessed Fidus^ large enough to last 
 for three days and nights, it did not even give light, but melted 
 away immediately and was destroyed on the ground. Moreover, 
 tonight you offered a candle so little that it could scarcely last till 
 cockcrow, and it is now day, and it still lasts, nor Jias a third part 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 203 
 
 of it been burned. Besides this, the Lord sends you word to begin 
 nothing, unless you have first done penance; otherwise you and 
 whatever you do will sink, like the melted candle, into the ground. 
 And he says that if you do penance, all that you begin in the name 
 of the Lord God will perfect and finish, and as you see this little 
 candle last a long time, so will the Lord make great whatever you 
 shall undertake, even though it be small." 
 
 And when the Count denied that he had sinned so gravely, Peter 
 also narrated the sin to him, and the Count thus confessed and did 
 penance. 
 
 And again Peter said to the Count, "St. Andrew complains of 
 your counsellors, that they knowingly advise many evil things. 
 Wherefore he commands that you do not admit them to your coun- 
 sel. Hear also. Count : the Lord commands you not to delay, be- 
 cause, unless Jerusalem is first captured, you shall have no aid. 
 When, however, you shall draw near Jerusalem, let no one ride 
 closer than two leagues; if you do this, God will give the city to 
 you. After this, St. Andrew thanked me much because I had 
 caused the church which was built in his name to be consecrated. 
 St. Andrew said this and other things to me about which it is not 
 now the place to speak. After this they disappeared, he and his 
 companions." ,i 
 
 Accordingly, the Count set out with the poor people and a few 
 knights into Syria and took by storm the first city of the Saracens, 
 Barra by name; and he killed there many thousands of Saracens 
 and many thousands were led back to Antioch to be sold. But he 
 permitted those to go away free who, for fear of death, gave them- 
 selves up to him while they were being besieged. Then, after taking 
 counsel with his chaplains and leaders, he there very laudably and 
 honorably chose a certain priest as Bishop. When all who were 
 there with him had been assembled, the chaplain of the Count 
 mounted a wall and made clear the desire of the Count to the whole 
 assemblage. And when the people were very insistent that the 
 election should be made, the same chaplain of the Count began to 
 seek if there was there any cleric to receive the vows of the faith- 
 ful and to serve God and his brothers there, as much as he could, 
 in resisting the pagans. And when all were silent, we urged a 
 certain Peter, Narbonne by race, to whom we held forth the work 
 of the episcopate in the presence of all the Council, begging that 
 he should not hesitate to accept it for God and his brothers, if he 
 had it in mind to prefer to die rather than leave that city. When 
 he professed this, all the people unanimously approved him and of- 
 fered great thanks to God that through the administration of this 
 
204 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 man He wished to have a Roman bishop in the Oriental church. 
 The Count granted to the Bishop one half of the city and its land.® 
 
 2. Disputes between Raymond and Bohemund. (November i, 1098- 
 January 13, 1099.) 
 
 (Gesta.) But as the time set approached, that is the Feast of 
 All Saints, all our leaders returned to Antioch and together began 
 to seek how they might accomplish the journey to the Holy Sepul- 
 chre, saying: "Since the time set for going has arrived, there is not 
 time for further quarrelling." Bohemund, however, daily sought 
 (confirmation of) the agreement which all the leaders had long ago 
 made with him to give him the city.' But the Count of St. Gilles 
 wished to commit himself to no agreement with Bohemund, be- 
 cause he feared to perjure himself with the Emperor. Neverthe- 
 less, they often assembled in the Church of St. Peter to do what 
 was just. Bohemund recited his agreement and presented his reck- 
 oning. The Count of St. Gilles, likewise, laid bare his words and 
 the oath which he had made to the Emperor on the advice of Bo- 
 hemund. The bishops, Duke Godfrey, the Count of Flanders, the 
 Count of Normandy, and the other leaders separated from the rest 
 and entered (the space) where the chair of St. Peter stands, there 
 to decide upon a judgment between the two. But fearing later that 
 the journey to the Holy Sepulchre might be interrupted, they were 
 unwilling to make public their judgment. Then the Count of St. 
 Gilles said: "Rather than see the way to the Holy Sepulchre (un- 
 achieved), if Bohemund will consent to go with us, I will faithfully 
 agree to whatever our peers (to wit, Duke Godfrey, the Count of 
 Flanders, Robert of Normandy, and the other seignors) approve, 
 saving fealty to the Emperor."** Bohemund approved of all this, 
 and both promised in the hands of a bishop that the journey to the 
 Holy Sepulchre would in no way be disturbed by them. Then 
 Bohemund took counsel with his vassals, how with men and pro- 
 visions he might fortify the citadel on the high mountain. The 
 Count of St. Gilles, likewise, took counsel with his men, how he 
 might fortify with men and provisions enough for a long time the 
 palace of Cassianus, and the tower which is above the gate of the 
 bridge, on the side toward the Port of St. Simeon. •• 
 
 This city of Antioch is indeed very beautiful and glorious, since 
 within its walls are four very large and exceedingly high mountains. 
 On the higher one has been built a castle, wonderful and exceed- 
 ingly strong. Down below is the city glorious, near at hand and 
 adorned with honors of all kinds, since many churches have been 
 built within it. It contains three hundred and sixty monasteries, 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 205 
 
 and the Patriarch holds under his sway one hundred and fifty-three 
 bishops.^ The city is enclosed by two walls; the greater one, fur- 
 thermore, is very high and marvelously wide, and constructed of 
 great stones, on which have been arranged four hundred and fifty 
 towers. The city is beautiful in every way. On the east it is en- 
 closed by four mountains, on the west beside the walls flows a cer- 
 tain stream, Orontes by name. So they were unwilling foolishly or 
 senselessly to give up the regal city of Antioch, which was of such 
 great authority that it held seventy-five kings under its sway. The 
 chief of these was King Antiochus,^*^ from whom it is called Anti- 
 och, The Franks besieged that city for eight months and a day, 
 and afterwards were shut up in it for three weeks by the Turks 
 and other pagans, than whose number there has never been a greater 
 gathering of men, whether Christians or Pagans. Nevertheless, 
 after those people had been defeated by God's Christians, with the 
 aid of God and the Holy Sepulchre, we rested in Antioch with great 
 joy and gladness for five months and eight days. 
 
 When these things had been fulfilled, Raymond, Count of St. 
 Gilles, left Antioch with his army in the month of November and 
 came to a city called Rugia and to another which is called Barra. 
 But at the end of the fourth day of outgoing November he came 
 to the city of Marra, in which a very great multitude of Saracens, 
 Turks, Arabs, and other pagans had been assembled, and the Count 
 himself attacked it on the next day. Not much later, Bohemund 
 with his army followed the Counts^^ and joined them on the day 
 of the Lord. 
 
 On the second day of the week they attacked the city vigorously 
 on all sides, so fiercely and so powerfully that their ladders were set 
 up against the wall. But so very great was the valor of the pagans 
 that on that day they could do them no hurt or oflFense. How- 
 ever, when our leaders saw that they could accomplish nothing and 
 were laboring in vain, Raymond, Count of St. Gilles, caused a 
 certain wooden fortress to be made strong and high. This fortress 
 was contrived and built on four wheels. On (the top of) it were 
 stationed many knights and Everard the Hunter, who sounded his 
 trumpet loudly, but below were armed knights who took the fort- 
 ress up to the very wall of the city, near a certain tower. When 
 the pagan people saw this, they immediately constructed a machine 
 by means of which to cast great stones on the fortress, so that they 
 almost killed our knights. They also threw Greek fire on the fort- 
 ress, expecting it to burn and be destroyed. But Almighty God was 
 unwilling to burn the fortress in this fashion, for it towered over 
 all the walls of the city. Accordingly, our knights who were in the 
 
2o6 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 upper compartment, William of Montpellier and many others, 
 hurled great stones upon those who were standing on the wall of 
 the city and thus struck them over their shields, so that enemy and 
 shield fell down into the city to death. So were these men doing; 
 but the rest held glorious banners on their spears, and with lances 
 and iron hooks planned to drag the enemy to them. Thus they 
 fought until evening. The priests and clerics, dressed in their sacred 
 vestments, stood behind the fortress, praying and beseeching God 
 to defend His people, exalt Christianity, and cast down paganism. 
 On the other side, however, our knights fought with the pagans 
 daily and raised ladders to the wall, but their valor was so great 
 that our men could accomplish nothing. Godfrey of Lastour 
 was the first to climb up the ladder to the wall, but the ladder 
 was immediately broken by the multitude of the others. Yet 
 he climbed onto the wall with a few, and those who had ascended 
 cleared the wall close about them. The others, too, found 
 another ladder and quickly set it up against the wall, and many 
 knights and foot-soldiers, ascending by it, immediately climbed over 
 the wall. Thereupon the Saracens so stoutly attacked them from 
 the wall and from the ground by shooting arrows and hurling spears 
 everywhere that many of our men in terror let themselves down 
 from the wall. For a long time those most illustrious men who 
 remained on the wall bore the attack of the enemy, as long as the 
 rest beneath the fortress were undermining the wall of the city. 
 But when the Saracens saw that our men had undermined the wall, 
 they were overcome with fright and immediately fled into the city. 
 All this happened on the Sabbath day, toward the hour of vespers, 
 at sunset on the eleventh day of incoming December.^- 
 
 Bohemund, thereupon, had it proclaimed through an interpreter 
 to the leaders of the Saracens that they might place themselves, 
 with their wives and children and other possessions, in a palace 
 near the gate, and that he would defend them from the sentence of 
 death. But all our men entered the city, and whatever goods they 
 found in the houses and in the pits each one appropriated as his 
 own. However, when day came they killed many of them, whether 
 man or woman, wherever they found them. No corner of the city 
 was free from corpses of the Saracens, and we could scarcely go 
 anywhere in the city without stepping on the Saracen dead. At 
 length, Bohemund seized those whom he had commanded to enter 
 the palace and took from them all they had : to wit, gold, silver, 
 and other ornaments. Some he had killed ; others, however, he 
 ordered to be taken to Antioch for sale. 
 
 Moreover, the delay of the Franks in that city was for one month 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 207 
 
 and four days, during which time the Bishop of Orange died. 
 There were some of our men who did not find it there to their taste, 
 not only because of the long stay, but also because of the pressure 
 of hunger, since they could find nothing outside to take. But they 
 burned the bodies of the dead because they found gold besants hid- 
 den in their stomachs, while others cut the flesh of the bodies to 
 pieces and cooked them for food. 
 
 However, Bohemund could not get the Count of St. Gilles to 
 agree to this matter that he sought and returned in anger to Antioch. 
 Accordingly Count Raymond, without long delay, sent (word) 
 through his legates at Antioch to Duke Godfrey, the Count of Flan- 
 ders, Robert the Norman, and Bohemund that they should come to 
 the city of Rugia to speak with him. All the leaders went there 
 and held a council as to how they could honorably continue the 
 journey to the Holy Sepulchre, for the sake of which they had been 
 aroused and had come hither to this place. They could not bring 
 Bohemund into accord with Raymond, unless Count Raymond gave 
 Antioch to him. The Count refused to agree to this because of the 
 pledge which he had made to the Emperor. The Counts and the 
 Dukes then returned to Antioch with Bohemund, but Count Ray- 
 mond returned to Marra, where the pilgrims were. He also bade 
 his knights strengthen the palace and castle which was over the 
 gate of the bridge to the city. 
 
 (Raymond.) And now the Kalends of November was pressing, 
 the day on which all the princes had promised to convene at Antioch 
 and begin the journey because of which they had come. Moreover, 
 Barra was about two days distant from Antioch. Accordingly, 
 the Count left his army at Barra and, with his Bishop-elect and many 
 captives and much booty, returned to Antioch with great exultation. 
 All the princes assembled there except Baldwin, brother of the 
 Duke. But this Baldwin, who had set out before the capture of 
 Antioch toward the Euphrates, had obtained Edessa, a very wealthy 
 and famous city ; and he had successfully fought many battles with 
 the Turks. 
 
 But before we go on to the rest, this one incident about the Duke 
 of Lorraine should not be passed over. When he was coming to 
 Antioch at this time with twelve knights, he met one hundred and 
 fifty Turks. Thereupon, after taking up his arms and urging on 
 his knights, he bravely attacked the enemy. However, when the 
 Turks saw that the Franks preferred death in fighting to flight with 
 safety, a certain portion of the Turks dismounted so that the other 
 portion might fight in greater security, since they would know that 
 their companions, having left their horses, would not withdraw from 
 
2o8 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 the battle. And thus, since the battle, once begun, was lasting 
 long and severely, the Duke's knights, who equalled the number 
 of the twelve apostles and regarded their lord as the vicar of God, 
 encouraged one another and fearlessly attacked the lines of the 
 Turks. There God granted so great a victory to the Duke that 
 he killed almost thirty of the enemy and took the same number 
 captive; and, pursuing the rest in the swamps and the river which 
 were nearby, he forced some to be destroyed, some drowned. And 
 so he came to Antioch with a great victory, for he Caused several 
 heads of the dead to be carried by the living Turks, a sight joyful 
 enough for us. 
 
 And so, when all the princes had come together into the church 
 of St. Peter, they began to talk about our journey. Then some who 
 held castles and revenues in the region of Antioch said: "What 
 will be done about Antioch ? Who will keep it ? The Emperor will 
 not come. For when he received the message that the Turks were 
 besieging us, he fled, trusting neither his own courage nor the multi- 
 tude of men which he had with him. Shall we still wait for him? 
 Surely he will not come to our aid, he who forced our brothers, on 
 their way to the aid of God and ourselves, to turn back! And if 
 we leave this city, and the Turks occupy it, the end will be worse 
 than before. But let us all grant it to Bohemund, since he is wise 
 and will guard it very well ; and his name is great among the pagans." 
 
 But the Count and the others said on the contrary, "We swore 
 to the Emperor upon the Cross of the Lord, and the Crown of 
 thorns, and upon many other holy objects, that we would not retain 
 without his will any city or fortress of all that belonged to his 
 Empire." 
 
 And thus, with some contradicting the others in this way and that, 
 the princes suffered such discord that they almost came to blows. 
 The Duke and the Count of Flanders regarded the city of Antioch 
 lightly ; for though they wished Bohemund to have it, yet they dared 
 not approve giving it to him for fear of incurring the infamy of 
 perjury.^^ In this way, accordingly, the matter of the journey and 
 other things pertaining to the journey and to the poor were put off. 
 However, when the people saw this, each one began to say to his 
 companion and neighbor, then openly to all : "Since the princes, 
 either from fear or because of their oaths to the Emperor, are un- 
 willing to lead us to Jerusalem, let us choose some brave knight in 
 serving whom loyally we can be safe, and, if it is the will of God, 
 we will arrive in Jerusalem with this same knight as leader. Alas ! 
 is it not enough for the princes that we have been here a year, and 
 two hundred thousand armed men have been wasted? Let them 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 209 
 
 who wish to have the Emperor's gold have it, and those who wish 
 to have the revenues of Antioch, hkewise. Let us, however, take 
 up our march with Christ as leader, for whom we have come. Let 
 those who want to hold Antioch perish miserably, as its inhabitants 
 recently perished. If this great dispute about Antioch is con- 
 tinued longer, let us tear down its walls, and the peace which held 
 the princes together before the city was taken will unite them after 
 it has been destroyed. Nay, before we waste away utterly here 
 from starvation and disease, we ought to return to our own homes." 
 For these and other reasons the Count and Bohemund made dis- 
 cordant peace between themselves. So when the day had been 
 fixed, the people were ordered to prepare for the avowed journey. 
 
 Accordingly, when the necessary preparations had been made and 
 the day fixed, the Count of St. Gilles and the Count of Flanders 
 set out with the people into Syria, and there they besieged Marra, 
 a very rich and populous city. Marra was about eight miles from 
 Barra. Its citizens were so haughty, because, at one time in a cer- 
 tain fight they had killed many of our men, that they cursed our 
 army and maligned the princes, and, to provoke us most, they 
 placed crosses upon the walls and plied them with insults. For 
 this reason, therefore, on the second day after our arrival, we as- 
 sailed them so fiercely that if we had had four more ladders the 
 city would have been taken : but since we had only two, and those 
 so short and fragile that one climbed upon them timidly, it was 
 decided that machines, hurdles, and mounds be constructed, by means 
 of which the wall could be forced, undermined, and levelled. In 
 the meantime, Bohemund came with his army and besieged it from 
 the other side. Again, without having prepared the machines which 
 we spoke of above, as if because of the encouragement of Bohe- 
 mund, who had not been present at the former assault, we wished 
 to attack the city by filling the moat. But this was in vain, for we 
 then fought much worse than we did before. After this, there was 
 such famine in the army that, pitiful to say, you could see ten thou- 
 sand men going about the fields like cattle, digging and looking 
 (to see) if by chance they might find grains of wheat, or barley, 
 or beans, or the grains of any other legume. In the meanwhile, 
 though the machines of which we spoke above were being prepared 
 to take the city by storm, nevertheless some of our men, upon see- 
 ing the misery of our people and the boldness of the Saracens, 
 despaired of God's mercy and fled. 
 
 But God, who has concern for His followers, did not permit His 
 people whom He saw placed in extreme tribulation to suffer too 
 far. Therefore He sent word to us through His blessed apostles 
 
210 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 Peter and Andrew, through whom we should both learn His will 
 and be able to satisfy His stern will towards us. Accordingly, they 
 came into the chapel of the Count about midnight and aroused Peter 
 to whom they had recently shown the Lance. When he then sud- 
 denly saw them clothed in ill-shapen garb, standing near the chest 
 where the relics were, he believed them to be some paupers who 
 wanted to steal something from the tent. For there was St. Andrew, 
 dressed in an old shirt torn at the shoulders and in a cloak ripped 
 at the opening of his left shoulder; there was nothing over the 
 right shoulder and he was vilely shod. Peter wore only a coarse 
 and long shirt down to his ankles. 
 
 Then Peter Bartholomew said to them, "Who are you, Sirs? 
 What do you want?" 
 
 And St, Peter replied, "We are envoys of God. I am Peter, ana 
 this is Andrew. But we wished to appear to thee in this garb, in 
 order that thou shouldst see how much it profiteth to serve Go(? 
 devoutly. In this season and garb, as thou seest us, we came tc 
 God, and such we now are." 
 
 And at this word nothing was brighter than they, nothing more 
 beautiful. Peter, indeed, who saw this, terrified at the bright light, 
 fell to the earth as if dead, and, sweating from excessive anguish, 
 he moistened the earth upon which he had fallen. Then St. Peter 
 raised him and said to him, "Thou didst fall easily." 
 
 And he replied, "It is so. Lord." 
 
 Again St. Peter (spoke) : "So fall all who are in unbelief, or 
 who transgress the commands of God. But if they are penitent for 
 their evil deeds, and call out to God, the Lord raises them just as I 
 raised thee when thou hadst fallen. And just as thy sweat remains 
 on the ground, so God will take up and bear away the sins of those 
 who cry out to Him. Tell me, how is the army?" 
 
 And he replied, "Indeed, Sire, they are in great fear of hunger 
 and all wretchedness." 
 
 And then St. Peter said: "And verily can they be in great fear 
 who had deserted Almighty God ! They do not remember the 
 dangers from which He rescued them to give Him any thanks. For 
 when you were all beaten and humbled at Antioch, you cried out to 
 the Lord so that we who were in heaven heard. The Lord heeded 
 you and gave you His Lance as a token of victory ; then He caused 
 you miraculously and gloriously to triumph over your enemies who 
 besieged you. And now to which Lord do you entrust your safety, 
 you who have gravely ofifended God? Will the high mountains or 
 the caves protect you? For even if you should be on a very high 
 and strong place and have abundance of all the necessaries of life, 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 211 
 
 yet you could not be secure, since a hundred thousand adversaries 
 would threaten each one of you. Among you is killing and rapine 
 and theft, no justice, and very much adultery, when it would please 
 God if you should all take wives. But concerning justice, the Lord 
 commands thus; that if any one shall do violence to a poor man, 
 all that is in the house of the oppressors shall be made public 
 (property). Of the tithes the Lord says that, if you render them. 
 He Himself is ready to give whatever is necessary. But whenever 
 you wish to besiege it, he will give you that city out of His com- 
 passion and not for your deserts ; without doubt it will be taken." 
 Moreover, when Peter announced this to the Count in the morn- 
 ing, the Bishops of Orange and Barra assembled the people, and 
 we made known to them what has been written. The faithful, thus 
 led on to the greatest hope of taking the city, offered most generous 
 alms and prayers to Almighty God to free His poor people for His 
 name alone. After this, ladders were swiftly built, and a wooden 
 tower erected, and hurdles joined, and at the close of the day the 
 fight was begun. Those who were inside the city threw stones 
 with hurling engines, javelins, fire, wood, beehives with bees, and 
 slack lime upon our men who were undermining the wall; but by 
 the valor and compassion of God, these things hurt none, or few, 
 of them. However, this fight lasted from sunrise to sunset so 
 marvelously that no rest was ever given, and yet there was doubt 
 of victory. At length, all cried out to God with one voice to be 
 more favorable to His people, and to fulfil the promises of His 
 apostles. The Lord was present there and gave us the city, accord- 
 ing to the words of the apostles. Godfrey of Lastours was the first 
 to scale (the wall) ; more followed him and invaded the wall and 
 some towers of the city. Then night came down which cut off the 
 battle. The Saracens still retained some towers and a part of the 
 city. On this account the knights, expecting that the Saracens 
 would not surrender even in the morning, kept guard outside the 
 city, lest any should escape. But those to whom life was not very 
 dear, whom long fasting had led to contempt of self, were not 
 afraid to attack the Saracens amidst the shadows of the night. And 
 thus the poor gained both the spoils and houses of the city. More- 
 over, when morning came the knights went into the city and found 
 few things which they might take for themselves. The Saracens, 
 indeed, concealed themselves in underground caves, and none, or 
 few, appeared. When our men had carried off all that they found 
 above ground, thinking that everything else was with the Saracens, 
 they searched out the caves with fire and sulphur smoke; and be- 
 cause they did not find much booty there, in hopes of spoils they 
 
212 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 tortured to death the Saracens whom they could find. It happened, 
 however, to some of our men that when they led the Saracens 
 through the city for spoils, the Saracens conducted them to cisterns, 
 and suddenly hurled themselves into them, choosing death rather 
 than to be willing to reveal their own or other's property. Where- 
 fore, all fell down dead ; and they were cast forth among the swamps 
 of the city and outside the walls. And so not much booty' was 
 taken in the city. 
 
 Meanwhile, a quarrel arose between Bohemund's men and those 
 of the Count for the reason that, though the knights of Bohemund 
 had not taken much part in the siege, they obtained the largest 
 number of towers, houses, and captives. The Lord performed a 
 miracle in the capture of Marra. Before it was taken, although 
 we expounded to the people the commands of the apostles Peter 
 and Andrew, just as was written above, Bohemund and his com- 
 panions laughed at us. Therefore, neither he nor those with him 
 were present at the fight, but rather were absent. And since they 
 now had the greatest share of the spoils, some of the Count's fol- 
 lowing bore it unworthily. At length, a disagreement arose be- 
 tween the leaders themselves, because the Count wished to give the 
 city to the Bishop of Barra, and Bohemund was unwilling to let 
 go the towers which had surrendered to him, saying, "Unless the 
 Count gives up to me the towers at Antioch, I will not agree with 
 him in anything." 
 
 Meanwhile, the knights and people began to ask about the journey, 
 when it would please the princes to begin it. For though the march 
 had started long time ago, yet it seemed to us merely to begin the 
 journey, since it was not yet ended. Bohemund said that he would 
 put it off to Easter, and it was then the Christmas time. Many, 
 likewise, despaired because there were few horses in the army, and 
 the Duke was absent, and many of the knights went away to Bald- 
 win of Edessa. Therefore many turned back. At length the Bishop 
 of Albara and some nobles met with the poor people and summoned 
 the Count. When the Bishop had finished his preaching, the knights 
 and all the people knelt before the Count. With many tears they 
 prayed him to whom the Lord had given the Lance to become their 
 leader and lord of this same army, adding that he had especially 
 merited the Lance of the Lord for the reason that if the other 
 princes failed, he himself, indebted for so great a blessing of the 
 Lord, would not fear to go forward in security with the people. 
 Otherwise, he should give the Lance to the people, and the people 
 would go to Jerusalem with the Lord Himself as leader. However, 
 the Count hesitated because of the absence of the other princes, 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 213 
 
 fearing that if he alone should determine the day of the journey, 
 the others would not go because of envy of him. Why say much? 
 The Count, overcome by the tears of the poor, named the fifth or 
 sixth day to be announced through the city for the journey, and 
 after this he returned to Antioch. 
 
 The Count with the Bishop sought a way to retain the city, and 
 who and how many men they could leave there as a garrison for 
 it. Meanwhile, the Count sent word to the Duke of Lorraine and 
 to the others who were not present at Marra to assemble in one 
 place and deal with the matters which would be necessary for the 
 march. And so they assembled at Rusa, which was about midway 
 between Antioch and Marra. There a colloquy was held and all the 
 princes behaved worse (than usual). For the princes excused them- 
 selves from the journey, and many others because of them. Never- 
 theless, the Count wished to give the Duke ten thousand solidi, an 
 equal amount to Robert of Normandy, six thousand to the Count 
 of Flanders, and five thousand to Tancred, and to the other princes 
 accordingly. 
 
 In the midst of this, when the news came to the poor who had 
 remained at Marra that the Count wanted to leave many knights 
 and foot-soldiers of the army in the city of Marra as a garrison, 
 they said to one another, "Oho ! quarrels about Antioch and quar- 
 rels about Marra ! In every place which God shall give us will 
 there be contention among the princes, and a lessening of the army 
 of God? Surely there will be no further argument about this city! 
 Come, and'Het us destroy its walls, and peace will be made between 
 the princes and security for the Count, lest he lose it." 
 
 Thereupon, the weak and sick arose from their beds, and, armed 
 with clubs they went to the walls. After those stones which three 
 or four yoke of oxen could scarcely drag had been rolled back, a 
 serf easily pushed them far out from the walls. But the Bishop of 
 Albara and other intimates of the Count went around the city com- 
 plaining and forbidding this to be done in any way. When, how- 
 ever, those guardians had passed, those who had hidden themselves 
 and climbed down at the approach of the Bishop and his compan- 
 ions, immediately returned to the work begun. And those who 
 dared not destroy by day, or could not, being otherwise engaged, 
 applied themselves (to the task) at night. There was scarcely any- 
 one of the people too weak or ill to tear down the wall. 
 
 Meanwhile, there was such famine in the army that the people 
 ate most greedily the already fetid bodies of the Saracens which 
 they had cast into the swamp of the city two weeks and more ago. 
 These events frightened many of our people, as well as others. On 
 
214 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 this account very many of our men turned back, despairing of the 
 journey without the help of the Prankish people. But the Saracens 
 and the Turks said on the contrary : "And who can resist these 
 people, who are so obstinate and cruel that for a whole year they 
 could not be turned from' the siege of Antioch by famine, sword, 
 or any other dangers, and who now live on human flesh?" These 
 and other very cruel practices the pagans said existed among us. 
 For God gave fear of us to all people, but we did not know it. 
 
 The Count, meanwhile having returned to Marra from the collo- 
 quy, was exceedingly angry at the people about the destruction of 
 the wall. But when it was explained to him that neither the Bishop 
 nor other princes could move the people, either by threats or blows, 
 from the destruction of the walls, he learned thereby that it was 
 divine and ordered the foundations of the wall to be destroyed. 
 Meanwhile, the famine grew daily more severe. And now when 
 the day proposed for the journey was at hand, we commanded the 
 people to ofifer to God alms and prayers for the journey. But 
 when the Count saw that none of the leading princes came to him, 
 and he perceived almost all his people wasting away, he commanded 
 the people to go into interior Hispania for food, and (he said that) 
 he himself with his knights would precede them. But this did not 
 please some of his intimates. For they said, "In the army there 
 are scarcely three hundred knights, and there is not a large number 
 of other armed men, and yet will some go on the expedition and 
 others stay here within the destroyed city, which is without forti- 
 fication?" And they enlarged upon the very great fickleness of 
 the Count. 
 
 Nevertheless, in the end the Count set forth because of the poor 
 and gained many castles and captives and great spoil. When he 
 was returning with great exultation and victory after very many 
 of the Saracens had been killed, six or seven of our poor were cap- 
 tured and killed by the pagans. All these dead, however, had 
 crosses on their right shoulders. Moreover, when the Count and 
 those with him saw this, they thanked Almighty God, who was mind- 
 ful of His poor, as much as possible, and for this reason they were 
 greatly comforted. And thus that they might satisfy all who had 
 remained with the baggage at Marra, they brought along one of the 
 killed who was still breathing. Verily, we beheld a miracle in that 
 man, who, though he scarcely had a whole place where his soul 
 could hide, lingered for seven or eight days without food, bearing 
 witness that Jesus, to whose judgment he was to go, without doubt, 
 was God the Author of this cross. Therefore, comforted by the 
 favorable turn of events and by the (sign of the) cross, they left 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 215 
 
 their spoils in a certain fortified place called Cafardan, a journey 
 four leagues distant from Marra, and those who had companions 
 at Marra returned with the Count. 
 
 3. Raymond finally starts for Jerusalem. Archas. (January 13- 
 March, 1099.) 
 
 (Gesta.) When Raymond, moreover, saw that because of him 
 none of the leaders would go upon the way to the Holy Sepulchre, 
 he went out with bare feet from Marra on the thirteenth day of in- 
 coming January and came up to Cafardan and remained there for 
 three days. There the Count of Normandy joined Count Raymond. 
 Moreover, the King of Caesrea had very often sent word by his 
 messengers to the Count at Marra and Cafardan that he wished 
 to have peace with him and would give him a tribute from his own 
 (possessions), and that he would cherish the Christian pilgrims. 
 He w^ould make a pledge that the pilgrims would not suffer the 
 least offence, as far as his sway extended, and he would joyfully 
 supply a market of horses and bodily nourishment. 
 
 Our men, moreover, left and went to lodge near Caesarea, above 
 the river Orontes. And when the King of Caesarea saw the camp 
 of the Franks lodged so near his city, he was grieved in spirit and 
 ordered the market to be denied them, unless they withdrew from 
 the neighborhood of the city. But on the next day he sent along 
 with them two Turks, his messengers, to show them the ford of 
 the river, and to conduct them where they could find something to 
 take. Finally they came to a valley below a certain fortress, and 
 there they took plunder of more than five thousand animals and 
 enough grain and other goods with which the whole army of Christ 
 was greatly refreshed. At length, that fortress surrendered to the 
 Count and gave him horses and the purest gold, and they swore by 
 their law that no evil would henceforth be done to the pilgrims. 
 We were there for five days. 
 
 Departing thence, we came to a lodge at a certain Arab fortress. 
 Thereupon, the lord of the place came out and made an agreement 
 with the Count. Going on from this place, we came to a certain 
 very beautiful city located in a valley filled with goods of all kinds 
 — ^Raphania by name. But when the inhabitants of the place heard 
 that the Franks had come, they abandoned the city, gardens filled 
 with olives, and houses full of food, and fled. On the third day we 
 went forth from the city and, passing over a high and immense 
 mountain, entered the valley of Desem, in which there was the 
 greatest abundance of all goods, and we were there for about fifteen 
 days. 
 
2i6 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 This was near a certain fortified place in which there was gath- 
 ered a very large multitude of pagans. Our men attacked this 
 place and would have conquered it bravely, had not the Saracens 
 driven out immense herds of animals. Our men returned, carrying 
 goods of all kinds to their tents. At the break of dawn, however, 
 we folded our tents and went to besiege their fortified place. We 
 expected to pitch our camp there, but the pagan host took to flight 
 and left the place empty. However, when our men entered they 
 found there every abundance of wine, butter, oil, and everything 
 that they needed. There we very devoutly celebrated the festival 
 of the Purification of the Virgin Mary. Envoys came to us there 
 from the city of Camela. For the King of that place sent horses 
 and gold to the Count and made an agreement with him that he 
 would not hurt Christians in any way, but would cherish and honor 
 them. Moreover, the King of Tripoli sent word to the Count that 
 he would faithfully enter into an agreement with him and keep 
 friendship, if it pleased him, and he sent him ten horses, four mules, 
 and gold. But the Count said that he would in no wise accept 
 peace with him, unless he became a Christian. 
 
 After leaving this very fine valley , we came to a certain 
 fortified town called Archas on Monday noon, the second day of 
 the week in the middle of February, and around it we pitched our 
 tents. This town was filled with a countless host of pagans, Turks, 
 Saracens, Arabs, and Publicani, who had fortified the town marvel- 
 ously and were defending themselves bravely. At that time four- 
 teen of our knights went against the city of Tripoli, which was near 
 us. Those fourteen found about sixty Turks and certain others, 
 who had collected in front of them some men and more than five 
 hundred animals. Strengthened with the sign of the cross, they at- 
 tacked the Turks and, with the help of God, wonderfully overcame 
 them, killed six of them, and captured six horses. Furthermore, 
 Raymond Piletus and Raymond, Viscount of Turenne, went out 
 from the army of Count Raymond, and, coming before the city of 
 Tortosa, they strongly attacked it, fortified, as it was, by a very 
 great multitude of pagans. But since night had already come, they 
 withdrew to a certain retired place and camped there ; then they 
 built countless fires, as if the whole host was there. Indeed, the 
 pagans, terrified with fear, fled secretly by night and left the city 
 filled with goods of all kinds. It also contained a very fine port 
 on the sea. On the next day our men went to attack it on all sides 
 and found it empty. They entered and lived in it as long as the 
 siege before Archas lasted. There is near it another city called 
 Maraclea. The Emir who ruled over it made an agreement with 
 our men and let our men and our standards into the city. 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 217 
 
 (Raymond.) On the day fixed they burned the city and set 
 forth. But the count, his clerics, and the Bishop of Albara 
 went unshod, invoking the compassion of God and the protection 
 of the saints. Tancred followed us with forty knights and many 
 foot-soldiers. When the kings of that land heard this, they sent 
 Arab nobles with many entreaties and gifts to the Counts, (promis- 
 ing) now and thereafter to be their tributaries, and to bring provis- 
 ions free and for sale. After receiving security from them on oath, 
 as well as foods for the journey, we continued further. Moreover, we 
 had guides from the King of Caesarea who led us badly on the first 
 day, as it seemed to us, for in that camp we were in want of every 
 thing except water. Then on the second day these same guides im- 
 prudently led us into a certain valley where the cattle of the King 
 and the whole region had fled for fear of us. At that time the King, 
 having known long before that we would come there, had com- 
 manded all his Saracens to flee before us; but if he had commanded 
 that all of that region should oppose us, it would not have turned 
 out so well. Raymond of Lille and his companions caught a Sara- 
 cen this day with letters of the King, which he was bearing to all 
 of that region, (saying) to flee before us. When this became known 
 to the King, he said, 'T had ordered my men to flee before the 
 Franks as fast as they could, and (instead) they came to them. I 
 see that God has chosen this people ; besides, ..whatever they do, I 
 will not harm them." Then the King himself blessed God, who 
 provides sufficient necessaries for those who fear Him. 
 
 However, when our knights saw such sudden and so great abun- 
 dance, they and the sturdier people took up all their money and 
 went to Caesarea and Camela to buy fat horses there, saying, "Since 
 God has taken concern about our food, we will take care of His 
 poor and His army." Thus it came about that we had about a 
 thousand very fine chargers. The poor daily grew better; the 
 knights were daily comforted ; the army seemed dail/ to be multi- 
 plied, and the farther we proceeded the greater benefits God pro- 
 vided for us. Although everything was coming to us in sufficient 
 quantities, yet some bent the Count to this plan, that he should 
 want to go ofif the route a bit for the sake of Gibellum, which is a 
 city on the sea-coast. But Tancred and many other brave men and 
 goodi» brought it about that this did not happen in any way, saying : 
 "God has visited the poor and ourselves, and ought we to depart 
 from the journey? The past labors at Antioch, the misery of bat- 
 tle, cold, hunger, and every kind of sufifering are enough for us. 
 Why should we alone besiege the whole world, and kill all the in- 
 habitants of the world? Behold of one hundred thousand knights 
 
2i8 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 we have scarcely one thousand, and of two hundred thousand foot- 
 soldiers and more, there are not five thousand now in our army ! 
 Shall we wait until all are destroyed? Why will they come from 
 our land when they hear that Antioch and Gibellum and the other 
 cities of the Saracens have been captured? But let us go to Jeru- 
 salem for which we came, and, verily, God will give it to us. And 
 then through fear alone of those who will come from our land and 
 other lands, these cities, Gibellum, Tripoli, Tyre, and Acre, which 
 are on our march, will be abandoned by the inhabitants." 
 
 While we were thus proceeding forward, some Turks and Arabs 
 were following the army, killing and despoiling the poor, who, 
 because of their long illness, remained behind the army. And when 
 they had done this once and again, the Count remained in hiding 
 on the next day until all the army had passed. The enemy, in hope 
 of plunder and without fear, followed our army in their usual man- 
 ner. But when they had already pased the ambush, our knights, 
 coming forth from their hiding place with the Count, attacked the 
 column of the enemy, routed them, and threw them into confusion. 
 Then they killed them and led their very fine horses to the army 
 with great exultation. After this, no enemy followed our army, be- 
 cause the Count with an armed multitude of knights went behind 
 our people. Moreover, other armed knights with the Count of 
 Normandy, Tancred, and the Bishop of Albara went ahead in great 
 numbers, so that the enemy might not unexpectedly disturb us from 
 either rear or front. For the Count, since he had few knights with 
 him when he set forth from Marra, asked the Bishop, after he had 
 placed a guard at Barra, to come with him. The Bishop, hearing 
 of a certain knight of his, William, son of Peter of Ciirniliacum, 
 by name, left him there with seven knights and thirty foot-soldiers. 
 He was a man faithful and devoted to God and increased the prop- 
 erty of the Bishop by the help of God ten-fold in a short time. And 
 he soon had seventy men, instead of thirty, and sixty knights and 
 more. 
 
 It was decided at this time about our journey that we should 
 leave the road which led by Damascus and turn to the sea-coast, 
 because if our ships which we had left at Antioch should come 
 toward us, we would have trade with the people of the Isle of 
 Cyprus and the other islands. And when we started upon the route 
 agreed upon, the inhabitants of the land abandoned cities, fortified 
 places, and villages full of all goods. Thus, after encircling great 
 mountains, we came into a certain very rich valley, where some 
 peasants, arrogant because of their numbers and the strength of 
 their fortress, were willing neither to send to us for peace nor to 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 219 
 
 abandon their fortress, and, in addition, attacked our squires and 
 foot-soldiers, who were unarmed and were running through the 
 villages for food. After having killed some, they took the spoils 
 into their fortress. Our men, therefore, went to the fortress in 
 anger. The peasants, however, hesitated to come against us at the 
 foot of the mountain on which the fortress was located. Then our 
 men, after taking counsel, drew up ranks of foot-soldiers and 
 knights, and, climbing to the top of the mountain from three sides, 
 they forced the body of peasants to flee. There were about thirty 
 thousand Saracens, and their fortress was on the slope of a certain 
 very high mountain ; besides, when they wished, they sought refuge 
 in the castle, and some higher up on the mountain. So they resisted 
 us for a little while. At length, we shouted out the cry usual in 
 our straits, "God help us! God help us!" Our enemy were so dis- 
 turbed that at the entrance of their castle upwards of a hundred 
 fell dead without wounds, because of fear and the rush of their 
 companions. There was, moreover, very great plunder of cattle, 
 horses, and sheep outside the castle where our people were engaged. 
 And while the Count and some knights were intent upon the battle, 
 our poor, after taking plunder, began to return, one after the other. 
 Next the poor foot-soldiers took the way, after them the poor 
 knights. Moreover, our tents were some distance from the castle, 
 about ten miles. Meanwhile the Count ordered the knights and the 
 people to encamp. Then, when the Saracens who had climbed higher 
 on the mountain and those in the fortress saw that the greatest 
 portion of our men had left, they began to urge one another in turn 
 to join forces. But the Count overlooked this and found himself 
 almost abandoned by his knights. For the hill on which the fortress 
 stood was very steep and stony, and the path was a difficult one in 
 which one horse could scarcely follow another. Thereupon, when 
 the Count was caught in this difficulty, he began to advance with 
 his companions, as if to fight against those who were coming down 
 from higher up the mountain. The Saracens at first hesitated at 
 the approach of the Count ; then our men changed their route and 
 descended into the valley, as if secure. Upon seeing themselves 
 frustrated, and that our men descended in security, the Saracens 
 from both the fortress and the mountain together attacked our forces. 
 Therefore, some of our men under compulsion dismounted from 
 their horses, and others went headlong over the steep rocks. So 
 with the greatest danger some escaped death, but others died fight- 
 ing bravely. This one fact we learned for certain : that the Count 
 never was in greater danger of his life. Therefore, angry at himself 
 and at his men, he called a council upon returning to the army and 
 
220 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 complained much that the knights had gone away without permis- 
 sion and had left him in danger of death. All promised that they 
 would not withdraw from the siege of the castle until, by the grace 
 of God, the foundation had been overturned. But God, who was 
 guiding them so that they should not be hindered by evils of any 
 kind whatsoever, so terrified the keepers of the fortress through 
 the night that they not even gave their dead burial, so headlong 
 was their flight. Moreover, when it became morning we went 
 there and found only spoils and a fortress empty of men. 
 
 This time there were with us envoys from the Emir of Camcla 
 and from the King of Tripoli. When these beheld the boldness and 
 bravery of our men, they begged of the Count permission (to 
 leave), saying that they would return as quickly as possible. Ac- 
 cordingly, when those envoys were allowed to leave with our envoys, 
 they returned in a short time with great gifts and many horses. For 
 the siege of that fortress had frightened the whole region, because 
 it could never before be taken by any people. Besides, the inhabi- 
 tants of that region sent to the Count with many entreaties and 
 gifts, praying that when he had caused their cities and fortress to 
 be taken over, he would send them his standards and his seals. For 
 it was the custom in the army that if the standard of any Frank 
 was found on a city or fortress, it was not thereafter besieged by 
 anyone. Wherefore the King of Tripoli placed the standards of 
 the Count on his castles. 
 
 The name of the Count was at this time so great that it seemed 
 more than equal to that of any former leader. And when our 
 knights who had been sent as envoys to Tripoli saw the regal wealth, 
 most rich kingdoms, and that populous city, they persuaded the 
 Count to besiege Archas, a fortress very strongly fortified and un- 
 assailable by human might, in order to obtain from the King of 
 Tripoli after the fourth or fifth day as much gold and silver as he 
 should desire. And so at their wish we besieged the fortress where 
 our brave men endured such trials as they never had before. And 
 besides, most bitter to tell, we lost so many and such great knights. 
 There was killed Pontius of Balasun with a stone from a petrary, 
 at whose prayers I am writing for all the orthodox, especially those 
 across the Alps, and for you, revered head of Viviers, this work 
 which I have undertaken to compose. 
 
 Now, however, I shall strive with the inspiration of God, who 
 did all this, to write what remains with the same charity with which 
 I began, I beg, therefore, and beseech everyone to believe that 
 these things which they are to hear are true. And if I have ap- 
 plied to anyone, through zeal or hate for anyone, anything beyond 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 221 
 
 belief or probability, may God apply to me all the tortures of hell, 
 and erase me from the book of hfe! For though I am ignorant of 
 many things, this one I know : that since I have been promoted to 
 the priesthood on God's expedition, I ought to obey God in wit- 
 nessing the truth, rather than to weave lies, striving for reward or 
 money from anyone else. But since, according to the apostle, 
 "charity vaunteth not itself," I want to proceed with the same char- 
 ity. May God give me aid! 
 
 While we were delaying somewhat in pressing this siege, our 
 ships came to us from Antioch and Laodicaea, also many other ships 
 of the Venetians^* and Greeks with grain, wine, and barley, pork, 
 and other things for sale. But since this castle was about a mile 
 from the sea, the ships could not remain in port, and the sailors re- 
 turned to the port of Laodicaea and to the port of Tortosa. This 
 Tortosa, a very strongly fortified place, built with walls and fore- 
 walls, and filled with many good things, had been abandoned by 
 its Saracen inhabitants for fear of our army alone. For God had 
 established such great dread of us among the Arabs, and Saracens of 
 that region that they believed we could accomplish everything and 
 that we wanted to destroy all that we could. But this was before 
 the siege of Archas. 
 
 However, this siege which we had set chiefly for other causes 
 contrary to justice than for God, God was unwilling to promote, 
 but there did everything against us. And since our men had been 
 prompt and ready for all other battles and assaults, it was wonder- 
 ful that they were found sluggish and useless for this. If any fer- 
 vent spirits wanted to do anything, they were either wounded or 
 what they had begun came to naught. There Anselm of Ribemont 
 gloriously departed. When he arose in the morning, he called the 
 priests to him, and, having confessed his negligences and his sins, 
 he begged mercy from God and from them, announcing to them 
 that the end of his life was imminent. They were amazed at this, 
 since they beheld him well and unhurt, and he said to them : 
 
 "Do not wonder, but rather listen. This night I saw Lord Engel- 
 rand of St. Paul, who was killed at Marra. I was not asleep, but 
 awake, and I said to him, 'What is this? For thou hast sufifered 
 death and, lo ! thou art now alive !' 
 
 "And he answered, 'Indeed those who end their lives in the ser- 
 vice of Christ do not die.' 
 
 "When I asked him again about his beauty, which was very great, 
 whence it had happened to him, he answered me, 'Thou shouldst 
 not wonder about my beauty, when I dwell in so splendid a home.' 
 
 "And straightway he showed me his home in heaven, so beauti- 
 
222 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 fill that I could believe nothing more beautiful. Seeing that I was 
 stunned at the splendor of his home, he said to me, 'A much more 
 beautiful one is being prepared for thee to-morrow.' And with 
 these words he disappeared." 
 
 Moreover, it happened on the same day on which Anselm had 
 recounted this to several people that he was proceeding to battle 
 against the Saracens. They had gone out secretly from the fortress 
 and wanted to come up to our tents to steal something there, or to 
 hurt someone. But when this fight had grown great on both sides 
 and Anselm was resisting bravely, he was struck on the head by a 
 stone from a hurling engine; and thus he departed from this world 
 to the place prepared for him by God. 
 
 I Here a legate came to us from the. King of Babylon, who along 
 with him had sent back to us our legates whom he had held captive 
 for a year. He was hesitating whether to make friendship with 
 us or with the Turks. We were willing to agree with him in this 
 way: If he would give us help from Jerusalem, or if he would 
 give us Jerusalem with what pertained to it, we would give him all 
 his cities which the Turks had taken from him, when we should 
 capture them. The other cities of the Turks, however, which were 
 not of his kingdom, we would divide between us, if they were taken 
 with his help. But the Turks, as it was related to us, were will- 
 ing to do this for him: If he would come with them to battle 
 against us, they would worship Ali/^ who is the race of Moham- 
 med, whom he worshipped. They would also accept his coins and 
 would pay a certain tribute, and they would do many other things 
 for him which we did not fully know. He learned about us that 
 we were few, and that the Emperor Alexius was hostile to us to 
 death; concerning this, we found letters of the Emperor Alexius 
 written about us in the tent of the same King, after the battle with 
 the King of the Babylonians had been fought at Ascalon. For these 
 and other reasons, therefore, the Emir had detained our envoys as 
 captives for a year in Babylon. But now, when he heard that, hav- 
 ing entered his lands, we were devastating villages, fields, and all, 
 he sent word to us that we should go without arms in groups of 
 two hundred or three hundred to Jerusalem, and that, after adoring 
 the Lord, we should return. But we laughed at this, expecting 
 God's mercy, and announced that unless he freely gave us Jerusa- 
 lem we would sue him for Babylon. For the Emir at this time held 
 Jerusalem. When he heard that the Turks had been beaten by us 
 at Antioch, he went to besiege Jerusalem, knowing that the Turks, 
 so often scattered and put to flight by us, would not face him in 
 battle. At length, after giving very large gifts to those who were 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 223 
 
 defending it, he received the city of Jerusalem and offered candles 
 and incense to the Sepulchre of the Lord on Mt, Calvary. But let 
 us now return to the siege, 
 
 4. Continued' quarrels among the leaders. The trial of the Lance. 
 (March- April 20, 1099.) 
 
 (Gesta.) Duke Godfrey, Bohemund, and the Count of Flanders 
 went up to the city of Laodicaea. Bohemund separated from them 
 and returned to Antioch, but they went and besieged a certain city 
 whose name is Gibellum. Thereupon, when Raymond, Count of 
 St. Gilles, heard that an innumerable host of pagans was rushing 
 upon us for battle, he held a council there with his men, in order to 
 send (word) to the leaders who were at the siege of Gibellum to 
 come to his aid. When they heard this, they straightway made an 
 agreement with the Emir, making peace with him, and they received 
 horses and gold and left the city and came to our aid. But the 
 enemy did not come to battle against us. Thereupon, the aforesaid 
 Counts lodged beyond the river and there besieged that fortress. 
 Not long after this, our men rode against Tripoli and found out- 
 side the city Turks, Arabs, and Saracens, whom our men attacked 
 and put to flight and killed the greatest part of the nobles of the 
 city. So great was the slaughter of pagans and shedding of blood 
 that even the water which flowed in the city seemed to grow red 
 and to flow into their cisterns, whereat the rest were exceedingly 
 sad and sorrowful. Indeed, they were now so terrified with fear 
 that none of them dared to go out of the city gate. On the next 
 day, our men rode beyond Desem and found cattle and sheep and 
 asses and many other animals, and they carried off, also, almost 
 three thousand camels. 
 
 We besieged the aforesaid town for three months, less one day, 
 and there celebrated Easter on the fourth day before the Ides of 
 April. While we were engaged in that siege, our ships, forsooth, 
 came to a certain port near us bearing the greatest market — grain, 
 win'e, meat, cheese, barley, and oil, whereof there was now the 
 greatest abundance throughout the whole army. At length, several 
 of our men happily received martyrdom, namely Anselm of Ribe- 
 mont, William the Picard, and several others whose names I do not 
 know. The King of Tripoli, also, often sent envoys to the leaders 
 with word to leave the fortress and make peace with him. Ac- 
 cordingly, when our leaders, Godfrey, and Raymond, Count of St. 
 Gilles, Robert the Norman, and the Count of Flanders, heard this, 
 and when they saw that new fruit had grown (for we were eating 
 new beans in the middle of March, and even grain in the middle of 
 
224 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 April), they held a council and said: "It is very good to carry out 
 the march to Jerusalem with the new fruits." 
 
 (Raymond.) When, as we said, our army was laboring great- 
 ly in the siege of Archas, it was announced to us that the Pope of 
 the Turks was coming to battle against us ; and since he was of the 
 race of Mohammed, innumerable people followed him. Accord- 
 ingly, the army was commanded that all should prepare themselves 
 for battle. So they sent the Bishop of Albara to the Duke and the 
 Count of Flanders, who were besieging Gibellum. This is a fortress 
 above the sea, about half way between Antioch and the fortress of 
 Archas, two days distant from both. When they had received the 
 message, they gave up the siege and came quickly to us. Meanwhile 
 (the report) was found to be false. The Saracens had made it up 
 so that, while our men were thereby terrified, the besieged might be 
 able to gain a little rest. 
 
 So when our armies had been joined, the men of the Count's 
 party began to show the sleek horses and the riches which 
 God had given them in the regions of the Saracens because they 
 had exposed themselves to death for God ; but the others held forth 
 their poverty. At this time it was preached that the people should 
 give a tithe of all they had taken, because there were many poor in 
 the army and many sick. It was commanded that they should 
 render a fourth part to their priests whose masses they attended, 
 a fourth part to the Bishop, and the other two parts to Peter the 
 Hermit, whom they had placed in charge of the poor of both 
 clergy and people. And thus he received two parts ; to wit, one part 
 for those who were of the clergy, and the other for those who were 
 of the people. Therefore God so multipHed our army in horses, 
 mules, camels, and the other necessities of life that it became a 
 marvel to us and a dream. And thus from the wealth of possessions 
 there arose a dispute and arrogance among the princes, so that 
 those who loved God dearly desired much more that want and 
 fearful battles should threaten. 
 
 The King of Tripoli wished to give us fifteen thousand gold 
 coins of Saracen minting, besides horses, mules, and many robes, 
 and then tributes each year much greater than this. One gold coin, 
 forsooth, was at this time worth eight or nine solidi of our money. 
 This was our money: Pictaz'ini, Cartenses, Manses, Lxiccenses, 
 Valanzani, Melgorienscs, and Pogesi, two of which (were oflFered) 
 for one of the others.^^ But that lord of Gibellum, afraid that he 
 might again be besieged, sent to our princes five thousand gold 
 coins, horses, mules, and much wine ; then we had food enough. 
 And not only did these send us gifts, but also those from many 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 225 
 
 cities and castles. Some of the Saracens, too, were baptized either 
 out of zeal or from fear of our law, renouncing Mohammed and 
 all his offspring. For these reasons, therefore, one of our princes 
 sent envoys to the cities of the Saracens with letters announcing 
 that he was lord of the whole army. Thus did our princes conduct 
 themselves at this time ! And Tancred, especially, stirred up the 
 affair. Although he had received five thousand solidi and two very 
 fine horses on the agreement that he would remain in the Count's 
 service up to Jerusalem, he now wanted to withdraw and be with 
 the Duke of Lorraine. On this account many quarrels were held. 
 At length, ill enough, he withdrew from the Count. 
 
 Many revelations were made known to us at this time, which 
 were sent to us from God. The following is one of these, which is 
 written under the name of him who saw it. 
 
 "In the year of the Lord 1099, in the seventh Indiction, twenty- 
 sixth Epact, fifth Concurrence, on the night of the Nones of April," 
 when I, Peter Bartholomew, lay in the chapel of the Count of St. 
 Gilles at the siege of Archas, I began to meditate on the priest to 
 whom the Lord appeared with the Cross when we were besieged by 
 the Turks in Antioch. And when I marvelled much that He had 
 never appeared to me with the Cross, I saw the Lord entering with 
 His apostles, Peter and Andrew, and a certain other, large and 
 heavy, of dark complexion, nearly bald, and with large eyes. 
 
 "And the Lord said to me 'What art thou doing?' 
 
 "I replied, 'Lord, I am standing here.' 
 
 "And the Lord spoke again, 'Thou hast barely escaped being 
 submerged (in sin) with the rest. But of what art thou now think- 
 ing?' 
 
 "And I replied, 'Lord, Father, I was thinking about a priest to 
 whom Thou didst appear with the Cross.' 
 
 "The Lord answered, 'I know that.' And then : 'Believe that I 
 am the Lord for whom thou hast come hither and who suft'ered for 
 sinners on the Cross at Jerusalem, just as thou wilt now behold.' 
 
 "And at that very hour I saw there a cross made of two black 
 and round planks, neither polished nor fitted, except that in the 
 middle the beams were notched and supported each other in turn. 
 
 "The Lord said to me, 'Behold the Cross, since it is the Cross 
 which thou seekest.' And on that Cross was the Lord extended 
 and crucified as at the time of the Passion. Peter, moreover, sup- 
 ported His head from the right ; Andrew from the left bore it on 
 his neck; that third person supported it from the rear with his 
 hands. 
 
 "And the Lord said to me, 'Say to My people that thou hast seen 
 
226 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 Me thus. Dost thou see these, Aly five wounds? Thus do you con- 
 sist of five ranks. The first rank is the rank of those who do not 
 fear javehns and swords, or any kind of engine. That rank is like 
 unto Me ; for I went to Jerusalem and did not fear swords and 
 lances, cudgels and staves, or, in addition, the Cross. They die for 
 Me ; and I died for them ; and I am in them, and they in Me. When 
 such as these die, they are placed on the right hand of God, where 
 after the resurrection I sat, having ascended to heaven. The sec- 
 ond is the rank of those who are a help to the first ; but they guard 
 them from the rear, and to them the former also come for refuge; 
 verily, these are like the apostles who followed Me and ate with Me. 
 The third is the rank of those who bring stones and javelins to the 
 first; they are like those who, when they saw Me placed on the 
 Cross, bemoaning my Passion, beat their breasts, proclaiming that 
 wrong had been done Me. The fourth, indeed, is the rank of those 
 who, upon seeing the battle surge, push themselves into houses and 
 turn to their own affairs, trusting that victory rests not in My might, 
 but in human worth. They are like those who said "He is worthy 
 of death; let Him be crucified; since He makes Himself a king and 
 says that He is the Son of God." The fifth, however, is the rank 
 of those who, when they hear the shout of battle, look on from 
 afar, asking the cause of the outcry, and afford examples of coward- 
 ice, not of bravery, and are unwilling to undergo dangers not only 
 for Me, but, likewise, for their brothers. Under the form of avoid- 
 ing (danger), they want others to fight, or bring arms to the fighters, 
 and they feast at looking on ; they are like Judas the Betrayer and 
 Pontius Pilate, the judge.' 
 
 "Moreover, the Lord was naked upon the Cross, encircled only 
 with a linen cloth from knees to loins, and the linen cloth was of a 
 color midway between red and black. And about His ears He had 
 a white, red, and green head-band. Later, when the Cross had been 
 taken away, the Lord remained in the garb which He wore before. 
 
 "And I said to Him, 'Lord, God, if I say this, they will not be- 
 lieve me.' 
 
 "The Lord replied to me, 'Dost thou want to recognize those who 
 will not believe this?' 
 
 "And I said, 'Yea, Lord.' 
 
 "And the Lord answered, 'Let the Count assemble the princes 
 and people, and let them make arrangements about the battles, or 
 when it shall be time for the siege of the fortress. Let the most 
 renowned herald proclaim "God help us!" thrice, and let him strive 
 to carry out the arrangements. Then as I have told thee, thou wilt 
 see these ranks : and together with the others who believe this thou 
 wilt distinguish the unbelievers.' 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 227 
 
 "And I said, "What are we to do about the incredulous?' 
 
 "The Lord, answered, 'Spare them not, kill them; for they are 
 my betrayers, brothers of Judas Iscariot. But give their possessions 
 to those who are of the first rank, according to their needs. If you 
 do this, you will find the right way, which you have thus far gone 
 around. And just as the other things which thou hast prophesied 
 happened unchanged in the future, this also will occur. Dost thou 
 know which people I love especially?' 
 
 "And I replied, 'The race of the Jews.' 
 
 "The Lord said, 'These people I hold in hate, because they were 
 unbelievers and I have placed them below all peoples. See, there- 
 fore, that you are not unbelievers. Otherwise I will take up other 
 peoples, while you remain with the Jews ; and through them I will 
 fulfil what I promised you. Say this also to them (the army) : 
 "Why do you fear to do justice? And what is better than justice?" 
 I want them to keep the following justice. Let them place judges 
 by families and relatives. When, moreover, anyone shall offend 
 another, let him who suffered the wrong say : "Brother, dost thou 
 wish it to be done thus with thee?" After this, unless the offender 
 shall desist, let the other oppose him in the name of his authority. 
 Then let the judge freely take all his goods from the malefactor, 
 and the half of all that has been taken let him give to the one who 
 suffered this wrong, the remaining part to the authorities. If, how- 
 ever, the judge should defer this for any reason, go to him and say 
 that if he does not correct himself, he will not be absolved even at 
 the last day, unless thou dost release him. Dost thou know how 
 serious a matter it is to be forbidden? For I forbade Adam to 
 touch the tree of good and evil knowledge; he transgressed my 
 prohibition and both he and his posterity were in wretched captivity 
 until I came in the flesh and redeemed them by dying the death of 
 the Cross. Verily, some have done well about the tithe, because 
 they gave it as I commanded. Therefore, I will multiply them, 
 and I will make them known among the others.' 
 
 "Moreover, when the Lord had said this, I began to ask Him out 
 of His kindness to give back the knowledge of letters which He 
 had recently taken from me. 
 
 "And the Lord said to me, 'Are the things that thou knowest not 
 enough to tell this? And yet thou desirest to know as much as 
 possible!' 
 
 "And forthwith I seemed to myself so wise that I would ask 
 nothing further. 
 
 "Then the Lord said, 'Is what thou knowest enough for this?' 
 
 "I replied, 'It is.' 
 
228 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 "The Lord again said, 'What have I said to thee? Answer.' 
 
 "And I knew nothing. When He pressed me to answer some 
 of the things which He had said, I repHed, 'Lord, I know nothing.' 
 
 "And the Lord said, 'Go and tell what thou knowest, and what 
 thou knowest will be sufficient for thee.' 
 
 "When, however, I would have made this known to the brethren, 
 some began to say that they would never believe that God spoke to 
 such a man, that He passed our princes and bishops and revealed 
 Himself to a peasant man ; whence they likewise doubted about the 
 Lance. Wherefore we called together those brethren to whom the 
 Lance had been revealed at one time and another, and after this, 
 Arnulf, chaplain of the Count of Normandy who was, as it were, 
 the head of the unbelievers ;^^ and we asked him why he doubted. 
 
 When he said that the Bishop of Puy had doubted it, a certain 
 priest by the name of Peter Desiderius replied, "I saw the Bishop 
 of Puy after his death and St. Nicholas with him. After many 
 other things the Bishop said this to me, 'I am in the choir with 
 St. Nicholas, but because I, who should have believed most, doubted 
 the Lance of the Lord, I was led into hell where my hair from the 
 right side of my head and my beard were burned; and though I 
 am not in punishment, yet I will not clearly see the Lord until my 
 hair and beard grow out as they were before.' " This and many 
 other things that priest told us, which afterwards occurred; but 
 these things can be told in their place. 
 
 A certain other priest, Ebrard by name, came and said : "At the 
 time when the Turks were besieging our army in Antioch, I was 
 at Tripoli. For before Antioch was taken I had come there for 
 the necessaries of life. When I heard that Antioch had been 
 taken, and that our men in the city were held in such a stage of 
 siege that none of them dared to go in or out, except by stealth, and 
 that many other evils threatened the besieged (mostly false reports 
 which the Saracens and Turks added to the true evils), I was doubt- 
 ful of my secular life, and fled to a certain church where I knelt be- 
 fore the majesty of the Mother of God. With tears and prayers I 
 began to appeal through her for the mercy of God ; and I did this for 
 some days, remaining without food and saying to her: 'O dearest 
 Lady, these are pilgrims who have left all their little ones, their 
 wives, and all their dear ones for the name of thy Son and for 
 thee. They have come hither from distant regions and are fighting 
 for thy Son ; have pity on them ! And, O Lady, what will be said 
 of thy Son and of thee in their lands, if thou givest them over into 
 the hands of the Turks?' 
 
 "And when I had in anger and lament too often repeated this 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 229 
 
 and other statements like it, a certain Syrian, who was a Christian, 
 said to me 'Be of good spirit, and see that you weep no longer. Re- 
 cently I was before the doors of the church of the Blessed Mary, 
 Mother of the Lord, and a cleric, clothed in white garments, ap- 
 peared to me. When I asked him who he was, or whence he came, 
 he replied, "I am Mark, the evangelist, and I come from Alexandria; 
 and I turned hither because of the Church of the Blessed Mary." 
 And again when I asked him where he was going, he said, "Our 
 Lord is at Antioch and has sent word to all His disciples to come 
 there, since the Franks are due to fight with the Turks, and we 
 will be their protection." ' And when he had said this, he went 
 away ! 
 
 "But since I would place little faith in these words, nor cease 
 from grief or tears, the same Syrian said to me, 'Know, in the 
 Gospel of the blessed Peter it is written that the Christian host which 
 shall take Jerusalem shall first have been shut up in Antioch. Nor 
 can they thence go forth until they shall have found the Lance of 
 the Lord.' " 
 
 And the priest added, "If you doubt any of this, let the fire be 
 built; and in the name of God and with the witness of these people, 
 I will go through the midst of it." 
 
 Then another priest, Stephen, surnamed Valentine, a man of 
 great integrity and good life, came forth and said, "The Lord Jesus 
 Himself spoke to me in the very midst of the sufifering which was 
 at Antioch, and promised in the presence of His most Blessed 
 Mother, the Virgin Mary, that on the fifth day to come He would 
 be merciful to His people and complete their different undertakings, 
 if they would return to Him with their whole heart. And on that 
 day the Holy Lance was found; therefore I believe that the prom- 
 ises of the Lord were fulfilled. If you doubt any of this, as soon 
 as I saw this vision I ofifered the Bishop of Puy as proof of it 
 to go through fire in the presence of the whole multitude, if he 
 wished, or to throw myself from the highest tower. And I still 
 make this very ofifer to you." 
 
 Moreover the Bishop of Agde, came forth and said, "Whether I 
 saw this in my sleep or not, I know not for certain ; God knows. 
 A man, dressed in white, and holding the Lance of the Lord, this 
 Lance, I say, in his hands, came and stood before me and said to 
 me, 'Dost thou believe this to be the Lance of the Lord?' 
 
 "And I replied: 'I do. Lord.' 
 
 "I had hesitated somewhat about it, but after he had sternly ex- 
 acted this (answer) from me a second and a third time, I said to 
 him: 'I believe. Lord, that this is the Lance of my Lord Jesus 
 Christ.' And after this he left me." 
 
230 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 And I who have written this, in the presence of the brethren and 
 the Bishop said this there: "I was present while the digging took 
 place; and before all of the Lance appeared above the ground, I 
 kissed the point. And there are several in the army who were with 
 me." And I added, "There is a certain other priest, Bertrand of 
 Puy by name, who was a servant of the Bishop of Puy during his 
 life. Moreover, this priest was sick unto death in Antioch; and 
 when he had already given up hope of his life, there came before 
 him the Bishop of Puy with his standard bearer, Heraclius, who, 
 in the greatest fight made at Antioch was wounded in the face by 
 an arrow while he was fearlessly launching forth against the lines 
 of the Turks, and as a consequence ended his life. 
 
 "And HeracHus said, 'Lord, he is ill.' 
 
 "The Bishop replied, 'He is ill because of his unbelief.' 
 
 "And the priest thereupon said: 'Lord, do I not believe in the 
 Lance of the Lord, just as also the Passion of the Lord?' 
 
 "Then the Bishop said to him, 'And thou must yet believe many 
 other things.' " 
 
 And though this does not pertain to this matter, nevertheless, 
 since it is worthy, I will add something for the sake of good men. 
 When the priest had reseated himself before the Bishop and his 
 lord Heraclius, for he was sick and could not stand, he beheld in 
 the face of his lord the wound from which he had ended the labors 
 of his mortal life. And the priest said to him, "Sire, we believed 
 that thy wound had already healed. Why is this?" 
 
 Heraclius answered, "Well hast thou asked this question. When 
 I came before my Lord, I begged him that this wound might never 
 be closed, since because of it I ended my life. And this the Lord 
 granted me." This and much else the Bishop and Heraclius said to 
 the priest, which are not now necessary (to relate). 
 
 When he had listened to these and many other men, Arnulf be- 
 lieved and confessed; and he promised the Bishop of Albara thai 
 he would do penance in the presence of all the people for his un- 
 belief. However, on the appointed day when Arnulf had come, 
 summoned to council, he began to say that he would place full faith 
 in it (the Lance), but that he wished to speak with his lord before 
 doing penance. But when Peter Bartholomew heard this, he was 
 exceedingly angry, and like a plain man, and one who has well 
 known the truth, he said, "I wish and beg that a very large fire be 
 built ; and I will pass through the midst of it with the Lance of the 
 Lord. H it is the Lance of the Lord, I will pass through the fire 
 unhurt, but if it is not, I will be burned in the fire. For I see 
 that neither signs nor witnesses are believed." 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 231 
 
 All this pleased us ; and having commanded him to fast, we said 
 that the fire would be built on the day on which the Lord was 
 wounded on the Cross with it (the Lance) for our salvation. And 
 after the fourth day, then was the day of preparation. So when 
 the appointed day shone, the fire was made ready after midday. 
 Princes and people to the number of sixty thousand men as- 
 sembled there; priests were there in bare feet and dressed in their 
 priestly vestments. The fire was made of dry olive branches and 
 had a length of thirty feet; and there were four feet in the height 
 of the piles. After the fire had burned violently, I, Raymond, said 
 before the whole multitude, "If Almighty God spoke face to face 
 with this man, and St. Andrew showed him the Lance when he was 
 on watch, let him pass through the fire unhurt. If, however, it is 
 a falsehood, may he be burned, together with the Lance which he 
 will carry in his hand!" And all upon bended knees responded, 
 "Amen !" 
 
 The fire was so hot that it filled the air for thirty cubits. Verily, 
 no one could go near it. Then Peter Bartholomew, dressed only in 
 an undergarment, knelt down before the Bishop of Albara and 
 called God as his witness that he had seen Him face to face upon 
 the Cross, and had heard from Him what has been written above, 
 and also from St. Peter and Andrew ; and that he had not made 
 up any of the things which he had reported in the name of St. Peter, 
 or St. Andrew, or of the Lord Himself; and that if he had told any 
 lie, he should never pass through the present fire. (He prayed) 
 that God would forgive him the other (sins) which he had commit- 
 ted, both against God and his neighbor, and that the Bishop and 
 all the other priests and the people who had gathered to witness the 
 test would pray for him. After this, when the Bishop had placed 
 the Lance in his hand, he knelt and, after invoking the sign of the 
 cross upon himself, went forth boldly and without fear into the 
 fire. He stopped for a brief moment in the midst of the fire, and 
 thus by the graoe of God passed through. 
 
 There are, moreover, to this day some who saw this miracle there, 
 that, before he had escaped destruction, a bird flew over head and, 
 after encircling the fire, plunged into it. Ebrard the priest, he of 
 whom we made mention above, and who later remained at Jerusalem 
 for the sake of the Lord, saw this ; and William, son of William the 
 Good, an excellent knight, of good reputation, from the region of 
 Aries, bears witness that he saw this. A certain other honorable 
 knight of the people of Beziers, William Malnspiicr by name, saw 
 a man dressed in priestly garb, except that he had a robe folded 
 back over his head, advance into the fire before Peter went into 
 
232 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 the flames. When he saw that (this man) did not come forth, 
 thinking that it was Peter Bartholomew, he began to weep, believ- 
 ing that he had been destroyed in the fire. There was a multitude 
 of men there and they could not see everything. And many other 
 things were revealed to us and done which we do not wish to write 
 for fear of tiring the readers — since three suitable witnesses are 
 sufficient for any question. Let us not pass over this one occur- 
 rence. After Peter Bartholomew had passed through the fire, 
 though much fire was still burning, yet the people so eagerly gath- 
 ered brands and coals, together with ashes, that in a short space of 
 time none of it remained. In the faith of those people the Lord 
 afterwards worked many good deeds through these relics. 
 ( But as Peter came forth from the fire, with his shirt unburned 
 
 and with no sign of any hurt on that very fine cloth with which the 
 Lance of the Lord was wound, all the people welcomed him when 
 he had signalled to them, holding the Lance in his hand, and had 
 shouted at the top of his voice, "God help us!" They welcomed 
 him, I say, and dragged him along the ground and almost that whole 
 multitude stepped upon him, each one wishing to touch him, or to 
 take some piece of his garment, and each one believing him near 
 someone else. And thus they made three or four wounds on his 
 legs, cutting off the flesh ; and trampling upon his back-bone, they 
 broke it. And there Peter would have breathed out his soul, as we 
 believe, had not Raymond Piletus, a most noble and brave knight, 
 supported by a crowd of companions, rushed into the mass of the 
 confused mob and freed him by fighting even to death. But now 
 from concern and anguish we cannot write more about this. 
 
 When Raymond Piletus had brought Peter to our house and his 
 wounds had been bound up, we asked him why he had stopped in 
 the fire. To this he replied, "The Lord met me in the midst of the 
 flames and, taking me by the hand, said to me, 'Since thou didst 
 doubt the finding of the Lance when St. Andrew showed it to thee, 
 thou shalt not pass through unhurt, but thou shalt not see hell.' And 
 having said this. He left me. Look, therefore, if you wish, at my 
 burns." And there was a slight burn on his legs but not much ; the 
 wounds, however, were large. 
 
 After this we called together all who had doubted the Lance to 
 come and see his face, head, hair, and other members. They would 
 find out that what he said of the Lance and other matters was true, 
 since for proof of these things he had not feared to enter such a 
 fire. Therefore many looked, and, upon seeing his face and whole 
 body, they glorified God, saying, "Well can the Lord, who delivered 
 this man from such a flaming fire, protect us amidst the swords of 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 233 
 
 our enemies! Indeed, we did not believe that any arrow could pnss 
 unhurt through the fire, as this man passed through !'' 
 
 After this Peter called the chaplain of the Count, Raymond, by 
 name, to him and said, "Why did you wish me to pass through fire 
 for proof of the Lance of the Lord and other things that I reported 
 as from God? I know well that you have thought this way and 
 that." 
 
 And he told me what he had thought. But when Raymond de- 
 nied that he had so thought, Peter Bartholomew replied, "You can 
 not deny it to me, since I know it for certain, because the other 
 night the most Blessed Virgin Mary was here and the Bishop of 
 Puy, through whom I learned the things which you deny. Since 
 you did not doubt the words of the Lord and His apostles, I wonder, 
 indeed, why you should wish, at my risk, to hold trial about these 
 matters alone." 
 
 Then Raymond, seeing his thought detected and himself culp- 
 able before God, broke forth most bitterly in tears. And Peter 
 thereupon said : "Do not despair for the most Blessed Virgin Mary 
 and St. Andrew will obtain pardon for you with God. But you must 
 be more zealous in beseeching them." 
 
 Meanwhile, so many and such great disputes arose between the 
 leaders of our army that almost the whole army was divided. But 
 God, who was our Guide and Master, forbade such (an end) to be- 
 fall His good work. The city of Tripoli was not far from our camp. 
 Accordingly, when the lord of this city learned of the discord be- 
 tween our princes, he replied as follows to our men who called upon 
 him about paying tribute: "And who are the Franks? And what 
 kind of knights are they? And how great is their power? Behold 
 it is now the third month since the army of the Franks besieged 
 Archas, and I have seen neither an assault of theirs nor any armed 
 man, and yet they are only four leagues away. But let them come 
 hither, and let us see them and prove their military skill. Why 
 should I become tributary to these men whose faces I have not seen, 
 and whose bravery I do not know?" As this was reported to our 
 army, some said to one another, "Behold what we have gained by 
 our quarrels and discord ! God is blasphemed and we are despised !'' 
 For this cause, therefore, our princes came to agreement and decided 
 that the Bishop of Albara should guard the camp with a part of the 
 army; and, as was their manner of fighting, that the princes with 
 the ranks of foot-soldiers and knights should attack the walls of 
 the city. 
 
 However, on the appointed day when our men thus set forth, the 
 people of Tripoli, relying on the multitude of their number, came 
 
234 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 forth to meet our men, ready to fight with them. There is a very 
 strong and high wall of an acqeduct into the city, between which 
 and the sea there is not much space; for the sea encircles Tripoli 
 on three sides. Accordingly, the Saracens fortified this wall of the 
 aqueduct, which we have mentioned, so that if any misfortune befell 
 them they could go forth and return, as though from castle to 
 castle. And thus when our men saw this multitude, relying upon 
 the place of their arms, they called upon God, and with upraised 
 spears the foot-soldiers and knights went up to them in a body, as 
 if in a procession, so that if you had seen our men you would have 
 believed or said that they were friends, not enemies. The land 
 is now polluted with the blood of the Moors, and the aqueduct 
 filled with their dead bodies. Such fear did the Lord cast down 
 upon the enemy that scarcely any of them could flee after the first 
 blows. It was indeed very delightful to behold the stream of the 
 aqueduct bear the beheaded corpses of nobles and people swiftly 
 into the city. One or two of our men fell there ; but of the enemy, 
 we heard that as many as seven hundred had fallen. 
 
 And thus, upon returning with a great victory and many spoils, 
 our princes said to the people, "This day the King of Tripoli saw 
 us, and we saw the roads to the city and have considered its ap- 
 proaches. And now, if you approve, we have decided that tomor- 
 row the king may find out what kind of knights we are." When, 
 therefore, they returned on the next day, they found no one outside 
 the wall. After this moreover the King of Trpioli sent word to our 
 princes that if they would desist from the siege of Archas, he would 
 give them fifteen thousand gold coins, horses, mules, raiment, and 
 food, and that he would afiford a market of all goods for all the 
 people ; in addition to this, that he would return all our people whom 
 he held captive. 
 
 At this time envoys from the Emperor Alexius came to us with 
 very great complaints against Bohemund, because he was retaining 
 the city of Antioch against the oaths which he had made to the 
 Emperor. Bohemund was holding Antioch at this time, for upon 
 hearing that the Count had set forth from Marra into the interior 
 of Syria, he violently expelled the Count's men from the towers of 
 Antioch which they were guarding. Alexius further sent word to 
 our princes that he would give them much gold and silver and 
 would come with them to Jerusalem, and that they should wait for 
 him until the Festival of St. John." Easter was then at hand. 
 
 Many, among whom was the Count, for this reason said : "Let 
 us wait for the Emperor and we will gain both his gifts and himself. 
 He will cause a market to come by land and by sea, and we will be 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 235 
 
 in accord under him as leader. All the cities will surrender to him, 
 and he will invest those he wishes, and destroy those he wishes. 
 Besides, if these people of ours, assailed by long and daily trials, 
 should come to Jerusalem, they would wish to go home, perchance, 
 after having seen it from the outside. Consider carefully the 
 dangers and very great dangers which remain for those who desire 
 to finish the journey. Besides this, moreover, let us besiege the 
 fortress of Archas, and it will surrender within a month, or be cap- 
 tured by force. When people at a distance learn of this siege, if 
 we abandon it as impossible, our army, which hitherto has under- 
 taken nothing that it has not finished, will be much despised." 
 
 But others said on the other hand, "The Emperor has always 
 done us hurt, has always lied, has always plotted against us. And 
 now because he sees that he can do nothing, and that we are victo- 
 rious through the grace of God, he zealously strives to draw us off 
 from the proposed journey, lest those who will hear of it arrange 
 to follow our example. But now let those whom he has so often 
 hurt by word and deed take care not to place trust in him in vain. 
 Putting our faith, therefore, in Christ our Leader, who has de- 
 livered us from so many dangers beyond expectation, and who has 
 preserved us against all the efforts and wiles of the Emperor, let us 
 proceed on the journey for which we came; and by God's promise 
 we will easily accomplish what we wish. When the Emperor shall 
 hear that Jerusalem has been captured and the road is free, he will 
 fulfil in deed what he has feigned in words. It will be likewise 
 with the gifts." The people approved this opinion most. But be- 
 cause the friends of the Count were many, the Count would surely 
 have exposed himself with his people to death without the other 
 princes, and he would have given large individual gifts to many, 
 had not the counsel of the princes and the votes of the people pre- 
 vented. 
 
 At this time we preached a fast, prayers, and alms to the people, 
 that Almighty God, who had led them hither from so many regions, 
 should deign to breathe into them which of these (opinions) was 
 pleasing in His sight. And thus the prayers of the faithful easily 
 obtained from God what they sought. For the Bishop of Puy ap- 
 peared to Stephen Valentine, whom we mentioned above, the one 
 who saw the Lord with the Cross, and, beating him with a switch 
 as he was returning to his home by night, said to him, "Stephen." 
 He replied, "Sire," and looking back, he recognized him. 
 
 The Bishop said, "Why hast thou time and again neglected what 
 I said to thee about the Cross of the Lord and our Mother, Virgin 
 Mary? I commanded that the Cross which I was accustomed to 
 
236 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 have carried before me be brought to the army. And what sign 
 is better than the Cross? Or has that Cross not been stoned enough 
 for you? Or has it not led you truly to the Lance of the Lord? 
 And now Our Lady and Blessed X'irgin Mary says that unless you 
 keep that Cross, you will not be able to obtain counsel." 
 
 And the priest said immediately, "O, dearest Lord, where is the 
 Blessed Mary?" And straightway the Bishop showed her to him. 
 About nine or ten cubits distant from him was the Blessed Mary, 
 exceedingly wonderful in face and adornment ; and by her was St. 
 Agatha and another virgin, bearing two wax candles. 
 
 Then the priest said to the Bishop who stood by her, "Sire, how 
 many things are said of thee .in the army, that thy hair and beard 
 were burned in hell, and many other things which are not believed ! 
 And now I beg thee to give me one of those candles to take to the 
 Count, as proof of these things which thou sayest." 
 
 Then said the Bishop to him, "Look and see my face. Is it not 
 burned?" After this, the Bishop approached the Blessed Virgin 
 Mary and, upon learning her will, he returned to the priest and said 
 to him, "That which thou asketh cannot be obtained by thee; but 
 this ring that thou hast on thy finger is of no use to thee, nor is it 
 right for thee to wear it. Go and give it to the Count, saying, 'Most 
 Holy Virgin Mother sends this ring to thee ; and as often as thou 
 shalt fail in any matter, remember the Lady who sent it to thee, 
 and appeal to her and the Lord will aid thee.' " 
 
 Again, when the priest asked him what he wished his brother to 
 do, the Bishop replied to him, "Let him strongly urge the Bishop- 
 elect to celebrate three masses to the Lord for the souls of our 
 relatives. Our Mother commands that the Lance should not be 
 shown except by a priest clothed in sacred vestments ; and that the 
 Cross be borne before it, thus." 
 
 And the Bishop held the Cross placed upon a little spear, and a 
 person dressed in priestly garb followed him, holding the Lance 
 in his hands. Then the bishop began this response, Gaude, Maria 
 Virgo, ninctiis haereses sola intcremisti. Hundreds of thousands of 
 voices without number took it up; and so the gathering of saints 
 departed. Moreover, when it became morning, the priest went first 
 to see if we had the Lance ; and when he saw it, he began to narrate 
 with many tears what had been heard and seen, as we have told 
 above. Therefore the Count sent William Hugo, brother of the 
 Bishop of Puy, to Laodicaea, where the Cross had been left with 
 the hood of the same Bishop. 
 
 Meanwhile, Peter Bartholomew, distressed with illness from his 
 beating and wounds, summoned the Count and his princes and said 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 237 
 
 to him, "The end of my life approaches; and I know well enough 
 that I will be judged before God for all that I have done, or said, 
 or thought evilly. In your presence and in the sight of God, I 
 this day call Him to witness that I made up nothing of what I an- 
 nounced to you as from God and His apostles, and I say this to you 
 now. And as you have seen fulfilled the things which I announced 
 to you, so without doubt will you see these things which I tell you 
 now, if indeed you serve God faithfully." After this Peter de- 
 parted in safety and peace in the Lord at the hour appointed for 
 him by God, and he was buried in that place where he had passed 
 through the fire with the Lance. 
 
 5. Another vieiv of the revelation and trial of the Lance. 
 
 (Raoiil.) Permit us to run back to the origin of this 
 
 hatred, that we may wonder the less when we reach the force of the 
 raging current While Antioch was still resisting the princes of Gaul, 
 by whom it was enclosed, a quarrel arose between the adherents of 
 Bohemund and Raymond. Men of both parties were sent to gather 
 grain. They found food and a fight at one and the same time, and 
 the grain was divided by the sword. Both parties were wounded, 
 as well as frightened, and both sides returned home wounded. The 
 princes were wrought up at the sight of the blood of their vassal' 
 host, and they inflamed the minds of the wounded men to revenge 
 whenever a similar affair should occur. They commanded that 
 the fire should be covered in camp ; outside the flame should be 
 fanned with a raging wind. Their ready ears received this com- 
 mand willingly — a command difficult to revoke. Accordingly, when 
 thereafter a greater band of one party met a smaller one of the other 
 laden with provisions, the burdens of food were put down there, 
 and their necks were loaded with a shower of blows ; and thus the 
 one that was stronger enjoyed the spoils. Then, the weaker party, 
 thus despoiled, grieved that they had exerted themselves for others, 
 and not for themselves. He who understood the tongue of either 
 now lashed with it ; meanwhile, the innocent were lashed for it. 
 All from Narbonne, Auvergne, Gascony, and all this kind of jieople 
 were for the Provengals; the remainder of Gaul, especially the Nor- 
 mans, conspired with the Apulians. The Bretons, Swabians, Huns, 
 Ruthenians,-'^ and people of this kind were protected by the barbarity 
 of their tongues. All this was going on outside the wall. 
 
 In the city, also, the quarrel did not decrease, but rather in- 
 creased, for when the besieged people were in the throes of famine, 
 as mentioned above, there arose from the army of Raymond a 
 versatile fabricator of lies, Peter, who preached that the salvation 
 
238 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 of the people had been revealed to him in this way: "St. Andrew, 
 the apostle," he said, "appeared to me, when I was half asleep, and 
 spoke this command in my ear. 'Arise and announce to the people 
 who are laboring that consolation has come from heaven, which the 
 Lance that opened the side of the Lord will confer when it is found. 
 It lies hidden beneath the soil within the church of St. Peter. 
 Break the pavement at such a place (and he pointed out the place), 
 and by digging there you will find the iron mentioned. When the 
 horror of battle threatens, turn that against the enemy, and you 
 will conquer through it.' Terrified, I thought that I had been de- 
 ceived by a dream; and that I would not disclose it, but would 
 remain silent forever, unless I was warned the second and the third 
 time. The quiet of the next night was again enfolding me when 
 the same apostle again returned, uttering the very statement which 
 he had made before, but like one scolding and in wrath. 'Where- 
 fore,' he said,' didst thou shun me and remain silent? Thou alone 
 art delaying the safety of many. The people have cried out to the 
 Lord and have been heard; and still thy negligence leaves them as 
 if neglected. Hasten, therefore, as quickly as possible to correct 
 this, that thou mayest continue to live.' Frightened at these words, 
 when I had emerged from the sleep, I was at the same time more 
 certain and more troubled ; yet, still I hesitated whether to keep the 
 secret or disclose it. In this worry I passed a whole day, and half 
 the night, with prayer and fasting, begging the Lord for the third 
 visit, if the first two had really been from him. The cock had twice 
 acclaimed the morning, when, at length, just before the third crow, 
 sleep bound my tired limbs ; then without delay he who had come a 
 first time, who had come a second time, appeared there again, ever 
 more terrible, ever more commanding. 'Rise up, go, lazy brute, 
 mute dog, delayer of safety and victory, menace to your fellows, 
 solace of your enemies. Thou hast trembled with fear where there 
 was no fear; where it is thou hast no fear.' Threats and curses 
 still continued, when my spirit, terrified -with fear at the threats, 
 carried me away from sleep ; perspiration and trembling coursed 
 over my body at the same time, and if fire was burning one side, 
 the other was stiff with ice. By these steps I came to teach what 
 I had learned ; you, however, fathers and brothers, do not stop to 
 test the truth of the matter ; it remains for me to point out the place 
 for you to dig." 
 
 When this rumor was brought to the ears of Raymond, he called 
 a council and had Peter summoned to the church of St. Peter. 
 When asked about the place, he pointed behind the altar, true to his 
 story, and advised them to dig; and that his words might have 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 239 
 
 weight, he hkewise composed his expression. They dug, but without 
 avail ; the upturned earth could not return what had not been com- 
 mitted to it, and what it had not received. However, the man had 
 secreted about him an Arabic spear point, from the chance finding 
 of which he had contrived material for his deception. Therefore, 
 seizing the hardened, worn, and aged point, which was in form and 
 size unlike those which we used, he was encouraged thereby to 
 believe that people would put faith in his new creations. Accord- 
 ingly, when the time for the deception came, he took a spade, jumped 
 into the pit and, turning to a corner, said, "Here we must dig. 
 Here lies hidden what we seek. Here it will come forth." Then, 
 multiplying blow on blow, often and more often, he pulled forth 
 from the dug up ground the spear which had been fraudulently 
 dropped by him. The darkness conspired in the deception ; likewise, 
 the throng of people with the darkness, and the narrowness of the 
 pit with the throng. But when the sound of metal striking upon 
 metal was heard, this same fabricator of lies held out the iron and 
 filled the excited ears of the simple with these words: "Lo, behold! 
 Heaven promised what the earth preserved ; the apostle revealed 
 what the prayer of the people obtained!" Scarcely had he said this 
 when they went outside and, following the trophy with hymns and 
 chants, showered it with gifts and wrapped it up in cloth of gold. 
 
 This Raymond and those who supported him had fittingly ar- 
 ranged, but the men of other parties, too, in their rude simplicity, 
 paid devotion to it with gifts. Before victory earnestly, after it 
 much more earnestly, the Provengals said that the glory of the 
 triumph should be ascribed to the Lance, which was borne ahead in 
 battle, as if it were a trophy. And so, the treasury of Raymond 
 was enlarged, his spirit exalted, and his army became insolent. 
 Some of the princes whom he had joined to himself, partly by flat- 
 tery and partly by deference, sided with him. 
 
 But Bohemund, since he was no fool, scrutinized the matter in 
 detail. For who was that dreamer? In what vagaries had he 
 involved the people ? What place had he pointed out to the diggers ? 
 In the fact that he himself had leaped into it, had dug and found it, 
 Bohemund immediately detected a trick. He decided that the find- 
 ing was invalid and proved the inventor false by keen conjectures: 
 "Beautifully," said he, "was it contrived that St. Andrew should 
 appear to a man who, I hear, frequents taverns, roams the streets, 
 is a friend to vanities and ingrained with folly! The holy apostle 
 chose a fine person to whom to disclose the secret of heaven ! For 
 to whom would that trick not be evident ? If a Christian had hidden 
 it, why did he pass over the nearest altar for a hiding place, or if a 
 
240 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 Gentile, or a Jew, why was it hidden within the walls of a church? 
 Why near an altar? If it is ascribed to neither, but to chance, in 
 what historical account is Pilate found to have come to Antioch? 
 Surely we knew that it was the lance of a soldier, and a soldier of 
 Pilate. But what follows is delightful ! I hear that the finder leaped 
 in, after the diggers had been laboring in vain, and that was granted 
 to one man in the darkness which had been denied many in the open. 
 Oh, boorish foolishness ! Oh, boorish credulity ! Oh, credulity, 
 easily won ! So be it ! His integrity corroborates the man, and 
 nearness to the crucifixion the place. Is this most recent fraud of 
 that man not evident enough? If he had walked purely, simply, 
 in the way of God; if he had trusted in the apostle who appeared 
 to him, he himself would not (alone) bear witness to this discovery 
 but would obtain another's testimony. But why do I devote so much 
 scorn to that person? Because the Provengals ascribe our victory, 
 which is from above, like light from the Father, to their piece of 
 iron. Let that grasping Count and stupid rabble regard it as their 
 own ! We, however, have won and shall win in the name of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ 1" This said Bohemund, and with him those who 
 looked more deeply below the surface, the Counts of Normandy and 
 Flanders, and the vice-prelate, Arnulf, and Tancred. 
 
 Accordingly, Raymond, wounded by the sharp points of Bohe- 
 mund's arguments, sought vengeance by a thousand arts, or a thou- 
 sand ways. Then, withdrawing, without a mediator, he said, 
 "Either I will die soon, or I will avenge the insults of the son 
 of Guiscard. If the meeting does not occur openly, let it come 
 secretly. Let the dagger prevail, where the Lance will not ! Dolus, 
 an virtus, qiiis in hoste requiratf-^ Since the custody of the city is 
 mine, then the citadel on the hill, the chief palace, the market place, 
 the bridge, and the gates belong to me; also the Lance and most of 
 the people are subject to me. What remains, except that, with 
 Bohemund out of the way, I shall gain the principality ?" 
 
 While he was turning this and much more over in his mind, he 
 decided first of all that an uprising should be stirred up among the 
 people, so that Bohemund would be overwhelmed from head to 
 foot. In the beginning, oaths would be hurled back and forth in 
 the market place ; the clamor would rise to disturb the people ; the 
 leaders from both sides would bring aid to their men ; and every 
 arrow, every javelin, would be aimed at Bohemund. While Ray- 
 mond was digesting this plot in his heart, like a lion, God willed that 
 this injustice should not be concealed, and it was disclosed to Arnulf, 
 and through him to Bohemund. Thus the plot was thwarted and 
 the soul of a man, whose life had already been of the greatest ad- 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 241 
 
 vantage to those seeking Jerusalem, and was yet to be of great 
 advantage, was saved from death. 
 
 Thus their anger had its beginning; thus began the kindhng of 
 their hate. . . . While their arms were idle and ease shut out war- 
 like cares, the question of the finding of the above mentioned spear 
 point was to be put to test, for division was disturbing the people. 
 These favored the Lance, those condemned it, neither party at all 
 reasonable. As a result, the chief leaders agreed that he who had 
 been the beginning of the difficulty should himself end it, and should 
 prove the matter in question by the ordeal of fire. Accordingly, 
 when Peter had been brought in to the council, they decided that he 
 should take nine steps hither and thither through the midst of burn- 
 ing, flaming branches, that by this test the finding would be proved 
 true, if he were unhurt, or false, if he were burnt. A period 
 of three days was set aside for a fast, and proper provision was 
 made for prayer and virgil. So they separated. But soon, on the 
 third day, they met again. Branches were set afire in a double row. 
 Peter, dressed in a shirt and breeches, otherwise naked, proceeded 
 through the midst of it, fell burned at the other end, and died on 
 the following day. The people, upon seeing what was done, con- 
 fessed that they had been deceived by his wordy guile, were sorry 
 that they had erred, and testified that Peter was a disciple of Simon, 
 the magician.^- 
 
 But Raymond and his Provengal accomplices defended the accused 
 with obstinate minds,-^ proclaimed him a saint, threatened Arnulf, 
 as the chief discoverer of the fraud which had been revealed and, 
 finally, sent an armed band against him to overwhelm him unex- 
 pectedly at his house. Had he not previously warned the Count 
 of Normandy, in whose service he was, he would have come to an 
 early death. The Count was eating, with him the Count of Flanders, 
 and both were reclining. When they heard the cause of the com- 
 motion, their session was broken off. The Counts separated, each 
 to his own forces, and both sent arms to oppose the armed men. 
 But frightened by the commotion of the Normans which they heard, 
 they tried to cover up the matter, making believe that they were 
 looking for something else and had some other intent. By this 
 artifice they saved themselves ; otherwise those whom flight spared 
 would have grieved, not that they had taken up arms in vain, but 
 that they had done so unfortunately. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 The Capture of Jerusalem 
 
 (The last quarrel between the leaders at Archas apparently cleared the 
 minds of all. Their attitude thereafter seemed one of grim determination to 
 fulfil their vow as quickly as possible. The description of the siege and the 
 capture of Jerusalem offers very graphic testimony as to the degree of 
 civilization attained by eleventh century Europe. With Jerusalem in their 
 possession, the Crusaders were still threatened by the vacillating ruler of 
 Egypt, or Babylon, as they called it. Jerusalem had been surrendered to 
 the Saracens of Egypt by its Seljuk rulers when the Crusaders were at 
 Antioch. The inability of the Caliph to send an army to the relief of the 
 city while it was being besieged is sufficient evidence of his weakness. The 
 ease with which the Crusaders disposed of Al-Afdhal's host, while it con- 
 firms this weakness, also affords eloquent testimony to the prestige which 
 Western courage and skill had won among the Mohammedans.) 
 
 I. March to Jerusalem. (May 13 — June 7, 1099.) 
 
 (Gesta.) Accordingly, we left the fortified town and came to 
 V; )<)0^V ' 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 straight- 
 way 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 Ascen- 
 sion of the Lord we crossed a mountain in which the way was ex- 
 ceedingly narrow, and there we expected to find the enemy lying 
 in ambush for us. But God favoring us, none of them dared to 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 243 
 
 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 is 
 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 he might live the more devoutly and honorably 
 with those who were with him.- He remained there with joy. 
 
 (Raymond.) Meanwhile the Count and the other princes in- 
 quired of the inhabitants of that region how the march to Jerusalem 
 might be better and more easily made. For there are the mountains 
 of Lebanon, in which almost sixty thousand Christian men dwell. 
 The Christians who are near the city of Tyre (now commonly called 
 Sur, whence they are called Surians) have possessed that land and 
 mountains for a long time. But when the Saracens and Turks 
 arose through the judgment of God, those Surians were in such 
 great oppression for four hundred and more years that many of 
 them were forced to abandon their fatherland and the Christian law. 
 If, however, any of them through the grace of God refused, they 
 were compelled to give up their beautiful children to be circumcised, 
 or converted to Mohammedanism; or they were snatched from 
 the lap of their mothers, after the father had been killed and the 
 mother mocked. Forsooth, that race of men were inflamed to 
 such malice that they overturned the churches of God and His 
 saints, or destroyed the images ; and they tore out the eyes of those 
 images which, for lack of time, they could not destroy, and shot 
 them with arrows; all the altars, too, they undermined. Moreover, 
 they made mosques of the great churches. But if any of those dis- 
 tressed Christians wished to have an image of God or any saint 
 at his home, he either redeemed it month by month, or year by year, 
 or it was thrown down into the dirt and broken before his eyes. 
 In addition, too harsh to relate, they placed youths in brothels, and, 
 to do yet more vilely, exchanged their sisters for wine. And their 
 mothers dared not weep openly at these or other sorrows. Why do 
 
244 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 we say much about them? Surely that people had conspired against 
 the Holy of Holies and His inheritance! Except by the command 
 and direction of God, the people of the Franks would have en- 
 countered these ills, had not God straightway armed brute animals' 
 against their enemies, as He did once in our presence.^ And so 
 much for this. 
 
 When those Surians who, as we said above, came to the Count, 
 were asked about the better route, they replied : "The way through 
 Damascus is level and full of vituals ; but you will not find water 
 for two days. The other way through the mountains of Lebanon 
 is safe enough and well watered, but it is very hard for the pack 
 animals and camels. There is another way along the sea, where 
 there are so many and such narrow passes that if fifty or a hundred 
 Saracens want to hold them, they can do so against all mankind. 
 And yet it is contained in the Gospel of St. Peter, which we have, 
 that if you are the people who are to take Jerusalem, you will pass 
 along the sea-coast, though because of the difficulty it seems impos-' 
 sible to us. Moreover, there is written in that Gospel among us not 
 only what you have done, but also what you ought to do about this 
 march and many other things." 
 
 While some were urging in this and other ways, and others were 
 contradicting, William Hugo of Monteil returned with the Cross 
 of which we spoke above.* Moreover, when the friends of the 
 Count likewise beheld this Cross, they became so eager for the march 
 that, except for the counsel of the Count and the other princes, 
 the servants of the Count would have burned their huts and been 
 the first to leave the siege of Archas. Thereupon, the Count was 
 disturbed to tears and even to hatred of himself and his people. 
 But the Duke of Lorraine especially wished this journey and ad- 
 monished the people to it. Accordingly, having set forth from that 
 detestable and hateful siege of Archas, we came before Tripoli. 
 Even then Count Raymond with prayers and gifts urged all the 
 nobles to besiege the city of Tripoli, but all opposed him. 
 
 At this time, St. Andrew appeared to Peter Desiderius, of whom 
 we have made mention above, and said to him, "Go and speak to 
 the Count, saying: 'Do not molest thyself or others, for unless 
 Jerusalem shall first have been taken, thou shalt have no help. Do 
 not trouble thyself about the unfinished siege of Archas; let it not 
 weigh upon thee that this city, or others which are on the journey, 
 are not taken at present, because a fight will soon come upon thee 
 in which these and many other cities shall be captured. Further- 
 more, do not trouble thyself or thy men, but distribute freely in 
 His name whatever God shall grant to thee, and be a companion 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 245 
 
 and loyal friend to thy vassals. If thou shalt do this, God will grant 
 thee Jerusalem and Alexandria and Babylon. But if thou dost not 
 do this, thou shalt neither acquire the things promised by God nor 
 have a message, until thou art placed in such straits that thou 
 knowest not how to escape !' " So the Count accepted the words 
 of the priest; he accepted them, truly, in words, but he refused 
 them in deeds. For when he had received great wealth from the 
 King of Tripoli, he was never willing to give anyone any of it, 
 but he even daily afflicted his people with blows and insults. Not 
 only this, however, did that priest tell us, but also many other things, 
 some of which we have added to this work. 
 
 For once, when we wanted to set out from Antioch, that priest 
 came to me, Raymond, and said to me that a certain person had 
 appeared to him in a vision who said to him, "Go into the church 
 of St. Leontius, and thou wilt find there the relics of four saints; 
 take them with thee and carry them to Jerusalem." And he showed 
 him in that vision the relics and locations of the relics, and he 
 taught him the names of the saints. When that priest had awakened, 
 not fully believing in his vision, he began to urge God with prayers 
 and entreaties to make known to him a second time if this vision 
 was from Him. Several days later the same saint stood before him 
 in a vision and threatened him much because he had neglected 
 the command of God, and (said that) unless he had taken those 
 relics away by the fifth day of the week, it would be a great hurt 
 to him and his lord, Count Ysoard. Ysoard, Count of Die, was a 
 man loyal to God as far as he knew, and helpful to all of us for his 
 wisdom and uprightness. 
 
 When the priest had narrated this to me, Raymond, I told it 
 to the Bishop of Orange and to the Count of St. Gilles and to some 
 others. We took candles and went to the church of St. Leontus, 
 We offered the candles and vows to God and to the saints of the 
 same church, (praying) that Almighty God, who had sanctified 
 them, might give them to us as companions and helpers ; and that 
 those saints might not spurn the company of pilgrims and exiles 
 for God, but, rather, out of charity might join us and link us with 
 God. When it became morning, we went with the priest to the 
 places where the relics were kept, and we found everything just 
 as it had been foretold. Moreover, these are the names of the saints : 
 Cyprian, Omechios, Leontius, John Chrysostom.^ And, further- 
 more, at the place where the relics were kept we found a little chest 
 filled with relics. When he asked a priest about these, of which saint 
 they were the relics, he replied that he did not know. But when 
 we inquired of the inhabitants if they knew of which saint these 
 
246 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 were the relics, some said of St. Mercurius, others, however, of 
 other saints. But the priest wished to take them up and put them 
 with the collection of other relics. To him, I, Raymond, said 
 angrily in the presence of all who were there, "If this saint wishes 
 to come with us to Jerusalem, let him make known his name and 
 wish; otherwise let him remain here. Why should we weight 
 ourselves with unknown bones and carry them along?" Therefore 
 on that day those relics were left behind. But when the priest had 
 collected the other relics and had rolled them up in cloths and a 
 covering, on the night which followed, as he lay awake, there ap- 
 peared to him a youth of about fifteen years, exceedingly beautiful, 
 who said to him, "Why didst thou this day not take any relics with 
 the rest?" 
 
 The priest replied to this, "Who art thou?" 
 
 "Dost thou not know who is the standard bearer of this army?" 
 he replied. 
 
 The priest answered, 'T do not. Sire." 
 
 When the priest had made the same reply to the same question 
 a second time, the youth threatened the priest terribly, saying, "Tell 
 me the truth." 
 
 And then the priest said, "Sire, it is said of St. George that he 
 is the standard-bearer of this army." 
 
 He replied, "Thou hast said well. I am he. Take, therefore, my 
 relics and put them with the others." 
 
 When, however, the priest had deferred doing this for several 
 days, the same George came to him and commanded the priest 
 sternly, saying, "Do not delay longer than the morning to take up 
 my relics ; and near by in a little ampule thou wilt find some of the 
 blood of the virgin and martyr St. Tecla, which likewise take ; and 
 after this chant mass." And the priest found all this, and did it. 
 
 But before we go on to the remainder, we ought not to pass over 
 these men who did not hesitate, for love of the most holy expedi- 
 tion, to sail through the unknown and very long water of the 
 •Mediterranean and the Ocean. For when the Angles heard the 
 name of the Lord's vengeance against those who unworthily oc- 
 cupied the birthplace of Jesus Christ and His apostles, they em- 
 barked upon the Anglican Sea. Rounding Spain, crossing the ocean, 
 and thus ploughing through the Mediterranean Sea, with great labor 
 they gained the port of Antioch and the city of Laodicaea, before 
 our army came thither by land.^ Their ships, as well as those of 
 the Genoese were of advantage to us at this time, for during the 
 siege we had trade with the island of Cyprus and the remaining 
 islands because of these ships and the security which they offered. 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 247 
 
 Forsooth, these ships passed daily over the sea, and for this reason 
 the ships of the Greeks were safe, since the Saracens feared to 
 encounter them. But when the Angles saw the army setting forth 
 for Jerusalem, and that the strength of their own ships was im- 
 paired by the long wait (for though they had thirty ships in the 
 beginning, they now had scarcely nine or ten), some abandoned 
 their ships and exposed them; others, however, burned theirs and 
 hastened with us on the journey. 
 
 When our princes were entangled in delay before Tripoli, the 
 Lord sent such great desire of going to Jerusalem that no one could 
 there restrain himself, or another, but, setting out at evening against 
 the decrees of the princes and the custom of our army, we walked 
 along all that night and came on the following day to Beirut. After 
 this, when the narrow passages which are called The Twisted Mouth 
 had been suddenly seized in advance, we came in a few days and 
 without baggage to Acre. The King of Acre, however, afraid 
 that we would besiege his city, and hoping that we would with- 
 draw, took oath to the Count that if we captured Jerusalem, or 
 were in the region of Judaea for twenty days, and the King of 
 Babylon did not meet us in battle, or if we were able to overcome 
 that king, he would surrender himself and his city to us ; but that 
 in the meanwhile he would be our friend. 
 
 Setting forth from Acre one day at vespers, we pitched camp 
 by the swamps which are near Caesarea. And while, according to 
 custom, some ran here and there below the camp, as need de- 
 manded, and while others were inquiring from acquaintances where 
 their companions were lodged, a dove, mortally wounded by a 
 hawk, fell down in the midst of those runnnig about. When the 
 Bishop of Agde took it up, he found a letter which it was carrying. 
 And the sense of the letter was as follows : 
 
 "The King of Acre to the Duke of Caesarea: A canine breed, 
 a foolish and troublesome host without order, passed me. As you 
 love your law, try by yourselves and through others to hurt them ; 
 this you can easily do, if you wish. Send this likewise to other 
 cities and fortresses." 
 
 In the morning, when we were commanding the army to rest, the 
 letter was shown to the princes and to all the people, and (it was 
 manifest) how God had been kind to us, so that not even the birds 
 could cross through the air to harm us, and that He likewise dis- 
 closed to us the secrets of our foes. Wherefore, we rendered praise 
 and thank to Almighty God. And thence setting forth securely and 
 willingly, we went forward, frequently in the front rank of the army, 
 and also at the end. 
 
248 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 But when the Saracens who Hved in Ramlah heard that we had 
 crossed the river near by, they left their fortifications and arms, 
 and much grain in the fields, and crops, which we gathered. And 
 when we came to it on the next day, we found out that God was 
 truly fighting for us. So we offered vows to St. George because 
 he had confessed himself our guide. The leaders and all the 
 people agreed that we should there choose a bishop, sinceUhat was 
 the first church which we found in the land of Israel, and, also, 
 in order that St. George might entreat God in our behalf, and might 
 lead us faithfully through the land in which He was not wor- 
 shipped. Moreover, Ramlah is about fifteen miles from Jerusalem. 
 Therefore, we there held a conference. 
 
 Some said, "Let us not go to Jerusalem at present, but towards 
 Egypt; we will obtain not only Jerusalem, but likewise Alexandria 
 and Babylon and very many kingdoms. If we go to Jerusalem and, 
 failing of sufficient water, give up the siege, we will accomplish 
 neither this nor the other afterwards." 
 
 But others said in opposition, "There are scarcely fifteen hundred 
 knights in the army, and the number of armed men is not great ; 
 and yet it is now suggested that we go to very distant and unknown 
 regions, where we will be able neither to get help from our people 
 nor to place a garrison in a city, if we capture one; nor, even if it 
 should be necessary, would we be able to return thence. But none 
 of this ; let us hold to our way, and let God provide for His servants 
 'for the siege, for thirst, for hunger, and for other things !" 
 
 Accordingly, sfter leaving a garrison in the fortress of Ramlah 
 with the new Bishop, we loaded our camels and oxen, and then 
 all our baggage animals and horses, and turned our march to Jeru- 
 salem. However, the word which Peter Bartholomew had com- 
 manded us — that we should not approach Jerusalem except with bared 
 feet — we forgot and held in low regard, each one, from ambition to 
 occupy castles and villas, wishing to go ahead of the next. For 
 it was a custom among us that if any one came to a castle or villa 
 first and placed his standard there with a guard, it was touched by 
 no one else afterward. Therefore, because of this ambition they 
 arose at midnight and, without waiting for companions, gained all 
 those mountains and villas which are in the meadows of the Jordan. 
 A few, however, to whom the command of God was more precious, 
 walked with naked feet and sighed heavily for the contempt of the 
 Divine word ; and yet no one recalled a companion or friend from 
 that ambitious chase. Moreover, when by such arrogant procedure 
 we had come near Jerusalem, the people of Jerusalem came forth 
 to meet the first of our men and wounded the horses severely. Of 
 those men three or four fell on that day, and many were wounded. 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 249 
 
 2. The Siege. (June 7 — July 15, 1099.) 
 
 {Gesta.) Rejoicing and exulting, we reached the city of Jeru- 
 salem on Tuesday, on the third day of the week, the eighth day 
 before the Ides of June, and began to besiege the city in a marvelous 
 manner/ Robert the Norman besieged it from the north side, near 
 the church of St. Stephen, which was built on the very spot where 
 that first martyr won eternal happiness by being stoned in Christ's 
 name. Next to the Norman Count was Robert, Count of Flanders, 
 while Duke Godfrey and Tancred besieged the city from the west. 
 The Count of St. Gilles located himself on the south, on Mount 
 Zion, near the church of St. Mary, the mother of the Lord, where 
 Christ once supped with His disciples. 
 
 On the third day some of our men, namely Raymond Piletus and 
 Raymond of Turenne, went out on a foraging expedition. They 
 encountered a force of two hundred Arabs, and the soldiers of 
 Christ fought these unbelievers. With the Lord's help, they fought 
 so valiantly that they killed many of the enemy and captured thirty 
 horses. On the second day of the following week, we made an 
 attack on the city, and so bravely did we fight that, if scaling ladders 
 had been ready for our use, the city most certainly would have 
 fallen into our hands. As it was, we pulled down the outer wall and 
 placed one ladder against the main wall, upon which some of our 
 men ascended and fought hand to hand with swords and lances 
 against the Saracen defenders of the city. Many of our men were 
 killed in this attack, but more of the enemy. 
 
 For a period of ten days during the siege we were not able to 
 buy bread at any price, until a messenger came announcing the ar- 
 rival of our ships. We also suffered greatly for thirst. In fear and 
 terror we were forced to water our horses and other animals at a 
 distance of six miles from camp. The Pool of Siloam, at the foot 
 of Mount Zion, sustained us, but, nevertheless, water was sold 
 among us very dearly. 
 
 When the messenger arrived from our ships, the leaders took 
 counsel and decided that armed men should be sent to guard the 
 ships and sailors at the port of Joppa. So one hundred men from 
 the army of Raymond, Count of St. Gilles, under Raymond Piletus, 
 Achard of Montemerle, and William of Sabran,^ left camp in the 
 early dawn and started confidently toward Joppa. Thirty of these 
 knights separated themselves from the rest of the band and met 
 seven hundred Arabs, Turks, and Saracens from the army of the 
 Emir. The soldiers of Christ boldly attacked the enemy, whose 
 force was so superior to ours that they soon surrounded us. Achard 
 and some of the poor footmen were killed. While this band was 
 
250 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 completely surrounded, and all believed that they would be killed, 
 a messenger was sent to Raymond Piletus, who said, "Why do you 
 stand here with these knights? Lo, all of our men are in serious 
 danger from the Arabs, Turks, and Saracens, and may all be dead 
 by this time. Hasten to them and aid them." As soon as they 
 heard this, our men hastened to the scene of battle. When the 
 pagans saw the rest of our knights approaching, they formed them- 
 selves into two lines. Our men rushed upon the unbelievers, shout- 
 ing the name of Christ, each determined to bring down his man. 
 The enemy soon realized that they would not be able to withstand 
 the bravery of the Franks, so they turned their backs and fled in 
 terror. Our men, pursuing them a distance of four miles, killed 
 many of them, but kept one alive to give them information. One 
 hundred and three horses were captured. 
 
 During this siege we were so distressed with thirst that we 
 sewed up skins of oxen and bufifalos and in these carried water for 
 a distance of six miles. Between fetid water and barley bread we 
 were daily in great want and suffering. Moreover, the Saracens 
 hid in ambush at the watering places and either killed and wounded 
 our animals or drove them away to caverns in the hills. 
 
 {Raymond.) Duke Godfrey and the Count of Flanders and the 
 Count of Normandy besieged the city from the north side, that is 
 from the church of St. Stephen, located in the center of the city, 
 southward to the angular tower next to the tower of David. Count 
 Raymond and his army, however, settled down on the West and 
 besieged Jerusalem from the camp of the Duke to the foot of Mount 
 Zion. But since his men could not come close to besiege the wall 
 because of a gully which intervened, the Count wished to move his 
 camp and change his position. One day, while he was reconnoiter- 
 ing, he came to Mount Zion and saw the church which is located on 
 the Mount. When he heard of the miracles that God had per- 
 formed there, he said to his leaders and companions, 'Tf we neglect 
 to take this sacred offering, which the Lord has so graciously offered 
 us, and the Saracens there occupy this place, what will become 
 of us? What if through hatred of us they should destroy and 
 pollute these sacred things? Who knows that God may not be 
 giving us this opportunity to test our regard for Him? I know this 
 one thing for certain: unless we carefully protect this sacred spot, 
 the Lord will not give us the others within the city." And so Count 
 Raymond, against the wishes of the leaders of his army, ordered 
 his tents to be moved to that spot. As a result, he incurred such 
 great hatred from his men that they were neither willing to en- 
 camp with him nor to do guard duty during the night ; each stayed 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 251 
 
 where he had first pitched his tent, with the exception of a few 
 who accompanied the Count. However, by great rewards the Count 
 daily induced knights and footmen to guard his camp. There are 
 in that church these sacred treasures— the tombs of the kings, David 
 and Solomon, as well as that of the first martyr, St. Stephen. There 
 the Blessed Mary departed from this world; the Lord supped 
 there and, after rising from the dead, appeared there to His dis- 
 ciples and to Thomas. On this spot, also, the disciples were filled 
 with the Holy Spirit. 
 
 Thereupon, when the siege had been set, it happened one day 
 that some of the leaders of the army met a hermit on the Mount of 
 Olives, who said to them, "H you will attack the city tomorrow till 
 the ninth hour, the Lord will deliver it into your hands." They 
 replied, "But we do not have the necessary machinery for storm- 
 ing the walls." The hermit replied : "God is all powerful. H He 
 wills. He will storm the walls even with one ladder. The Lord aids 
 those who labor for the Truth." So, with such machinery as could 
 be constructed during the night, an attack was made on the city 
 in the early morning, and it lasted till the third hour. The Saracens 
 were compelled to retreat behind the inner walls, for the outer 
 wall was broken down by our men, some of whom even climbed 
 to the top of the inner walls. Now when the city was about to be 
 captured, in the confusion of desire and fear the attack was in- 
 terrupted, and we then lost many men. On the next day no attack 
 was attempted. 
 
 After this, the whole army scattered throughout the surrounding 
 country to collect provisions, and nothing was even said of the 
 necessity of preparing the machines that were needed to capture 
 the city. Each man was serving his mouth and stomach; what 
 was worse, they did not even ask the Lord to free them from such 
 great and manifold evils, and they were afflicted even unto death. 
 Just before our arrival, the Saracens had filled up the springs, 
 destroyed the cisterns, and dammed up the brooks from the springs. 
 And the Lord Himself had turned rivers into wilderness and water- 
 springs into thirsty ground for the wickedness of them that dwell 
 therein.^ Therefore water was obtained with great difficulty. 
 There is a fountain at the foot of Mount Zion, which is called the 
 Pool of Siloam. Indeed, it is a large spring, but the water flows 
 forth only once in three days, and the natives say that formerly it 
 emptied itself only on Saturdays; the rest of the week it remained 
 stagnant. We do not know how to explain this, except that the 
 Lord willed it to be so. But when, as we have said, the water did 
 flow forth on the third day, it was consumed with such great 
 
252 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 crowding and haste that the men pushed one another into it, and 
 many baggage animals and cattle perished in it. And so when 
 the pool was filled with the crowd and with the bodies of dead 
 animals, the stronger, even at the price of death, forced their way 
 to the very opening in the rocks through which the water flowed, 
 while the weak got only the water which had already been con- 
 taminated. Many sick people fell down by the fountain, with 
 tongues so parched that they were unable to utter a word ; with 
 open mouths they stretched forth their hands toward those who 
 had water. In the field were many horses, mules, cattle, and sheep, 
 most of the animals without strength enough to move. And when 
 they had become parched and died because of extreme thirst, they 
 rotted where they had long stood, and there was a most sickening 
 stench throughout the camp. Because of such affliction it was neces- 
 sary to fetch water a distance of two or three leagues, also to drive 
 the cattle to distant watering places. When the Saracens noticed 
 that our people were going unarmed to the watering places through 
 the dangerous passes in the hills, they lay in wait for them in am- 
 bush. They killed many of them and drove away the flocks and 
 herds. The situation was so bad that when any one brought foul 
 water to camp in vessels, he was able to get any price that he cared 
 to ask, and if any one wished to get clear water, for five or six 
 nummi}^ he could not obtain enough to satisfy his thirst for a single 
 day. Wine, moreover, was never, or very rarely, even mentioned. 
 In addition, the heat, the dust, and the wind increased their thirst, 
 as though this was not bad enough in itself. But why say so much 
 about these troubles? None, or few, were mindful of the Lord, 
 or of such work as was needed to capture the city; nor did they 
 take heed to beseech the Lord's favor. And thus we did not recog- 
 nize God in the midst of our affliction, nor did He show favor to 
 the ungrateful. 
 
 Meanwhile, messengers came to camp, announcing that our ships 
 had arrived at Joppa and that the sailors demanded that a guard 
 be sent to hold the tower of Joppa and to give them protection at 
 the port; for the town of Joppa had been destroyed except the 
 castle, and that was nearly in ruins, with the exception of one tower. 
 However, there is a harbor there, and it is the one nearest to Jeru- 
 salem, being about one day's journey distant. All of our people 
 rejoiced when they heard the news of the ships, and they sent out 
 Count Galdemar, surnamed Carpinettus, accompanied by twenty 
 knights and about fifty footmen. Later, they sent Raymond Piletus 
 with fifty knights and William of Sabran with his followers. 
 
 As Galdemar and his contingent approached the plains that are 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 253 
 
 on this side of Ramlah, they encountered a force of four hundred 
 chosen Arabs and about two hundred Turks. Galdemar, because 
 of the small number of his men, arranged his knights and bowmen 
 in the front ranks and, trusting in the Lord, advanced upon the 
 enemy without hesitation. The enemy, however, thought that they 
 would be able to crush this band, and, rushing upon them and shoot- 
 ing arrows, they encircled them. Three or four of Galdemar's 
 knights were killed, including Achard of Montemerle, a noble youth 
 and renowned knight ; others were wounded, and all our bowmen 
 fell. However, many of the enemy were also killed. Nevertheless, 
 the attack of the enemy did not slacken on account of all this, nor 
 did the courage of our knights, nay God's knights, falter ; though 
 oppressed by wounds and death itself, they stood up to their enemies 
 all the more fiercely, the more they suffered from them. But when 
 our leaders, rather from weariness than from fear, were about to 
 withdraw, a cloud of dust was seen approaching. Raymond Piletus 
 was rushing headlong into the fight with his men. Moreover, his 
 men raised so much dust that the enemy thought there were very 
 many knights with him. Thus, by the grace of God, our men were 
 delivered. The enemy scattered and fled, about two hundred of 
 them were killed, and much plunder was taken. It is the custom 
 of this people, when they flee and are hard pressed by the enemy, 
 first to throw away their arms, then their clothes, and lastly their 
 saddle bags. Thus it happened in this fight that our few knights 
 continued killing the enemy until they were worn out, and they 
 kept the spoils obtained from the rest, even of those whom they did 
 not kill. 
 
 After the pursuit was over our men assembled, divided the spoils, 
 and then marched to Joppa. The sailors received them with great 
 joy and felt so secure after their arrival that they forgot their ships 
 and neglected to place watches on the sea, but entertained the 
 crusaders with a feast of bread, wine, and fish from their ships. 
 The sailors, careless of their security, failed to post lookouts for 
 the night, and in the darkness they were suddenly surrounded by 
 enemies from the sea. When dawn came, they realized that the 
 enemy was too strong to be resisted, and they abandoned their 
 ships, carrying only the spoils. Thus our knights returned to 
 Jerusalem after winning one battle and losing another. How- 
 ever, one of our ships which had gone on a plundering expedition 
 was not captured. It was returning to port with the greatest plunder 
 when it saw the rest of our ships surrounded by so great a fleet of 
 the enemy. By the use of oars and sail it made its escape to 'Laodi- 
 caea and told our friends and companions at that port what had 
 
254 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 been happening at Jerusalem. We knew that we had deserved this 
 misfortune, for we had refused to place faith in the words sent to 
 us by the Lord. Despairing of God's mercy, the men went to the 
 plain of the river Jordan, collected palms, and were baptized in 
 its waters. They did so chiefly with the intention of abandonng 
 the siege, having seen Jerusalem, and of going to Joppa, thence to 
 return home by whatever means they could. But the Lord looked 
 after the ships for His unfaithful. 
 
 About this time a public assembly was held, for the leaders of the 
 army were quarreling with each other. There was dissatisfaction 
 because Tancred had occupied Bethlehem and had placed his 
 standard over the church of the Nativity, as though it was an 
 ordinary house. An effort was also made to elect one of the 
 princes king to have custody of the city, lest what had been achieved 
 in common should be destroyed in common for want of anyone to 
 take care of the city, if God should give it to us. The bishops and 
 clergy replied (to this suggestion), "You ought not to choose a 
 king where the Lord suffered and was crowned. For if a David, 
 degenerate in faith and virtue, should say in his heart, T sit upon 
 the throne of David and hold his kingdom,' the Lord would probably 
 destroy him and be angry with place and people. Besides, the pro- 
 phet proclaims, saying, 'When the Holy of Holies shall come, 
 unction shall cease, because it will be manifest to all peoples that He 
 has come.'^^ But there should be an advocate to guard the city and 
 divide the tributes and rents of the region among the guardians of 
 the city." For this and many other reasons the election was stopped 
 and put off until the eighth day after the capture of Jerusalem. 
 Not in this matter alone, but in other ways, our affairs did not 
 prosper, and the troubles of the people increased every day. Never- 
 theless, the merciful and propitious Lord, both for His name's sake 
 and lest our enemies should insult His law and say, "Where is their 
 God?" sent word to us through the Bishop of Puy, Lord Adhemar,^- 
 how we could placate His anger and obtain His mercy. We, how- 
 ever, preached that this be done without mentioning the command 
 of God, lest if the people transgressed this command of the Lord, 
 they should be especially afflicted, as they would then be the more 
 culpable. For the Lord was so kind to us that He had sent His 
 messengers to us often, but because they were our brothers we 
 had not heeded them. 
 
 The Bishop (Adhemar) appeared before Peter Desiderius, say- 
 ing; "Speak to the princes and all the people, and say to them: 
 'You who have come from distant lands to worship God and the 
 Lord of hosts, purge yourselves of your uncleanliness, and let 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 255 
 
 each one turn from his evil ways. Then with bare feet march 
 around Jerusalem invoking God, and you must also fast. If you 
 do this and then make a great attack on the city on the ninth day, 
 it will be captured. If you do not, all the evils that you have 
 suffered will be multiplied by the Lord ?' " 
 
 When the priest had said this to William Hugo, the brother 
 of the Bishop, to his lord. Count Ysoard, and to certain of the clergy, 
 they assembled the princes and the people and addressed them. 
 "Brothers, you know why we undertook this expedition, and what 
 we have suffered, and that we are acting negligently in that we are 
 not constructing the machines that are needed to capture the city. 
 Likewise, we are not careful to reconcile the Lord to us, for we 
 offend Him in many ways and through our evil deeds have driven 
 Him from us. Now, if it seems right to you, let each one become 
 reconciled to his brother whom he has offended, and let brother 
 graciously forgive brother. After this, let us humble ourselves be- 
 fore God ; let us march around Jerusalem in bare feet and, through 
 the patronage of the saints, invoke the mercy of the Lord, so that 
 Almighty God, who for us, His servants, laid aside the form of His 
 Godhead, assumed the flesh, and humbly rode into the city on an 
 ass to suffer death on the Cross for our sins, may corns to our aid. 
 If we make this procession around the walls, for the honor and 
 glory of His name, He will open the city to us and give us judgment 
 upon His enemies and ours, who now with unjust possession con- 
 taminate the place of His suffering and burial, the enemy who seek 
 to deny us the great blessing of the place of God's humiliation and 
 our redemption." 
 
 These words were pleasing to both princes and people, and it 
 was publicly commanded that on the next Friday the clergy should 
 lead the procession with crosses and relics of the saints, while the 
 knights and all able-bodied men, with trumpets, standards, and arms, 
 should follow them, barefooted. All this we did according to the 
 commands of God and the princes. When we reached the spot on 
 the Mount of Olives whence the Lord had ascended into heaven 
 after the resurrection, the following exhortation was made to the 
 people: "Now that we are on the very spot from which the Lord 
 made His ascension and we can do nothing more to purify ourselves, 
 let each one of us forgive his brother whom he has injured, that 
 the Lord may forgive us." What more? All were reconciled to 
 each other, and with generous offerings we besought the mercy of 
 God, that He should not now desert His people, whom He had led 
 so gloriously and miraculously to this goal. Thus the mercy of 
 God was obtained, since every thing that had been against us was 
 now favorable. 
 
256 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 Although we have passed over many matters, this one we ought 
 to record. While we marched around the city in procession, the 
 Saracens and Turks made the circuit on the walls, ridiculing us in 
 many ways. They placed many crosses on the walls in yokes and 
 mocked them with blows and insulting deeds. We, in turn, hoping 
 to obtain the aid of God in storming the city by means of these 
 signs, pressed the work of the siege day and night. 
 
 3. Final assault and capture. (July 15, 1099.) 
 
 (Gesta.) 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. How- 
 ever, 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 lead- 
 ers, 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 proces- 
 sion, 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 slay- 
 ing even to the Temple of Solomon, where the slaughter was so 
 great that our men waded in blood up to their ankles.-^ 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 257 
 
 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 dcnarms. 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 accus- 
 tomed 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 pro- 
 tection 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. 
 
 Later, all of our people went to the Sepulchre of our Lord, 
 rejoicing and weeping for joy, and they rendered up the offering 
 that they owed. In the morning, some of our men cautiously 
 ascended to the roof of the Temple and attacked the Saracens, both 
 men and women, beheading them with naked swords ; the remainder 
 sought death by jumping down into the temple. When Tancred 
 heard of this, he was filled with anger. 
 
 (Raymond.) The Duke and the Counts of Normandy and 
 Flanders placed Gaston of Bcert in charge of the workmen who 
 constructed machines. They built mantlets and towers with which 
 to attack the wall. The direction of this work was assigned to 
 Gaston by the princes because he was a most noble lord, respected 
 by all for his skill and reputation. He very cleverly hastened matters 
 by dividing the work. The princes busied themselves with obtaining 
 and bringing the material, while Gaston supervised the work of con- 
 struction. Likewise, Count Raymond made William Ricau superin- 
 tendent of the work on Mount Zion and placed the Bishop of Albara 
 in charge of the Saracens and others who brought in the timber. 
 
258 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 The Count's men had taken many Saracen castles and villages and 
 forced the Saracens to work, as though they were their serfs. Thus 
 for the construction of machines at Jerusalem fifty or sixty men 
 carried on their shoulders a great beam that could not have been 
 dragged by four pair of oxen. What more shall I say? All worked 
 with a singleness of purpose, no one was slothful, and no hands 
 were idle. All worked without wages, except the artisans, who 
 were paid from a collection taken from the people. However, 
 Count Raymond paid his workmen from his own treasury. Surely 
 the hand of the Lord was with us and aided those who were 
 working ! 
 
 When our efforts were ended and the machines completed, the 
 princes held a council and announced : "Let all prepare themselves 
 for a battle on Thursday ; in the meantime, let us pray, fast, and 
 give alms. Hand over your animals and your boys to the artisans 
 and carpenters, that they may bring in beams, poles, stakes, and 
 branches to make mantlets. Two knights should make one mantlet 
 and one scaling ladder. Do not hesitate to work for the Lord, for 
 your labors will soon be ended." This was willingly done by all. 
 Then it was decided what part of the city each leader should attack 
 and where his machines should be located. 
 
 Meanwhile, the Saracens in the city, noting the great number of 
 machines that we had constructed, strengthened the weaker parts of 
 the wall, so that it seemed that they could be taken only by the most 
 desperate efforts. Because the Saracens had made so many and 
 such strong fortifications to oppose our machines, the Duke, the 
 Count of Flanders, and the Count of Normandy spent the night 
 before the day set for the attack moving their machines, mantlets, 
 and platforms to that side of the city which is between the church 
 of St. Stephen and the valley of Josaphat. You who read this must 
 not think that this was a light undertaking, for the machines were 
 carried in parts almost a mile to the place where they were to be set 
 up. When morning came and the Saracens saw that all the machin- 
 ery and tents had been moved during the night, they were amazed. 
 Not only the Saracens were astonished, but our people as well, for 
 they recognized that the hand of the Lord was with us. The change 
 was made because the new point chosen for attack was more level, 
 and thus suitable for moving the machines up to the walls, which 
 cannot be done unless the ground is level ; and also because that part 
 of the city seemed to be weaker, having remained unfortified, as it 
 was some distance from our camp. This part of the city is on the 
 north. 
 
 Count Raymond and his men worked equally hard on Mount 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 259 
 
 Zion, but they had much assistance from WilHam Embriaco and 
 the Genoese sailors, who, although they had lost their ships at 
 Joppa, as we have already related, had been able, nevertheless, to 
 save ropes, mallets, spikes, axes, and hatchets, which were very 
 necessary to us. But why delay the story? The appointed day 
 arrived and the attack began. However, I want to say this first, 
 that, according to our estimate and that of many others, there were 
 sixty thousand fighting men within the city, not counting the women 
 and those unable to bear arms, and there were not many of these. 
 At the most we did not have more than twelve thousand able to bear 
 arms, for there were many poor people and many sick. There 
 were twelve or thirteen hundred knights in our army, as I reckon 
 it, not more. I say this that you may realize that nothing, whether 
 great or small, which is undertaken in the name of the Lord can 
 fail, as the following pages show. 
 
 Our men began to undermine the towers and walls. From 
 every side stones were hurled from the tormenti and the petrariac, 
 and so many arrows that they fell like hail. The servants of God 
 bore this patiently, sustained by the premises of their faith, whether 
 they should be killed or should presently prevail over their enemies. 
 The battle showed no indication of victory, but when the machines 
 were drawn nearer to the walls, they hurled not only stones and 
 arrows, but also burning wood and straw. The wood was dipped 
 in pitch, wax, and sulphur ; then straw and tow were fastened on 
 by an iron band, and, when lighted, these firebrands were shot from 
 the machines. (They were) all bound together by an iron band, 
 I say, so that wherever they fell, the whole mass held together and 
 continued to burn. Such missiles, burning as they shot upward, 
 could not be resisted by swords or by high walls ; it was not even 
 possible for the defenders to find safety down behind the walls. 
 Thus the fight continued from the rising to the setting sun in such 
 splendid fashion that it is difficult to believe anything more glorious 
 was ever done. Then we called on Almighty God, our Leader and 
 Guide, confident in His mercy. Night brought fear to both sides. 
 The Saracens feared that we would take the city during the night 
 or on the next day, for the outer works were broken through and 
 the ditch was filled, so that it was possible to make an entrance 
 through the wall very quickly. On our part, we feared only that 
 the Saracens would set fire to the machines that were moved close 
 to the walls, and thus improve their situation. So on both sides it 
 was a night of watchfulness, labor, and sleepless caution: on one 
 side, most certain hope, on the other doubtful fear. We gladly 
 labored to capture the city for the glory of God, they less willingiy 
 
26o THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 strove to resist our efforts for the sake of the laws of Mohammed. 
 It is hard to beheve how great w^ere the efforts made on both sides 
 during the night. 
 
 When the morning came, our men eagerly rushed to the walls 
 and dragged the machines forward, but the Saracens had constructed 
 so many machines that for each one of ours they now had nine 
 or ten. Thus they greatly interfered with our efforts. This was 
 the ninth day, on which the priest had said that we would capture 
 the city. But why do I delay so long? Our machines were now 
 shaken apart by the blows of many stones, and our men lagged 
 because they were very weary. However, there remained the mercy 
 of the Lord which is never overcome nor conquered, but is aUvays 
 a source of support in times of adversity. One incident must not be 
 omitted. Two women tried to bewitch one of the hurling machines, 
 but a stone struck and crushed them, as well as three slaves, so that 
 their lives were extinguished and the evil incantations averted. 
 
 By noon our men were greatly discouraged. They were weary 
 and at the end of their resources. There were still many of the 
 enemy opposing each one of our men ; the walls were very high 
 and strong, and the great resources and skill that the enemy ex- 
 hibited in repairing their defenses seemed too great for us to over- 
 come. But, while we hesitated, irresolute, and the enemy exulted 
 in our discomfiture, the healing mercy of God inspired us and 
 turned our sorrow into joy, for the Lord did not forsake us. While 
 a council was being held to decide w^hether or not our machines 
 should be withdrawn, for some were burned and the rest badly 
 shaken to pieces, a knight on the Mount of Olives began to wave 
 his shield to those who were with the Count and others, signalling 
 them to advance. Who this knight was we have been unable to 
 find out. At this signal our men began to take heart, and some 
 began to batter down the wall, while others began to ascend by 
 means of scaling ladders and ropes. Our archers shot burning fire- 
 brands, and in this way checked the attack that the Saracens were 
 making upon the wooden towers of the Duke and the two Counts. 
 These firebrands, moreover, were wrapped in cotton. This shower 
 of fire drove the defenders from the walls. Then the Count quickly 
 released the long drawbridge which had protected the side of the 
 wooden tower next to the wall, and it swung down from the top, 
 being fastened to the middle of the tower, making a bridge over 
 which the men began to enter Jerusalem bravely and fearlessly. 
 Among those who entered first were Tancred and the Duke of 
 Lorraine, and the amount of blood that they shed on that day is in- 
 credible. All ascended after them, and the Saracens now began 
 to suffer. 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 261 
 
 Strange to relate, however, at this very time v^hen the city was 
 practically captured by the Franks, the Saracens were still fighting 
 on the other side, where the Count was attacking the wall as though 
 the city should never be captured. But now that our men had pos- 
 session of the walls and towers, wonderful sights were to be seen. 
 Some of our men (and this was more merciful) cut off the heads 
 of their enemies ; others shot them with arrows, so that they fell 
 from the towers ; others tortured them longer by casting them into 
 the flames. Piles of heads, hands, and feet were to be seen in the 
 streets of the city. It was necessary to pick one's way over the 
 bodies of men and horses. But these were small matters compared 
 to what happened at the Temple of Solomon, a place where religious 
 services are ordinarily chanted. What happened there? If I tell the 
 truth, it will exceed your powers of belief. So let it sufEce to say this 
 much, at least, that in the Temple and porch of Solomon, men 
 rode in blood up to their knees and bridle reins. Indeed, it was a 
 just and splendid judgment of God that this place should be filled 
 with the blood of the unbelievers, since it had suffered so long 
 from their blasphemies. The city was filled with corpses and blood. 
 Some of the enemy took refuge in the Tower of David, and, petition- 
 ing Count Raymond for protection, surrendered the Tower into 
 his hands. 
 
 Now that the city was taken, it was well worth all our previous 
 labors and hardships to see the devotion of the pilgrims at the Holy 
 Sepulchre. How they rejoiced and exulted and sang a new song 
 to the Lord! For their hearts offered prayers of praise to God, 
 victorious and triumphant, which cannot be told in words. A new 
 day, new joy, new and perpetual gladness, the consummation of our 
 labor and devotion, drew forth from all new words and new songs. 
 This day, I say, will be famous in all future ages, for it turned our 
 labors and sorrows into joy and exultation; this day, I say, marks 
 the justification of all Christianity, the humiHation of paganism, and 
 the renewal of our faith. "This is the day which the Lord hath 
 made, let us rejoice and be glad in it," for on this day the Lord re- 
 vevea'led Himself to His people and blessed them. 
 
 On this day, the Ides of July, Lord Adhemar, Bishop of Puy, 
 was seen in the city by many people. Many also testified that he 
 was the first to scale the wall, and that he summoned the knights 
 and people to follow him. On this day, moreover, the apostles were 
 cast forth from Jerusalem and scattered over the whole world." 
 On this same day, the children of the apostles regained the city and 
 fatherland for God and the fathers. This day, the Ides of July, 
 shall be celebrated to the praise and glory of the name of God, 
 
262 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 who, answering the prayers of His Church, gave in trust and bene- 
 diction to His children the city and fatherland which He had 
 promised to the fathers. On this day we chanted the Office of the 
 Resurrection, since on that day He, who by His virtue arose from 
 the dead, revived us through His grace. So much is to be said 
 of this. 
 
 4. Arrangements for holding Jerusalem. (July 22 — August 7, 
 1099.) 
 
 {Gesta.^ Then our leaders in council decided that each one 
 should offer alms with prayers, that the Lord might choose for Him- 
 self 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 aranged them in heaps, as if they were houses. Xo 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 cap- 
 tured, 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. 
 
 ( Raymond). Accordingly, after six or seven days the princes 
 solemnlv began to consider the matter of choosing a ruler, who, 
 assuming charge of all matters, should collect the tributes of the 
 region, to whom the peasants of the land could turn, and who 
 would see to it that the land was not further devastated. While 
 this was taking place, some of the clerg\^ assembled and said to the 
 princes, "We approve your election, but if you proceed rightly and 
 properly, you will first choose a spiritual vicar, as eternal matters 
 come before temporal ; after this, a ruler to preside over secular 
 matters. Otherwise, we shall hold invalid whatever you do."' The 
 princes were exceedingly angered when they heard this and pro- 
 ceeded the more quickly with the election. The clerg\' had been 
 weakened by the departure of Lord Adhemar, Pontiff of Puy, who, 
 in his life had held our army together with holy deeds and words, 
 like a second Moses. After him, however, William, Bishop of 
 Orange, a man of good repute, wished to minister to our strength, 
 but he rested in peace at Marra within a short time. Accordingly, 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 263 
 
 therefore, the good men having been taken off, the clergy conducted 
 themselves humbly, all except the Bishop of Albara and some others. 
 However, the Bishop of Martirano,^^ advancing by other than the 
 right road, since he had obtained the church of Bethlehem by fraud, 
 was captured by the Saracens on the third or fourth day and never 
 again appeared among us. The princes, disregarding admonition 
 and opposition, urged the Count of St. Gilles to accept the kingdom. 
 But he said that he abhorred the name of king in that city, though 
 he would consent to have others accept it. For this reason they 
 together chose the Duke and placed him in charge of the Sepulchre 
 of the Lord. 
 
 After this, however, the Duke required the Tower of David 
 from the Count. But the latter refused, saying that he wished to 
 stay in that region until Easter, and meanwhile he wanted to keep 
 himself and his men in honorable state. But the Duke said that 
 lie would give up other places rather than the Tower. And so the 
 disputes were multiplied. The Counts of Flanders and Normandy 
 favored the Duke. Almost all from the land of Count Raymond 
 did likewise in the belief that if the Tower were surrendered he 
 would thereupon return home. Not alone did the Provengals oppose 
 their lord, the Count, in this matter, but they also made up many vile 
 statements about him so that he would not be chosen King. And 
 so the Count, without the help of companions or friends, handed 
 over the Tower to the Bishop of Albara for the sake of avoiding 
 judgment. But the latter, without waiting for judgment, handed 
 it over to the Duke, and when he was called traitor for having done 
 this, he said that he had been compelled (to do so) and had suffered 
 violence. I found this out, in truth, that very many arms were 
 brought into the house of the Patriarch where the Bishop was stay- 
 ing near the Holy Sepulchre. But he spoke, also, of violence done 
 himself and often secretly charged the friends of the Count with 
 this affair. 
 
 So when the Tower had been surrendered, the Count blazed forth 
 into great anger against his people, saying that he could not remain 
 disgraced in that country. Accordingly, we set out from Jerusalem 
 to Jericho, took palms and went to the Jordan.^" There, as Peter 
 Bartholomew had commanded, a raft was constructed from twigs, 
 and with the Count on it we pulled it across the river ; since, forsooth, 
 we had no ship, this plan seemed better to us. When after this the 
 multitude had been called together, we commanded that they pray 
 God for the life of the Count and the other princes. Therefore 
 we proceeded to dress only in a shirt and new breeches, as we had 
 been commanded about baptism; but why the man of God so com- 
 
264 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 manded, we still do not know. When these matters had been accom- 
 plished, we returned to Jerusalem. 
 
 At this time, Arnulf, chaplain of the Count of Normandy, was 
 chosen Patriarch by some, the good (clergy) opposing it not only 
 because he was not a subdeacon, but especially because he was of 
 priestly birth and was accused of incontinence on our expedition, 
 so much so that they shamelessly composed vulgar songs about him. 
 But, led on by such ambition, and disregarding the decrees of the 
 canons and the infamy of his birth and conscience, he stirred up 
 the people against the good (clergy) and had himself raised upon 
 the patriarchal seat with hymns and chants and the great applause 
 of the people. The divine vengeance exacted from the Bishop of 
 Martirano, who had been the instigator and executor of this affair, 
 not only did not terrify Arnulf, but, furthermore, did not prevent 
 him from depriving of their benefices the clergy who had altars in 
 the church of the Holy Sepulchre, or those in whose custody in- 
 dulgence funds had been established.^^ 
 
 And thus Arnulf, increasing his power, began to inquire from 
 the inhabitants of the city where the Cross was which pilgrims had 
 been accustomed to adore before Jerusalem was taken. Although 
 they denied (this knowledge), and by oath and other signs were 
 wilHng to show that they did not know, they were at length com- 
 pelled (to yield) and said this: "It is manifest that God has chosen 
 you, has delivered you from all tribulation, and has given you this 
 and many other cities, not by the strength of your valor, but by 
 blinding the impious in His wrath. Your Lord and Guide has 
 opened to you the most strongly fortified cities and has won fear- 
 ful battles for you. Therefore, why should we stubbornly conceal 
 from you His good gifts, since we see that God is with you?" 
 After this, they led them to a certain hall in the church, and, un- 
 earthing the Cross, they gave it up. Thereupon, all our men re- 
 joiced, and we returned praise and thanks to Almighty God, who 
 not only gave us the city in which He had suffered, but likewise the 
 symbols of His Passion and victory, that we might the more closely 
 embrace Him with the arms of faith, the more certain the signs 
 of our salvation that we beheld. 
 
 (Manasses.) Manasses, by grace of God Archbishop of Rheims, 
 to Lambert, his brother, Bishop of Arras ; greeting in Jesus Christ. 
 
 Be it known to you, dearest brother, that a true and joyful rumor 
 has recently come to our ears, which we believe to have come down 
 not from human knowledge, but from the Divine Majesty — to wit: 
 Jerusalem stands on high with joy and gladness which it has so 
 gloriously received from God in our times. Jerusalem, the city of 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 265 
 
 our redemption and glory, delights with inconceivable joy, because 
 through the effort and incomparable might of the sons of God it 
 has been liberated from most cruel pagan servitude. And let us 
 also be joyful, whose Christian faith in such times as these has been 
 placed in a mirror of eternal clarity. 
 
 We, therefore, admonished, summoned, and compelled, not only 
 through the letters of Lord Pope Paschal, but, also, through the 
 most humble prayers of Duke Godfrey, whom the army of Christ 
 by divine direction elevated as King, as well as through the mel-- 
 lifluous entreaties of Lord Arnulf, whom they have unanimously 
 chosen as Patriarch of the see of Jerusalem — we command with 
 equal affection that you have every one of your parish churches, 
 without fail, pray with fasts and almsgiving that the King of Kings 
 and the Lord of Lords crown the King of the Christians with victory 
 against the enemy, and the Patriarch with religion and wisdom 
 against the sects and deceptions of heretics. We command, like- 
 wise, and admonish, through your obedience, that you constrain by 
 threat all who vowed to go on the expedition and took the sign of 
 the cross upon themselves to set out for Jerusalem, if they are 
 vigorous of body and have the means to accomplish the journey. 
 As for the others, however, do not cease skilfully and most de- 
 voutly to admonish them not to neglect aiding the people of God, 
 so that not only the first, but likewise the last, may receive the 
 shilling which is promised to those laboring in the vineyard.^* 
 Farewell. 
 
 Pray for the Bishop of Puy, for the Bishop of Orange, for 
 Anselm of Ribemont, and for all the others who lie at rest, crowned 
 with so glorious a martyrdom. 
 
 5. Battle of Ascalon. (August 7 — August 15, 1099.) 
 
 (Gesta.) Meanwhile, a messenger came to Tancred and Count 
 Eustace, bidding them make themselves ready to go to take the city 
 of Neapolis. They went forth, taking along many knights and foot- 
 soldiers and came to the city, but its inhabitants surrendered there. 
 A short while after this, the Duke sent word to them to come quickly 
 to battle, because the Emir of Babylon was ready at the city of 
 Ascalon. Then they entered the mountainous region in haste, 
 seeking fight with the Saracens, and came to Caesarea. And then, 
 when they had come near the sea to the city of Ramlah, they found 
 there many Arabs who were the forerunners of the battle. Our 
 men pursued these and captured several of them, who told all the 
 news of the battle, where and how many the enemy were, and 
 where they were planning to fight the Christians. 
 
266 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 When Tancred heard this, he straightway sent a messenger to 
 Jerusalem to Duke Godfrey, the Patriarch, and all the princes, 
 saying: "Know that battle is being prepared for us at Ascalon. 
 Go there quickly with all the forces that you can obtain." Then the 
 Duke ordered that all be warned to go to Ascalon faithfully pre- 
 pared against our enemy. He himself, with the Patriarch and 
 Robert, Count of Flanders, went out of the city on the third day 
 of the week, and the Bishop of Martirano with them. But the Count 
 of St. Gilles and Robert the Norman said that they would not go 
 forth unless they knew that battle was certain. Accordingly, they 
 ordered their knights to go and see whether there was really a 
 battle, and to return quickly, because they were ready to go straight- 
 way. They went and saw the battle and returned quickly with the 
 news that they had seen :t with their own eyes. Forthwith the Duke 
 sent word to Jerusalem by the Bishop of Martirano, who had been 
 taken along, for the knights who were there to prepare themselves 
 and come to battle. On the fourth day of the week those princes 
 went out and rode to battle. The Bishop of Martirano went back, 
 bearing messages for the Patriarch and the Duke, and the Saracens, 
 coming upon him, carried him off captive with them. But Peter 
 the Hermit remained at Jerusalem, ordering and commanding both 
 Greek and Latin clergy faithfully to hold a procession to God, and 
 to offer prayers and alms that God might give victory to His people. 
 Thus the clerics and the priests, dressed in sacred vestments, con- 
 ducted a procession to the Temple of the Lord, chanting masses and 
 prayers that He might defend His people. 
 
 At length the Patriarch, bishops, and the other leaders were as- 
 sembled at the river which is in the region of Ascalon. There they 
 took plunder of many cattle, camels, sheep, and goods of all kinds. 
 However, almost three hundred Arabs came up and our men rushed 
 upon them and took two of them, pursuing the rest up to their army. 
 When evening came, the Patriarch had it heralded through the 
 whole host that at earliest morning all should be ready for battle, 
 forbidding any man to pay attention to any spoils until the battle 
 was finished, but saying that when this was done they might return 
 with joy of good fortune to take all that was predestined to them 
 by the Lord. 
 
 At early dawn on the sixth day of the week, they entered a very 
 beautiful valley near the sea-coast, where they arranged their lines. 
 The Duke drew up his line, the Count of Normandy his, the Count 
 of St. Gilles his, the Count of Flanders his, Tancred and Gaston^®» 
 theirs. They also arranged foot-soldiers and bowmen to precede 
 the knights ; and so they ordered everything and began to fight im- 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 267 
 
 mediately in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the left side 
 was Duke Godfrey with his line, and the Count of St. Gilles rode 
 near the sea on the right side. The Count of Normandy, the Count 
 of Flanders, Tancred, and all the rest rode in the middle. Then 
 our men began to move about a little, but the enemy stood ready 
 for battle. Each one had his water-bag hanging from his neck, out 
 of which they could drink as they pursued us, but by the grace of 
 God they were not accorded this (privilege). Moreover, the Count 
 of Normandy, perceiving that the standard of the Emir had a kind 
 of golden apple on the top of a spear which was worked with silver, 
 rushed violently upon him and wounded him even to death. On 
 another side, the Count of Flanders very fiercely rushed upon the 
 enemy. Tancred, thereupon, made a charge through the middle of 
 their tents, and when the pagans saw this, they straightway took to 
 flight. The multitude of the pagans was innumerable, and no 
 one knows their number except God alone. The battle was huge, 
 but accompanying us was the Divine might, so great, so strong, that 
 we overcame them immediately. Moreover, our enemy stood 
 blinded and stupefied, and, though looking at the knights of Christ 
 with open eyes, they saw nothing; thus terrified at the valor of God, 
 they dared not rise up against the Christians. In the excess of 
 their fear they climbed trees, in which they thought to hide them- 
 selves, but our men brought them to earth by shooting and killing 
 them with lances and spears. Others threw themselves on the 
 ground, not daring to stand up against us. Our men cut them to 
 pieces, just as one cuts animals to pieces for the market. The Count 
 of St. Gilles killed them without number, but some flung themselves 
 into the sea, and others fled hither and hither. 
 
 Thereupon the Emir, coming in front of the city, grieving and 
 sorrowfully weeping, said: "O Spirits of the Gods! Who ever 
 saw or heard such things? Such might, such valor, such militarjl 
 skill, never exceeded by any people, is now conquered by a band 
 of Christians so little that they could be enclosed in the hollow of 
 a hand. Alas ! Grief and sadness are mine ! What more shall I say? 
 I am conquered by a race, beggarly, unarmed, and very poor, a race 
 that has nothing except a beggar's scrip and cloak. They now 
 pursue the Egyptian people who commonly gave them alms when 
 in olden times they begged through our whole land. Hither, ac- 
 cording to agreement, I have brought together two hundred thousand 
 knights, and, behold, I see them fleeing with loose bridles along the 
 road to Babylon, and they dare not turn back against the Frankish 
 people! I swear by Mohammed and by the names of all the gods 
 that, since I am driven out by this foreign people, I will no longer 
 
268 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 retain knights for any gathering. I brought all kinds of weapons 
 and instruments and machines to besiege them in Jerusalem, and 
 they have come before me to battle by two days. Alas! What 
 would be mine, if I had led their people as my own ! Woe is me ! 
 What more shall I say? I will be forever disgraced in the land 
 of Babylon!" Our men, moreover, took his standard, which the 
 Count of Normandy bought for twenty marks of silver, and gave 
 it to the Patriarch, to the honor of God and the Holy Sepulchre ; 
 and some one bought the sword for sixty besants. And so, God 
 willing, our enemy were conquered. 
 
 All the ships of the pagan lands were there, but when the men 
 on them saw the Emir fleeing with his army, they immediately 
 hoisted sail and rode out to deep water. Our men returned to 
 their tents and took a great amount of spoil, gold, silver, a 
 heap of all kinds of goods, horses and mules, asses and camels, in- 
 numerable sheep and cattle and instruments ; for all the mountains 
 and hills and all the level places were covered with the multitude 
 of the enemy's animals. Finding piles of arms, also, they carried 
 oflf what they wished and burned the rest. Our men returned with 
 joy to Jerusalem, bringing along goods of every description; to wit, 
 camels and asses laden with biscuit, butter, grain, cheese, bread, oil, 
 and all the goods they needed. This battle was fought on the 
 day before the Ides of August, our Lord Jesus Christ granting this, 
 who hath honor and glory now and ever, forever and ever. Let 
 every spirit say Amen! 
 
 (Raymond.) And when, as we said above, it had been arranged 
 that the Duke of Lorraine should keep the city, and when the Count, 
 embittered with grief and wrong because he had easily lost the 
 Tower of David (that is, the capital of the whole kingdom of 
 Judaea), was arranging for this reason to turn with most of our 
 people, it w^as announced to us that the King of Babylon had come to 
 Ascalon with a countless multitude of pagans. And as it was told 
 us, he had come to take Jerusalem by storm, to kill all the Franks 
 above twenty years, to take the rest, together with the women, cap- 
 tive, to give the males to women of his own race, and the women 
 to his youths, so that the lords of Babylon might then have warlike 
 families of the race of the Franks. But not content with this, he 
 said he would do the same with Antioch and Bohemund ; he said, 
 likewise, that he would place upon his head the diadems of Da- 
 mascus and the rest of the cities. He said that the Turks and the 
 Franks, victors over the Turks, were nothing in comparison with 
 the multitude of his foot-soldiers and knights. But not even content 
 with this, he turned in blasphemy against God, saying. "I will de- 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 269 
 
 stroy the place of the Lord's nativity, and the place where the Lord 
 very often rested, the place of the Passion, and Golgotha, where 
 they say flowed the blood of the Lord hanging upon the Cross, the 
 place of the Lord's burial, and all the other holy places in the 
 city, or nearby, which are venerated by Christian people. I will 
 tear them up by their roots from the earth and break them; and, 
 after this, I will cast the dust into the sea, so that there will no 
 longer be any memorial of the Lord for the people of the Franks to 
 seek." 
 
 Moreover, when this and many other things about the multitude 
 of the people who accompanied that tyrant were announced to us, 
 and that all these had been assembled at Ascalon, a day and a half 
 distant from Jerusalem, all our princes and clergy gathered together. 
 Walking with bare feet before the Sepulchre of the Lord, with many 
 prayers and tears they sought mercy from God that He would now 
 deliver His people, whom He had thus far made victorious over all, 
 and that He who had just purified the place of His sanctification 
 for His own name's sake would not suffer it again to be contami- 
 nated. After this, we went, likewise on bare feet, to the Temple 
 of the Lord, and, calling upon God's mercy in psalms and 
 hymns, and on the treasures of the saints, we there poured forth 
 from soul and body before God (the plea) that the outpouring of 
 His blessing might likewise be recorded, saying: "li thy people 
 sin against thee, and, turning again, shall do penance and shall 
 come and pray in this place, hear thou them from heaven, O Lord, 
 and deliver them from the hands of their enemies." After this, 
 when they had received the benediction from the bishops, the princes 
 decided upon the plan of the battle and the guard of the city. 
 
 Thereupon, the Duke and his knights set forth to find out for. 
 certain if the news about the Emir was as rumor reported it. 
 When they had reached the plains of Ramlah, he sent back word 
 to the Counts at Jerusalem by the Bishop of Martirano.-** Thus 
 assured of battle, they sent word among all the strong who had re- 
 mained in Jerusalem. Thereupon, after supplicating God and taking 
 up our arms and the Lance of the Lord, we set out from Jerusalem 
 and came to the plains on that day. On the next day, moreover, 
 with our army joined in squadrons we advanced, stationing garrisons 
 on every side. But at evening when we had come near the river, 
 which is on the way of those who go from Jerusalem to Ascalon, 
 Arabs were grazing their flocks of sheep, innumerable herds of cattle, 
 and camels without number. When our men saw this multitude of 
 men and animals, thinking that there would be a battle, they seized 
 their arms and sent about two hundred knights to reconnoiter; but 
 
270 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 the other armed men, as we said, were advancing in nine squadrons. 
 There were three on the rear, three in front, and three in the 
 middle, so arranged that from whatever side battle came, it would 
 be met in those three ranks, the middle squadron remaining as 
 a support of all. When the Arab herdsmen, however, saw the 
 knights who had been sent ahead, they deserted their animals. 
 And yet, if God were regarding them as He regarded us, they should 
 have entered upon a fight with all of us. There were about three 
 thousand herdsmen in arms, but to our army we hesitatingly ascribe 
 more than twelve hundred knights, while we dare not put the 
 number of footmen beyond nine thousand. And so when the herds- 
 men had fled, we took as much plunder as we saw on that day. 
 Some of the herdsmen were killed and a few captured. After this, 
 however, we remained in the same place because it was evening. 
 And then we forced the captives to confess the intentions of the 
 enemy, their condition and number. They confessed, therefore, 
 that it was the will of these people to besiege Jerusalem, take the 
 Franks by storm, kill and capture them, and they added that the 
 Emir was in camp, five leagues away, ready to set forth against us 
 on the next day. Of their number, however, scarcely anyone was 
 certain, since they were being multiplied daily. When questioned 
 about themselves and their companions, they said they were herders 
 of animals which were to be distributed for a price among the 
 forces of Babylonians. 
 
 Accordingly, our men, eager and assured of battle, sent back to 
 their companions the causes of trouble and controversy. After 
 this, they confessed their sins and negligence and were so cheered 
 in spirit that it seemed scarcely credible to them that the enemy 
 were prepared for battle. For such security grew up in the hearts 
 of each man that they believed their enemy more timid than hinds, 
 and more harmless than sheep. But we had this security because 
 we believed that God was with us, as in the other matter, and that 
 because of the blasphemy made against Him He would deal (with 
 them) on His own account, even if our cause were valueless. There- 
 fore we regarded Him as our Defender, and ourselves as aids to Him 
 in His (struggle). Then it was proclaimed through the army that 
 all should be ready for battle in the morning, and that each one 
 should attach himself to the princes of his people, and that no one 
 should touch plunder, and that any who touched it before the battle 
 was finished would be excommunicated. We spent that night poorly 
 enough, for we had no tents ; a few had bread, no one wine, and 
 very few grain and salt, but meat was as abundant as sand. We ate 
 meat, and for bread we had the soft flesh of sheep. 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 271 
 
 And now the morning of the following day was dawning, and 
 the watchful host was aroused to the fight hy the sound of trumpets 
 and horns. So at daybreak we set forth, drawn up as we have 
 already described, with guards on every side, and directed the army 
 of God against the camp of Mohammed. But the enemy lingered 
 within their camp, thinking that at their approach we would not 
 even stay inside our walls. For when they heard of the death and 
 flight of the herdsmen, they said, "The Franks have come for 
 plunder and have gone back with it." They were being daily in- 
 formed, forsooth, by those who fled from Jerusalem of our small 
 numbers and of the weakness of our people and horses. Besides, 
 relying on their number and strength, they believed that they could 
 drown us and our camp in their spit alone. Likewise, their star- 
 gazers and soothsayers, as it was reported, said that they ought 
 neither to move their camp nor fight against us until the seventh 
 day of the week; that if they wished to do any of these things 
 earher, matters would turn out adversely. We advanced, drawn 
 up in squadrons, as we have said. God multiplied His army 
 so that we did not seem inferior in numbers to the enemy. For 
 the animals which we had left joined themselves to us and, forming, 
 herds, though no one drove them, they accompanied us, so that 
 they stood when we halted, ran when we ran, and advanced with 
 our advance. The amount of precious spoil was inestimable. More- 
 over, who can count all the arms or tents? When our enemy saw 
 their multitude cut to pieces and our men securely and eagerly fight- 
 ing in their tents for victory and spoil, they turned and said to 
 themselves, "Flight is our only protection, and why delay? If these 
 men, worn out from their march, almost half dead from hunger 
 and thirst, have today prostrated all our multitude at one charge, 
 what will they do when rested, refreshed, and victorious against us, 
 half destroyed, lessened in number, and terrified?" Accordingly, 
 the enemy returned with disturbed mind to Ascalon, which was 
 about a mile from our camp — but not all of them. 
 
 It then pleased Raymond to send a certain Bohemund, a Turk 
 by birth, to the Emir under pretense of entering upon a friend- 
 ship, blaming him because he had been unwilling to surrender 
 Jerusalem freely and because he had borne arms against us. Bohe- 
 mund was at the same time to find out whether the Emir was 
 meditating flight or battle, and how he conducted himself in defeat. 
 This Bohemund, moreover, was a Turk by birth, learned in many 
 tongues, very ingenious and crafty and most loyal to us. He was 
 called Bohemund because the great Bohemund had received him 
 
272 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 from the baptismal font, for he had come to us with his wife and 
 arms. 
 
 The book of Raymond of St. Gilles is ended happily. 
 
 6. Bohemund and Baldzuin fulfil their vow. (November, 1099 — 
 January, iioo.) 
 
 (Ftdchcr.) Lord Bohemund, a wise and energetic man, 
 
 was then ruling in Antioch, while Baldwin, a brother of the afore- 
 said Godfrey, ruled Edessa and the neighboring lands across the 
 Euphrates river. When these two heard that Jerusalem had been 
 taken by those who had set out as their companions, they were made 
 most joyful and humbly gave thanks to God. But if those who pre- 
 ceded them had done well and successfully, it is not to be doubted 
 that these two, with their forces, were to partake of the glory, even 
 though they followed later. For it was necessary that the land 
 and states taken with such difficulty from the Turks should be 
 carefully guarded. These, if left unguarded, might be recovered 
 in a renewed attack by the Turks, who were now driven back to 
 Persia. In this case, great harm would befall all the Franks going 
 to Jerusalem, as well as returning. Perhaps Divine Providence, 
 knowing that Bohemund and Baldwin would be more useful to the 
 army in what remained to be done than in what was already done, 
 had delayed them. 
 
 Oh, how many times, in the meantime, this same Baldwin was 
 wearied in making war against the Turks in the land of Mesopo- 
 tamia! To tell how many of their heads he cut oflf there would be 
 impossible. Often it happened that he with his few men fought a 
 great multitude of them and, with the help of God, rejoiced in 
 triumph. And when Bohemund, through legates, had advised Bald- 
 win that they and their men should both complete the unfinished 
 journey to Jerusalem, Baldwin, arranging satisfactorily all his 
 affairs, prepared to go. Then, hearing that the Turks had invaded 
 one section of his country, he suspended the execution of his pro- 
 ject, and without taking time to assemble his Httle army, he went 
 against the enemy with a few men. On a certain day when the 
 Turks, unconcerned in their tents, were thinking that Baldwin had 
 already commenced his journey, all at once they saw the white flag 
 which he carried; and, struck with fear, they took to flight. After 
 following them a little way with his few men, Baldwin returned to 
 complete what he had just planned. 
 
 Setting out and passing to the left of Antioch, he came to Lao- 
 dicaea, where he bought provisions for the journey and reloaded 
 the pack animals and set out. It was the month of November. 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 273 
 
 After we had passed by Gibelluni, we overtook Bohemund camped 
 in his tents before the city Valenium. There was with him a certain 
 Archbishop of Pisa, Daimbert by name,-^ who, with some Tuscans 
 and ItaHans, had come by ship to the port of Laodicaea, and who 
 was there waiting to go with us. The Bishop of Apuha was there, 
 too. With Lord Baldwin there was a third bishop. We estimated 
 the number of those thus assembled in friendship to be twenty-five 
 thousand of both sexes, foot-soldiers as well as knights. 
 
 When we had reached the interior states of the Saracens, we were 
 unable to obtain from the wicked inhabitants of the region any 
 bread or food of any kind. There was no one who would give or 
 sell it to us, and, as our provisions were being more and more used 
 up, it happened that many were cruelly tortured by hunger. Horses, 
 too, and mules suffered doubly for lack of food. They traveled, 
 but they ate not. However, in those cultivated fields through which 
 we passed on our march, there were certain ripe plants, very much 
 like reeds, which the people called cannamelles. The name is com- 
 posed of the words canna and mel, whence, I think, it is also called 
 wood-honey,-- which is skilfully made from it. Almost famished, 
 we chewed these all day long for the flavor of the honey, which, 
 however, helped but little. Thus for the love of God we endured 
 this and many other ills, such as hunger, cold, and heavy rains. 
 Many, lacking bread, ate horses, mules, and camels. Besides the ex- 
 cessive cold, we were tormented very often by showers of rain ; and 
 the heat of the sun was not sufficient to enable us to dry our wet 
 clothes thoroughly before another rain would harass us for four 
 or five days. Then I saw many who had no tents die from ex- 
 posure to the cold rain. I, Fulcher of Chartres, who was with 
 them, saw many persons of both sexes and a great many beasts 
 die from the very cold rain one day. It would be long to tell and 
 tedious to listen to all the details of their suffering; for no trouble 
 or sorrow escaped the people of God. Often many Franks were 
 killed by the Saracens who lurked along the way in narrow paths, 
 or wherever our men went in search of food. You might 1iave seen 
 mounted knights of noble birth become simple foot-soldiers, after 
 having lost their horses in one way or another. As the baggage 
 animals failed, you might have seen sheep and goats, stolen from 
 the Saracens, heavily laden with baggage, which by its weight 
 skinned their backs. Twice on the way, and no oftener, we had 
 bread and grain, bought at exorbitant prices from the people of 
 Tripoli and Caesarea. From this it is manifest that one can scarcely 
 get any great good without great labor. It was indeed a great bless- 
 ing when we finally arrived at Jerusalem. 
 
274 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 When we reached there, our long fatigue was forgotten. When 
 we viewed the much longed for Holy of Holies, we were filled with 
 joy indescribable. Oh, how often we recalled to mind that prophecy 
 of David which says, "We shall worship in the place where His 
 feet have stood !"^-' We beheld that prophecy truly fulfilled in us, 
 although it likewise pertains to many others. Thither, indeed, did 
 we go up, "the tribes, the tribes of the Lord, to confess His name""* 
 in His holy place. On the day of our entrance into Jerusalem, the 
 retreating sun, having fulfilled its winter descent, resumed its as- 
 cending course. 
 
 After we had visited the Lord's Sepulchre and His Glorious 
 Temple and many other sacred places, on the fourth day we went 
 to Bethlehem, in order that, as we were about to celebrate the anni- 
 versary of the nativity of our Lord, we might that very night be 
 watchers in the stable where the Holy Mother laid Jesus, and there 
 assist in the devotions. All that night we filled with appropriate 
 devotions ; and in the third hour, after three masses had been cele- 
 brated, we returned to Jerusalem. Oh, what a stench there then was 
 around the wall of the city, inside and outside, from the dead bodies 
 of the Saracens, massacred by our colleagues on the capture of the 
 city, wherever they had hunted them down ! 
 
 But after we and our beasts had been refreshed for some time 
 with a much needed rest, and after the Duke and other leaders had 
 chosen Daimbert, mentioned above, as Patriarch in the church of 
 the Holy Sepulchre, we got new supplies of provisions, and, loading 
 our mules, we went down again to the river Jordan. Some of 
 the army, the last to arrive, chose to remain in Jerusalem ; others 
 who had come first preferred to go with us ; but Duke Godfrey 
 continued energetically to rule the territory of Jerusalem. 
 
 On the third day, before the Ides of August, those sickly days, 
 Urban, Pontiff of Rome, passed away. 
 
 On the first day of January iioo A.D. we all took palm branches, 
 cut in Jericho, to carry them oft", as was customary. On the second 
 day we commenced our return journey. Our leaders wished to cross 
 through the city of Tiberias on the sea of Galilee. This sea, formed 
 from a union of fresh waters, is eighteen miles long and five wide. 
 We went from there to Caesarea-Philippi, which in the Syrian 
 tongue is called Paneas, and which is situated at the foot of Mount 
 Lebanon. There two springs gush forth which give rise to the river 
 Jordan. This Jordan, flowing through the Sea of Galilee, then 
 runs into the Dead Sea. The Lake of Gennesaret,-^ according to 
 Josephus, is forty stades wide and one hundred long. The river, 
 then, flowing in one channel, spreads out into a sea which is called 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 275 
 
 Dead because nothing living flourishes in it. This sea, which is 
 called Lake Asphaltites, is believed to be bottomless and to have 
 buried in its depths the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Following 
 St. Jerome, whom I read in his exposition upon the prophet Amos, 
 I conjectured quite carefully with regard to these springs that 
 Dan was located in that part of Judea where Paneas now is ; for the 
 tribe of Dan built there a city which they called by the name of their 
 father, Dan. For this reason, I think the one spring was called 
 Dan, and the other Jor which was adjacent to it. Then we came to 
 a very strong city which they called Balbec, built by Solomon, and 
 surrounded by high walls, and called by him Thadamar.-'' This is 
 situated a two days march from upper Syria, about six days journey 
 from great Babylon, and about one day's march from the Euphrates. 
 The Greeks called this place Palmyra. Here springs and wells 
 abound ; but water was never found in the lower land. 
 
 Then about four hundred soldiers of the Turks of Damascus 
 came out to meet us. Because they thought we were unarmed and 
 greatly exhausted from our labors, they supposed that we were 
 also discouraged. If Lord Baldwin had not on that day cautiously 
 and carefully guarded the rear, perhaps they would have killed 
 many of us. For our bows and arrows were spoiled in a rainstorm, 
 since in that region they were fastened together with glue. Bohe- 
 mund was leading the first division of our army. So, with the help 
 of God, the pagans got no advantage of us. Then we camped before 
 that town. On the very next day approaching nearer to the sea, 
 we passed over the the cities of Tortosa and Laodicaea. There at 
 Laodicaea we found Count Raymond, whom we had left there. 
 Because food was scarce, we could buy no supplies on which we 
 could live. Therefore we hastened, without stopping, until we ar- 
 rived at Edessa. . . . 
 
 7. Official summary of the Crusade. (June 19, 1097 — August 12, 
 1099.) 
 
 (Daimbert.) To the lord Pope of the Roman Church, to all the 
 bishops, and all who cherish the Christian faith; I, Archbishop of 
 Pisa, and the other bishops, Duke Godfrey, now, by grace of God, 
 Defender of the Holy Sepulchre, Raymond, Count of St. Gilles, and 
 all the army of God which is in the land of Israel; greeting and 
 prayer. 
 
 Multiply your prayers and supplications with joy and exultation in 
 the sight of the Lord, since God has enlarged His compassion by 
 fulfilling in us what He promised in olden times. For, after the 
 capture of Nicaea when the whole army departed thence, there were 
 
276 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 more than 300,000 soldiers. And though this multitude was so 
 great that it could have occupied all Romania, drunk up all the 
 rivers, and consumed all the vegetation in one day, yet the Lord 
 conducted them in such plenty that a ram was bought for one 
 denarius, an ox for less than twelve. Furthermore, even though 
 the princes and kings of the Saracens rose up against us, neverthe- 
 less, God willing, they were easily conquered and crushed. And so, 
 because some were puffed up at the happy outcome of these events, 
 God opposed to us Antioch, a city impregnable to human might, and 
 detained us there for nine months, and so humbled us in the siege 
 outside the city until every swelling of our arrogance relapsed into 
 humility. 
 
 Accordingly, when we had been brought so low that scarcely one 
 hundred sound horses were found in the whole army, God opened 
 up to us the supply of His blessing and compassion, led us into the 
 city, and made subject to our sway the Turks and all their posses- 
 sions. Since we took this as if it were acquired by our own strength, 
 and did not worthily glorify God, who had conferred it, we were 
 besieged by such a multitude of Saracens that no one dared to go 
 out of the city, great as it was. In addition, famine grew so power- 
 ful in the city that some could scarcely restrain themselves from 
 eating human flesh. It is a long story to recount all the misery 
 which was present in the city. However, the Lord looked again 
 upon His people whom He had so long chastised, and consoled them 
 kindly. Accordingly, first, as if to make reparation for our suffer- 
 ing. He gave us His Lance, a gift not seen since the time of the 
 apostles. Then, He so animated the hearts of the men that those 
 whom sickness or starvation had deprived of strength to walk 
 about were now infused with power to take up arms and fight 
 courageously. Then, when the enemy had been triumphantly over- 
 come, the army left Antioch because of famine, disgust, and espe- 
 cially because of the quarrels among the princes. 
 
 Setting out into Syria, we took by storm the Saracen cities, Barra 
 and Marra, and acquired all the fortresses of the region. While 
 we were delaying here and there, there was so great a famine in 
 the army that the already fetid bodies of Saracens were eaten by 
 Christian people. At length, when upon Divine admonition we 
 were advancing into the interior of Hispania, we had with us the 
 most generous, compassionate, and most victorious hand of the 
 Omnipotent Father. For the citizens and chatelains of the region 
 through which we were advancing sent ambassadors with many 
 gifts, who were ready to serve us and to surrender their walled 
 places. But because our army was not large, and all were in haste 
 to go to Jerusalem, we accepted their pledges and made them 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 277 
 
 tributary, since, forsooth, one of the many cities which are on that 
 sea-coast had more men than were in our army. And when they 
 heard at Antioch, at Laodicaea, and at Edessa that the hand of the 
 Lord was with us, more of the army who had remained there over- 
 took us at Tyre. 
 
 Accordingly, with God thus our Fellow-voyager and Helper, we 
 came even to Jerusalem. And while the army was laboring in the 
 siege of that city with great difficulty, especially on account of the 
 scarcity of water, a council was held, and the bishops and princes 
 announced that a procession was to be made around the city with 
 bare feet. (This was done) that He who had entered it in humility 
 for our sake might, through our humility, open it to us to do justice 
 on His enemies for His sake. Accordingly, the Lord, pleased at 
 this humility, granted the city with His enemies to us on the eighth 
 day after our humiliation, on this day, to wit, when the primitive 
 Church was expelled from Jerusalem, the day when the festival of 
 the Dispersion of the Apostles is celebrated by many of the faith- 
 ful. And, if you desire to know what was done about the enemy 
 whom we found there, know that in the portico of Solomon and in 
 his Temple, our men rode in the blood of the Saracens up to the 
 knees of the horses. 
 
 Then, when it had been arranged who should hold the city, and 
 the others wanted to return home for love of their fatherland, or 
 affection for their parents, it was announced that the King of Baby- 
 lon had come to Ascalon, with a countless multitude of pagans, to 
 lead the Franks who were at Jerusalem into captivity, and to take 
 Antioch by storm. So he himself had said ; the Lord, however, had 
 decided otherwise concerning us. Accordingly, when we had found 
 out in truth that the army of Babylon was at Ascalon, we hastened 
 to meet them, leaving our baggage and our sick at Jerusalem with 
 a garrison. When our army was face to face with that of the 
 enemy, upon bended knees we invoked God as our aid, who in our 
 other times of need had confirmed the law of Christians, (praying 
 Him) in the present battle to break the strength of the Saracens and 
 the devil, and to extend the kingdom of Christ and the Church 
 everywhere from sea to sea. Nor was there delay. God was present 
 with those who cried out to Him, and He administered such strength 
 of courage that any one who saw us rush upon the enemy might 
 have likened us to a sluggish stag thirsting for a fountain of running 
 water. It was, indeed, accomplished in marvelous manner, for in 
 our army there could not have been more than 5000 knights and 
 15,000 foot-soldiers ; in that of the enemy 100,000 knights and 400,000 
 foot-soldiers. Then marvelous did the Lord appear among His ser- 
 vants, since, before we came into (actual) conflict. He turned this 
 
278 THE FIRST CRUSADE 
 
 multitude to flight as a result of our charge alone, and snatched 
 away all their arms, so that if they should wish thereafter to fight 
 against us, they would not have arms to rely upon. As to the 
 quantity of spoil, however, which was captured, no question should 
 be asked where the treasures of the King of Babylon were con- 
 cerned. In that place we killed more than one hundred thousand 
 Moors by the sword. The fear of these people, moreover, was so 
 great that about two thousand of them were sufifocated in the gate 
 of the city. Of those, furthermore, who perished in the sea, there 
 is no count. Thickets of thorns, likewise, held many of them. 
 The world was surely fighting in our behalf, and had not the spoils 
 of the camp detained many of our men, there would be few of that 
 great multitude of the enemy able to bring back tidings of the battle. 
 And though it may be tedious, nevertheless this should not be 
 omitted : on the day before the battle was to occur the army cap- 
 tured many thousands of camels, oxen, and sheep. And when the 
 people let them go, at the command of the princes, wonderful to re- 
 late, the camels formed many and multiple squadrons, the oxen and 
 sheep likewise. Moreover, these animals accompanied us so closely 
 that they halted when we halted, marched when we marched, and 
 charged when we charged. Clouds, too, protected us from the heat 
 of the sun and cooled us. 
 
 And so, when the victory had been celebrated, the army returned 
 to Jerusalem. Leaving Duke Godfrey there, Raymond, Count of 
 St. Gilles, Robert, Count of Normandy, and Robert, Count of 
 Flanders-' returned to Laodicaea, where they found the fleet of the 
 Pisans and Bohemund. And when the Pisan Archbishop had 
 brought Bohemund and our lords into concord, Count Raymond 
 arranged to return to Jerusalem for the sake of God and our 
 brothers. 
 
 Accordingly, in addition to such wonderful devotion of bravery 
 on the part of our brothers, such glorious and coveted retribution 
 on the part of the Omnipotent, such greatly desired remission of 
 all our sins through the Grace of God, and exaltation of the Catholic 
 church of Christ and all the Latin people, we urge that He may 
 cause you also to sit at the right hand of God, who liveth and 
 reigneth God forever and ever. Amen. 
 
 We ask and beseech you through the Lord Jesus who was ever 
 with us, shared our labors, and snatched us from tribulations, that 
 you be mindful of your brethren, who are returning to you, by 
 benefitting them, and cancelling their debts, that God may benefit 
 you and absolve you from all your sins, that God may grant you a 
 share in all the blessings which we or they have deserved from 
 God. Amen. 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 279 
 
 Moreover, Jerusalem was captured by the Christians in the year 
 1099, on the Ides of July, the sixth day of the week, in the Seventh 
 Indiction, the third year of their setting forth. Their first battle 
 was at the bridge over the river Orontes, in which many Turks were 
 killed on the ninth day before the Kalends of March. The second 
 battle was fought at Nicaea on the third day before the Nones of 
 March, in which the pagans were beaten by the Christians. Their 
 third battle was on the fourth day before the Kalends of July, at 
 Antioch, the Lance of the Lord, recently found, preceding them. 
 The fourth occurred on the Kalends of July. Moreover, the Turks 
 were likewise beaten in Romania. Their fifth battle occurred on 
 the Ides of July, when, after the thirty ninth day of the siege, 
 Jerusalem was captured. Their sixth battle was fought on the 
 fourth day before the Kalends of August, at Ascalon, against the 
 king of Babylon, in which 100,000 knights, and 40,000 foot-soldiers 
 were defeated and destroyed by a small army of Christians. Thanks 
 be to God ! The letter endeth. 
 
 The Pope's response to the news of the capture of Jerusalem. 
 
 (Paschal) Paschal, bishop, servant of the servants of God, to all 
 archbishops, bishops, and abbots throughout Gaul ; greeting and 
 apostolic blessing. 
 
 We owe boundless gratitude to the compassion of Almighty God, 
 since in our time He has deigned to wrest the Church in Asia from 
 the hands of the Turks and to open to Christian soldiers the very 
 city of the Lord's suffering and burial. However, we ought to 
 follow Divine grace with what means He has given us, and ef- 
 fectively aid our brethren who have remained in those districts 
 which were once the lands of the people of Palestine or Canaan. 
 Urge, therefore, all the soldiers of your region to strive for remis- 
 sion and forgiveness of their sins by hastenmg to our Mother 
 Church of the East ; especially compel those who have assumed the 
 sign of the cross in pledge of this journey to hasten thither, unless 
 they are prevented by the hindrance of poverty.-^ Moreover, we 
 decree that those be held in disgrace who left the siege of Antioch 
 through weak or questionable faith ; let them remain in excom- 
 munication, unless they affirm with certain pledges that they will 
 return. We furthermore command that all their possessions be 
 restored to those brethren who are returning after the victory of 
 the Lord, just as you recall was ordained in a synodal decree by 
 Urban, our predecessor of blessed memory. Do thus in all matters, 
 being so zealous in your duty that by common zeal our Mother 
 Church of the East may be restored to her due state, the Lord 
 granting it. 
 
EPILOGUE 
 
 (The accounts of the Crusades of iioi, of the expeditions of the 
 Genoese, of the Pisans, of the Venetians and of the Norwegians, 
 all of them in response to Urban's call at Clermont might well be 
 included as part of the First Crusade but space does not permit. 
 The brief statements of Fulcher about the general condition of the 
 Christians in the Holy Land in iioo and twenty years later are 
 added in conclusion.) 
 
 1. Conditions in the Holy Land during the first years of the Latin 
 
 Kingdom. 
 
 (Fulcher). ... In the beginning of his reign Baldwin was the 
 possessor of very few cities and people ; yet, through that same 
 winter he protected his kingdom well against enemies on all sides. 
 And because they found out that he was a very courageous fighter, 
 although he had few men, they did not dare to attack him. If he 
 had had more soldiers, he would have met the enemy gladly. The 
 land route was still completely obstructed to our pilgrims — Franks, 
 Angles, Italians, and Venetians — who with from one to four ships 
 came timidly by sea to Joppa, the Lord leading them as they 
 sailed through the midst of hostile pirates and past the cities of 
 the Saracens. At first Joppa was our only port. When we saw that 
 they had come from our western lands, immediately and joyfully 
 we advanced to meet them as if they were saints. Each of us in- 
 quired anxiously from them concerning his own home and his loved 
 ones. The newcomers told us all that they knew. When we heard 
 good news, we rejoiced ; when they told of misfortune, we were 
 saddened. They came on to Jerusalem ; they visited the Holy of 
 Holies, for which purpose they had come. Then some remained 
 here in the Holy Land ; but others returned to their native country. 
 For this reason Jerusalem was depopulated and there were not 
 enough people to defend the city from the Saracens, if only they 
 dared to attack us. . . . 
 
 2. Twenty years later. 
 
 (Fulcher). . . . Consider, I pray, and reflect how in our time God 
 has transferred the West into the East. For we who were Occi- 
 
THE FIRST CRUSADE 281 
 
 dentals now have been made Orientals. He who was a Roman or 
 a Frank is now a Galilaean, or an inhabitant of Palestine. One 
 who was a citizen of Rheims or of Chartres now has been made a 
 citizen of Tyre or of Antioch. We have already forgotten the 
 places of our birth ; already they have become unknown to many of 
 us, or, at least, are unmentioned. Some already possess here homes 
 and servants which they have received through inheritance. Some 
 have taken wives not merely of their own people, but Syrians, or 
 Armenians, or even Saracens who have received the grace of bap- 
 tism. Some have with them father-in-law, or daughter-in-law, or 
 son-in-law, or step-son, or step-father. There are here, too, grand- 
 children and great-grandchildren.-^ One cultivates vines, another 
 the fields. The one and the other use mutually the speech and the 
 idioms of the different languages. ^° Different languages, now made 
 common, become known to both races, and faith unites those whose 
 forefathers were strangers. As it is written, "The lion and the ox 
 shall eat straw together." Those who were strangers are now 
 natives; and he who was a sojourner now has become a resident. 
 Our parents and relatives from day to day come to join us, aban- 
 doning, even though reluctantly, all that they possess. For those 
 who were poor there, here God makes rich. Those who had few 
 coins, here possess countless besants; and those who had not had 
 a villa, here, by the gift of God, already possess a city. Therefore, 
 why should one who has found the East so favorable return to the 
 West? God does not wish those to suffer want who, carrying their 
 crosses, have vowed to follow Him, nay even unto the end. You 
 see, therefore, that this is a great miracle, and one which must 
 greatly astonish the whole world. Who has ever heard anything 
 Hke it? Therefore, God wishes to enrich us all and to draw us to 
 Himself as His most dear friends. And because He wishes it, we 
 also freely desire the same ; and what is pleasnig to Him we do 
 with a loving and submissive heart, that with Him we may reign 
 happily throughout eternity. 
 
NOTES TO INTRODUCTION 
 
 ^ Bishop Stubbs, quoted by George L. Burr in the American Historical Re- 
 view for April, 1901, page 439. 
 
 2 Gibbon: Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Chapters LVIII-LXI. 
 
 ^ The following fourteen letters have been translated from the Latin texts 
 edited by Hagenmeyer in his Epistulae ct Chartae . . . Primi Belli Sacri: 
 
 II. Urban II to all the faithful assembling in Flanders. Written about 
 the end of December, 1095. Pages 42-43. 
 
 IV. Stephen of Blois to his wife, Adele. Written from Nicaea, June 24, 
 
 1097. Pages loo-ioi ; 107-109. 
 
 VI. Simeon, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Adhemar, Bishop of Puy, to 
 the faithful of the northern regions. Written from Antioch, October, 1097. 
 Page 132. 
 
 VIII. Anselm of Ribemont to Manasses, Archbishop of Rheims. Writ- 
 ten from Antioch about the end of November, 1097. Pages 106-107; 129. 
 
 IX. The Patriarch of Jerusalem to all the bishops of the West. Writ- 
 ten from camp at Antioch, January, 1098. Pages 142-144, 
 
 X. Stephen of Blois to his wife, Adele. Written from Antioch, March 
 29, 1098. Pages 131-132, 155-157- 
 
 XI. Alexius to Oderisius, Abbot of Monte Casino. Written from Con- 
 stantinople, June, 1098. See Chapter III, n. 26. Pages iio-iii. 
 
 XII. Bohemund, son of Robert Guiscard, Raymond, Count of St. Gilles, 
 Duke Godfrey, and Hugh the Great, to all the faithful in Christ. Written 
 from Antioch, either October, I097(?) or April-July, 1098. Pages 130-131. 
 
 XV. Anselm of Ribemont to Manasses, Archbishop of Rheims, July, 
 
 1098. Pages 157-160; 189-191. 
 
 XVI. Bohemund, Raymond, Count of St. Gilles, Godfrey, Duke of Lor- 
 raine, Robert, Count of Normandy, Robert, Count of Flanders, and Eustace, 
 Count of Boulogne to Pope Urban II. Written from Antioch, September 
 II, 1098. Pages 160-161 ; 192-195. 
 
 XVII. The Clergy and people of Lucca to all the faithful. Written from 
 Lucca, October, 1098. Pages 161-162; 191-192. 
 
 XVIII. Daimbert, Archbishop of Pisa, Duke Godfrey, Raymond of St. 
 Gilles, and the whole army in the land of Israel to the Pope and all the 
 faithful in Christ. Written from Laodicea, September, 1099. Pages 275-279. 
 
 XIX. Pascal II to all the archbishops, bishops and abbots of Gaul. Writ- 
 ten about the end of December 1099. Page 279. 
 
 XX. Manasses, Archbishop of Rheims to Lambert, Bishop of Arras. 
 Written from Rheims, November or December, 1099. Pages 264-265. 
 
 4 The following are the accounts contained in this book : 
 
 1. Anonymi Gesta Francoruin ct aliorum Hicrosolymitanoriim. Trans- 
 lated in full from Hagemeyer's edition. To read in the order of the 
 
NOTES 2R3 
 
 original, see pages 28, 57, 71, 57, 80, 62, 93, 98, loi, 113, 118, 120, 123, 
 125, 132, 136, 144, 151, 163, 1C9, 174, 182, 195, 204, 214, 223, 242, 249, 
 256, 262, 265. 
 
 2. Historia Francorum qui ccpcnint Jerusalem, by Raymond of Aguilers. 
 Translated in full from the text in the Recueil des Hisforiens dcs 
 
 t • Croisades, Historiens Occidentaux, III. To read in the order of the 
 original see pages 8, 64, 97, 103, 116, 124, 126, 134, 139, 147, 153, 16S, 
 "ij?), 176, 182, 173, 185, 197, 207, 217, 224, 243, 250, 257, 262, 268. 
 
 3. Historia Hierosolymitana, by Fulcher of Chartres. Translated in 
 part from Hagenmeyer's edition. Preface: I, chapters 1-14, 33-34; 
 ,11, chapter 6 passim; III, chapter 37 passim. To read in the order 
 of the original see pages 24,26, 28, 40, 24, 44, 45, 56, 61, 67, 99, 104, 105, 
 116, 118, 119, 121, 2y2. 
 
 4. The Alcxiad, by Anna Comnena. Translated in part from the edition 
 by ReifTerscheid. Vol. II, Book X; chapters 5-6 passim; 7; 9 passim; 
 10; II passim; Book XI; chapters 2-3 passi»i ; pages 70, 76, 86, 94, 99, 
 109. 
 
 5. Historia de Hierosolimitano Itinere, by Peter Tudebode. Only the 
 variations from the Gesta are indicated and are to be found in the 
 notes. The edition used was that of the Rec. Occid. III. See also 
 Molinier: Sources de I'histoirc de France, nos. 21 15-21 16. 
 
 6. Hicrosolymita, by Ekkehard, Abbot of Aura. Translated in part 
 from Hagenmeyer's edition, chapters VIII-XIII. See pages 41, 46, 53. 
 
 7. Gesta Tancrcdi, by Raoul de Caen. Translated in part from the text 
 in Rec. Occid. Ill; chapters 99-103, 108-109. See page 237. 
 
 8. Liber Christianae cxpeditionis pro ereptione, emttndatione, restitutione 
 Sanctac Hierosolymitanae, by Albert of Aix. Translated in part 
 from the text in the Rec. Occid. IV. Included in this translation are 
 I, chapters 2, 6-8, 15-24, 26-30, passim; II, chapters 1-17 passim. It 
 has been thought necessary to translate only the gist of the matter 
 contained in most of the chapters, as Albert was not, strictly speaking, 
 an eye witness. Pages 48, 54, 57, 73, 80. 
 
 9. Hierosolymitana Expeditio, by Robert the Monk. The report of 
 Urban's speech at Clermont, as contained in Rec. Occid. Vol. Ill, 
 Book I, chapters 1-2, has alone been translated. Page 30. 
 
 10. Historia Hierosolymitana by Balderic, Archbishop of Dol. Urban's 
 speech at Clermont ; contained in Rec. Occid. IV, Book I, chapters 
 4-5, has alone been translated. Page 2>Z. 
 
 11. Gesta Dei per Francos, by Guibert, Abbot of Nogent. Here the speech 
 of Urban and the description of Peter the Hermit, contained in Rec. 
 Occid. IV, Book II, chapters 4-6, have alone been translated. Pages 
 
 36-47. 
 
 ^ "He who first wrote this should be believed, since he was on the expedi- 
 tion and saw it with the eyes of his body — to wit, Peter Tudebode of Civray." 
 See Tud. XIV: 6. 
 
 ^ For a more detailed discussion of this point, see Kugler: Analektcn zur 
 
284 NOTES 
 
 Kritik Albert's von Aachen, and the summary of the discussion in Molinier : 
 Les sources de I'liistoirc de France, no. 2126. 
 
 ^ For a comprehensive treatment of mediaeval chronology, consult Grote- 
 f end : Taschenbuch der Zcitrechnung, or Giry : Manuel de Diplomatique. 
 
 ^Delbriick: Geschichtc der Kriegskunst, III, pp. 228-29. 
 
 NOTES TO PROLOGUE AND CHAPTER I 
 
 1 The Maccabees were followers of Judas Maccabeus, whose exploits are 
 described in the Book of Maccabees. The name recurs frequently in the 
 accounts of the First Crusade. The deeds of the Maccabees, recalled by 
 Urban in his speech at Clermont, served 9s a heroic model for emulation by 
 the Crusaders. It is interesting to note the opinions of the different chroni- 
 clers as to the success of the Crusaders in this aim. 
 
 - This is an interesting example of geographical terminology. These 
 names were not used to designate those particular regions in the mediaeval 
 period, but were all drawn from Fulcher's store of ancient and chiefly Bib- 
 lical knowledge. His use of the terms must be regarded as a rhetorical 
 device. 
 
 3 Psalms 33 : 12. 
 
 * For a thorough analysis of the various accounts of Urban's speech at 
 Clermont see article by D. C. Munro in the American Historical Review for 
 January, 1906. 
 
 5 Though Henry had been crowned King of Germany in 1054, he did not 
 receive the imperial crown until 1084, after he had driven Gregory VII from 
 Rome and installed the antipope, Clement III. Under the circumstances, 
 no loyal adherent of Gregory's could recognize Henry as rightful Emperor. 
 Furthermore, Conrad of Franconia was disputing the imperial claims at this 
 time. 
 
 ^ Urban II, formerly Odo, Otho, or Odoard of Largny, or Lagny, in the 
 neighborhood of Rheims, was of noble birth. He entered the service of the 
 Church and had risen to the rank of archdeacon in its secular hierarchy 
 when he decided to attach himself to the monastery at Cluny. Here his 
 learning and zeal for reform won him recognition and he was made prior. 
 In 1078 Gregory made him Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia. Gregory esteemed 
 him very highly and in 1084 sent him as envoy to Henry IV, who imprisoned 
 him for a short time on account of his loyalty to the Pope. Just before 
 Gregory's death, his name was mentioned as one of four men whom Greg- 
 ory regarded as qualified to carry on his policies. The Abbot of Monte 
 Cassino, who took the title Victor III, was chosen first, but upon his early 
 death in 1087, Odo was elected, and in 1088 he was consecrated Pope Urban 
 II. He carried on the fight with Henry IV throughout the eleven years of 
 his pontificate. Usually in exile from Rome, he found the struggle at first 
 very discouraging. The Normans of southern Italy remained true to him, 
 however, and so also did Matilda of Tuscany. Gradually he gained other 
 support, and after the Crusaders started on the journey he was enabled. 
 
NOTES 285 
 
 with their help, to regain Rome. The last two years of his life were spent 
 in relative quiet, and he died peacefully at Rome July 29, 1099. 
 
 "^ Wibert, who was descended from a very influential family in northern 
 Italy, had risen to the highest ecclesiastical dignity in Italy, the archbishopric 
 of Ravenna. In the quarrel between Gregory and Henry he sided with the 
 latter. In 1084, with Henry's help he was installed in Rome as antipope, 
 taking the title Clement III. Shortly afterward, he crowned Henry as Em- 
 peror and continued to dispute the papal title until his death in iioo. 
 
 s Matilda, Countess of Tuscany, had sheltered Gregory VII at Canossa in 
 the winter of 1076-7, and she remained a staunch friend of the Reform 
 Church Party until the time of her death in 1115. 
 
 9 Matt. 5 : 13. 
 
 10 Matt. 15: 14. 
 
 11 Luke 16: 19-31. 
 
 ^- The Truce of God, which forbade any violation of peace between vespers 
 on Wednesday and sunrise on Monday. The allusion to the former enact- 
 ment may refer to a similar decree passed by a Church council in southern 
 France in 1041. 
 
 i<3 Luke 16 : 24. 
 
 i«Matt. 10:22. 
 
 15 Matt. 10: 32. 
 
 ^•5 Matt. 5 : 12. 
 
 IT Matt. 10:37. 
 
 18 Matt. 19:29. 
 
 " Ex. 3:8. 
 
 20 Matt. 18 : 20. 
 
 21 Matt. 10:38. 
 
 22 See the account by Caffaro, Liberatio Orientis, XIV. 
 
 23 Psalms 79: 12. 
 
 2* Judges 19:10; Gen. 15:21. 
 
 25 Judges 45 : 3. 
 
 28 Gen. 36 : 12 ; Gen. 14 : 7. 
 
 2^^ Adhemar (d. August i, 1098), the Nestor of this expedition, had become 
 Bishop of Puy before 1087. He had won fame not only as a man of great 
 moral worth, but also as a vigorous prelate. On several occasions he had 
 been called upon to supplement his moral precepts by physical force, which 
 he effectively did. His knowledge of fighting men and his great tact made 
 him a worthy choice for the exacting office of papal representative. 
 
 28 Jno. 4 : 22. 
 
 29 Matt. 27 : 52. 
 
 30 Isaiah 14: 19. 
 
 31 Isaiah 2: 3. 
 32Eccl. 1:7. 
 
 33 II Thess. chap. 2. 
 
 34 Luke 21 : 24. 
 
 35 Jno. 7 : 6. 
 
 36 Isaiah 43 : 5. 
 
286 NOTES 
 
 37 This recurrence of old Neustria and Austrasia, or West and East Frank- 
 land, after so many centuries is an interesting example of the persistence of 
 the Prankish and Carolingian traditions on both sides of the Rhine. 
 
 38 The epidemic which started at the church of St. Gertrude of Nivelle 
 was known as "St. Anthony's fire" and worked widespread devastation at 
 the beginning of the twelfth century. 
 
 3^ People of the stem-duchies of Germany. Ekkehard, unlike Fulcher, does 
 not use the term Alemanni as a designation for all Germans, but only for 
 those from the region of Swabia. 
 
 40 Alexander II, who occupied the papal throne 1061-1073, and was suc- 
 ceeded by Gregory VII. 
 
 *i Clermont in Auvergne. 
 
 42 August 15. 
 
 NOTES TO CHAPTER II 
 
 1 See Graetz : History of the Jews, vol. IV: chap. 10 ci passim. 
 - Psalms 86: 9. 
 
 3 Psalms 18:23. 
 
 4 This legend is apparently one of the older legends of Europe. It was 
 later applied to Frederick II and then to Frederick Barbarossa. 
 
 ^ Peter the Hermit, whom later legend made the author of the Crusade, 
 was little known before that time. These statements contain almost all 
 that is known about his earlier career. He was a monk and after the Coun- 
 cil of Clermont began to preach the Crusade. There is little foundation for 
 the story of his earlier romantic pilgrimage to Jerusalem. See Hagen- 
 meyer : Peter der Eremite. 
 
 ^ Coloman, or Koloman, who succeeded his father, Ladislas I, July, 1095. 
 
 ' Hugh, Count of Vermandois, and brother of Philip I of France. Philip 
 was incapacitated for the Crusade, since he was excommunicate at the time. 
 Hugh was one of the older men among the leaders. His forces were small. 
 His prominence was due chiefly to his relationship with the King of France, 
 together with a certain assurance of address, which led the other leaders to 
 entrust him with diplomatic undertakings. Fulcher is at some disadvantage 
 in describing the course of the other bands. His statements about them 
 should be compared carefully with those of the other writers. The state- 
 ments of Anna and Albert offer a more reasonable explanation of Hugh's 
 predicament. 
 
 8 Boheraund (i058(?)-ilii), who appears as the crafty Ulysses of the 
 First Crusade, was the eldest son of Robert Guiscard. He had begun his 
 military training early, serving in many of his father's strenuous campaigns 
 in Italy, Sicily, and Greece. He was with his father in the successful cam- 
 paign against Durazzo and Corfu, and when his father was called back to 
 Italy by the Pope's plea for help, Bohemund was left in command of the 
 Norman forces in Greece. With these he penetrated the peninsula as far 
 as Larissa, where he was finally repulsed by the Emperor Alexius. Neither 
 Bohemund nor Alexius ever forgot those four years of warfare. Among 
 
NOTES 287 
 
 the Latin leaders on the First Crusade none understood the problems be- 
 fore them better than Bohemund, for he had had dealings not only with 
 the Greeks, but with the Saracens in Sicily. Because he was born of an 
 early marriage, his mother being a woman of obscure Norman origin, he 
 had inherited only the principality of Otranto, while his younger brother, 
 Roger, son of a Lombard princess, succeeded to his father's title. The Cru- 
 sade, therefore, offered him an opportunity for improving his fortune. 
 
 ^Godfrey of Bouillon ( 1065 ( ?)-i 100), so called from the feudal princi- 
 pality of that name which he held before he became Duke of lower Lor- 
 raine. Through his mother, Ida, he was grandson of Duke Godfrey II and 
 had been designated by the latter as his successor. Henry IV, the Emperor, 
 withheld this duchy from him for some years. The young Godfrey, how- 
 ever, won the Emperor's favor by valiant aid against the Pope and other 
 enemies, and in 1082 he received the duchy. It was said of Godfrey that he 
 was the first to storm the walls of Rome in the Emperor's attack upon the 
 papal city. Nevertheless, after some years, Godfrey was won over to the 
 papal side of the Investiture Struggle and was among the first to take the 
 Crusader's vow. 
 
 1° Raymond of Toulouse (d. 1105), or St. Gilles, had become Count of 
 Toulouse in 1086. He was a religious enthusiast and had probably taken 
 part in the warfare against the Mohammedans in Spain before the First 
 Crusade. Without doubt, he was the first important secular person to vol- 
 unteer for the Crusade. He made careful disposal of his possessions before 
 going, and on the expedition he was reputed to be the wealthiest of the 
 leaders. For some cause he had lost the use of one eye, a circumstance 
 which may have played a part in his position among the leaders, as it did 
 later in legend. 
 
 11 Robert of Normandy (io54( ?)-ii35), eldest son of William the Con- 
 queror, had enjoyed a rather turbulent career as Duke of Normandy for 
 some years before 1096. Early recognized as his father's successor in Nor- 
 mandy, he twice revolted against his father and was twice forced into exile. 
 Upon the Conqueror's death, he released many political prisoners, among 
 them being his contentious uncle, Odo, Archbishop of Baj'eux. He was 
 engaged in warfare with his brothers, William Rufus and Henry, when the 
 call for the Crusade was announced. Thereupon, he made peace with his 
 brothers, mortgaged his duchy to William Rufus, and started on the Cru- 
 sade. He had already given proof of those traits which marked him on the 
 expedition — great physical courage, love of pleasure, and lack of ambition, 
 
 ^2 The Angles, or English, are mentioned by other writers, also; e.g., the 
 English fleet which the citizen of Lucca accompanied to Antioch. See p. 161. 
 
 13 See Introduction, p. 6, and Chapter VII, note 28. 
 
 1* Robert of Flanders (d. iiii) became Count of Flanders upon the death 
 of his father in 1093. He was comparatively young and adventurous when 
 he started on the Crusade. His fame rests chiefly upon his exploits as a 
 Crusader. 
 
 15 Baldwin (d. 1118), the younger brother of Godfrey, had been named 
 
288 NOTES 
 
 for the service of the Church and ecclesiastical preferment, and had, indeed, 
 taken minor orders when the call for the Crusade came. This gave him an 
 opportunity for the more congenial pursuit of armed adventure. 
 
 1^ Baldwin, Count of Hainault. 
 
 1^ Grez and Ascha were both feudal territories in that portion of lower 
 Lorraine known as modern Belgium, 
 
 ^^ Albert's idea of this eastern boundary is rather vague. His inclusion of 
 practically all Germany within Gaul may be due to his identification of the 
 Roman province of that name with the empire of Charles the Great, whose 
 memory was and still is cherished on both sides of the Rhine, 
 
 ^^ Francavilla, near Sermis on the Save. It was known by that name as 
 late as the fourteenth century. 
 
 20 Tancred (d. 1112), nephew of Bohemund, was the son of a Lombard 
 prince named Marchisus, He had some military experience in southern 
 Italy and seemed deeply devoted to his uncle. His chief title to fame both in 
 history and legend rests upon his part in the First Crusade and the rule of 
 Antioch, which he held from 1101-1112. 
 
 21 See Hagenmeyer : Gesta, p. 154, note 24. 
 
 22 Roscignolo, either Rossano in Calabria, or Roscignolo in Salerno, or 
 Roussillon in France. 
 
 23 Not to be confused with Adrianople, which is on the opposite side of 
 the Balkan peninsula. The valley here referred to lay a short distance east 
 of the Adriatic, behind Avlona and Dnrazzo. 
 
 2* The Turcopoles were a light armed soldiery, possibly of Turkish origin, 
 in the service of the Greek Emperor. Several of the chroniclers describe 
 them as people reared among the Turks, or the offspring of Christian 
 mothers and Turkish fathers. 
 
 25 Curator of the palace, an officer of high rank in the household of the 
 Emperor. 
 
 28 The mercenary army of the Byzantine Empire was drawn from the 
 surrounding tribesmen, including the Turks. The Tanaccs have not been 
 identified. The name may possibly be a corruption of the term Patzinaks. 
 
 27 Possibly modern Wodena, though this is by no means certain. 
 
 28 Romans 11:33. 
 
 29 Isaiah 28: 12; Jer. 6: 16; Acts 3:20. 
 
 30 The modern Devol. 
 
 31 Either Pella or Cella. 
 
 32 Possibly the Greek Peritheorion. 
 
 NOTES TO CHAPTER III 
 
 ^ Chalandon : Essai sur le regne d'Alexis If Comnene. 
 
 2 Revue Historique, LXXXIII, pp. 160-8. 
 
 3 The meaning of this surname which Anna uses is uncertain. It may be 
 a reference to the monk's hood worn by Peter (cucuUus). Another conjec- 
 ture is that the word comes from a Picard term meaning 'short.' 
 
 * Romania was used rather loosely by different writers to designate: (a) 
 
NOTES 289 
 
 the whole eastern Roman Empire; (b) Asia Minor; (c) the Sultanate of 
 the Turks in Asia Minor, known as the Sultanate of Rum, or Roum. Here 
 the last is apparently meant. 
 
 5 The inconsistent statements of the different writers make exact identi- 
 fication of Xerogord impossible, 
 
 8 September 29. 
 
 7 Matt. 10:28. 
 
 * See Introduction to Chapter IV, p. 112. 
 
 ^ One of the commanders of the Byzantine fleet. 
 
 1° In the original the title of this man is "dux," but to avoid confusion 
 with the Latin title, which conferred a somewhat different distinction, the 
 term is here translated "governor." 
 
 11 An honorary title reserved for members of the imperial family. 
 
 12 Good Friday, April 2, 1081, w^hen, through the treason of German 
 mercenaries within the city, Alexius succeeded in entering Constantinople 
 His reign is usually dated from this event. 
 
 13 Nicephorus Bryennius, husband of Anna Comnena. 
 
 i*A place just across the Strait from Constantinople, not as yet identified 
 
 1^ See Introduction to Chapter III, p. 69. 
 
 18 A reference to the earher fighting between the Italian Normans and 
 Alexius — certainly not to the battle at Larissa, when Bohemund was forced 
 to retreat. Anna, in her references to this former hostility between Alexius 
 and Bohemund, is inclined to lay greater stress upon Larissa. The Emper- 
 or's war with Robert Guiscard and Bohemund took place from 1082-1084. 
 
 1^ The mention of Antioch as a specific part of Bohemund's agreement is 
 not confirmed by the other writers, nor is it mentioned in connection with 
 later disputes about Antioch. The point raises a question as to whether 
 the Anonymouts wrote this portion of his work before or after Antioch was 
 taken. 
 
 18 The allusion is to William the Conqueror, whose gifts to the knights in 
 his following after the battle of Senlac had evidently become proverbial. 
 
 1^ See Introduction, pages 19-22. 
 
 2° See note 19. 
 
 21 A covering of wicker-work used as a shield over the body in approach- 
 ing a fortified place. 
 
 22 A mound of homes of Crusaders was still pointed out to travellers as 
 late as the fifteenth century. See travels of Bertrandon de la Brocquiere in 
 Wright : Early Travels in Palestine, p. 337. 
 
 23 See Introduction, p. 14. 
 
 24 Pantaleon, according to legend, was a physician of Nicomedia, who 
 was converted to Christianity and performed wonderful cures. He was 
 martyred in the year 303 under the persecutions of Diocletian. His date 
 in the calendar of saints is July 27. 
 
 25 Georges Palaeologus was a member of one of the most distinguished 
 families in the East and was a trusted friend of Alexius from the beginning 
 of his reign. 
 
290 NOTES 
 
 20 This letter undoubtedly was written in the year 1098, but the date, in 
 the month of June, seems almost incredible. In the early days of that month 
 Alexius was on his way to aid the Crusaders. He was met by Stephen of 
 Blois at Philomelium. Placing full faith in Stephen's statement that the 
 Crusaders were probably all destroyed, he had turned back toward Constan- 
 tinople, laying waste the country as he went, in order to make difficult 
 pursuit by the Turks. He returned to the imperial city toward the end of 
 the month, and the news of Kerbogha's overthrow could scarcely have 
 reached him by that time. Under the circumstances, his assurances to the 
 Abbot about the condition of the Latin Crusaders would be hypocrisy of 
 the basest kind, if written at this time. It is possible that' the mention of 
 June as the date of the letter may have reference to the time of arrival at 
 Monte Cassino, the letter having been written a month or so earlier. On 
 the whole, Ale.xius deserves the benefit of the doubt. 
 
 NOTES TO CHAPTER IV 
 
 1 See note 8. 
 
 2 See note 22. 
 
 ^ It is uncertain just who these people were. The name occurs only in the 
 accounts of the Anonymous and his followers. P. Paris has conjectured that 
 they were people from Fez in northern Africa (Chanson d'Antioche; II, 
 305). 
 
 •* Not the Publicans of the Scriptures, but rather the Paulicians, a sect 
 of the Manichaeans. They were most numerous in Armenia. Persecution 
 by the Greeks had driven them into alliance with the Saracens. Other ad- 
 herents of this sect were located in the Balkan peninsula near Philippopolis. 
 The later Albigenses of southern France may have obtained some of their 
 tenets from this sect. 
 
 ^ The western writers had great difficulty in reproducing the names of 
 Turkish and Saracen leaders. The title Emir, or local governor, apparently 
 seemed to them part of the name. The two leaders here mentioned have 
 not been fully identified. It has been suggested that Admircaradigum is a 
 western corruption of Al Emir Koradja, the name of a Turkish prince who 
 died in 11 13. Miriathos may, in the same way, be a corruption of Emir 
 Atsiz, though it is impossible accurately to identify the persons meant. 
 
 ^ Fulcher might have named others to make the list complete, but appar- 
 ently his object was to enumerate the distinctive varieties of speech to be 
 found in the army. Most of the names are easily recognized today. The 
 Gauls were probably people from central France, the Allobroges from east 
 central France, the Apulians from southern Italy, and the Iberians from 
 northeastern Spain. 
 
 ^ There is a difference of opinion among modern scholars as to the loca- 
 tion of this valley. Hagenmeyer accepts the identification of Botrenthrot 
 with the valley which runs from the north southeastward to Bozanta and 
 then over the Gullek Pass. It is still used as a main road to Tarsus. See 
 Hagenmeyer: Gcsta, p. 217, note 42. 
 
NOTES 291 
 
 ^ Probably none of the writers were present on this journey of adven- 
 ture. The Anonymous undoubtedly obtained his account from the gossip 
 of Tancred's men at Antioch, while Fulcher acquired his information from 
 Baldwin on the way to Edessa. Raoul de Caen, whose intimate acquaintance 
 with Tancred several years later renders his account of somewhat more 
 than secondary value, has more to say of this clash between Baldwin and 
 Tancred. The affair at Tarsus, as related by Raoul, is in substantial agree- 
 ment with the accounts of the Anonymous and Fulcher, but he adds that 
 Baldwin followed Tancred to Adana, where the latter was encamped within 
 the city walls. A quarrel arose over the price of supplies, and the two 
 leaders drew up their forces for battle outside the city. Tancred, with 
 fewer troops, refused to advance beyond the support of the hurling machines 
 on the walls, while Baldwin, under the circumstances, was unwilling to risk 
 his superior forces. An equal number of knights from each army advanced 
 to settle the dispute by wager of battle. The outcome was indecisive, an 
 equal number on each side being unhorsed. Finally, better counsel prevailed, 
 and peace was established between the two leaders. Raoul further says that 
 Baldwin was rescued by Tancred when he was surrounded by Turks at 
 Artasia. This seems improbable in view of Fulcher's statement that Bald- 
 win had returned to the army at Marasch and departed thence toward 
 Edessa. See Raoul de Caen : Gcsta Tancrcdi, chapters 33-47. 
 
 9 This place is not to be confused with Rugia, from which it was a day's 
 march. 
 
 1° Mt. Maregart, according to description, must have been the hill behind 
 Bohemund's camp, although this is not entirely certain. 
 
 11 This title is not exact. Bohemund was Count of Otranto, but from 
 Anselm's rather distant point of view Bohemund's followers came from a 
 region so close to Rome that they might well be called Romans. 
 
 12 These men, most of whom are not mentioned elsewhere, were probably 
 all from the northern part of France, and well known to both Anselm and 
 the readers of his letter. 
 
 13 See Introduction, p. 5. 
 
 1* Possibly a corruption of protospatharius, an official of the imperial 
 guard. The name as here written cannot be identified exactly in the Greek 
 of the period. 
 
 15 Assam, or Asam, was a Turkish lord of considerable power who took 
 a prominent part in later wars with the Eastern Empire. The policy of 
 leaving garrisons at various places along the line of march had an important 
 bearing upon the career of the army itself, for, while many of the garrisons 
 were too small to cover the territory assigned to them, their absence did 
 weaken the strength of the main army. 
 
 18 See Chapter I, note 27. 
 
 i'^ The hill to the south of the city on which Tancred was stationed. 
 
 18 Raymond's use of this term is somewhat uncertain. Spain was so called, 
 of course, but it was clearly not the region here referred to. Ispahan, the 
 name of a town and a large portion of Persia, seems equally out of the 
 
292 NOTES 
 
 question, for this foraging journey was accomplished in a very few days. 
 The region actually involved was probably the valley of the Orontes, just 
 south and southeast of Antioch. Raymond may have derived Hispania from 
 Ispahan, applying the term vaguely to all the land southeast of Antioch. 
 This seems the most probable explanation. 
 
 18 By Goths Raymond probably means the people of Toulouse and even 
 of northern Spain. 
 
 20 The Fatimite Caliphate had been established at Cairo in Egypt since 
 972 A.D. In recent years they had lost most of their holdings in Syria to 
 the Seljuk Turks, who were attached to the Abassid Caliphate of Bagdad. 
 The Caliph in Egypt at this time was the vigorous Mustali (1094-1101), who 
 was very desirous of regaining Syria from the Seljuks. Hence, his envoys 
 appeared among the Crusaders at Antioch to arrange a satisfactory alliance 
 against the Seljuks, their common foe. The Emir, or Vizier, of the Egyp- 
 tian Caliph at this time was Al- Afdhal, who is mentioned later. 
 
 21 Probably Tarsus, whose possession Baldwin and Tancred disputed, and 
 which lies near the other two cities mentioned. The actual possession of 
 these places was already in the hands of the Crusaders, so that the only 
 object of this grant would be to forego the rights which the Emperor had 
 reserved in his agreement with the princes. 
 
 22 According to Anna (XI, 4-12 passim), Tetigus, who was in command 
 of the Greek force which had accompanied the Crusaders from Xicaea, was 
 constantly threatened by Bohemund and finally forced to flee. Bohemund 
 is said to have advised his desertion on the ground that the Crusaders were 
 very angry with the Greeks. Anna, of course, regards the whole incident 
 as a part of Bohemund's deliberate scheme to take Antioch and the sur- 
 rounding country, in violation of his oath to the Emperor. 
 
 23 See note 20. The "King" either refers to the Caliph or his Vizier. 
 Saracen titles were not clearly understood by the Latins. 
 
 2* St. George (martyred, according to legend, at Nicomedia, April 23, 303) 
 was the patron saint of the region about Constantinople. The Strait, the 
 Arm of Saint George, was named in his honor. St. Demetrius (Proconsul 
 at Achaia, martyred October 8, 290) was patron saint of the region of Bul- 
 garia. St. Theodore (probably Theodore Stratolates, who died at Heraclea 
 in Pontus, February 7, 319) was a patron saint of Asia Minor. By Saint 
 Basil is probably meant the great Church Father of the East, Archbishop of 
 Caesarea in the early fourth century, though there are almost thirty saints 
 of this name in the calendar of the Eastern Church. The intervention of 
 these saints, recorded not only in this letter, but also in the accounts of the 
 Latin chroniclers, is an interesting example of religious psychology. The 
 patron saints of the West are little mentioned. 
 
 25 The Turkish ruler of the city, Yagi Sian by name. See Introduction, p. 
 14. 
 
 28 Pirus, called also Pyrrhus, Pirrus, Firous, Feirus, Pints Datianus, and 
 Firti is, for obvious reasons, the object of great difference of opinion. The 
 Mohammedan writers call him an Armenian, a renegade Christian, while the 
 
NOTES 293 
 
 authoritative Latin accounts — e.g., Bohemund's letter, p. 160 — speak of him 
 as a Turk. 
 
 -'' Sensadolus, properly Shams-ad-Daula. The name is also written Sanxa- 
 dones. 
 
 28 Dokak of Damascus, Mo'in ad-Daula Sokman ibn Ortok of Jerusalem, 
 and Roduan of Aleppo. The names Bolianuth and Hamelnuth are uncertain. 
 See Hagenmeyer : Epistulae, p. 284-5. 
 
 ^^ See note 20. 
 
 30 See note 28. 
 
 3^ Kerbogha, called also Corbaga, Corhagath, Curbanaan, and Corbahan, was 
 Atabek, or Prince, of Mosul. He was a follower of Barkiarok, one of the 
 sons of the Sultan Melikschah, who was disputing the sultanate with his 
 brothers. The expedition of Kerbogha represents the rather feeble effort 
 of the Caliph of Bagdad to unite the quarreling brothers against the Chris- 
 tian invaders. 
 
 32 Robert of Normandy was short and stout in stature and is said to have 
 been thus nicknamed by his father. 
 
 NOTES TO CHAPTER V 
 
 1 The name has reference to the unleavened bread used in the communion 
 service. It here probably refers to the Armenians and Maronites who used 
 the unleavened bread. 
 
 2 The Anonymous here betrays both his authorship of the letter and his 
 ignorance of the monotheistic character of the Mohammedan faith. In this, 
 however, he was not alone, for several of the Latin writers indicate their 
 belief that the Mohammedans were idolaters. 
 
 3 Psalms 68 : 30 ; 79 : 6. 
 * Joshua 1 : 4. 
 
 5 In connection with the fighting inside the city of Antioch, Tudebode adds : 
 "On that day a certain proved knight, Arvedus Tudebodus by name, was 
 wounded. His companions carried him down below into the city. There 
 he lived until Saturday, when between the ninth and sixth hours he passed 
 away from the world, to live in Christ. A certain priest, Peter, his brother, 
 buried his body before the western door of the church of St. Peter. And 
 he was in great fear of losing his head, as were all the rest in the city. 
 We beg all who read and hear this to give alms and say prayers for his 
 soul and for the souls of all the dead who died on this journey to Jeru- 
 salem." See Tud. X ; 8. 
 
 ^ Anna's account of the meeting at Philomelium and the Emperor's atti- 
 tude is as follows : "With his forces ready, the Emperor set out to the aid 
 of the Gauls defending Antioch. When he came to Philomelium with his 
 whole army, after killing many barbarians along the way and devastating the 
 cities which had formerly been occupied by them, he met there William 
 Grandmesnil, Stephen, Count of France, and Peter Aliphae. These men had 
 escaped by ropes from the walls at Antioch and had set out through Tarsus 
 
294 NOTES 
 
 to the Emperor, from whom they were sent. They assured the Emperor that 
 the fortunes and hopes of the Gauls were reduced to very narrow straits; 
 nay, they swore that absolute destruction threatened them. The Emperor, 
 much inflamed at this announcement, decided all the more quickly to hasten 
 the aid which he was bringing them, but all dissuaded him from so rash a 
 plan." . . . Anna XI, 6. 
 
 '■ Psalms 15: I. 
 
 8 I Peter, 5 : 5-6. 
 
 ^ St. Mercurius, according to legend, was the head of the army of the 
 Emperor Decius in the war with the Persians. His refusal to worship the 
 gods brought down the wrath of the Emperor upon him, and, after a mirac- 
 ulous deliverance at one time, he was finally martyred. For Demetrius see 
 Qiapter IV, note 24. 
 
 10 II Kings, 7: I. 
 
 1^ Probably Balduc, Emir of Samosata, son of Ibn al Danischmend. 
 
 12 Not the same as Roger of Betheniville, who follows. 
 
 13 Mohammed. 
 i*June 27. 
 
 15 The Koran. 
 
 16 William of Grandmesnil was Bohemund's brother-in-law. 
 
 !'■ According to the Gospel, a soldier pierced the side of the Saviour as 
 He hung upon the Cross. The name of this soldier has not been preserved 
 but as early as the sixth century the name Long'mns occurs as a designation 
 for the man. It seems to have arisen from a careless translation of the 
 Greek word for spear. On this foundation a legend rapidly arose, and 
 Longinus became widely known. 
 
 NOTES TO CHAPTER VI 
 
 1 Acts I : II, 2:y. 
 
 2 The Jacobites were of the Monophysite sect, followers of Jacobus Zan- 
 zalus, and were fairly numerous in Syria. The Syrians were probably 
 Maronites, who regarded the Abbot of St. Maro in the Lebanon Mountains 
 as their head. The Armenian Christians were also Monophysites. A uni- 
 versal policy toward heretics had not yet been evolved by the Church at 
 Rome. From a political and military point of view, it was highly inexpe- 
 dient for the Crusaders to adopt a drastic policy toward these heretical 
 Christians in the East. Bohemund's plea was never fully answered, and, in 
 general, the practical policy pursued was one of persuasion rather than 
 force. Bohemund's readiness to adopt extreme measures against them may 
 have been influenced by his desire to retain Antioch, which scheme the 
 Greeks opposed. Softer counsel prevailed in the end, and wisely so. 
 
 3 August I. 
 
 * St. Trophim, according to legend, was Bishop of Aries and a disciple 
 of St. Peter. 
 ^ October 6. 
 ^ This is an extremely interesting example of how the Crusaders ad- 
 
NOTES 295 
 
 justed themselves to the changed conditions involved in the Crusade. In 
 this improvised election of Peter as Bishop of Albara there appear all the 
 elements so common in the West — the influence of the Count, the nomina- 
 tion by the clergy, and the approval of the people. The great influence of 
 the secular Count is especially noteworthy in view of the fact that the papal 
 party to which he leaned was at that time engaged in the Investiture Strug- 
 gle, an effort to free the Church elections from this very influence. 
 
 7 See Chap. III. 
 
 ^ Raymond's insistence upon the Emperor's rights is all the more remark- 
 able in view of the fact that he was the only one of the leaders who never 
 took the prescribed oath to Alexius. 
 
 8 This statement must be regarded as an exaggeration of the true condi- 
 tion. "Three hundred and sixty monasteries" might approximate the truth, 
 if by the term "monastery" is meant every building occupied by a monk or 
 monks. As for bishoprics, William, Archbishop of Tyre, counted no more 
 than twenty provinces in the patriarchate of Antioch. 
 
 1° Antiochus, after whom Antioch was named, was the son and successor 
 of Seleucus, the general of Alexander the Great. Seleucus built the city 
 and made it his capital. At this point in his version Tudebode lists the 
 names of the seventy kings over whom Antiochus is said to have ruled, but 
 as they are chiefly fanciful they have not been inserted. 
 
 iiRobert of Flanders, according to Raymond (p. 209), and Robert of 
 Normandy, according to Raoul (chapter 96, Gcsta Tancredi), had accom- 
 panied Count Raymond to Marra. 
 
 ^2 Tudebode at this point inserts the following : "There, with many others 
 who happily returned their souls to God, for whom they had assembled there, 
 a certain very excellent knight, Arnaldus Tudebodus, was killed." . . . See 
 Tud. XII, 3. 
 
 13 This doubtless has reference to the oath which they took to the Emp- 
 eror at Constantinople. That the Emperor regarded Antioch as within the 
 terms of the oath is indicated by his later struggles with Bohemund. 
 
 1* Venetians and Greeks had co-operated for centuries. In many respects 
 Venice may be regarded as one of the western trading posts of the Greeks. 
 The presence of the Venetian ships does not signify Venetian participation 
 in the Crusade, but rather the Emperor's contribution to the support of the 
 army. The Venetian expedition of the year iioo must be looked upon as the 
 first crusading expedition of the Republic. 
 
 IS Ali, Mohammed's son-in-law, whom the Fatimite Caliphs regarded as 
 Mohammed's successor. This constituted one of the essential points of dis- 
 agreement with the Abassid Caliphs of Bagdad. 
 
 1*5 See Introduction, p. 17. 
 
 1^ See Introduction, p. 15. 
 
 1^ Arnulf, who became one of the most powerful clerical leaders in the 
 army, was a native of Flanders. He is said to have been the son of a priest, 
 which, on strict canonical grounds, would have disqualified him for the 
 priesthood. However, large portions of Europe were still unconverted to 
 
296 NOTES 
 
 the stricter ideals of the Reform Church Party. As a result, he found 
 little to hinder his rapid advancement. Before the Crusade he had gained 
 fame as a teacher, especially in Normandy, where he counted among his 
 pupils Matilda, the daughter of William the Conqueror, and Raoul, famous 
 later as a priest and panegyrist. When the Crusade was preached, Arnulf 
 joined the expedition in the band of Robert of Normandy. His position 
 was that of chaplain to Odo, Archbishop of Bayeux, the fiery brother of 
 the Conqueror. Upon Odo's death early in the march, Arnulf virtually suc- 
 ceeded the Archbishop, becoming chaplain to Robert of Normandy. In this 
 capacity he was soon recognized as one of the ablest churchmen in the whole 
 army. He possessed many qualities aside from his great learning which won 
 him popularity and influence not only among the leaders, but also among 
 the soldiers. 
 i^June 24. 
 
 20 It is difficult to determine exactly who are included in these terms, 
 Raoul possibly includes among the Bretons all the Scotch, Irish, or Breton 
 Crusaders ; among the Swabians and Alemanni all the Germans. Likewise, 
 by Huns he probably means all the Hungarians, and by Ruthenians all the 
 Slavs. The first two terms were often so used by other chroniclers, while 
 the last two are somewhat inaccurate. 
 
 21 Virgil's Aeneid, II, 390. 
 
 22 The silence of the Anonymous and the other writers who were doubtless 
 present at the Ordeal is baffling. Possibly they were unwilling to commit 
 themselves on this disputed question of the Lance, whose validity they had 
 practically all accepted at Antioch. Fulcher, who was not present, records 
 the Ordeal and apparently recognizes the outcome as a definite refutation 
 of the Lance. See Fulcher (Hagenmeyer's ed.) 1:18:5. 
 
 23 The final fate of this Lance is somewhat obscure. Count Raymond kept 
 it and took it along with him to Constantinople. Raoul and Matthew of 
 Edessa, the Armenian writer, say that he presented it to Alexius. Albert 
 says that he lost it in Asia Minor in iioi. In the West the dispute about 
 its validity raged for some time longer. Guibert criticised Fulcher very 
 severely for doubting it. 
 
 NOTES TO CHAPTER VII AND EPILOGUE 
 ^ St. George, according to tradition, was born at Lydda, but had suflFered 
 martyrdom at Nicomedia. See Chapter IV, note 24. His remains were 
 brought back to the place of his birth and a church erected there in his 
 honor. The legend which the Anonymous here repeats was copied by later 
 writers and widely circulated in the West by later pilgrims. 
 
 2 This was the first Latin bishopric established in the patriarchate of 
 Jerusalem. The Bishop was spoken of afterwards as the Bishop of Ram- 
 lah, or Lydda, or St. George. Ramlah and Lydda were but a few miles 
 apart, the church of St. George lying between the two places. All three 
 were in the Bishop's diocese, and one or the other served as his seat, at 
 various times — whence the confusion of names. 
 
NOTES 297 
 
 3 See p. 278. 
 
 * See p. 236. The effect of the death of Peter Bartholomew was to dis- 
 credit the Lance among most of the Crusaders. The expedition of Hugh 
 of Monteil may be regarded as an efifort on the part of the Provengal party 
 to replace the Lance with an equally venerable relic. According to Albert, 
 the opposing party, under Arnulf's leadership, sought to accomplish the same 
 purpose by making a golden image of the Saviour. However, the place 
 which the Lance had held among the Crusaders was not filled until the dis- 
 covery of the Cross at Jerusalem by Arnulf. 
 
 ^ St. Cyprian, not to be confused with the famous Bishop of Carthage, was 
 martyred in Asia Minor during Diocletian's persecutions. Chrysostom was 
 the famous Patriarch of Constantinople, the great preacher, who is num- 
 bered among the four great Church fathers of the East. Leontius was 
 probably the Greek theologian of the sixth century, whose surname was 
 Byzantinus. By Omechios is probably meant Onesimus, the disciple of St. 
 Paul. 
 
 •5 This is the fleet to which Raoul refers in his account. Other English 
 ships are mentioned by the citizen of Lucca in his letter (p. 161). These 
 ships afforded material aid to the Crusaders on the expedition and afterwards 
 helped to carry them back to the West. 
 
 ''■ Either the author, or the copies of his book are in error, for the eighth 
 day before the Ides of June was Monday, the sixth. Tudebode says that it 
 was the third day of the week and the seventh day of incoming June, which 
 is consistent. See Tudebode, 'Rec. Occid. HI, p. 102. The error of the 
 Anonytnous may be purely typographical. 
 
 s A village in the department of Garde. 
 
 9 Psalms 107 : 33. 
 
 i<> Generic term for coins. 
 
 11 Dan. 9 : 24-27. 
 
 12 Adhemar had died August I of the previous year and is mentioned as 
 having appeared in a vision at the trial of the Lance (p. 198), 
 
 '13 Eustace, Count of Boulogne, was the elder brother of Godfrey. He 
 succeeded to the title and possessions of his father. 
 
 "July 15. 
 
 1^ Arnulf, Bishop of Martirano, who is described by Raoul as a man of 
 little learning, seems, nevertheless, to have had considerable influence. He 
 was Tancred's chaplain, and, since Tancred captured Bethlehem, his prospect 
 of obtaining the bishopric was a very good one, especially in view of the 
 support he rendered to his namesake, Arnulf, chaplain of the Count of 
 Normandy. In speaking of the capture and death of the Bishop of Marti- 
 rano, Raymond is here anticipating the event which happened some days 
 later. 
 
 1^ The palms were the sign of the completed pilgrimage. It was custo- 
 mary for pilgrims to bring home palms from the Jordan. See p. 274. 
 
 17^ Allowance must be made for Raymond's intense hatred of the man who, 
 more than any other individual, was responsible for discrediting the Lance. 
 
298 NOTES 
 
 The Proven(;al "good clergy" would scarcely support Arnulf as candidate 
 for the patriarchal office. 
 
 18 Matt. 20: 1-16. 
 
 !'•• Probably Gaston of Becrt, who has been mentioned before on several 
 occasions. See page 257. It is uncertain whetlicr he was from northern 
 or southern France. 
 
 -«Arnulf of Martirano, whose death Raymond has already described. 
 
 21 Daimbert, or Dagobert, Archbishop of Pisa, who here enters the his- 
 tory of the Crusade, had become prominent in the affairs of the Western 
 Church. He had been ordained by the anti-pope, Wibert of Ravenna, but 
 shortly thereafter was won over to the side of Urban. He became Bishop 
 of Pisa, and when Corsica was acquired from the Saracens, Urban added 
 Corsica to the diocese of Pisa and elevated the episcopal see to an arch- 
 bishopric. Daimbert thus became the first Archbishop of Pisa. He was 
 entrusted by Urban with several commissions to various provinces, and in 
 1098 he took the leadership in organizing a naval expedition to go on the 
 Crusade. Needless to say. Urban approved of this and may have sent 
 Daimbert as his vicar to succeed Adhemar, who had died at Antioch. At any 
 rate, on his arrival in the East Daimbert found himself the leading church- 
 man there, and the only one who by intimate acquaintance was qualified to 
 represent the Pope. Bohemund, whose hold upon Antioch was jeopardized 
 by the claims of Alexius, was anxious for the approval of the Pope as a 
 lever to turn the energy of the Crusaders against Alexius. His immediate 
 friendship for Daimbert, the friend of the Pope, plays an important part 
 in later events. 
 
 22 Sugar-cane. The crusaders introduced it widely in the West. 
 
 23 Psalms 132 : 7. 
 2* Psalms 122: 4. 
 
 25 Lake of Gennesaret, or Sea of Galilee. 
 
 26 A glance at the map will show that Fulcher's identification of Balbec 
 with Thadamar is impossible. He undoubtedly saw Balbec and had read 
 about Thadamar, which was once a flourishing trading centre, but it is doubt- 
 ful whether more than the magnificent ruins of the latter place were then in 
 evidence. Fulcher probably never saw even the site of Palmyra, or Thada- 
 mar, but applied his learning to embellish his description of Balbec. Thada- 
 mar was scarcely on the road from Jerusalem to Laodicaea. 
 
 27 Both Roberts returned home with their armies. Robert of Normandy 
 tarried sometime at Salerno to be healed of a troublesome wound which he 
 had received on the Crusade. When he reached Normandy, he found his 
 brother, William Rufus, dead, and his younger brother, Henry, on the Eng- 
 lish throne. A quarrel finally broke out between himself and Henry, and in 
 the war which followed Robert was captured and forced to spend his last 
 days as a prisoner. He died in 1126. Robert of Flanders probably bore his 
 letter to the Pope at Rome and then hastened home. During the next eleven 
 years he figured prominently in feudal warfare, though not always to his 
 credit. His chief claim to fame lies in his exploits as a Crusader. He died 
 in nil. 
 
NOTES 299 
 
 28 This insistent plea, that the able-bodied who had taken the vow, and had 
 failed to carry it out, or had faltered on the way should fulfil their vows, 
 has appeared in practically all the letters written by the Crusaders since the 
 capture of Antioch. The papal command to the same effect must have been, 
 therefore, a real consolation to the many who had carried out their vow at 
 such great cost. It seems only an act of bare justice to set down the fate 
 of the two most prominent offenders, Stephen of Blois and Hugh the Great, 
 whose conduct involved not merely the ignominy of negligence but more 
 especially that of desertion in the face of the enemy. The following pas- 
 sage from Ordericus Vitalis (X, 19) as translated by Thomas Forester 
 (Bohn Antiquarian Library) reveals the embarrassing directness of the 
 pressure upon Stephen. 
 
 "Being frequently reproved by a variety of persons for this conduct, 
 Stephen was compelled both by fear and shame to undertake a fresh crusade. 
 Among others, his wife, Adele, often urged him to it, reminding him of it 
 even amidst the endearments of conjugal caresses. 'Far be it from me, my 
 lord,' she said, 'to submit any longer to the jibes you receive from all 
 quarters. Pluck up the courage for which you were renowned in your 
 youth, and take arms in a noble cause for the salvation of thousands, so 
 that Christians may have good reason to exult in all parts of the world, to 
 the terror of the pagans and the public humiliation of their detestable re- 
 ligion.' 
 
 "This was the sort of language that clever and spirited woman often ad- 
 dressed to her husband. He certainly had already sufficiently experienced 
 the perils and difficulties of the enterprise to make him shrink from under- 
 going such toils again. At length, however, he took courage, and, putting 
 himself on the march at the head of many thousand French, persevered 
 against most formidable obstacles, until he reached the tomb of our Lord." 
 
 Stephen survived but a very short time. He had visited Jerusalem and 
 was at Joppa, waiting for a ship to take him home, when news was brought 
 that hostile bands were in the vicinity. Baldwin, the king, called for volun- 
 teers to drive them off and Stephen was among those who responded. The 
 battle was very disastrous for the Christians. To quote Fulcher's words, 
 "Alas, how many valiant knights and how many brave soldiers we lost in 
 this catastrophe ... I For Stephen of Blois, a prudent and noble man, and 
 another Stephen, Count of Burgundy, were killed." 
 
 There is a lack of agreement among the writers as to the fate of Hugh 
 the Great. That he was among the victims of this expedition is accepted by 
 Fulcher, who fixes his death at Tarsus late in iioi, and by William of Tyre 
 (X, 13), who states that his body was buried in the church of St. Paul at 
 that place. 
 
 29 The offspring of these mixed marriages were called PnUani and figure 
 prominently in the literature of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. 
 
 30 This led to the formation of a mongrel speech known generally as the 
 Lingua Franca, which was long used in commercial intercourse throughout 
 the East. 
 
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