Isidore, Chapter Six

In the 406th era, during the fifth year of the reign of Valens, Athanaricus I took up the governing of the Gothic people, ruling for 13 years, whom, having been moved to a very cruel persecution of the faithful, wanted to train himself against Goths, who had taken up Christianity among his people.  Those out of the many, who would not agree to offer sacrifices to idols, he made martyrs. Moreover these many persecutions affected the feelings of the rest of the Goths. While he might have shrunk from killing a great number of people, he had committed a sin. Indeed he was driven to go into exile from his own kingdom and migrated alone to the Roman provinces.

[The Goths took up the Arian form of Christianity, i.e. they believed the Son was subordinate to the Father, but Valens was also Arian so this was not a source of conflict between them. It is surprising that Isidore referred to the Arians as Christians when, officially, they were considered heretics and worse than pagans. Athanaric does not appear to have been styled as a 'king' but as a 'judge'.]

More Latin

It is possible one could google some of these phrases From 'The Name of the Rose' and find them online as they appear to be from psalms that might well still be in use.

page 101 at the beginning of chapter "Matins"

"Domine, labia mea aperies et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam"

"Lord, May you open my lips and my voice will proclaim your praises."

followed by "Venite exultamus" "Come. Let us rejoice"

and "Deus qui est sanctorum slendor mirabilis." "God who is the wonderful brilliance of the saints."

"Iam lucis orto sidere" I had to google this one and it is just as well because it is a fragment and 'sidere' is not the infinitive of a verb nor would supplying a form of 'esse' make it make sense.

"Now in the glory of the light having dawned."

On page 94 of chapter 'Compline', Eco wrote that the monks only used rape oil and olive oil. Most people might not know that canola was once called 'rapeseed'. Of course that name does not sell the oil and 'canola' itself is an acronym for a specially bred type of rapeseed - Canadian oil seed, low acid". Rapeseed came from the latin for 'turnip' since they are relatives being both 'brassicae'. Cultivation for oil seems to have begun around the Rhine in the Middle Ages and more northern regions since olive trees do not grow there.

Latin in The Name of the Rose

I have to wonder with all the latin that I am seeing in this novel if it bothered people with no Latin at all that none of it is translated. I guess it gives the novel the aura of authenticity but surely it could have been translated in footnotes or brackets. I am not going to translate them all but, if someone comes across this blog and finds a phrase that they really want to understand and Google translate or Babelfish is not working for them, they can post a comment and I will do my best to translate it for them. My edition is a Harcourt paperback, translated into English by William Weaver.

There is a long Latin piece on pages 62-63 which I shall translate now.

"Quorum primus seraphico calculo purgatus et ardore celico inflammatus totum incendere videbatur. Secundus vero verbo predicationis fecundus super mundi tenebras clarius radiavit"

"The first of these having been cleansed by the seraphic stone and burned by the celestial fire seemed to burn up entirely. The second fertile one, in truth, gleamed more brightly by the word of his preaching upon the darkness of the world."

And then Ubertino said "yes, these were the promises: the Angelic Pope must come" So the first sentence refers to the Anti-Christ and the second is Jesus come again(?). At last Ubertino said "Mors est quies viatoris - finis est omnis laboris" or "Death is the repose of the traveller - is the end of all labor." Life is a journey not a destination.

Dumber But Not Stupider

This post was inspired by a conversation with my son. He was calling someone 'stupider' and I corrected him because it should be 'more stupid' and then I began to wonder why some comparative adjectives use the ending '-er' and others require a 'periphrastic' comparative with the addition of 'more' or 'less'. Having familiarity with several 'dead languages' that have contributed parts to Modern English, I know they all decline, that is have inflected endings to show case, number and gender. Modern English has few declensions, plural is conveyed with the addition of an 's' (with some exceptions), there is no gender and case (or purpose in the sentence) is shown by position and prepositions.

So what happened to the comparative in English so that we have two forms? (with some exceptions) First I shall mention the exceptions. They appear in Latin, such as 'good' which is bonus/bona/bonum but in the comparative is melior/melius and optimus/optima/optimum in the superlative but this also appears in the Germanic languages, like Old English 'good which is god, betera/selra and betst/selest or good, better, and best.

In Latin, one normally converts an adjective to the comparative by adding -ior (m/f) or -ius (n) to the stem of the nominative form, that is the form in which it would be the subject of a sentence without the declined ending for gender and number. In Old English, it would be formed by adding-ra to the stem. However, the Scandinavians who took over the eastern and northern parts of England also contributed to the language and in 1066 the Normans invaded, adding their own contributions to the tongue.

In Old Icelandic, one forms most comparatives by adding -ari to the stem. Like in Old English and Latin, good/better/best is irregular - góðr/betri/beztr or baztr. Comparison is also shown by using en, meaning 'than', or by adding the dative of an adjective like fleiri, more, or the dative of an adjective. In an article, by R.M.W. Dixon, which you can read in pdf here, He called "Comparative Constructions in English", he discusses phonetic forms which take the -er ending or require the addition of 'more' but there are exceptions to just about every case and he did not examine the linguistic origins of the various words which might be useful in determining why this is so. He states that one can use 'stupider' or 'more stupid' although 'stupider' sounds very odd to me so I am going to rule it out as a correct form. He might explain this as a dialectical variance but I have not seen 'stupider' in print anywhere that I can recall. He also states one can use 'solider' for 'solid' or 'more solid' so I wonder if it is disyllablic words ending in 'd' that just don't sound right with an -er ending because 'cold' and 'dead' sound perfectly reasonable as 'colder' or 'deader'. ('deader' may sound illogical but we do have the phrase 'deader than a doornail")

In Comparison in English and German by Markus Schneider and Denis Wippler, they state that trisyllablic words can only take 'more' to form the comparative so perhaps the dividing line is two syllables, some go one way and others go the other way. In the search for the reasons why, there is one more language to consider Old French.

In 1066, the Normans invaded England and French became the language of the court, pushing out much of the Old English or Germanic forms. In Old French: a Concise Handbook by E. Einhorn, it states that comparatives are formed by the addition of the adverbs plus or moins ('more' and 'less') so we can perhaps blame the French for the confusion. However the Normans were Scandinavian in origin (North-men) and so the periphrastic comparative may have come into English from the Old Norse interacting with the French.

One last check with the Oxford English Dictionary reveals that 'stupid' is derived from the latin 'stupidus', solid comes from the latin 'solidus', cold comes from OE 'cald', dead from OE déad. I would hate to conclude that the use of 'more' is due to the Germanic languages having difficulty with the latin derived tongues in disyllablic adjectives ending with a 'd' without making a longer list and checking from which language each adjective is derived from but it is an intriguing possibility. In conclusion, for now, I just want to say that I do not envy anyone trying to learn English as a second language.

About the Basilisk and the Mirror

Chapter 23 from the Deeds of the Romans

Alexander ruled, who obtained dominion over the whole earth. At this time, it happened, while he gathered a large army and besieged a certain city; he lost in that place many soldiers and other without any wounds. But when he wondered about this, he called his philosophers and said to them: "Magisters, how is this able to be; that suddenly without wounds, my soldiers are dying?" To him: "This is no wonder. A certain basilisk is upon the wall, by the sight of which the soldiers are being killed and dying." Alexander said: "And what is the remedy against the basilisk?" To whom they said: "The best mirror should be placed, raised up, between the army and the wall, where the basilisk is, and when the basilisk looks in the mirror, the view of itself, having been reflected, will be carried back to its very self and thus it will die." And thus it was done.

More stories from the 'Romans'

#40 About the Beasts

Basil said in the Hexameron ( a book about the six days of creation), that certain beast are built for the purpose of working and have no value as food, such as horses, mules and asses. Other beasts are built for the purpose of eating and have no value for labor such as sheep, pigs, chickens, waterfowl and peacocks. There also are other beasts, which are not valuable for eating or for work but for guarding the home or purging it like dogs and cats: dogs guard, cats cleanse it.

#48 About the Mage and the World

It is told about a certain learned man who had a particular very beautiful garden, which was full of scented flowers, full of sweet fruit, full of abundance and delight. Whatever was delectable was there. He was never willing to reveal this place unless to fools and his enemies. And when they had been brought inside, they saw all and so much source of delight that they were astonished. When they would ask where they were, the answer to them was they were in paradise.

Deeds of the Franks, Book 10, Travel Guide to Jerusalem

It Begins With a Description of Sacred Places of Jerusalem

If any wish to go from the West to the parts of Jerusalem, let him hold to the rising of the sun(east) only and he will find the locations of Jerusalem for prayer, just as it is here written down. In Jerusalem, there is a room covered with one stone where Solomon wrote his book Wisdom. And there, between the temple and the altar, on the marble before the altar, the blood of Zacharia was spilled. From there it is not far to the stone from which, through separate years, the Jews came and, anointing it, were lamenting and then were returning with a sigh. There is the home of Hezekiah, king of the Jews, to whom God had given 15 years. Then there is the home of Caiaphas and a column, to which Christ had been bound, when he had been struck by whips. At the port of Neopolitana, there is the general's tent of Pilate, where Christ was judged by the princes of the priests. Not far away is Golgotha, it is the place of the skull, where Christ the son of God was crucified, and where Adam had the first burial. Abraham sacrificed to God here. From which, just as far west as great stones can be thrown, is the place where Joseph of Arimathea buried the sacred body of the lord Jesus and there is a church splendidly built by Constantine the king. At the mount of Calvary, there are 13 paces west to the center of the world. At the left side, is the prison, where Christ had been imprisoned. On the right side, near the sepulcher, is a Latin monastery in honor of the Virgin, Blessed Mary, where her home had been. Where the high altar is in that monastery is where Mary, the virgin mother, stood and, with the sister of her mother, Maria Cleophe and Maria Magdalene, weeping and sorrowing, saw the Lord placed on the cross. There Jesus spoke to his mother: "Woman, behold your son" and to his disciple: "Behold your mother" From this place, twice as far as one is able to fire an arrow from a bow, on the east side, is the Temple of the Lord, having been built by Solomon, in which Christ had been presented by Simeon the Righteous. On the right side of this temple, Solomon built his won temple and between both temples there is a wonderfully constructed portico with marble columns. On the left side is the sheep pool (Pool of Bethesda which was near the Sheep Gate). From this, going east for a thousand paces, the Mount of Olives can be seen, where the lord Jesus prayed to his father saying: "Father, if it is able to become" and the rest. And he wrote the Pater Noster in stone and from which he ascended into heaven, saying to his disciples: "Go and teach all people" and the rest. Between the Temple of the Lord and the Mount of Olives is the valley of Jehoshaphat (Kidron Valley)where the virgin Mary was buried by the apostles. Into this valley, the Lord will come to judge the world. Nearby is a villa which is called Gethsemane, and where nearby is the garden across the brook of the Cedron, where Judas betrayed Jesus. Nearby is the sepulcher of Isaiah the prophet. From there, at a thousand paces to Bethany, is where Lazarus had been revived after being dead for four days. In the same location, nineteen miles towards Jericho, is the sycamore tree that Zacchaeus climbed so that he could see Jesus. In another part, at a thousand paces from Jericho, is the fountain of Heliseus (Elisha), which he blessed by mixing it with salt. Five miles from here is the river Jordan, in which the Lord had been baptized by John, at a distance of eight leagues from Jerusalem. Not far from this is the mount from which Helias (Elijah) had been seized. From the Jordan, it is a trip of eighteen days all the way to Mount Sinai, where God appeared to Moses in a burning bush, and gave his law to him. And there is the great urn, which was unfailingly yielding the oil. Mount Thabor is distant from Jerusalem by a journey of three days, where the Lord had been transformed. At the foot of this mountain is said to be the Galilee and the sea of Tiberias, which is not a sea but a lake which the Jordan pours out of. On the right side of the city of Jerusalem, to the south and beyond the wall as far as one is able to fire an arrow is the Mount Sion, and there is the church that Solomon built. There Jesus dined with his disciples before the passion, and there he refilled them with the Holy Spirit; and where also the virgin Mary migrated from the secular, and gave back her spirit, whose holiest body was carried to the valley of Jehosaphath by the apostles. At the foot of this mountain to the south is the pool of Siloa, sprouting suddenly out of the earth. From which not far away is Sychem, where Joseph, coming from the valley of Hebron, sought his brothers. There is a villa which Jacob gave to Joseph his son and where his body rests. From which at a thousand paces is Sychar, where the Lord spoke to the Samaritan woman. Not far from this is the place where the angel wrestled with Jacob. That is where Bethlehem is, the city of David, where Christ was born, at a distance from Jerusalem of four miles to the south. And there is a church, having been built with marble columns, in which is the place where Jesus had been born. Not far from this, on the right side, is the manger of the Lord.

From which, at twelve miles, is the fortified town of Abraham, which is called Tocor, where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are buried with their wives. On the left side in the mount of the Lord Sees, and there is the place where Abraham wanted to sacrifice his son.

This explains the journeys to Jerusalem.

After he washed off the blood, Anonymous went sightseeing. I can just imagine some local calling him over with a "psst, I have a lock of Jesus hair. Normally I wouldn't sell it but I need the money and you look like a nice guy. How 'bout a souvenir of the Holy Land". Or some other relic. This last piece is a travel brochure. It seems so strange following all the killing and starvation and blood. No one knows what happened to Anonymous after this. Many of the knights, having achieved what they set out to do - free Jerusalem and complete their pilgrimage to the holy places - went home, leaving people like Bohemond, Godfrey, Baldwin and Tancred struggling to hold on to their new realms with a lack of manpower. I would include Raymond in this list but he was not very good at land grabbing and spent the rest of his life in a snit at everyone else especially Bohemond and Tancred.

Deeds of the Franks, Book 10, Chapter 39, cont.

Then the patriarch, bishop and other seigneurs had assembled at the river, because it was from part of the lands of Ascalon. There were many animals, oxen, camels, sheep and all sort of other things that are good booty. Nearly three hundred Arabs came and our men rushed to overcome them and seized two of their number, pursuing the others all the way to their main army. Moreover this deed having been done so late, the patriarch had it heralded through the entire host that tomorrow morning all will be prepared to fight at earliest dawn, and excommunicating any man taking any spoils before the battle is over. But by doing this, they could return with fortunate joy to take anything that the Lord has destined for them.

At first light, on the sixth day of the week, we entered a valley that was very, very beautiful with a beach next to the sea, in which they arranged their battle lines. The Duke instructed his line and the Count of Normandy ordered his own, Count of St. Giles his own, Count of Flanders his own, Count Eustache his own, Tancred and Gaston his own. Also, they arranged the foot soldiers and bowmen who would precede the knights, and thus all was arranged and they began immediately to war in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the left side was Duke Godfrey with his battle line, and the Count of St. Giles rode next to the sea on the right hand side, the Count of Flanders and Tancred with the others rode in the middle. Then our men began after a little while to trot. The pagans were standing prepared for the battle. Each one had his own skin bag hanging from his neck, from which they could drink while pursuing us; but this was not permitted to them, thanks be to God.

The Count of Normandy, seeing the standard of the emir who had a certain golden apple on top of a spear which was covered with silver, rushed vehemently against him and wounded him unto death. From another part, the Count of Flanders attacked them with very great harshness. Tancred therefore made his assault through the middle of their tents. The pagans, seeing this, immediately took flight. The multitude of pagans was innumerable and no one could know the number of them but God alone. The battle was immense, but divine virtue was so great which was allied with us, so strong, that we vanquished them on the spot. The enemies of God were standing blinded and amazed, and seeing the knights of Christ with open eyes, were not seeing anything, and they were not daring to rise up against the Christians, having been terrified by the strength of God. They were climbing trees from so great a fear, in which they were reckoning to hide themselves, but our men were knocking them to earth by arrow and with lances and swords killed them. Others were throwing themselves onto the ground not daring to stand against us. Our men, therefore, beheaded those just like a man might chop the head off an animal at the market. The Count of St. Giles killed many without number from these. Some were throwing themselves into the sea, others were fleeing here and there.

The emir, coming before the city, sorrowing and mourning, said with tears: "O spirit of the Gods, who ever saw or heard of such a thing? So much power, so much strength, such knights that never could they be vanquished by any people. By only so small number of Christians are these people overthrown. Alas for me sorrowing and sad, what more should I say? I am beaten by a beggarly people, defenseless and very poor, who have nothing but a day's provisions and a sack. These very people pursue the Egyptians, who they frequently received alms from when they were begging throughout our homeland. These having been lead here to meet our two hundred thousand soldiers, and I see those very soldiers with loose reins fleeing along the Babylonian road, and they dare not return to stand against the people of the Franks. I swear by Mohamed and by all divinity of the gods (many of the Franks did not understand that Islam was monotheistic) that I will not keep another assembly of knights, since I am expelled by a foreign people. Having been brought here, with all manner of arms and all machines, so that I could besiege them in Jerusalem and they journeyed in two days to come against me in battle. Alas for me! What more should I say? I will be forever dishonoured in the lands of Babylon."

Our men received his standard, which the Count of Normandy valued at 20 marks of silver and gave to the patriarch in honor of God and of the Sacred Sepulcher. His sword was bought for sixty besants. Thus our enemies were overcome by God's favor. All ships from the lands of the pagans departed. The men who were still on board, seeing the emir flee with his army, hoisted sail and set themselves off to the highest seas. Our men returned to their tents, and received innumerable spoils of gold, silver and all manner of goods and all species of animals and all sorts of tools and weapons. Whatever they wanted, they took away, and they destroyed the rest with fire.

Our men went back with joy to Jerusalem, bearing all goods with them which were deemed necessary to them. This battle had been enacted on the day before the ides of August, by the largess of our lord Jesus Christ, to whom is honor and glory now and always in the age of ages. Let every spirit say: Amen

Deeds of the Franks, Book 10, Chapter 39

Then our men held a council so that each man could give alms with prayers, so that God would choose he whom he wished to rule over the others and guide the city. They also ordered that all the dead Saracens to be thrown outside, before they got too stinky, since the city was nearly full with their cadavers. The surviving Saracens were dragging the dead before the exit of the gates and arranging a mountain of these, as if they were buildings. No one had ever heard of or seen so great a slaughter of pagan people because the pyre of them was arranged like pyramids, and no one knew the numbers of them except God alone. And Count Raymond had the emir and others who were with him given safe conduct all the way to Scalona(Ascalon), whole and unharmed.

On the eighth day after the city had been captured, they chose Duke Godfrey as prince of the city, who would subdue the pagans and guard the Christians. At the same time, they chose a patriarch, a very wise and honorable man by the name of Arnulf on the feast of St. Peter in Chains. Thus the city was captured by the Christians of God on the 15th day of July on the sixth day of the week (Saturday).

Meanwhile a messenger went to Tancred and Count Eustache, that they would prepare themselves to travel for the purpose of taking the city of Neopolitana. They left and lead with them many knights and foot soldiers and came to the city. And the inhabitants of the city surrendered themselves to them. Once more the Duke ordered them, that they come quickly to war which the emir of Babylon had prepared for us at the city Scalona(Ascalon). They, hurrying to seek the war with the Saracens, found a mountainous region and they came to Caesarea. Then, they, coming next to the sea at the city of Ramola, found many Arabs there who were the advance guards of the war. Our men, pursuing them, seized many of them who revealed all the plans for the battle, where they would be and how many there would be, and where they would be posted to fight against the Christians. Tancred, hearing this, immediately sent a messenger to Jerusalem to Duke Godfrey and the patriarch, and all the princes, saying "Let you know that war is being prepared for us at Ascalon. Therefore come quickly with all strength that you are able to muster." The the Duke ordered all, that they would faithfully be prepared to go to Asalon to meet our enemies. He exited the city on the third day of the week and with him went the patriarch and Robert Count of Flanders. The Bishop of Martirano went with them. The Count of St. Giles and Robert of Normandy said they would not go, unless they knew for certain there would be a war. (This happens to Raymond a lot) They arranged their knights so that some would travel to see if war truly broke out and they sent back many who soon would be prepared to go. They went and had witnessed the fight and quickly announced that they had seen it with their own eyes. Immediately the Duke, through the Bishop of Martirano whom he had taken along, ordered Jerusalem so that the knights who were there would ready themselves and come to the battle.

On the fourth day of the week, the princes left and fought the battle. The Bishop of Martirano returned (to Ascalon), carrying back words having been sent to the patriarch and the Duke. The Saracens coming out met him and lead the Bishop, having been seized, with them. Peter the Hermit stayed in Jerusalem, for reminding and instructing the Greeks and Latins and clerics that they should faithfully celebrate a procession for God and give alms with prayers so that God would give the victory to his own people. The clerics and priests, put their sacred vestments on and led a procession to the Temple of theLord, chanting masses and prayers so that he would defend the people.

cont............

The Arnulf that was chosen to be Patriarch appears to have been Adhemar's replacement and Raoul of Caen's teacher and friend. Raymond of Aguiler did not like him and also wrote that the other princes begged the Count of St. Giles to accept kingship of Jerusalem and he, very modestly turned it down. So when Duke Godfrey was then selected, he wanted Raymond out of the palace so he could set up his residence but Raymond did not want to give up the palace so another big argument broke out. I have to wonder if the other princes really did want Raymond be ruler of Jerusalem.

Deeds of the Franks, Book 10, Chapter 38

Then our seigneurs arranged by what means they would be able to engineer the (takeover of) city so that our people could enter the Sepulcher to worship our Savior. They built two siege towers of wood and many other siege engines. Duke Godfrey built a tower with machines and Count Raymond did the same; from wood which they had dragged over from remote lands. The Saracens, seeing our men making these machines, amazingly fortified the city and the towers were growing larger by night. Our seigneurs, seeing from which side the city would be more weak, on the night of the sabbath, they carried our machines and wooden tower there on the eastern side. They set them up at the earliest light and make the tower ready and equipped it on the first, second and third day of the week. The Count of St. Giles repaired his machine for a southerly blow. Meanwhile we were distracted by the pressure of so much thirst as one man was not able with one denarii to have enough water to extinguish his thirst.

Night and day, on the fourth and fifth days, we wonderfully approached the city from all sides, but before we could attack, the bishops and the priests, by praying and reminding all, organized that they would celebrate with a procession for God around Jerusalem and they made prayers and fasts and gave alms faithfully. On the sixth day, at the earliest morning we attacked the city from all sides but we were unable to harm it at all. We were stupefied and very, very afraid. The hour was approaching, namely that in which our Lord Jesus Christ had been deemed worthy to endure the pillory of the cross on our behalf, our knights bravely were fighting on the tower, namely Duke Godfrey and Count Eustache, his brother. Then a certain knight, by the name of Laetholdus(Letholdus of Tournai), climbed up onto the wall of the city. Soon, as he climbed, all of the defenders of the city were in flight along the walls and through the city and our men pursuing them cut them off by killing and beheading them all the way to the Temple of Solomon. There was so much killing there that our men were setting their feet in the blood of the slain all the way up to their ankles.

Count Raymond lead his army from the south and set the tower next to the wall but between the fort and the wall there was a certain ditch that was too deep. Then our men agreed that they fill in the ditch and they made a proclamation that any man who would carry three stones to the ditch would be paid one denarius. The implementing of this lasted for three days and nights. Then with the ditch full, they brought the tower next to the wall. However, they who were inside were amazing fighting against us with fire and stones. the Count, hearing that the Franks were in the city, said to his own men: "Why do you delay? Behold all of the Franks are now inside the city." Then, the emir, who was inside the Tower of David, surrendered to the count and opened the gate, by which pilgrims were accustomed to fulfill vows of tribute, to him. Our pilgrims, entering into the city, were pursuing and killing Saracens all to way to the Temple of Solomon. From that location, they gave our men the greatest fight through the whole day so that the blood of those flowed through the whole temple. Then, of the vanquished pagans, our men seized enough men and women in the temple and killed those they wanted to kill and kept those alive that they wanted. On top of the Temple of Solomon there was the greatest assembly of pagans of both sexes, who Tancred and Gaston of Beert gave their standards to.

Soon they were running through the whole city, seizing gold and silver, horses and mules, and homes full of all good things. All of our men went rejoicing and crying aloud from too much happiness to worship at the sepulcher of our Savior Jesus. And gave back to him, the obligation they owed. On the morning, our men climbed carefully onto the roof of the temple and attacked the Saracens, men and women, beheading them with exposed swords. Others gave themselves over to throwing themselves off the temple. Seeing this, Tancred was exceedingly angry.

According to the rules of Medieval warfare, if you surrendered early, you could negotiate terms. If you fought to the end, you forfeited the right to negotiate. However Tancred, by giving his standard to the people on the roof, was taking possession of them as they were surrendering to him. This placed them under his protection and explains why he was so angry with the Franks. The emir at Antioch was very particular about what standard went on the roof of the citadel as well because that location then became the property of the conqueror who places his standard there to indicate ownership.

Deeds of the Franks, Book 10, Chapter 37

He (the bishop of Ramola) remained there with gladness. We however rejoicing and exulting, went all the way to the city of Jerusalem on the third day of the week, eight days before the Ides of June (Tuesday, June 7, 1099?) and we miraculously besieged it. Robert of Normandy besieged it from the north, next to the church of the protomartyr (first martyr) St. Stephen, where he had been stoned to death in the name of Christ. Next to Robert was the Count of Flanders. From the west, Duke Godfrey and Tancred set up their siege. The Count of St. Giles besieged the city from the south, namely on Mount Sion around the Church of St. Mary, mother of our Lord, where the Lord dined with his disciples. (Last Supper?)

On the third day, some of our men , namely Raymond Pilet and Raymond de Taurina and many others, split off from the army for a foraging expedition and found two hundred Arabs and the soldiers of Christ battled against these nonbelievers; and, with God aiding them, they valiantly defeated them, and killed many of these and seized thirty horses. On the second day of the week (the following Monday), we most bravely approached the city, so wonderfully that, if ladders had been ready, the city would have been in our hands. However, we flattened a lesser wall and we set up one ladder against a greater wall, on which our knights were climbing and together were striking hard at the Saracens and defenders of the city with their swords and lances. There were many dead from our men but even more from theirs. However, during that siege, we were not able to find bread to buy for nearly the space of ten days, after which a herald came from our ships. We were held up by the too great pressure of thirst, such that through too great a terror and panic, we watered our horses and other animals six miles away. For the fountain of Syloa(Siloam), which was at the foot of Mount Syon, was sustaining us, but water was being sold dearly among us.

For, afterward the messenger from our ships came, our seigneurs accepted a plan among themselves by which they would send knights who would faithfully guard the men and ships in the port of Iaphia(Joppa). At earliest daylight, one hundred knights from the army of Raymond, Count of St. Giles, with Raymond Pilet, Achard of Montmerle, and William de Sabra, left and went with confidence to the port. Then thirty of our knights were separated from the others and found seventy Arabs, Turks, and Saracens from the army of the emir. The Christian knights bravely attacked them but the strength of these was so much greater than ours, that they surrounded them on all sides. They killed Achard of Montmerle, and the paupers who were foot soldiers. When they had hemmed in our men, who all were reckoning to be dead, a certain herald came to the others, saying to Raymond Pilet: "Why do you stand around here with these knights? Behold, our men are in too great a difficulty with Arabs, Turks and Saracens and perhaps in this very hour all are dead! Therefore rescue them from those, rescue them!" Our men, hearing this, immediately ran with very quick steps and hurriedly attacked them for battle. The pagan people, seeing the Christian knights, divided themselves and formed two battle lines. Our men, invoking the name of Christ, so bitterly attacked those nonbelievers that each knight would knock his man to the ground. They, seeing that they could not stand against the bravery of the Franks, trembling with too great a fear, they turned their backs around. Our men, pursuing them for the space of nearly four miles, killed many of them, and they kept one man alive, who would tell them news about their commands; and they also kept 103 horses.

On that same siege, we were oppressed by such a grave thirst that we stitched together the hides of oxen and buffalo, in which we could bear water for the space of nearly six miles. From these vessels, we were using fetid water and, with so much smelly water and barley bread with too great difficulty, we were afflicted every day. For the Saracens, hiding by all fountains and water, were lying in wait for our men and they were killing them and tearing them to pieces everywhere, and also they were leading any animals with them(Franks) into their own hollows and caves.

Deeds of the Franks, Book 10, Chapter 35 and 36

35.Duke Godfrey as well as Bohemond and the Count of Flanders went all the way to the city of Lichia(Laodicaea). There Bohemond separated himself from them and went back to Antioch. They went and besieged a certain city named Gibellum. Raymond, Count of St. Giles, hearing that innumerable pagan peoples were proceeding in haste against them in certain war; immediately he formed a plan with his men that he send a delegate to the seigneurs, who were in the siege at Gibellum, in order that they come as reinforcements to him. Hearing this, they immediately made a pact with the emir, making peace with him and they accepted gifts of horses and gold and leaving the city, came to aid us. But the pagans did not come to fight against us. The counts mentioned before set up camp beyond the river and they besieged a fort there.

After a short time, our men rode against Tripoli and found Turks, Arabs and Saracens outside the city, who attacked our men. Our men set them to flight and killed a great portion of the nobility of the city. There was so much killing of pagans and spilling of blood, that even the water which was flowing in the city, was seen to turn red and flow into their cisterns, from whence the others were very sad and sorrowful. Now they were trembling with so much fear that none of them would dare to go outside of the gate of the city.

Another day, our men rode beyond the Sem and found cows, sheep, asses and many animals and also camels which they seized as booty and numbered nearly three thousand. We besieged that before mentioned fort for three months less a day and there we celebrated the Passion of the Lord (Easter) on the fourth day before the Ides of April (April 10th?). Since our ships came near us at a certain port, as long as we were occupied in that siege, they were bringing a great market, in other words, grain, wine, meat, cheese, barley, oil and there was a very great abundance on that whole campaign. On that siege, many of our men happily received martyrdom, namely Anselm of Ribemont, William Picard and many other whose names I do not know. The king of Tripoli was often sending messengers to the seigneurs that they would leave the fortified town and enter into an agreement with him. Our leaders, hearing this, namely Duke Godfrey, Raymond Count of St. Giles, Robert of Normandy, Count of Flanders and, seeing that the ripening of new fruit had sped up, since we were consuming new beans in the middle of March, and grain in the middle of April, consulted, saying that it would be very good to be fulfilling the trip to Jerusalem with the new fruits.

36. We therefore left that fort and came to Tripoli on the sixth day of the week, the 13th day of May and we were there for three days. Then an agreement was reached between the seigneurs and the king of Tripoli, and he immediately released more than three hundred pilgrims who had been captured there, and gave to them 15,000 besants and 15 horses of great value. He even gave to us a great market of horses, asses, and every goods from which all of the army of Christ was too rich. A pact was made with them, since the emir of Babylon(Cairo) was preparing war, if they would be able to defeat him and seize Jerusalem, he would convert to Christianity and he would recognize his land (as coming) from them and by such means, the deed was settled.

We left the city in the second day of the week in the month of May and we passed along a narrow and hard road all day and night and we came to a fortified town which was named Bethelon; then to a city name Zebari next to the sea, on which(the road) we endured too great a great thirst. And thus, tired out, we arrived at a river named Braym. Then we traveled on the day and night of the Ascension of the Lord across the mountain, on which there was a too narrow road and we reckoned to find ambush by the enemies there but with God smiling upon us, none of them dared to make a move against us. Then our knights, who gone ahead of us, cleared the road ahead of us and we joined up at the city next to the sea which is called Baruth and from there we went to another city called Sagitta, from there to another called Sur(Tyre), and from Sur to the city of Acra. From Acra we went to a castle called Cayphus,(Haifa) and then we set up a camp next to Caesarea. There we celebrated the Pentecost, on the third day before the end of May. Then we went to the city of Ramola(Ramleh), which the Saracens abandoned empty on account of their fear of the Franks. Next to this was a distinguished church in which the most precious body of St. George rested, since it was there that he happily fell into martyrdom on behalf of Christ's name due to the treachery of the pagans. There our leaders held a council so that they could elect a bishop who would guard and repair this church and they gave tithes to him and, made rich with gold and silver, horses and other animals, he would devoutly and honorably live with those who were with him.

Anonymous does not say but Raymond of Aguilers does. When the Count of St. Giles first started heading south, Tancred was the first to follow him and the Count of Normandy. Tancred later joined up with the Duke of Lorraine. He also wrote that of the original 100,000 knights that set out, there were only 1000 left on the road with them, and of the 200,000 foot soldiers there were only five thousand left. Barbara Tuchman wrote that the numbers in Medieval documents were often rounded off and inflated because of the difficulty of working with Roman numerals. The Arabic number system we use today did not displace Roman numerals until the 14th century. Tomorrow I will take a moment to deal with Peter Bartholomew. Anonymous does not seem to write more about him but, while they were heading south, he underwent trial by fire which Raymond of Aguilers and Raoul of Caen do write about.

The illustration above is by Gustave Dore again. It depicts Godfrey of Bouillon and Bohemond. I assume Bohemond is the fellow on the left since he appears to be clean shaven.

Deeds of the Franks, Book 10, Chapter 34

However, Bohemond was not able to reach an agreement with the Count of St. Giles over that which he was seeking and he returned angry to Antioch. Count Raymond, after a short delay, sent messengers to Antioch to Duke Godfrey, Count of Flanders, Robert of Normandy and Bohemond so that they would come to the city of Rugia to speak with him. They came there and all the seigneurs formed a plan by which they could with honor keep to the road to the Sacred Sepulcher, for which they had bestirred themselves and so that they would go all the way there. They had been unable to obtain an agreement between Bohemond and Raymond, not unless Count Raymond would give Antioch to him. The Count was unwilling to agree to this, because of the oath he made to the emperor. Then the counts and the duke returned to Antioch together with Bohemond. Count Raymond then returned to Marra where there were pilgrims. He ordered his men to fix up the palace and the fort which was above the gate of the city's bridge.

Raymond, seeing that he was the cause by which none of the other leaders would carry on the road to the Sacred Sepulcher, left Marra bare footed on the thirteenth day of January and went all the way to Capharda. He stayed there for three days. There the Count of Normandy directed himself to Count Raymond. Moreover the King of Caesarea had often decreed through his messengers to the counts at Marra and Caphara that he wished to have peace with them and he would give a payment to them of his own, and he would value Christian pilgrims, and he would swear an oath since he held so many under his rule, pilgrims would not be given offense to, and he would joyfully give them a market of horses and food items. Then our men left and went to camp next to Caesarea, above the river Farfar. And when the king of Caesarea saw a horde of Franks camped so near to the city, he was pained in mind, and ordered the market to be turned aside unless they would set themselves up further from the city. On the next day, he sent with them two Turks as heralds, who would show them the ford of the rivers, and would conduct them to where they could find booty. Then they went to a certain valley below a certain fortified town, and there they pillaged more that five thousand animals and enough grain and other goods, from whence the whole Christian army was much restored. However that fortified town gave itself to the count, and gave to him horses and the purest gold, and they swore by their own law that pilgrims would not be subjected to ill treatment in that place. We were there for five days. (note the 'we'. Anonymous was traveling with Raymond.) Having left there, we joyfully went to camp by a certain Arab fort. Then the lord of the fort came out and formed an agreement with the count. Leaving this place, we came to a certain most beautiful city by the name of Kephalia, situated in a certain valley, and it was crammed with all sorts of good things. The inhabitants, hearing the Franks had come, abandoned the city with gardens full of vegetables and homes full of food and they fled. On the third day from that city, we crossed through a very high and immense mountain (Ansarieh range) and we went into the valley of Sem, in which there was the greatest richness of all goods; and we were there for nearly fifteen days. Near us was a certain castle, in which there was assembled the greatest multitude of pagans. Our men attacked the castle, and valiantly had overcome it, until the Saracens had tossed outside a large herd of animals. (Monty Python and the Holy Grail leaps to mind "Fetchez la vache!") Our men went back to the tents bearing all goods. At earliest light, our men folded up their tents and went to besiege that same castle, and they were reckoning to set up the tents there; but the pagan people gave themselves over to flight (Sure they probably figured the Crusaders weren't happy with the cows and were coming to eat them.) and left the castle empty. However, going inside, our men found there large stores of grain, wine, wheat, oil, and everything that they needed. There we most devotedly celebrated the feast of the Purification of Blessed Mary, and the heralds of the city of Camela(Homs) came. For their king had sent horses and gold to the Count and made a pact with him that they would in no way offend Christians, and would cherish and honor them. Moreover the king of Tripoli sent, since he had formed a faithful pact and had friendship with the Count, ten horses and four mules and gold. But the Count said he would in no way receive peace from him unless he became a Christian.

However, leaving this optimum valley, we came to a certain castle which was called Archas(Arqa), on the Monday at noon, in the second week in the middle of February(Feb. 14, 1099), around which we extended our tents. The castle was full of innumerable pagan people, namely Turks, Saracens, Arabs, Publicani, and they had wonderfully fortified the town and valiantly defended it. Then fourteen of our knights, went out and attacked the city of Tripoli which was next to us. Those fourteen found approximately sixty Turks and others, who had in front of them an assembly of humans and animals of more than 1500. Fortified by the sign of the cross, (those crazy bastards) attacked them and by the aid of God, were miraculously able to defeat them and killed six of their number and they seized six horses.

Then Raymond Pilet and Raymond, Vicomte of Turenne, left the army of Count Raymond and went before the city of Tortosa and bravely attacked it, which had been too well fortified with a multitude of pagans. Moreover having done this too late, they retreated to a certain corner, camped there and set up many campfires so that it would appear as if the entire host was there. The pagans fled trembling with fear secretly at night and they abandoned the city full of goods. (Take my goat, just don't eat me) It even had a very good port next to the sea. On the next day, our men came to the city and looked everywhere but found it empty. And entering in, they lived in it while the siege lasted before the city of Archas. There was next to that city another city, which was called Maraclea(Maraqiya). The emir, who was ruling over it, made a pact with us and let our men and standards into the city.

Interestingly, with regards to this disagreement between Bohemond and Raymond, Raymond of Aguilers wrote that the Duke of Lorraine showed up in November having fought his way through to Antioch and he brought the news that Alexius was not coming. Then there was the discussion of what to do with Antioch because, if they left it unmanned, the Turks would retake it. The rest were all for giving it to Bohemond since he had influence over the Turks in the area. Count Raymond was the only fly in the ointment. Of course the count and Bohemond got into an argument over the booty at Marra. Bohemond's men did the least but got the largest share of the booty due to Bohemond's sneaky trick. The desperate poor who ate the dead at Marra also started to tear down the walls so no city would remain and there would be no need to fight over who would guard the city. This was the signal to Raymond that he should keep going to Jerusalem.

Deeds of the Franks, Book 10, Chapter 33

After all this had been done, Raymond, Count of St. Giles, left Antioch with his men in the month of November and he went to a city, which was called Rugia, and through another which is called Albaria(Al-Bara). Four days before the end of November(28), he went to the city of Marra(Al-Numan), in which there was a great multitude of Saracens, Turks, Arabs, and other pagans congregated together. And the next day, the Count attacked them. A short time later, Bohemond with his own army followed the counts and joined up with him on the Sunday. On the second day, they invaded the town with such great force and so harshly and manfully, that ladders stood upright at the walls. But there was such a great strength of pagans that, on that day, they were not able to harm or even annoy them. The leaders, seeing that they were able to achieve nothing and were laboring in vain; it made Raymond Count of St. Giles build a certain wooden fort, strong and high. This fort was very clever and built on four wheels, on top of which could stand many knights and Everard the Hunter blew and strong blast on the military tuba. Below him were armed knights, who had lead the fort all the way next to the wall of the city, beside a certain tower. The pagan peoples seeing this, immediately built instruments which were throwing great rocks over the fort, thus so that they could almost kill our knights. They were also launching greek fire over the fort, reckoning thus to burn and ruin it. But the All-Powerful God was unwilling that the fort would burn in this manner. It was towering over all the walls of the city. Then our knights, who were in the upper balcony, namely William de Montpellier and many others, were throwing immense stones onto those who were standing on the walls of the city, and thus were striking them hard on their shields, so that both the shield and the enemy fell downwards into the city dead. While they were doing this, others were holding glorious banners on their spears and, with lances and iron hooks, they were reckoning to drag the Turks towards themselves and thus they were battling until nightfall. Behind the fort were standing priests and clerics wearing their sacred vestments, praying and beseeching God that he would defend his own people, exalt Christianity and get rid of paganism.

In other parts, our knights were struggling daily with them, setting up ladders against the wall of the city, but the strength of the pagans was so great that they were not able to make any headway. Then Gulferius de Daturre first climbed the ladder on the wall but immediately the ladder had been broken by the numbers of other climbing the ladder. However, he himself climbed up with some others onto the wall. Those, who had climbed, were clearing a space around themselves at the wall. The others also found another ladder, and hurriedly set it up against the wall and up it climbed many knights and foot soldiers. On the spot, they climbed onto the wall. The Saracens so robustly attacked those on the wall and on the ground with arrows and barbs as well as their lances, so that many of our men backed away from the wall trembling with fear. Those very valiant men who remained on the wall so long endured the attacks from the Turks, so long that others who were under the fort, could dig under the wall of the city. The Saracens, seeing that our men had dug under the wall, immediately took flight trembling with fear into the city. This deed had been done on the day of the Sabbath at the hour of the evening as the sun was setting, the 11th day of December.(the dates are kind of troubling. It should be December but Anon writes intrante Decembri)

Then Bohemond arranged to speak through an interpreter to the Saracen leaders, so that they with their wives and children and other properties could place themselves in one palace which is above the gate, and he himself would defend them from the sentence of death. All our men broke into the city and they found something good in the homes and small pits, each of these was holding an individual. Moreover as had been done on that day, anyone they were finding anywhere, they were killing whether male or female. No corner of the city was empty of the bodies of Saracens and one was scarcely able to go through the streets of the city unless by stepping on the bodies of Saracens. Then Bohemond seized those who he had ordered to go into the palace, and he took from them all that they had, namely gold, silver and other valuables, some he ordered to be killed, others he ordered to be lead for sale at Antioch.

The Franks were delayed in that city for one month and four days, in which the bishop of Orange fell dead. There were, among our men, those who could find nothing to do, there was such a long delay, stretched out so much by famine since they were unable to go outside to find booty, that they were tearing open bodies of the dead, because they were finding besants concealed in their stomachs; others cut their bodies up into pieces in vain and were cooking them to eat them.

Raoul of Caen, wrote in his Gesta Tancredi (Deeds of Tancred) of the extreme shame that some of the Franks were tormented by such a fierce hunger that they grilled and voraciously ate the dead Saracens and even their dogs. (chapter 97) It is likely that the delay caused by Raymond and Bohemond's quarrel over Antioch in a land that had been depleted of food by an almost 2 year war pushed the poorer pilgrims to desperate measures.

Deeds of the Franks, Book 10, Chapter 32

Position of the city. This city, Antioch of course, is very beautiful and respectable because within its walls are four very great mountains and very, very high. On the heights also a castle was wonderfully built and very strong. Below it and near at hand is the respectable city, with all respectable ornaments since there are many churches built there. The city contains 360 monasteries. The patriarch holds under his sway 153 bishops.

The city is closed in by two walls. The greater wall is very high and wonderfully wide, and made of great stones; on which 450 towers are arranged. By all means, it is a beautiful city. On the east, it is closed in by the four great mountains. On the west, the other side, a certain river, which is called the Farfar, flows by the walls of the city. This city has great prestige. For, beforehand it was ruled by a succession of 75 kings, of which dynasty the head was King Antiochus, from whom it was named Antioch. The Franks held this city in siege for 8 months and 1 day. Afterwards they were locked up inside the city for three months by the Turks and from other pagans, who made up the greater number of men, either of Christians or pagans. However once, by the aid of God and the Sacred Sepulcher, these had been defeated by the Christians of God, we rested with joy and great cheer in Antioch for 5 months and 8 days.

Anonymous must be bored, waiting around for the Crusaders to get moving. Raymond of Aguilers, amusingly to me, writes that Bohemond drove his boss the Count of St. Giles away from the citadel saying that he promised the emir that he would hold it. After all, they all promised whoever could take the city could keep it and he did. The Count, because he was ill, real or faked, stayed behind on the day of the sortie which is why he got to be in front of the citadel, he was clearly trying to grab it for himself but was having difficulty out-weaseling the head weasel.(weasel appears to have been one of the nicknames of Bohemond's father) It appears Bohemond and Raymond (the Count) were cousins by marriage, although Bohemond's cousin Matilda must have died since the Count was on his third wife, Elvira, at the time of the Crusade. When you start looking at the families of the Crusaders, Bohemond was related to quite a few of them.

Deeds of the Franks, Book 10, Chapter 31

After a short time, the venerable Raymond, Count of St. Giles, went and entered the land of the Saracens and came to a certain city which is called Albara, which he invaded with his army. He captured it forthwith and killed all Saracen men and women, great and small, that he could seize. The others, whom he called back to the faith of Christ, he held under his own rule and he sought the advice of their wisest men so that he could have a bishop ordained most devoutly in the city, who would call the city back faithfully to the worship of Christ and from the house of the devil and consecrate a temple to the true and living God and holy words. They finally chose a certain respectable man and wisest of men and lead him to Antioch to be confirmed. This was done. Others who remained in Antioch, were equal in joy and happiness.

The time set for departing was approaching, namely the Feast of All Saints, and all of our nobles returned as one into Antioch and all at the same time began to seek how they could succeed in traveling along the road to the Sacred Sepulcher, saying that because the agreed on time for going was approaching, it was no hour for more disturbance. Moreover Bohemond was daily seeking an agreement upheld by which all that the seigneurs held in the city would be returned to him, but the Count of St. Giles was unwilling to soften himself to any agreement with Bohemond because he was fearing himself to have sworn falsely against the emperor. However they often were assembled in the church of St. Peter, for the purpose of doing what was just. Bohemond read aloud his agreement and declared his ownership. The Count of St. Giles revealed at the same time his own words and the oath which he had made to the emperor, by the advice of Bohemond. The bishops, Duke Godfrey, Cont of Flanders, Count of Normandy, and other leaders were divided from the others and entered in to where the seat of St. Peter was so that they could decide among themselves and keep apart from the two. After, fearing the path to the Sacred Sepulcher might be interrupted, they were unwilling to frankly speak their judgement. Then the Count of St. Giles said: "The road to the Sacred Sepulcher remains. If Bohemond wishes to continue with us, but anything our equals, namely Duke Godfrey, Count of Flanders and Robert of Normandy, and other nobles will praise, I would faithfully consent to, save fidelity to the emperor." Bohemond praise this all, and both promised in the hands of bishops, that by no means would the journey to the Sacred Sepulcher be disturbed by them. Then Bohemond took advice with his own men, how he would fortify the fort on the high mountain with men and food. Similarly, the Count of St. Giles took advice with his men, how he would fortify the palace of the emir of Cassianus, and the tower which is above the gate of the bridge, which is on the side pointing to the port of St. Simeon. He said he fortified it with men and food who abandoned it not long ago.

Krey's footnotes to this text state that Count Raymond's insistence on the rights of the emperor was remarkable because he was the only one who did not take the prescribed oath. Albara is also called Bara and is one of the 'ghost towns' of Syria. Here are some photos of the ruins.

Deeds of the Franks, Book 10, Chapter 30

When all our enemies (for which we give thanks to God, the three and the one, with the greatest of honors) had been completely defeated, they were fleeing here and there, some only half alive, others wounded. They were falling dead in the valleys, groves, fields and pathways. The victorious people of Christ, namely the pilgrims, were returning joyfully to the city in their happy triumph over the defeated enemies. Our leaders, that is Duke Godfrey, Raymond the Count of St. Giles, Bohemond, Count of Normandy, and the Count of Flanders and others immediately sent their noblest knight Hugo the Great to the emperor of Constantinople so that he would come and receive the city and have meetings with those who had performed this feat. Hugo went and did not return.

Afterwards, when these deeds had been done, all of the assembled leaders arranged a plan, by which they would fruitfully prosper in leading and ruling the people, until they undertook to complete the pilgrimage to the Sacred Sepulcher, for which they had endured much danger. A plan was found since they did not yet dare to penetrate further into pagan land, because there, in the summer time, it was very hot and very arid; therefore they agreed on a considered limit of staying until Kalends of November(Nov. 1). Then the leaders split up and each one profited from his own land, until the time for departing would be near. The princes had it heralded through the city, that if any poor man was perhaps lacking in gold and silver who had participated in the fighting, he could enter an agreement and remain behind if he wished and he would be released from his vow with joy.

Moreover, there was there a certain soldier from the army of the Count of St. Giles, whose name was Raymond Pilet. He kept many men, knights and footsoldiers. He went out with his assembled army and manfully penetrated into Saracen lands. He was successful beyond two cities and came to a certain fort which was named Talamania(Al-Bara?). The inhabitants of the fort, namely the Syrians, immediately and spontaneously surrendered to him. And when they had been there for nearly 8 days, messengers came to them saying that there was a fortified town full of a multitude of Saracens nearly. The Christian knights went to that fort and attacked them on all sides, which was captured without delay with the aid of Christ. They then seized all of the colonists of that place and those, who were unwilling to receive Christianity, they killed; those who preferred to recognize Christ saved their life. Having completed this act, our men returned with great joy to the previous fort. On the third day, they went out and came to a certain city named Marra(Ma'arrat an-Numan), which was nearby to them. Moreover that was a large assembly of Turks there and Saracens from the city of Aleppo and from all cities and fortified towns which were around them. When the barbarians came out to fight us, and our men, reckoning to struggle with them in battle, forced them into flight but however they were attacking our men for a whole day in turns and the invasion lasted all the way to evening. For the heat was immense. Our men were unable to endure so much thirst, since they were unable to find any water for drinking there, nevertheless they wished to return safely to their fort. For the Syrians and the common folk had been seized with too great a dismay because of the sins of them, so the Franks began to make their way back. However the Turks, seeing them retreating, immediately began to pursue those and victory was attending to the Turks. Many men from that group returned in spirit to God, for love of whom they were in that congregation. This massacre had been done on the fifth day of the month of July. Moreover the Franks returned to those who remained in their fort and Raymond stayed there with his own people for many days.

The others, who remained in Antioch, stood there with joy and great happiness, of whom the guide and pastor became the Bishop of Le Puy (Adhemar, the Papal legate). He was seized (by the will of God) with a grave sickness and the will of God transported him from this age, and he rests in peace, sleeping in the Lord, on the feast of St. Peter which is called 'Ad Vincula'(St. Peter in Chains, August 1). Then there was a great anguish and immense tribulation in the entire Christian militia, since he was a support to the poor, advisor to the rich, and he himself was ordaining priests, was speaking before and summoning knights, saying: "None of you is able to be saved unless he respects the poor and cherishes the poor, and you are not able to be saved without them, and they are unable to live without you. Thus it is fitting that daily they pray on behalf of your sins to God, whom you offend daily with many things.. From whence I ask you that you esteem them for the love of God, and you would be able to sustain them in so many things."

The Bishop of Le Puy, as the official Papal envoy, kept this a proper Crusade and was a unifying force with the diverse armies. His passing leaves them freer to go their own ways. I am curious as to why Hugo did not come back.

A number of historians all say that Anonymous appears to have joined Raymond Pilet on this expedition and remained with his forces after this.

I found a great article on the First Crusade on the BBC website 'H2G2', link here.

On Raymond Pilet, "They didn't have it all their own way, however. Raymond Pilet, a lesser noble of Raymond of Toulouse's army, set up an expedition to go further southeast from the Ruj valley, to do a bit of conquering and plundering of his own. He reached the Jabal as-Summaq, the fertile plateau where the previous year Bohemond and Robert of Flanders had found such rich pickings before they stumbled across Duqaq's army. He bit off more than he could chew when he attacked the sizable town of Marrat on 27 July, 1098. He didn't bring enough water and when he arrived at Marrat, it was strongly defended. The inhabitants came out and attacked Raymond's troops who were weak from thirst. Many were killed and they had to retreat in disarray."

Deeds of the Franks, Book 9, Chapter 29

After a complete fast lasting three days, and celebratory processions from one church to the another, they confessed their sins and faithfully took the communion of Christ's body and blood. And after they gave alms, they celebrated mass. Then, they set up six unwavering battle lines beyond the city. In the first line, was the most important, namely Hugo the Great (brother of the king of France) with the Frankish people and the Count of Flanders. In the second was Duke Godfrey with his own army. In the third was Robert the Norman with his knights. In the fourth was the Bishop of Le Puy carrying with him the lance of our Savior with his own people and with the army of Raymond, Count of St. Giles, who had remained above to guard the citadel for fear of the Turks that they not descend into the city. In the fifth line was Tancred, with his own people. In the sixth was Bohemond, with his knights. Our bishops, priests, clerics, and monks, having put on their sacred vestments, exited with us, begging and praying to the Lord that he would save us and guard us and deliver us from all evil. Others were standing on the wall by the gate, holding sacred crosses in their hands, making the sign of the cross and blessing us. Thus we were arranged, and protected by the sign of the cross, and we exited through the gate which was before the mosque.

Afterwards Curbara saw the battle lines of the Franks exit so beautifully arranged one after the other, said: "Allow them to exit so that we would better have them in our power." After we were outside the city and Curbara saw the people of the Franks, he was greatly afraid. So he ordered his own emir, who had all under his care, that if he would see a rising fire at the head of the host, on the spot he should have this heralded, and all the army should withdraw, knowing the Turks to have lost the battle.

Without delay, Curbara began to withdraw back towards the mountain, and our men pursued them little by little. Then the Turks divided and one part went towards the sea and the other part stood there, reckoning to pin us between the two. Our men, seeing this, did the same. Then there were seven battle lines arranged, from the line of Duke Godfrey and of the count of Normandy and the head of this last was Count Raynald. They were sent out to meet the Turks, who were coming from the direction of the sea. Moreover the Turks battled with them and many of our men were killed with arrows. And there was another troop arranged by the river all the way to the mountain, which stood apart by two milestones. Troops began to come out from both parts and surrounded our men on both sides, throwing missiles, firing arrows and wounding them.

Also from the mountains, an uncountable army came out, having white horses and the standards they were carrying were all of white. Our men, seeing this army, were not knowing what this was and who they were, then they recognized the aid of Christ, whose generals were saints, St. George, St. Mercurius and St. Demetrius. These words must be believed since many of our men saw this.

Then the Turks, who were standing on the side of the sea, seeing that they were not able to endure more, set fire to the grass so that those, who were with the tents, seeing this, fled. And those, recognizing this signal, seized all honorable spoils and fled. Our men were soldiering little by little to where the greatest strength of them was, that is by their tents. Duke Godfrey, the Count of Flanders and Hugo the Great were riding next to the water where the strength of them was. These men, fortified with the sign of the cross, jointly attacked them first. The other battle lines, seeing this, similarly attacked the others. But the Persians and the Turks were crying out. And thus we, invoking the living and true God, rode against them and we began the battle in the name of Jesus Christ and the Sacred Sepulcher, and with God aiding us, we defeated them.

Then the Turks, trembling, took flight, and our men pursued them up to their tents. These soldiers of Christ loved to hunt down the Turks more than to seek spoils. And they pursued them all the way to the Iron Bridge, and then all the way to Tancred's Castle. They threw away their tents, gold, silver, many ornaments, also sheep and cattle, horses and mules, camels and asses, grain and wine, white and many other things which were necessary to us.

The Armenians and Syrians, who were living in those parts, hearing that we had defeated the Turks, came running to the mountains to attack them, and however many of them they captured, they killed. We however, returning to the city with great joy, praised and blessed God, who gave this victory to his own people.

The emir, who was guarding the citadel, seeing Curbara and all the others fleeing from the field before the army of Franks, was more afraid. Immediately with a great hurry, he was seeking the standard of the Franks. Therefore the Count of St. Giles, who was standing in front of the citadel, ordered his own standard to be carried to him. The emir accepted it and carefully placed in on a tower. Immediately the Longobards said, who were standing there with him: "This standard is not Bohemond's." He asked them: "Whose is it?" They said: "Count of St. Giles." The emir went and got it, and taking down the standard, returned to the count. At that very hour, the venerable Bohemond came and gave him his own standard. He moreover received it with great joy and entered into an agreement with Lord Bohemond so that the pagans who wished to receive Christian would be with him(Bohemond) and those who wished to go away, would be permitted to leave whole and unhurt. Bohemond agreed to whatever the emir proposed and immediately sent his servants into the citadel. The emir was baptized after not many days, with his people who preferred to recognize Christ. Those who wanted to hold to their own laws, Lord Bohemond had given safe conduct to the land of the Saracens.

This battle had been fought on the fourth day before the Kalends of July, on the vigil of the apostles Peter and Paul, reigning by the Lord, our Jesus Christ, to whom is honor and glory in eternal ages. Amen.

Gustave Dore made a number of really nice illustrations for some book on the Crusades. The above illustration is called 'Bohemond and Tancred in Battle'. Nice to see that the Crusaders could be merciful, seeing what happens in Jerusalem. Maybe Bohemond should have been there to prevent the slaughter.

Deeds of the Franks, Book 9, Chapter 28

Then, hearing the words of he who carried back the revelation through words of the apostle of Christ,hurrying we immediately went to that place in the church of St. Peter that he had shown him. And thirteen men dug there from morning until evening, and thus that man found the lance just as he indicated. And they accepted it with great joy and fear, and a great happiness had arisen in the whole city. From that hour, we accepted among ourselves the plan to fight. After this our leaders got an assembly together, seeing that they would send a messenger to the Turks, the enemies of Christ, who would argue through an interpreter with them through carefully chosen words asking how they could intrude so very arrogantly into the land of Christians, and why they have encamped there, and why they would kill and harass the servants of Christ. And when they were done speaking, they found two men, namely Peter the Hermit and Herluin and said this to them: "Go to the accursed army of the Turks and carefully tell them about all this, asking them why they so daringly and most arrogantly intrude on the land of Christians and our own."

This being said, the messengers withdrew and came to that profane assembly, saying all the words that had been sent to Curbara and the others thus: "Our leaders and siegneurs wonder greatly enough at how rashly and most arrogantly you intrude on the land of Christians and their own. We reckon and believe that perhaps as you have therefore come here, you wish above all to be baptized as Christians, or perhaps you have come here to punish the Christians? Therefore they ask you that you all quickly withdraw from the land of God and Christians, which blessed Peter the Apostle formerly now by his preaching turned back to Christ. But they would permit this to you that you take away your things, such as mules, horses, asses, and camels, also your sheep and cattle and all other items with you as you will be willing to bear."

Then Curabara, the prince of the army of the Sultan of Persia, with all others, responded full of arrogance and ferocity by this speech: "We do not desire or want your God or your Christianity, and we reject you and all with you. Now we will come against you, because we wonder greatly how your seigneurs and leaders, whom you call to mind, can call this land to be their own which we have taken away from an effeminate people? Therefore, go back as fast as you can and say to your leaders, if they desire above all to be baptized as Turks, that they wish to deny their god to whom they incline their necks and reject your laws, we will give them this land and more as well, and the city and citadel. Moreover none of your men will remain foot soldiers but they will be all knights just as we are and we will always have the greatest friendship with them. If otherwise, let them know they would all undergo the sentence of death, or be lead in chains to Corrozana in perpetual captivity, where they will serve us and our children for all time."

Our messengers quickly returned to our men, bearing all that they had said to those cruelest of people. It was reported Herluin had known the other language, and was interpreter to Peter the Hermit. Meanwhile our army was trembling for two reasons because they did not know what was going on; on the one hand a tortuous hunger was squeezing us, fear of the Turks was constricting them on the other.

Deeds of the Franks, Book 9, Chapters 26 & 27

26. Then the Turks who were above us in the citadel began to constrain us amazingly so that they hemmed in three of our knights in a tower which was in front of the citadel. The gentiles exited and rushed against them so bitterly that they were unable to endure the attack. Two of the knights left the tower, wounded, and the third manfully defended himself against the attack of the Turks all day so well that on that day he razed two Turks down above the entrance with broken spears. For he had three broken spears in his hands that day. His name was Crazy Hugo, from the army of Godfrey of Mont Scabioso.

The venerable Bohemond, seeing that he was not able to lead his people as far as the citadel to fight - for they were locked up in the houses, some fearing famine and others for fear of the Turks - he was very angry and immediately ordered that the city be set on fire, in that part where Cassianus had his palace. Seeing this, those who were in the city abandoned the houses and everything they had and fled, some into the citadel, others to the gate with the Count of St. Giles, other to the gate of Duke Godfrey, each one to his own people. Then, too great a storm arose with a sudden wind, so that no one was able to keep to a straight course. The wise Bohemond was very fully sad at this, fearing for the church of St. Peter and St. Mary and other churches. This wrath lasted from the third hour all the way to the middle of the night. Nearly two thousand churches and homes had been burned. However when the middle of the night arrived, suddenly all fires diminished in ferocity.

The Turks, living in the citadel, were fighting beyond the city with our men day and night, and not anything could separate us from our arms. Our men, seeing this, because they were not able to endure this for a long time, since those who had bread had no time to eat it and those who had water had no time to drink, they built a wall between them and us from rocks and clay and they built a fort and machines so that they would be safe. A part of the Turks remained in the citadel to fight us, others were camped near a fort in a valley.

Since night fell, a fire appeared in the sky coming from the West, and approaching fell in the midst of the army of the Turks. From this, our men and the Turks were amazed. Moreover after this happened, on the next day, trembling Turks fled all equally for fear of the fire to before the gate of Lord Bohemond and camped there. The rest who were in the citadel were conducting war with us day and night, by firing arrows and wounding or killing. Others were besieging the city so that none of us dared to enter or exit the city unless at night and in secret. Thus we were truly besieged and oppressed by them, whose numbers were uncountable. Thus those unclean enemies of God were holding us so shut up in the city of Antioch that many were dead of hunger, since a small bread was being sold for one besant. We will not speak of wine. And they were eating the meat of horses and asses and selling it as well. They were selling a cock for fifty solides, an egg for two solides, one nut for one denaria, for everything was very dear. They were cooking and eating leaves of fig trees, vines and thistles and all trees, there was such an immense hunger. They were boiling the dried leather of of nags, camels and asses as well as cattle or buffalo and eating this. These and many worries and straits we endured in the name of Christ and the pilgrimage to the Sacred Sepulcher that must be freed. We endured such tribulations, hunger and fear for twenty-six days.

27. Then the foolish Stephen Count of Carnotensis(de Blois) who all our nobles had chosen so that he would be our leader, had greatly contrived to be weighed down with infirmity before Antioch had been captured and had disgracefully withdrawn to a fort which was called Alexandretta. We were expecting him to come every day to aid us who were shut up in the city and destitute in healing aid. Afterwards he heard the Turks had surrounded and besieged us, he secretly climbed up and nearby mountain where he could stand near Antioch and saw uncountable tents and a seized by a violent fear of capture, he quickly fled with his own army. Moreover, coming to his own fort, he looted it and quickly went back by the same route he came. Afterwards he went out to meet the emperor at Philomena, and called him apart in secret to say: "You should know again since Antioch has been captured and the citadel has not in the least been captured, our men are besieged with grave pressure, so that I reckon they had already been killed by the Turks. Therefore, you should return as quickly as you are able and the Turks will not find you and these people that you lead with you." Then the emperor, shook with fear, secretly called Guy, the brother of Bohemond (a half brother who was a mercenary in Alexius' army) and others, and said to them: "Sirs, what should we do? Behold, all of our men are beset and drawn apart by a siege, and perhaps in the very hour, all are dead at the hands of the Turks or are being lead into captivity just as this unpleasant count who is shamefully fleeing tells us. If you wish, we will turn back by the quick route, so that we shall not die in what manner of sudden death as even they have died."

When Guy, a most honorable knight, heard such a thing, he began to wail with everyone and to strike a most vehement howl. All were saying with one voice: "O true God, in one and the trinity, for what reason do you permit this to be done? Why did you permit your people following you and wishing to liberate the path to you and the Sacred Sepulcher, to fall into the hands of the enemies? Certainly if the truth is this word which we are unable to hear from this notorious man, we and other Christians will wholly forsake you, nor will we call you to mind, and none of us will dare to invoke your name beyond this." And he made this speech very greatly dejected with the entire force so that none of them either bishops or abbots, clerks or laity, would dare to invoke the name of Christ for many days. For no one was able to console Guy, wailing and smiting himself with his own hands, breaking his fingers and saying: Alas for me Lord, my Bohemond, pride and honor of the whole world, whom all the world fears and loves! (What about his nephew Tancred? :-( ) Alas sad me! I sorrowing earned not to see your most honorable aspect which I was desiring to see more than any thing. Who would give to me that I would die for you, sweetest friend and lord? (Oh lord!) Why did I not immediately die upon leaving my mother's womb? (a bit over the top really) Why did I come to this mournful day? Why was I not drowned in the sea? (yeah, why?) Why did I not fall from my horse and break my neck (yawn) so that I would receive a hasty destruction? If only I would receive happy martyrdom and witness you receive your most glorious end!" When everyone had run to him to console him, so that he would give lamenting an end, he said to them again: "Perhaps you will believe this of that half-gray, unwise knight, I never heard anyone speak about soldiering, that he would do the same as this one. But he withdrew dishonorably and shamefully, just as we are unwilling and unhappy to do and anyone whom I call a wretch, you know to be false."

Meanwhile, the emperor ordered his own men saying: "Go and lead these people to that land in Bulgaria and explore and destroy all places that harbor Turks so that they will be able to find nothing." Our men, turning around, had wanted and not wanted to return, sorrowing most bitterly unto death, there were many dead among the pilgrims, too feeble and unwell to follow the soldiers. They were falling dead on the road. All the rest returned to Constantinople.

In case you wonder why I sneer at the grief of Guy, this is the same fellow who climbed over the walls of Antioch and ran away when the fighting got fierce in Chapter 23 following the first onslaught of Kerbogha(Curbara).