Medieval Sourcebook:
The Crusaders Journey to Constantinople:
Collected Accounts
As well as the rag-tag army of Peter the Hermit [see collected accounts],
a much better organized series of noble-led armies made their
way to Constantinople in 1096-97.
See. John W. Nesbitt, "The Rate of March of Crusading Armies
in Europe; A Study and Computation," Traditio 19 (1963),
167182.
1. The Gesta:
Account of Main Crusade Armies
Soon they departed from their homes in Gaul, and then formed three
groups.
One party of Franks, namely, Peter, the Hermit Duke Godfrey, Baldwin,
his brother, and Baldwin, Count of the Mount, entered the region
of Hungary. These most powerful; knights, and many others whom
I do not know, went by the way which Charles ; the Great, wonderworking
king of France, long ago had made,!, even to Constantinople. .
. .
The second party - to wit, Raymond, Count of St. Gilles, and the
Bishop of Puy - entered the region of Slavonia.
The third division, however, went by the ancient road to Rome.
In this division were Bohemund, Richard of Principati, Robert,
Count of Flanders, Robert the Norman, Hugh the Great, Everard
of Puiset, Achard of Montmerle, Ysooard of Mousson, and many others.
Next, they went to the port of Brindisi, or Bari, or Otranto.
Then Hugh the Great, and William, son of Marchisus, took to the
sea at the port of Bari and, crossing the strait, came to Durazzo.
But the governor of this place, his heart touched with evil design,
took these most renowned men captive immediately upon hearing
that they had landed there and ordered them to be conducted carefully
to the Emperor at Constantinople, where they should pledge loyalty
to him.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses
and Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 57
2: The Version of Albert of
Aix: The Deserters:
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); ... taking
up again their pilgrim's staves, the remnants of the crusading
army ignominiously returned to their homes. This desertion debased
them before God and man, and it redounded to their shame.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses
and Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 57
3. The Gesta:
Bohemund
But Bohemund, powerful in battle, who was engaged in the siege
of AmaM 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 battlecry 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 itl God wills it! God wills
it!' they shout in truth with one voice." Moved straightway
by the Holy Spirit, he ordered the most precious cloak which he
had with him cut to pieces, and straightway he bad the whole of
it made into crosses. Thereupon, most of the knights engaged in
that siege rushed eagerly to him, so that Count Roger remained
almost alone.
Returning again to his own land, Lord Bohemund diligently prepared
himself to undertake in true earnest the journey to the Holy Sepulchre.
At length, he crossed the sea with his army. With him were Tancred,
son of Marchisus, Richard of Principati, and Rainulf, his brother,
Robert of Anse, Herman of Cannae, Robert of Surda Valley,
Robert, son of Tostanus, Hunfred, son of Raoul , Richard,
son of Count Rainulf, the Count of Roscignolo, with his
brothers, Boellus of Chartres, Albered of Cagnano, and Hunfred
of Mt. Seaglioso. All of these crossed the sea to do service for
Bohemund and landed in the region of Bulgaria, where they found
a very great abundance of grain, wine, and bodily nourishment.
Thence descending into the valley of Andronopoli, they
waited for his forces, until all bad likewise crossed the sea.
Then the wise Bobemund ordered a council with his people, comforting
and admonishing all (with these words). "Seignors, take heed
all of you, for we are pilgrims of God. We ought, therefore, to
be better and more humble than before. Do not plunder this land,
since it belongs to Christians, and let no one, at the cost of
blessing, take more than be needs to eat."
Departing thence, we journeyed through great plenty from villa
to villa, city to city, fortress to fortress, until we reached
Castoria. There we solemnly celebrated the nativity of the Lord.
We remained there for several days and sought a market, but the
people were unwilling to accord it to us, because they feared
us greatly, thinking that we came not as pilgrims, but to devastate
their land and to kill them. Wherefore we took their cattle, horses,
asses, and everything that we found. Leaving Castoria, we entered
Pelagonia, in which there was a certain fortified town of heretics.
This we attacked from all sides and it soon yielded to our sway.
Thereupon, we set it on fire and burned the camp with its inhabitants,
that is, the congregation of heretics. Later, we reached the river
Vardar. And then Lord Bohemund went across with his people, but
not with all, for the Count of Roscignolo with his brothers
remained behind.
Thereupon , an army of the Emperor came and attacked the Count
with his brothers and all who were with them. Tancred, hearing
of this, went back and, hurling himself into the river, reached
the others by swimming; and two thousand went into the river following
Tancred. At length, they came upon the Turcopoles and Patzinaks
struggling with our men. They (Tancred and his men) charged the
enemy suddenly and bravely and overcame them gloriously. Several
of them they seized and led them, bound, into the presence of
Bohemund, who spoke to them as follows: "Wherefore, miserable
men, do you kill Christ's people and mine? I have no quarrel with
your Emperor." They replied, "We cannot do otherwise;
we have been placed in the service of the Emperor, and whatever
he commands we must fulfill." Bohemund allowed them to depart
unpunished. This battle was fought in the fourth day of the week,
which is the beginning of the fast. Through all, blessed is the
Lord! Amen.
The unhappy Emperor sent one of his own men, whom be greatly loved,
and whom they call Corpalatius, together with our envoys,
to conduct us in security through his land until we should come
to Constantinople. And as we paused before their cities, he ordered
the inhabitants to offer us a market, just as those also did of
whom we have spoken. Indeed, they feared the most brave host of
Lord Bohemund so greatly that they permitted none of us to enter
the walls of the city. Our men wanted to attack and seize a certain
fortified town because it was full of all kinds of goods. But
the renowned man, Bohemund, refused to consent not only in justice
to the land, but also because of his pledge to the Emperor. Therefore,
he was greatly angered on this account with Tancred and all the
rest. This happened toward evening. When morning came, the inhabitants
of the town came out, and, in procession, bearing crosses in their
hands, they came into the presence of Bohemund. Delighted, he
received them; and with gladness he permitted them to depart.
Next we came to a certain town, which is called Serrhae, where
we fixed our tents and bad a market sufficient for that time.
There the learned Bohemund made a very cordial agreement with
two Corpalatii; and out of regard for their friendship,
as well as in justice to the land, he ordered all the stolen animals
which our men had to be returned. The Corpalatius promised
him that he would despatch messengers to return the animals to
their owners in order. Then we proceeded from castle to castle
and from villa to villa to the city of Rusa. The people of the
Greeks came out, bringing us the greatest market, and went joyfully
to meet Lord Bohemund. There we Pitched on, tents in the fourth
day of the week before the feast of the Lord.
There, also, the learned Bohemund left all his host an( went on
ahead to speak with the Emperor at Constantinople. He gave commands
to his vassals, saying, "Approach the city gradually. I,
however, will go on in advance." And he took with him a few
at the head of the army of Christ, and, seeing the pilgrims buying
food, he said to himself that he would go off the road and lead
his people where they would live happily. At length be entered
a certain valley, filled with goods of all kinds that are suitable
nourishment for the body, and in it we most devoutly celebrated
Easter.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses
and Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 62-64
4. Raymond d'Aguiliers:
Raymond of Toulouse and Adhémar of Le Puy
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. Indeed, 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 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 safety 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 recognizing
the valor and patience of His knights, might either lose something
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 necessaries
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. Although 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, 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 Pelagonia,
the Bishop of Puy, who, in order to find a comfortable resting
place, had withdrawn a little distance from the camp, was captured
by the Patzinaks. They knocked him down from his mule, robbed
him, and beat him severely on the head. But since so great a pontiff
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
intended 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 "Toulouse!"
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 would make all arrangements
with the Count, both about themselves and whatever else should
be necessary for the journey. They announced, 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.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses
and Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 64-67
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