Gesta Francorum: Liber IIII

[x] Postquam uero Turci inimici Dei et sanctae Christianitatis omnino fuerunt deuicti, per quatuor dies et noctes fugientes huc et illuc, contigit ut Solimanus dux illorum, filius Solimani ueteris, fugeret de Nicea. Qui inuenit decem milia Arabum, qui dixerunt ei: "O infelix et infelicior omnibus gentilibus, cur tremefactus fugis?" Quibus Solimanus lacrimabiliter respondit: "Quoniam olim cum habuissem omnes Francos deuictos, eosque putarem iam in captiuitate ligatos, dum paulatim uoluissem ligare adinuicem, tunc respiciens retro, uidi tam innumerabilem gentem eorum, ut si uos aut aliquis illic adesset, putaret quod omnes montes et colles uallesque et omnia plana loca plena essent illorum multitudine. Nos igitur illos cernentes, statim coepimus capere subitaneum iter, timentes tam mirabiliter, ut uix euaserimus de illorum manibus, unde adhuc in nimio terrore sumus.

[x] After indeed the Turks, enemies of God and of holy Christianity, had been altogether vanquished, fleeing here and there for four days and nights, it befell that Soliman, their leader, son of the elder Soliman, fled from Nicaea. He found ten thousand Arabs, who said to him: "O unlucky, and more unlucky than all the gentiles, why do you flee, all a-tremble?" To whom Soliman tearfully replied: "Because once, when I had had all the Franks vanquished, and thought them already bound in captivity, while I wished little by little to bind them to one another, then, looking back, I saw so innumerable a nation of theirs that, if you or anyone were present there, he would think that all the mountains and hills and valleys and all the level places were full of their multitude. We therefore, perceiving them, at once began to take a sudden march, fearing so marvellously that we scarcely escaped from their hands, whence we are still in excessive terror."

Et si michi et uerbis meis uelletis credere, auferretis uos hinc, quia si et ipsi potuerint uos solummodo scire, unus ex uobis uix amplius euadet uiuens." At illi audientes talia, retrorsum uerterunt dorsa, et se expanderunt per uniuersam Romaniam. Tunc ueniebamus nos persequentes iniquissimos Turcos, cotidie fugientes ante nos. At illi uenientes ad cuncta castra siue urbes, fingentes et deludentes habitatores terrarum illarum dicebant: "Nos deuicimus Christianos omnes, et superauimus illos, ita ut nullus eorum iam unquam audeat erigere se ante nos; tantum permittite nos intus intrare." Qui intrantes spoliabant ecclesias et domos et alia omnia, et ducebant equos secum et asinos et mulos, aurum et argentum et ea quae reperire poterant.

“And if you were willing to believe me and my words, you would take yourselves away from here, because if they themselves should only be able to get knowledge of you, scarcely one of you will any longer escape alive.” But they, hearing such things, turned their backs and spread themselves through all Romania. Then we came, pursuing the most iniquitous Turks, who were fleeing before us daily. But they, coming to every camp or city, feigning and deluding the inhabitants of those lands, were saying: “We have defeated all the Christians and overcome them, so that none of them now will ever dare to raise himself before us; only allow us to enter within.” And on entering they were despoiling churches and houses and everything else, and they led away with them horses and asses and mules, gold and silver, and the things which they were able to find.

Adhuc quoque filios Christianorum secum tollebant, et ardebant ac deuastabant omnia conuenientia siue utilia, fugientes et pauentes ualde ante faciem nostram. Nos itaque persequebamur eos per deserta et inaquosam et inhabitabilem terram, ex qua uix uiui euasimus uel exiuimus. Fames uero et sitis undique coartabant nos, nihilque penitus nobis erat ad edendum, nisi forte uellentes et fricantes spicas manibus nostris, tali cibo quam miserrime uiuebamus.

They also were taking with them the sons of the Christians, and they were burning and devastating all things suitable or useful, fleeing and greatly fearing before our face. We therefore were pursuing them through deserts and a waterless (inaqueous) and uninhabitable land, from which we scarcely escaped or went out alive. Hunger and thirst on every side constrained us, and we had nothing at all for eating, unless perhaps, plucking and rubbing the ears of grain with our hands, by such food we lived most miserably.

Illic fuit mortua maxima pars nostrorum equorum, eo quod multi ex nostris militibus remanserunt pedites; et pro penuria equorum, erant nobis boues loco caballorum, et pro nimia necessitate succedebant nobis capri et multones ac canes ad portandum.

There the greatest part of our horses died, because many of our soldiers remained as foot-soldiers; and for the penury of horses, oxen were for us in the place of horses, and, out of excessive necessity, goats and wethers and dogs took their place for us for carrying.

Interea coepimus intrare in terram optimam, plenam corporalibus alimentis et deliciis omnibusque bonis; ac deinceps appropinquauimus Yconio. Habitatores uero terrae illius suadebant et ammonebant nos, nobiscum ferre utres plenos aqua, quia illic in itinere diei unius est maxima penuria aquae. Nos uero ita fecimus, donec peruenimus ad quoddam flumen, ibique hospitati sumus per duos dies.

Meanwhile we began to enter a most excellent land, full of bodily aliments and delights and all goods; and thereafter we approached Iconium. But the inhabitants of that land were advising and admonishing us to carry with us skins full of water, because there, on a journey of one day, there is a very great penury of water. We indeed did so, until we came to a certain river, and there we were lodged for two days.

Coeperunt autem cursores nostri ante ire, donec peruenerunt ad Erachiam, in qua erat Turcorum nimia congregatio, exspectans et insidians, quomodo posset Christi milites nocere. Quos Turcos Dei omnipotentis milites inuenientes audacter inuaserunt. Superati itaque sunt inimici nostri in illa die, tamque celeriter fugiebant quam sagitta fugit emissa ictu ualido cordae et arcus.

However, our scouts began to go on ahead, until they came to Erachia, in which there was an excessive gathering of the Turks, watching and lying in ambush, how it might be able to harm the soldiers of Christ. Finding those Turks, the soldiers of God almighty boldly assailed them. Thus our enemies were overcome on that day, and they fled as swiftly as an arrow flies, sent forth by the strong stroke of string and bow.

Nostri igitur intrauerunt statim in ciuitatem, ibique mansimus per quatuor dies.

Our men therefore entered immediately into the city, and there we remained for four days.

Illic diuisit se ab aliis Tancredus Marchisi filius, et Balduinus comes frater ducis Godefridi, simulque intrauerunt uallem de Botrenthrot. Diuisit quoque se Tancredus, et uenit Tharsum cum suis militibus. Exierunt denique Turci de urbe, et uenerunt obuiam eis, atque in unum congregati properauerunt ad bellum contra Christianos.

There Tancred, the son of the Marquis, separated himself from the others, and Baldwin the count, brother of Duke Godfrey, and together they entered the valley of Botrenthrot. Tancred likewise separated himself and came to Tarsus with his soldiers. Finally the Turks went out from the city and came to meet them, and, gathered into one, they hastened to battle against the Christians.

Appropinquantibus itaque nostris et pugnantibus, dederunt inimici nostri fugam, reuertentes in urbem celeri gressu. Tancredus uero miles Christi peruenit laxatis loris, et castrametatus est ante portam urbis. Ex alia igitur parte uenit uir inclitus comes Balduinus cum suo exercitu, postulans Tancredum, quatinus eum amicissime in societatem ciuitatis dignaretur suscipere.

Thus, as our men were drawing near and fighting, our enemies took to flight, returning into the city at a swift pace. But Tancred, a soldier of Christ, arrived with loosened reins, and encamped before the gate of the city. From another side, then, came the renowned man, Count Baldwin, with his army, requesting Tancred that he would deign most amicably to receive him into the fellowship of the city.

Cui ait Tancredus: "Te omnimodo in hac societate denego." Nocte itaque superueniente, omnes Turci tremefacti fugam una arripuerunt. Exierunt denique habitatores ciuitatis sub illa noctis obscuritate, clamantes excelsa uoce: "Currite inuictissimi Franci currite, quia Turci expergefacti uestro timore omnes pariter recedunt."

To this Tancred said: "I utterly refuse you in this partnership." Night therefore supervening, all the Turks, trembling, together took to flight. At length the inhabitants of the city went out under that darkness of night, crying with a loud voice: "Run, most invincible Franks, run, for the Turks, awakened for fear of you, all alike are withdrawing."

Orta autem die, uenerunt maiores ciuitatis, et reddiderunt sponte ciuitatem, dicentes illis qui super hoc litigabant adinuicem: "Sinite modo seniores sinite, quia uolumus et petimus dominari et regnare super nos illum qui heri tam uiriliter pugnauit cum Turcis." Balduinus itaque mirificus comes altercabatur et litigabat cum Tancredo dicens: "Intremus simul et spoliemus ciuitatem, et qui plus potuerit habere, habeat, et qui poterit capere, capiat." Cui Tancredus fortissimus dixit: "Absit hoc a me. Ego namque Christianos nolo expoliare. Homines huius ciuitatis elegerunt me dominum super se, meque habere desiderant." Tandem nequiuit uir fortis Tancredus diu luctari cum Balduino comite, quia illi magnus erat exercitus; tamen uolens nolensque dimisit eam, et uiriliter recessit cum suo exercitu; fueruntque ei statim traditae duae optimae ciuitates, uidelicet Athena et Manustra, et plurima castra.

But when day had arisen, the elders of the city came and voluntarily surrendered the city, saying to those who were litigating among themselves about this: "Let it be now, elders, let it be, because we wish and seek to have dominion and to reign over us the one who yesterday fought so manfully with the Turks." Therefore Baldwin, the marvelous count, was wrangling and litigating with Tancred, saying: "Let us enter together and despoil the city, and whoever shall have been able to have more, let him have it, and whoever shall be able to seize, let him seize." To him the most valiant Tancred said: "Far be this from me. For I am unwilling to despoil Christians. The men of this city have chosen me as lord over themselves, and desire to have me." At length the strong man Tancred could not wrestle long with Count Baldwin, because he had a great army; yet, willing or unwilling, he relinquished it, and manfully withdrew with his army; and immediately there were delivered to him two most excellent cities, namely Athena and Manustra, and very many fortresses.

[xi] Major uero exercitus scilicet Raimundus comes de Sancto Egidio, et doctissimus Boamundus, duxque Godefridus, et alii plures, in Hermeniorum intrauerunt terram, sitientes atque aestuantes Turcorum sanguinem. Tandem peruenerunt ad quoddam castrum, quod tam forte erat, ut nichil ei possent facere. Erat autem ibi homo quidam nomine Symeon, qui in illa ortus fuit regione, quique hanc petii terram, quo eam de manibus defenderet inimicorum Turcorum, cui sponte illi dederunt terram, quique remansit ibi cum sua gente.

[11] But the greater army—namely Raymond, Count of Saint-Gilles, and the most learned Bohemund, and Duke Godfrey, and many others—entered the land of the Armenians, thirsting and burning for the blood of the Turks. At length they came to a certain castle, which was so strong that they could do nothing to it. Now there was there a certain man named Symeon, who had been born in that region, and who petitioned for this land, in order that he might defend it from the hands of the enemy Turks; to him they of their own accord gave the land, and he remained there with his people.

Nos denique exeuntes inde peruenimus feliciter, usque Cesaream Cappadociae. A Cappadocia autem egressi, uenimus ad quamdam ciuitatem puicherrimam et nimis uberrimam, quam paululum ante nostrum aduentum obsederant Turci per tres ebdomadas, sed non superauerant. Mox illuc aduenientibus nobis, continuo tradidit se in manu nostra cum magna laetitia.

We at length, going out from there, came safely as far as Caesarea of Cappadocia. But having egressed from Cappadocia, we came to a certain most beautiful and exceedingly most fertile city, which the Turks had besieged a little before our arrival for 3 weeks, but had not overcome. Soon, upon our arriving there, it straightway delivered itself into our hand with great joy.

Hanc igitur petiit quidam miles cui nomen Petrus de Alpibus, ab omnibus senioribus, quatinus eam defenderet in fidelitate Dei et Sancti Sepulchri, et seniorum atque imperatoris. Cui cum nimio amore gratis concesserunt eam. Sequenti nocte audiuit Boamundus quod Turci qui fuerant in obsessione ciuitatis, frequenter precederent nos.

Accordingly, a certain knight whose name was Peter of the Alps petitioned for this from all the elders, so that he might defend it in the fealty of God and of the Holy Sepulchre, and of the elders and the emperor. To him they granted it freely with exceeding love. On the following night Bohemond heard that the Turks who had been in the siege of the city were frequently going on ahead of us.

Mox preparauit se solummodo cum militibus, quatinus illos undique expugnaret, sed eos inuenire non potuit.

Soon he prepared himself with the soldiers only, so that he might storm them on every side, but he could not find them.

Deinde uenimus ad quamdam urbem nomine Coxon, in qua erat maxima ubertas omnium bonorum quae nobis erant necessaria. Christiani igitur uidelicet alumni urbis illius reddiderunt se statim, nosque fuimus ibi optime per tres dies, et illic maxime sunt recuperati nostri. Audiens itaque Raimundus comes quod Turci qui erant in custodia Antiochiae discessissent, in suo inuenit consilio, quod mitteret illuc aliquos ex suis militibus, qui eam diligenter custodirent.

Then we came to a certain city named Coxon, in which there was a very great abundance of all goods that were necessary for us. The Christians, namely the fosterlings of that city, therefore surrendered themselves at once, and we were there most excellently for three days, and there our people were greatly recovered. Accordingly Count Raymond, hearing that the Turks who were in the custody of Antioch had departed, found in his counsel that he should send thither some of his knights, who would guard it diligently.

Tandem elegit illos quos legare uolebat, uidelicet Petrum de Castellione vicecomitem, Willelmum de Monte Pislerio, Petrum de Roasa, Petrum Raimundum de Pul, cum quingentis militibus. Venerunt itaque in uallem prope Antiochiam ad quoddam castrum Publicanorum, illicque audierunt Turcos esse in ciuitatem eamque fortiter defendere preparabant. Petrus de Roasa diuisit se ibi ab aliis, et proxima nocte transiuit prope Antiochiam, intrauitque uallem de Rugia; et inuenit Turcos et Saracenos, et preliatus est cum eis, et occidit multos ex eis, et alios persecutus est ualde.

At length he chose those whom he wished to send as legates, namely Peter of Castellion, the vicecount, William of Mont Pisler, Peter of Roasa, Peter Raymond of Puy, with five hundred knights. They therefore came into a valley near Antioch to a certain castle of the Publicans, and there they heard that the Turks were in the city and were preparing to defend it stoutly. Peter of Roasa separated himself there from the others, and on the next night he crossed near Antioch and entered the valley of Rugia; and he found Turks and Saracens, and he fought with them, and he killed many of them, and he pursued the others greatly.

Videntes hoc Hermenii habitatores terrae illius, illum fortiter superasse paganos, continuo reddiderunt se. Ipse uero statim cepit Rusam ciuitatem, et plurima castra.

Seeing this, the Armenians, inhabitants of that land, that he had stoutly overborne the pagans, immediately yielded themselves. He himself at once seized the city of Rusa, and very many castles.

Nos autem qui remansimus, exeuntes inde intrauimus in diabolicam montanam, quae tam erat alta et angusta, ut nullus nostrorum auderet per semitam, quae in monte patebat, ante alium preire. Illic precipitabant se equi, et unus saumarius precipitabat alium. Milites ergo stabant undique tristes, feriebant se manibus pre nimia tristitia et dolore, dubitantes quid facerent de semetipsis et de suis armis uendentes suos clipeos et loricas optimas cum galeis, solummodo propter tres aut quinque denarios, uel prout quisque poterat habere.

But we, who had remained, going out from there entered into the diabolic mountain, which was so high and narrow that none of our men dared, along the footpath which lay open on the mountain, to go ahead of another. There the horses were precipitating themselves headlong, and one sumpter-beast was precipitating another. The soldiers therefore stood on every side sorrowful, they were striking themselves with their hands because of excessive sadness and pain, doubting what they should do about themselves and about their arms, selling their shields and their best cuirasses with helmets for only three or five denarii, or as much as each one was able to get.

Qui autem uendere nequibant, gratis a se iactabant et ibant. Exeuntes igitur de exsecrata montana, peruenimus ad ciuitatem quae uocatur Marasim. Cultores uero illius ciuitatis exierunt obuiam nobis letantes, et deferentes maximum mercatum, illicque habuimus omnem copiam, expectando donec ueniret domnus Boamundus.

But those who were unable to sell were tossing them away from themselves gratis and went on. Therefore, going out from the accursed mountain, we arrived at the city which is called Marasim. The inhabitants of that city came out to meet us rejoicing, and bringing a very great market; and there we had every abundance, waiting until Lord Bohemond should come.

Venerunt itaque nostri milites in uallem, in qua regalis ciuitas Antiochia sita est, quae est caput totius Syriae, quamque dominus Iesus Christus tradidit beato Petro apostolorum principi, quatinus eam ad cultum sanctae fidei reuocaret; qui uiuit et regnat cum Deo Patre in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia secula seculorum. Amen.

Thus our soldiers came into the valley, in which the regal city Antioch is situated, which is the head of all Syria, and which the Lord Jesus Christ delivered to blessed Peter, the prince of the apostles, in order that he might recall it to the cult of the holy faith; who lives and reigns with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, through all ages of ages. Amen.

[Explicit liber IIII. Incipit liber V.]

[Here ends Book 4. Here begins Book 5.]