WHILE the warriors and nobles of France were arming for the Holy War, a Norman prince, known to posterity as "the Ulysses of the First Crusade," roused the zeal of the inhabitants of southern Italy.
Early in the eleventh century, some pilgrim-knights of Normandy, having landed on the southern coast of Italy, aided the dwellers in Salerno to repel an incursion of the Saracens. Animated by reports of their countrymen's valor, Robert and William Guiscard, sons of Tancred of Hauteville, a Norman gentleman, conducted to Italy a band of warriors, and effected a series of conquests, which were consolidated into the kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Boemund, one of the sons of Robert Guiscard, was hardly inferior to his father in courage and talent. A native of Italy, but Norman to the backbone, he early displayed, in full perfection, the qualities that made the Normans so formidable. Brave, accomplished, and utterly unscrupulous, he fought with courage, spoke with eloquence, and acted without regard either to conscience or God.
At an early age, Boemund had fought by his father's side against the Emperor of the East, and had imbibed a notion that the Greek empire would one day be the prize of his valor and genius. But fortune did not prove quite favorable to such an aspiration. At his father's death, the ambitious Norman found himself without means to make any great attempt. But, though without lands or living, "Boemund, son of Guiscard," was still formidable; and having declared war against his brother Roger, he succeeded in making that prince yield the principality of Tarentum.
For a time Boemund figured as Prince of Tarentum. But Tarentum was far too small a place for a Norman noble of such aspiring vein; and he perpetually watched for an opportunity of realising his ambitious project. When he learned that the princes of France were arming for the crusade, he congratulated himself on his day having arrived, and with a smile of ridicule at the enthusiasm that prompted such an expedition, considered how it could be turned to account in advancing his fortunes.
Boemund's brains, once set to work, soon enabled him to comprehend his position. Musing over the matter, he decided that, at this crisis of his career, it was necessary to have an army of his own. This was a difficulty; for Tarentum could not furnish any large body of fighting men. But he soon formed a plan for getting as many soldiers as he wished, and immediately proceeded to put the plan in execution.
At that time, Boemund's brother was besieging Amalfi, a city lying within the territories of the Guis-cards, but refusing to acknowledge their authority. No expedition could have been more favorable to Boemund's wishes. Proceeding to Amalfi, the Prince of Tarentum affected to take great interest in the siege, and insinuated himself into the good graces of the soldiers. Indeed he was precisely the man to win their respect. Besides having a strong arm and an eloquent tongue, he had been gifted by nature with a most noble presence. His tall stature, enabling him to tower above ordinary men, never failed to impress beholders; and his aquiline features, fair hair, and blue eyes, at once marked him as a genuine descendant of those valiant Northmen, who, with Roll the Ganger, sailed up the Seine and seized on Neustria.
After reaching Amalfi and surveying his brother's army, Boemund went to work with his wonted craft. He preached the crusade in language not less eloquent than Peter; and he produced under the walls of Amalfi an effect hardly less marvellous than Urban had produced at the Council of Clermont. Everybody was attracted by his orations; and ere long the camp throbbed with enthusiasm for the Holy War.
"God wills it!" at length resounded from thousands of voices.
"Yes," said Boemund, "it is the will of God; and when all the brave captains and soldiers of Europe have taken the cross, we shall be unworthy of Heaven if we hesitate."
Congratulating himself on the triumph of his eloquence, Boemund tore to pieces his red banner, formed the strips into crosses, and presented them to the besiegers. Ere long the whole army vowed to accompany him to the Holy Land; and, the siege having been abandoned, he prepared for the expedition. Nor was his success temporary. No sooner had Boemund set up his standard, than around its red folds came warriors of all ranks; and he found himself at the head of thirty thousand men, eager to be gone. To the camp of Boemund, among other barons and knights, came his nephew Tancred, destined to be celebrated in chronicle and song.
Having embarked for Greece, the Prince of Taren-tum landed at Durazzo. The sight of this place, where in youth he had aistinguished himself in battle against the Greeks, recalled all Boemund's aspirations; and he immediately sent to recommend Godfrey of Bouillon to seize the empire of the East. Godfrey, however, reminded the Norman chief, that they were soldiers of the cross; that they were in arms, not to take Constantinople, but to deliver Jerusalem; and that their duty as Christians was not to attack the Greeks, but to vanquish the Pagans. Boemund nevertheless indulged his soul with visions of acquiring the empire, and, without any effort to restrain the excesses of his soldiers, advanced through Macedonia.
It was with a feeling of dread, that Alexis heard of Boemund having sent proposals to Godfrey. The Emperor knew the Norman warrior's character and feared his ambition. But ambition might be thwarted by cunning, and courage might be overcome by bribery. Without delay, therefore, Alexis invited Boemund to Constantinople; and Boemund, preceding his army, hastened forward to oppose craft to craft.
Alexis received Boemund with the utmost distinction, and Boemund treated Alexis with the utmost deference. They complimented each other on their exploits, and exchanged vows of friendship. As both were devoid of conscience, no scruple interfered with their promises; and while Alexis solemnly engaged to grant the Prince of Tarentum large possessions in Greece, Boemund vowed to prove himself in all things the Emperor's faithful vassal.
At length their conversation took a turn which betrayed Boemund into rashness and startled Alexis into sincerity. The Emperor happened to display to the Norman prince a chamber with treasure; and Boemund, surprised at the sight, could not, even in the Emperor's presence, repress his admiration.
"There is here," he exclaimed, "enough wherewith to conquer kingdoms."
"Let these treasures," said Alexis, turning to the officers of his household, "be immediately conveyed to the tent of the Prince of Tarentum."
"Ah," said Boemund, affecting to decline the gift, "your munificence is too great. I cannot accept this treasure; but, if you would bind me to you for ever, confer on me the dignity of Grand Domestic of the Empire."
"I cannot at present grant that dignity," answered Alexis, starting at a demand which alarmed him with the recollection that he had used the office as a stepping-stone to the throne; "but I promise it, brave prince, as the reward of your future services."
Boemund, baffled, retired to muse over his prospects; and Alexis remained to consider how he might best free his capital from the presence of men, whose prido he was weary of flattering and whose avarice he was weary of gratifying.
Previous article Next article
From John G. Edgar
The Crusades and the Crusaders, 1860
