FROM the day on which the crusaders seized the bridge, and approached the walls of Antioch, Boemund, who had left Constantinople with the determination to possess a principality long ere the pilgrims reached Jerusalem, indulged in visions of his steeds stalled in the stables of the palace, his soldiers manning every tower on the walls, and his red banner waving from the highest turret of the castle. Even when matters were at the worst, the Prince of Tarentum patiently enacted his part in the enterprise. At length fortune, which throughout the siege had in reality been favorable to his aspirations, condescended to place the game in his hands.
It happened that within the beleaguered city, an apostate from Christianity was entrusted with an important post, without being very well satisfied, either with himself or his situation. The name of this man was Emiphcr; and he had originally been an Armenian, of obscure parentage. His father is said to have been a maker of cuirases. But whatever the sire's condition, the son's aspirations were high; and, in efForts to realise them, he was neither restrained by considerations of morality or religion. At an early age, he renounced his faith to take service with the Prince of Antioch: and, having once assumed the turban, he played his cards so cleverly, that when the crusaders appeared before Antioch, he was high in the prince's confidence and in command of the principal towers.
At the beginning of the seige, Emipher would seem to have discharged his duty with fidelity. But as months passed over, the idea of betraying his trust to advance his fortunes, took possession of the renegade's mind. At last he formed his resolution, and contrived to make the Prince of Tarentum aware of his wish for some conversation on business of importance. Boo-mund, who was not slow to comprehend such a message from such a quarter, intimated his readiness to grant an interview.
Emipher and Boemund met without delay; and the hypocritical renegade, pretending to open his heart to the ambitious Norman, expressed deep regret at having deserted the religion of Christ, and deplored the persecution to which Christians were exposed. Boemund, who comprehended the point towards which his new acquaintance was driving, encouraged the traitor to proceed; and Emipher, assuming a solemn* air, declared that Christ had appeared in a dream and commanded him to betray Antioch to the crusaders. Boemund, who could play the hypocrite as well as Emipher, preached a little sermon, and proved beyond question that never before had man been vouchsafed such a golden opportunity of making a full and complete atonement for an act of apostasy.
After this interview, during which, of course, Emipher was assured of high reward, in the event of his scheme proving successful, Boemund called the pilgrim princes together, and offered to have the gates of Antioch thrown open to them on certain conditions, one of wliich, he hinted, would be the sovereignty of the city for himself. But the chiefs, far from relishing the project, distinctly refused their countenance; and Raymond of Thoulouse elicited general applause, when he expressed his opposition in the strongest language. Bocmund retired from the council baffled and vexed; but he felt that his failure was temporary, and that his proposal would ere long find more favor in the eyes of his comrades.
The Prince of Tarentum was not deceived. Scarcely, indeed, had the crusaders rejected his offer, when news arrived which created the utmost consternation in the camp. The Sultan of Nice, it appeared, had succeeded in rousing half the East; and the Sultan of Mossoul, a man of age and experience, was marching at the head of four hundred thousand Moslem warriors to exterminate the Christians.
The pilgrim princes, alarmed at their prospects, now consulted Boemund, and on the 2nd of July, gave their adhesion to his project. "After all," said they, "it was Jerusalem, and not Antioch, we came to deliver." Bocmund, after hearing the explanations of his fellow-soldiers, and sneering at their confused efforts to appear consistent, communicated with Emipher, and made arrangements for the execution of the project.
Every precaution having been taken, Boemund, to throw the Prince of Antioch off his guard, gave out that he was going to encounter the Sultan of Mossoul, and marched the pilgrim army away from the walls. Halting near Antioch, he passed the day in a valley; and returning at night took up his position beneath the towers, where Emipher was, with breathless anxiety, awaiting the result of the plot.
In fact, Emipher found his head in danger; for by some means a rumor spread through Antioch that treason was at work. Even the name of the traitor was whispered. But Emipher's audacity was equal to the crisis; and his cunning was equal to his audacity. On being summoned by the Prince, he appeared with perfect readiness, and gave advice for defeating conspiracy. Auxian, completely deceived, took the advice; and Emipher, loaded with thanks, returned to his post.
While Emipher meditated and reflected the day closed; darkness overshadowed* the city; and gradually all became quiet. A storm which arose deepened the gloom and the silence, save where broken by the flash of lightning and the roll of thunder. At that time the crusaders began to move noiselessly under the walls; and the Lombard engineer, having ascended to the ramparts by a ladder, returned to tell that all was ready for their reception.
But while Boemund's heart was beating high, and Emipher's heart was beating anxiously, an unexpected difficulty suddenly arose. Neither leaders nor men showed theslightest inclination to venture up the ladders. Threats and promises alike failed; and Boemund at length ascended alone, in the hope of his example inspiring them with courage. Even after this nobody moved, and the Prince of Tarentum reached the ramparts unattended. Emipher, however, received Boe-mund with joy, and at once presented terrible evidence of sincerity. "That," said he, pointing to a bed on which a man recently stabbed lay weltering in blood, "that is my brother; I have just killed him because he refused to join our enterprise."
Bocmund, who perhaps did not feel so much horror at this fratricide as he ought, ascertained that everything was prepared, and descended to his comrades. With some difficulty he persuaded the Count of Flanders and sixty other crusaders to accompany him, and again ascended to the ramparts. Numbers then took courage; and, while Boemund was put by Emipher in possession of several towers, Godfrey, with Robert Curthose, having mounted the ladders, caused trumpets to be sounded, and spread over the city, with a shout of "God wills, it!"
The Prince of Antioch and his subjects, roused from their slumbers, started up in surprise at the shouts which resounded through the city. Feeling that he had been betrayed, Auxian endeavored to escape, but fell before the weapons of his foes; and few of his subjects were more fortunate. Scarcely aware what had happened, they rushed hither and thither in amazement. No mercy was shown them; and the slaughter continued so long, that thousands fell victims.
When the morning of Friday, the 4th of July, 1098, dawned, the citadel of Antioch was still in the hands of the Saracens. But the city was in possession of the crusaders. The streets were strewed with corpses, blood ran down the gutters, and the red flag of Boemund waved over the highest turret.
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From John G. Edgar
The Crusades and the Crusaders, 1860
