ON the 23d of July, 1099, Jerusalem witnessed an impressive ceremony. On that day, the crusaders, who, a week earlier, had entered the Holy City sword in hand, assembled for the purpose of electing one of the pilgrim princes as king. Owing to the paucity of candidates for regal honors, the duty does not appear to have been very perplexing. It is true, that the names of Robert Curthose, Robert of Flanders, Raymond of Thoulouse, and Godfrey of Bouillon, were bruited about. But Curthose and the Flemish Count intimated their intention of returning forthwith to Europe; and the Count of Thoulousc having, by his haughty and impracticable temper, rendered himself unpopular, Godfrey was generally recognized as the most likely man to dignify the office.
Nevertheless, difficulties appear to have arisen; and the crusaders, to terminate disputes, appointed ten of the most, sober and discreet pilgrims to decide on the rival claims. After fasting and praying, these personages proceeded to the work of election, and closely inquired into the character of the candidates. Even servants were examined as to the habits of their masters! and those of Godfrey gave such evidence as to his religious devotion as was deemed conclusive.
"What faults have you observed in the Duke of Lorraine? " asked the council.
"The only fault we find with our master," answered the witnesses, " is, that when matins are over, he will stay so long in church to learn the name of every image and picture, that dinner is often spoiled by his long tarrying."
"Ah," said the council, " as this man's worst vice appears to us a great virtue, Jerusalem could not have a better sovereign."
The nomination of Godfrey of Bouillon was accordingly decided on; and when heralds proclaimed his name, the liveliest joy pervaded the city. The successful candidate expressed his sense of the distinction conferred on him; but, with pious modesty, he declined the symbols of regal power. " I cannot consent," he said, " to wear a crown of gold, where the Saviour of mankind wore a crown of thorns." Godfrey contented himself with the title of "First Baron and Defender of the Holy Sepulchre;" but he was invested with sovereign authority, and was, in reality, as much a king as any man could have been under the circumstances.
Immediately after the election of Godfrey, the pilgrim prince attended him in triumph to the church of the Holy Sepulchre; and the pious warrior there took an oath to rule according to the- laws of honor and justice. Scarcely, however, was the ceremony over, when startling intelligence reached Jerusalem. It appeared, in fact, that a mighty army had arrived at Ascalon, bent on giving the crusaders battle; and that the Moslem host was under the command of the Emir Afdhal, one of the most renowned of Moslem warriors.
The news spread terror throughout Jerusalem. Indeed, it was known that the Emir had swom, in presence of the Caliph, to annihilate the crusaders, and it was feared that he might have the power to execute his oath. Godfrey, however, was undaunted. Without delay he summoned all Christians capable of bearing arms to march with him from Jerusalem; and requested Arnold dc Rohes, recently elected as Patriarch, to accompany the army with the wood of the true cross. At first, Curthosc and Raymond of Thou-louse, declaring that their vow was accomplished, exhibited indifference, and expressed their opinion that no army was approaching. But both, on being assured of the danger, summoned their men, girded on their mail, mounted their chargers, and marched with Godfrey to meet the foe.
While women and sick men remained in Jerusalem, under the auspices of Peter the Hermit and the clergy, who offered up prayers day and night, for the success, of the Christian arms, Godfrey, having at the head of the crusaders marched across a sandy country, halted, on the evening of the 11th of August, by the margin of the Sorec, a little torrent flowing through a plain between the cities of Joppa and Ascalon. While encamped there, at evening, the crusaders suddenly perceived at some distance what appeared to them an armed multitude, and two hundred horsemen spurred out to reconnoitre. On returning they reported that what looked like an army was, in reality, a huge drove of cattle and camels, and the soldiers of the cross intimated their desire to seize so valuable a booty. Godfrey, however, restrained them. " I see nothing in this," said he, " but a stratagem of the enemy to throw us into disorder. I beg, therefore, that no man will leave his ranks."
Events soon vindicated the wisdom of Godfrey's admonition. As evening advanced, news reached the camp that the Saracens were then within three leagues, and awaiting a favorable opportunity to attack. The crusading chief's then formed their soldiers into nine divisions, and having kept them under arms all night, prepared, at daybreak, for a decisive encounter. The Patriarch, after carrying the cross through the ranks, and blessing the whole army, gave the signal for marching. The crusaders, fully armed, fell on their knees, imploring Heaven's aid in the battle, and then, rising with fresh ardor, advanced in order. As they did so the droves of camels and oxen, seen on the previous evening, fell into their rear and followed their movements.
Meanwhile the Emir Afdhal set the Saracens in order of battle on the verge of the plain of Ascalon. To the west of the Saracens, and situated on the coast, was the city, over which the Moslem banners waved; and to the east and west were the sea and mountains which protected their rear. Afdhal's army, which was infinitely more numerous than that of the crusaders, was arranged, like theirs, in two lines, and was most formidable in appearance. The Emir occupied a position in the centre; and did all that a brave man could to animate his troops to do their duty.
Everything now seemed to promise Afdhal victory, but a sudden terror seized the Saracens at the sight of the Christian army. In fact, the droves of cattle following the crusaders, in the midst of the confusion and clouds of dust, appeared like so many squadrons of horse. The Saracens, completely deceived, believed that multitudes of Christians had arrived from Europe, and that the crusaders were more numerous than they. It was in vain that the Emir endeavored to dispel the delusion and restore the courage of his troops. They were quite crestfallen.
While the Saracens were in dismay and doubt, Robert Curthose, at the head of the European cavalry, broke their ranks, and penetrating to their centre, overthrew all who opposed, captured the Moslem standard, and put Afdhal himself in no small jeopardy; and the European infantry, following in the track of Curthose, and casting away javelin and bow, wielded their swords with terrible effect. On all sides the Saracens were thrown into disorder, in Yain did a band of Ethiopians, who first placed one knee on the ground to launch javelins, and then sprung up with long flails, armed with balls of iron, attempt to turn the fortune of the day. Yielding before the lances of Godfrey and his knights, the Ethiopians dispersed; and the Saracens, flying in masses, were so hotly pursued, that many perished in the sea, and thousands were crushed to death on the drawbridge, while attempting to find an asylum in Ascalon. Afdhal, after leaving his sword on the field, narrowly escaped to the city; and, viewing the destruction of his army from the walls, he shed tears of anger and cursed Mahomet for deserting faithful disciples.
Afdhal embarked for Egypt, not believing himself to be safe in Ascalon. Indeed, the crusaders might, with little difficulty, have made themselves masters of that city, but for an unfortunate quarrel between Godfrey and Raymond of Thou louse, which was nearly producing fatal consequences. As it was, the crusaders, loaded with booty and followed by the droves of cattle, marched in triumph to Jerusalem.
After the battle of Ascalon, most of the pilgrim princes prepared to depart from the Holy City. Raymond of Thoulouse, who had sworn never to return to the west, repaired to Constantinople, and received from the Emperor a grant of the city of Laodicea. Eustace of Bouillon, brother of Godfrey, and Robert, Count of Flanders, repaired to Europe, and taking possession of their hereditary estates, passed their lives in peace and prosperity. Curthose was less fortunate. He, indeed, reached Normandy and took possession of his dukedom; but some years later, his territory was invaded by his younger brother, Henry, King of England; and Curthose, vanquished and taken at Tenchebray, was conveyed to Cardiff Castle, and kept as a state prisoner till 1148, when, at an advanced age, he terminated a life of misery and woe.
Like the pilgrim princes, Peter the Hermit considered his work accomplished when the Holy Sepulchre was rescued. While on his homeward voyage, in company with a nobleman, Peter found himself in danger of shipwreck, and vowed if saved to build an abbey in honor of the Holy Sepulchre. Escaping the peril, he founded a monastery on the banks of the Maes, and lived there for many years in humble penitence.
After the departure of his comrades-in-arms, Godfrey was left with a few hundred knights to defend the Holy City and the kingdom, which so much blood and valor had been expended to gain. But the wisdom and heroism of the man rendered him almost equal to the task; and he had little doubt of receiving important aid from Europe. Indeed, those who had left the army of crusaders, and returned home without taking part in the siege of Jerusalem, were accused of cowardice; and both the Count of Blois and the Count of Vermandois, who had deserted the pilgrim army at Antioch, found themselves in such bad odor, that they resolved on a new expedition. But of the multitude of crusaders who left Europe under their guidance, not more than a handful ever reach Jerusalem; and the Count of Vermandois, attacked and defeated, fled to Tarsus, where he died of his wounds.
Godfrey did not survive to learn the fate of these pilgrims. He lived long enough, however, to do much good -- to extend the frontiers of his kingdom -- to divide the conquered lands among the companions of his victories and to promulgate the code of legislation known as the " Assizes of Jerusalem."
It happened that Tancred, having been sent into Galilee, was successful in taking Tiberias and other cities. Placed in possession of the country he had conquered, Tancred attacked the territories of the Sultan of Damascus, and the Sultan not unnaturally retaliated.
When informed of Tancred's danger, Godfrey marched to his assistance; and he had succeeded in defeating the Saracens, and set out on his return to Jerusalem, when he was met by the Emir of Ceserea. The Emir presented an offering of the fruit of the country, and Godfrey, by way of courtesy, accepted a cedar apple. He had scarcely eaten this, however, when he suddenly became sick; and his knights in alarm conveyed him to Joppa. At Joppa Godfrey grew worse and worse; and on the 18th of July, 1100, after committing the kingdom of Jerusalem to the companions of his victories, he breathed his last. Having been carried to the Holy City, and borne up the ascent of Calvary- the remains of Godfrey were laid near the Sepulchre which he had rescued from desecration; and his death was mourned by the Christians whom he had freed from oppression.
Immediately after Godfrey was laid at rest on Mount Calvary, the Patriarch and the Barons of Jerusalem engaged in disputes as to the choice of a prince to occupy the throne, which the death of Godfrey had rendered vacant. The Patriarch, claiming the crown as his own, sent messengers to Boemund of Antioch to come and defend the cause of the church. The Barons, denying the Patriarch's right, despatched deputies to Baldwin of Edessa, asking him to take possession of his brother's throne. The messengers sent to Antioch returned with intelligence, that Boemund had been made prisoner while on an expedition against the Turks. The deputies despatched to Edessa, brought back the assurance that Baldwin would ere long appear at Jerusalem to take possession of the crown.
The prize was not particularly tempting; for Baldwin was master of a rich and magnificent territory. But his ambition was fired with the prospect of figuring as a king; and, making over Edessa to his kinsman, Baldwin du Bourg, he set out for Jerusalem at the head of fourteen hundred men. On reaching the Holy City, the brother of Godfrey was welcomed with enthusiasm by the inhabitants; and the Patriarch, though he at first held aloof, gradually came to reason, and at length consented to perform the ceremony of coronation.
Baldwin was well qualified to extend the limits of the Christian kingdom. No sooner was he recognized as sovereign of Jerusalem, than he signalized his capacity as a warrior by expeditions against the Saracens, and with such success as astonished his adversaries. City after city yielded to his arms; and as monuments of his genius as a conqueror, he could soon point to Ceserea and Sidon, Tripoli and Acre, ail destined to be more or less important in the struggles for the Holy Sepulchre.
Baldwin was not blessed with heirs; and when he died, his kinsman, Baldwin du Bourg, happening to visit Jerusalem at the time, was elected king and placed on the vacant throne. Baldwin, resigning the principality of Antioch to Joceline de Courtenay, received the crown of Godfrey, carried on war with the Saracens, and succeeded in winning the favor and maintaining the interests of his subjects. Most of the pilgrim princes who had rescued the Holy Sepulchre, and won for themselves principalities, had disappeared. Raymond of Thoulouse, after wandering over the East, had fallen while besieging Tripoli, which was afterwards bestowed on his descendants. Boemund, after attempting to realize his youthful aspirations and making war on the Empire of Constantinople, returned to Tarentum, and, in that little state, died of despondently and despair. Tancred, while governing Antioch daring the minority of Boemund's son, was killed when engaged in war with the Saracens. Baldwin du Bourg, therefore was respected in no small degree, as about the last of the companions of Godfrey.
While Baldwin occupied the throne, Fulke, Count of Anjou, with a notion of consoling himself for the loss of a wife to whom he had been devotedly attached, resolved on a pilgrimage to Palestine. Leaving his county to his son Geoffrey, the ancestor of the Planta-genets, Fulke appeared at Jerusalem, and won general admiration by the qualities he displayed. Baldwin, pleased with Fulke, offered the illustrious pilgrim the hand of his eldest daughter; and Fulke, accepting the proposal with joy, espoused Millicent, the heiress of Jerusalem.
Soon after the marriage of his daughter, Baldwin expired; and Fulke, as husband of Millicent, was crowned King of Jerusalem. But one day, while hunting on the plains of Acre, he was killed by a fall from his horse; and his son Baldwin succeeded to the throne.
It was now that the Christian states in Asia gave evident symptoms of that decline, which, in spite of all efforts to avert their fate, gradually brought them to their melancholy catastrophe. Baldwin the Third was a boy of thirteen when his father died: and he began to reign under the auspices of his mother. Baldwin was a youth of high courage, and Millicent a woman of masculine spirit. But the kingdom of Godfrey was in no condition to be defended by a woman and a boy; and, ere long, the conquest by a Moslem chief, of one of the most important principalities won by the pilgrim princes, made the Christians of tho East turn imploringly for aid to the warriors of the West.
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From John G. Edgar
The Crusades and the Crusaders, 1860
