ABOUT the beginning of April, 1271, Bibare Ben-docdar, Sultan of Egypt, at the head of a mighty army, appeared before the walls of Acre, and summoned the city to surrender. The inhabitants were naturally in extreme alarm. It was true, that the Sultan had several times threatened Acre without proceeding to extremities; but, on this occasion, there remained little hope of such forbearance being exercised. Indeed, Bibars Bendocdar indicated, in a manner not to be mistaken, his determination to remain at the foot of Mount Carmel, till he had witnessed the downfall of the famous stronghold of the Christians in the East.
At that time Acre, now little more than a fortress in the sea, was celebrated for wealth and splendor. Having long been regarded by the crusaders as next in importance to Jerusalem, the city had gradually been enriched. Thither most of the Christians, driven from other places in Palestine, fled for refuge; and thither they brought such wealth as could be moved beyond reach of the spoiler's hands. Acre had thus become the capital of the Christians in the East, and by far the richest of the cities of Syria.
Nor were the fortifications of Acre such that any foe could calculate on finding its wealth an easy prey. During his abode in the East, St. Louis had labored to repair and increase the means of resistance, and added much to the strength of the place. On the land side, the city was surrounded by a double wall, with battle-mented towers, and by a deep and broad ditch, which prevented access to its ramparts; while, towards the sea, it was defended by the castle of the Templars, by the " King's Tower," and by a fortress at the entrance of the harbor. Constructed of square stones, the houses of Acre all rose to an equal height; and most of them were surmounted by a terrace. The interior of the city was chiefly occupied by the abodes of traders and artisans; but, between two ramparts, that bounded the city on the east, hard by the tower and gate of St. Anthony, destined to be celebrated in story, stood the castles and palaces of the King of Jerusalem, the Prince of Antioch, the representatives of France and Sicily, and other men of high estate. Inside, the mansions were furnished with articles of luxury, ornamented with rich pictures, and lighted by windows of painted glass, that pleasantly modified the sun's glare.
And strange and picturesque was the scene presented at Acre to a Valence or De Vesci, who, having assumed the cross, and vowed to fight for the Holy Sepulchre, landed at the white walls bathed by the blue waters of the Mediterranean. Ships from Europe and Asia crowded the commodious port. Rich merchandise was stored in the warehouses. Bustle and excitement prevailed on the Exchange. A motley assemblage of sea-faring men, monks and merchants, 1 pirates and pilgrims, warriors and women, appeared I in the streets; and in the public places which were I screened by silken coverings from the heat of the sua, I Christian magnates, attended by splendid trains, and wearing golden crowns and vestments glittering with precious stones, walked frequently to show themselves to the people.
But, unfortunately, Acre was divided against itself every nation had its quarter, and each quarter was a city of itself, varying in language, manners, and race from its neighbors, and separated from them by rivalries and jealousies, that frequently produced riot and bloodshed. Sometimes the magnates assembled to devise measures for maintaining order; but they generally, by disagreeing among themselves, rendered the prospect of concord more distant than before.
Such being the state of affairs, Acre was in no condition to resist a prolonged siege by a conqueror so energetic as Bibars Bendocdar. The Mameluke Sultan had long been aware of the fact, and hitherto his ambition to enter Acre, sword in hand, had been repressed by the news of a host of crusaders being on the way to rescue their distressed brethren. The death of Louis, however, and the return of the French army to Europe, had freed the Oriental warrior from this dread; and he indulged in the anticipation of crowning his victories.
This resolution formed, Bibars Bendocdar encamped before Acre. With his army he brought arrows, and darts, and fire-pots, and machines for battering walls with stones, and leaden balls, and huge blocks of wood; and, having caused the Mameluke horsemen to ravage the territories in the vicinity of the beleaguered city, be commenced the siege. Slender now appeared the prospect of the Mussulman soldiers having to cross the desert without reddening their weapons with Christian blood.
The inhabitants of Acre were perplexed in the extreme. The nearness of the peril would naturally have united them, but it appeared too late. From their ramparts they saw turbaned foes desolating their fertile plains, cutting up groves and gardens, and burning the villages and pleasure-houses that dotted the hills; while the Sultan was preparing to assail their walls and effect their ruin. Filled with alarm, and driven to despair, they consented to surrender in four days, if not relieved before that time. Scarcely one ray of hope found its way to their hearts.
But suddenly a marvellous change occurred. Ere the four days had passed, a clangor of drums and clarions resounded in Acre; and through the city ran a rumor -that a fleet with warriors on board was approaching their harbor. Some rushed to the housetops, and others rushed to the port, to watch the result. The little fleet sailed gallantly into the harbor; men in mail surrounding a lady with a calm, thoughtful countenance, appeared upon one of the decks; a warrior, simply arrayed, but taller by the head than ordinary mortals, and with a form as magnificent as his stature was tall, leaped ashore. It was the Conqueror of Evesham.
Bibars Bendocdar must have heard the shout that rose from tlie quay of Acre, and gradually swelled as it ran from street to street, and from house-top to house-top. Perhaps one of those mysterious emotions which warn men of approaching danger, touched the heart of the crowned criminal. In any case, the Sultan, ere long, learned that a fair-haired warrior was resting his long limbs in the palace of Acre, and that a gray charger was eating his provender from a marble manger in a Syrian stall.
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From John G. Edgar
The Crusades and the Crusaders, 1860
