AFTER celebrating their victory at Dogorgan, the warriors of the cross took their way towards Antioch. Marching in a body, they avoided the hazard of an attack by superior numbers, as on the 1st of July. But they were ere long exposed to other disasters, scarcely less disagreeable.
It soon appeared, indeed, that the march of the crusaders to Antioch was not to prove quite so pleasant as that to Nice had been. The Sultan, with a desire for vengeance, but without hope of gratifying it in battle, determined to lay waste the country through which his conquerors had to pass: and performed the operation so effectually, that they soon experienced extreme perplexity. Neither food for men nor fodder for horses could be met with; and the pilgrims for some time subsisted on roots of plants, and such ears of corn as the Sultan's cavalry had failed to destroy.
The utmost distress soon prevailed. Hawks, hounds, horses, and human beings suffered alike. Hawks drooped and died; hounds scampered off in search of food; horses sank exhausted; women rolled on the sand, and in accents of despair invoked death; and robust men, giving way to toil and famine, perished by hundreds. Ere long, to the suffering caused by want of food was added the misery arising from scarcity of water. At length not a well, not a spring, not a brook was to be met with. Every throat was parched -- every tongue felt as if on fire.
But at this desperate stage Providence, by sending the dogs back to the camp, mercifully interposed to save the Christian army from destruction. Observing that their canine companions returned with wet skins and paws covered with sand, the crusaders judged that water was near, and, following the foot-prints, found a supply. No discovery could have been more welcome. The pilgrims rushed in a mass towards the place, and threw themselves into the water. But moderation, under the circumstances, was hardly to be expected; and while hundreds, from quenching their thirst without prudence, died on the spot, many became too sick to continue their journey. But still in the midst of suffering the cry of the chiefs was "Onward;" and still the burden of the heralds' proclamation was -- "Save the Holy Sepulchre!"
At length this march, memorable for its miseries, drew to a close; and about the middle of October, the crusaders, passing mountain chains, came in sight of a fertile and charming country, and forgot all mishaps and misfortunes, as the city of Antioch appeared before their eyes.
Antioch was known as "Queen of the East," and seemed not unworthy of the name. A beautiful situation, a lofty castle, magnificent edifices, and strong walls fortified by four hundred and sixty towers, gave a dignified and picturesque aspect to the city. On the north rose one mountain covered with houses and gardens; on the south another mountain celebrated for its forests and springs. The suburbs, which boosted of the fountain of Daphne, were fair to look upon: and the ramparts were washed by the River Orontes, which communicated with a lake abounding in fish, and, at a few miles' distance, flowed into the sea.
But to the crusaders Antioch was interesting from its historical connection with the faith of which they were the champions. At Antioch the disciples of our Redeemer assumed the name of Christians: and there Peter was named first bishop of the Christian church. Moreover, Antioch was associated with miracles; with saints and martyrs; and with Christian pilgrims, who regarded the "Queen of the East" with hardly less veneration than the Holy City.
When approached by the crusaders, Antioch was possessed by the Saracens, governed by a prince named Auxian, and prepared for an obstinate defence. But the warriors of the West were in no mood to be daunted. The successes achieved by the army on its march had been considerable. Tancred and Baldwin of Bouillon had taken Tarsus. Tancred had then seized Malmistra and Alcxandretta; while Baldwin not only made himself master of the principality of Edessa, but, by marriage with the daughter of an Armenian prince, extended his sovereignty over the richest provinces of Ancient Assyria. Besides, many cities of Minor Asia had voluntarily offered homage; and the crusaders, elate with success, approached Antioch with an idea that no enterprise was too difficult for them to accomplish.
Between the pilgrims, however, and the city of which they proposed to take possession, flowed the Orontes, which was spanned by a bridge, defended by towers masked with iron. In order to arrive before the walls, it was necessary to seize this bridge, and the adventure seemed somewhat perilous. But Curthose led the van; and the Norman duke, who never shrunk from danger in any form, charged with so much valor that every obstacle gave way. Forcing a passage, and cutting down all who opposed, Curthose chased the defenders of the bridge to the gates of Antioch, while the main army, with banners flying and trumpets sounding, passed the river.
Encamping near the walls of Antioch, the crusaders held a council of war, and, after much solemn debate, resolved on a siege. With this object they advanced to the gates. Strangely enough, however, not a foe appeared on the ramparts. The crusaders, of course, felt some surprise; but, believing that men who lay hidden at such a time would prove an easy prey, they trusted to the course of events, and said -- "Let us meanwhile eat, drink, and be merry."
And now the armed pilgrims brought discredit on their enterprise; in fact, the soldiers of the cross abandoned themselves to license and debauchery, and perpetrated outrages utterly at variance with the laws of God and man. All the country around Antioch witnessed their reckless proceedings. In every village the work of plunder went on; and in every orchard, crusaders made love to the dark-eyed damsels of Syria. Even men dedicated to the most austere of professions were infected with the prevailing immorality; and Christian bishops, forgetful of vows might have been seen stretched on the grass and playing at dice with nymphs whose reputations were not the highest.
While the crusaders were defying danger and decency, the Saracens availed themselves of the circumstance to make a sally from Antioch. The camp, scarcely guarded, could not resist their progress; and sweeping out of the city, they cut off all whom the hope of pleasure or plunder had attracted to the villages and orchards. The Saracens, on returning, cast the heads of the slain into the camp; and the Christians, roused to fury, vowed to revenge the slaughter of their comrades.
The crusaders now resolved upon storming Antioch; and a signal was given for the attack. Having neither scaling ladders nor machines, however, their efforts failed; and they found the necessity of a more systematic siege. Accordingly, they entrenched their camp, constructed a bridge over the Orontes, erected wooden towers, and occupied themselves with the blockade. But at this point they experienced the consequences of their imprudence: for winter setting in, and provisions beginning to fail, they were exposed at once to the hazard of cold and famine.
When matters reached this stage, Curthose and Boemund scoured the neighborhood in search of provisions; and the Norman princes returned with a considerable supply. But the relief was temporary, and every subsequent expedition of the kind was less successful. Indeed, the forays were so frequent, that the country soon had nothing to yield, and the most experienced border riders, who in later centuries won fame by their predatory exploits, would have given up the game. Neither Kinmont Willie nor Christy of the Clinthill could have found it otherwise than impossible to wring out of Upper Syria, sufficient spoil to subsist the hungry army before Antioch.
The plight of the crusaders soon became intolerable. Not only was the want of food severely felt: other horrors accompanied hunger. One day they suffered from torrents of rain; another day, they had to struggle against gusts of wind. When the rain fell and the wind blew, the camp was flooded with water, and the tents were carried away by'the hurricane. The crusaders were in rags; and disease appeared to add to their miseries. At this point many abandoned the camp. Among these were Peter the Hermit and Robert Curthose. But Peter having been pursued, was brought forcibly back; and Curthose, after being summoned in the name of Christ, returned from Loadicea.
At the time when matters were getting past the worst, the Caliph of Bagdad sent ambassadors to offer the crusaders his alliance and protection. Wretched as was their plight, the chiefs answered with indignation, and sent the Caliph a message as full of defiance as if they had been safe and comfortable in their French and Norman castles.
One day, when winter had worn away, the crusaders9 chiefs learned with gratification that a fleet of Pisan and Genoese ships had entered the port of St. Simeon. No sooner did the news spread, than numbers of the soldiers rushed off to hear navffc axvd. purchase provisions. While returning to the camp, the pilgrims were attacked by Saracens; and being, for the most part unarmed, they dispersed in dismay. Hearing of this disaster, Godfrey of Bouillon, with Curthose and Tancred, called out their men, mounted their horses and galloped to the rescue.
At this point, the prince of Antioch was on a tower of his palace; and, having witnessed the skirmish, he descended, and ordered a numerous body of troops to the rescue. Accompanying them to the bridge, he pointed to the enemy whom they had to encounter, and closed the gate after them. "This," said he, "can only be opened to you if you return victorious."
The Saracens thus incited, issued forth from the walls; and, meeting the crusaders as they rushed forward, commenced a skirmish. But the Moslem warriors soon became convinced of their inferiority; and, giving way in a body, made an attempt to regain the city. Godfrey, however, who had no idea of letting his foes off so easily, forced them to renew the combat. A sanguinary battle was then fought. No generalship was displayed; but Pagan and Christian contended hand to hand, and steel to steel. Helmet and turban mingled confusedly in the struggle, and on all sides deeds of marvellous prowess were performed.
But none showed more valor than Godfrey and Curthose. Godfrey defied by a gigantic Saracen to single combat, spurred forward, and, with one sweep of his sword divided the challenger's body from shoulder to haunch. Curthose, assailed by the Saracen who figured as chief in command, raised his falchion, and with a stroke cleft the infidel's head from crown to chest. "Pagan dog!" exclaimed Curthose, as the Saracen fell lifeless to the ground, "I devote thy impure soul to the powers of hell." The carnage and the chase continued for hours; and not till it was dark did Auxian open the gates and admit the fugitives.
After the fight before Antioch, the Saracens regarded the besiegers with awe; but month after month passed away, and May, 1098, was drawing to a close, without the prospect of a surrender. The tempting prize for which the crusaders had waited so long, appeared not unlikely to escape their grasp. Vague rumors already announced the march of a Moslem host, when circumstances opened up to the warriors of the cross a prospect of seizing by stratagem the city which they had been unable to win by valor.
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From John G. Edgar
The Crusades and the Crusaders, 1860
