Now this Kurd from Mesopotamia, having got what he wanted, puffed with success, declared Mahomet’s wisdom superior to that of Christ by virtue of victories on the field. All such vaunts he flung at Christian faces. Yet one true believer thought to answer wisely. God, having judged His children deserving of reproof, selected thee as agent. Likewise a father may pluck a cudgel from the mire to chastise an errant son but afterward throw it back.
As to what response the sultan offered, histories are mute.
He sent to Damascus for his sister, she whose caravan Reynauld de Chatillon imprudently seized, to come and worship with him. She loaded up twenty camels with rose water and rode to Jerusalem. These people believe that whoever eats the flesh of a pig is unfit to enter the house of God, hence she would not go into the temple, nor would he, until their priests washed it with rose water much as Christians purify churches that have been violated. Then he commanded Mahomet’s erroneous law to be proclaimed from all four corners. So the Holy City that basked in the light of true believers was contaminated by filth.
Ambroise the jongleur relates that two very ancient men lived in the city, Robert de Coudre and Fulk Fiole. The first had served with Godfrey de Bouillon during the conquest. Fulk Fiole was born in Jerusalem not long afterward. Since both were feeble they asked Saladin to let them complete their lives in the city. This request he granted, directing that they be given whatever they needed as long as they lived. And he permitted ten brothers of the Hospital to remain for one year to attend any who were ill. He listened to the pleas of women whose husbands were slain, had them compensated from his treasury, wept as they wept. Therefore it should be remarked that the spirit of charity is not limited to Christians.
Lady Étienne de Kerak beseeched him to release her son Humphrey. Saladin agreed, provided she would surrender her two great castles of Kerak and Montréal. When she accepted this offer he brought Humphrey out of prison and sent the young lord to his mother. But the knights of Kerak and Montréal refused to obey Lady Étienne, declaring they would not surrender. Then because she was unable to keep her promise she ordered her son back into captivity. Such honorable conduct delighted Saladin who for a second time released Humphrey.
As for indigent captives unable to pay ransom, a multitude reckoned at fourteen thousand and more, Geoffrey de Vinsauf reports that all were enslaved. Malik al-Adil, troubled by this many bound for servitude, addressed his brother. I have helped you conquer this land and the city of Jerusalem, said he. I ask that you grant me one thousand from among the poor.
What would you do with them? Saladin asked.
How Malik replied is not known, but Saladin consented. Malik set these people free.
Now here came Lord Balian and the patriarch with similar requests in the name of God, for the sake of miserable paupers. Saladin gave up two thousand more. And it is said he gave ten thousand to the Hospitalers and Templars. But he wished to surpass the charity of his brother so he ordered a postern near Saint Lazarus to be opened and sent heralds to announce that those without money could leave through this gate. Among these was an Englishman carrying a stick across his shoulder and tied to the stick was a gourd, whereupon a Saracen monk cried out angrily. Look! The pig leaves with a gourd of wine! The monk smashed the gourd, which spewed forth gold coins. In this way Saladin heard about rich Christians trying to escape. Thenceforth nobody could leave without paying ransom.
Here came Lord Balian and the patriarch once again. Sire, they beseeched him, for love of God hold us captive until money is found to liberate the poor. But he was annoyed on account of the deceitful Englishman and would not discuss it.
By each gate stood a Saracen official to collect tribute, yet many of these pocketed what they were given. Also, here were citizens hoping to keep their money who slid down the walls on ropes or escaped by other means, such as disguising themselves as soldiers or hiding in baggage carts. Hence there was confusion at every gate.
Things that deviate from their course fall back into order, albeit not as we expect. Margaret of Beverley was in Jerusalem when Saladin attacked. She carried water to men fighting on the ramparts and wore a cooking pot on her head for protection, all the same she was hurt when a stone from a Saracen catapult struck nearby. Afterward she bought her freedom and set out for Lachis. En route she was caught by Turks. They beat her with switches and forced her to gather wood until a pious man celebrating the birth of a son bought her freedom a second time. Again she set forth, one bread roll to eat and a ragged gown to hide her nakedness, dreading heathen no less than savage animals, her only comfort a psalter. She met a Turk who snatched away the psalter but came running back to fling himself at her feet in remorse, which proves the mighty arm of God. Close by Antioch the unbelievers caught her again and put her in a cell with others speaking parthica lingua, which is to say a language she could not understand. They condemned her to death because they thought she had stolen a knife. But the Turkish commandant listened to her praying, recognized the holy name of Mary and let her go. Anon she came to France where she found her brother who was a monk at Froimont. He did not know her until she spoke of their brother who died soon after baptism, their parents Hulnon and Sybil, and their home in northern England. To him she related her experience, which he put down in very fine verse. He persuaded her to enter a convent. Thus we see how due order is preserved by events.
As for those that went to Egypt, they traveled under Saladin’s warrant. And when vessels from Italy put in at Alexandria the masters were compelled to take these refugees aboard. Still, not many got back to Europe, most being thrust ashore on some desolate coast by merchants from Pisa and Genoa who did not like the burden. How bleak the day when these exiles left Jerusalem for uncertain destiny, leaving the city reduced to servitude. Once the inheritance of our Redeemer, defiled now by the ministration of God’s enemies, Jerusalem was brought to low estate through the iniquitous behavior of her people.
What of Heraclius the patriarch? Saladin allowed him to sail for Europe taking as much as he liked, including gold plate from the Holy Sepulcher. In this way Saladin expected to earn the gratitude of Christians, undeniable proof that he misapprehended the western world. Many Turks were angered and shocked to learn how the patriarch ransomed himself for ten bezants like a common soldier and watched him leave Jerusalem all but staggering under his treasure, followed by carts heaped up with plate and jeweled icons.
He traveled first to Rome, thence to numerous capitals, dressing himself in black while he preached a new crusade. He described how Jerusalem suffered, displayed a painting of Jesus Christ bloodied by Mahomet striking Him. Look you! cried Heraclius. Behold how the Lord is beaten! Many who contemplated this fearful picture sobbed and wept, others swore vengeance. How should the calamity of so small a kingdom oversea afflict the people of rich and powerful countries? How could it not?
Anon came Saladin’s brother, Malik al-Adil, and laid siege to Kerak. Those who defended the castle found themselves with less and less to eat. At length they turned out the women and children, thinking Saracens might feed their hapless families. Some were sold to the Bedouin. What became of the rest is not related. When the last horse was butchered and cooked and no help from any source, Kerak surrendered. Montréal held out longer, if not much.
Saladin himself, turgid with hate, wallowing in pride, stuffed with confidence, led his pagan horde against the city that previously defied him. Tyre. He fetched from Damascus the aged Marquis William de Montferrat, father of Conrad, who was captured during the battle on Mount Hattin. He exhibited this old marquis beneath the walls, telling Conrad that in exchange for the city his father would be released. Conrad answered that he would not give a stone in exchange for his father’s life, declaring that his father was a wicked old man who had committed terrible crimes, whose hour was finished. Bind him to a stake, Conrad ordered, that I may shoot him. And with the aged marquis ushered close enough, guarded, shackled, Conrad let fly a shaft, obliquely, pretending careful aim.
Later, to show contempt for such a feckless monarch, he released King Guy without demanding a single écu, stipulating only that the king never again take up arms against Islam. Not many in the Holy Land cared, perhaps only Queen Sibylla who had prayed and beseeched Saladin to grant this favor. The Norman jongleur who recounted these affairs in verse sang of how King Guy was not a lucky man, in war neither terrible nor fierce, nor menacing to the sultan.
No more was Guy released than he found a cleric willing to invalidate his oath to Saladin. After all, had not the king been under duress? Besides, the promise was made to an infidel. Thus absolved, King Guy lusted to settle accounts. Fifty-two ships under command of Archbishop Ubaldo arrived during the month of April, so the king employed them. Now, his faint spirit replenished, he marched along the coast thinking he might storm the walls of Acre. Beside his feeble army sailed these Italians.
The news failed to alarm Saladin who was attacking the castle of Beaufort twenty leagues north. This castle stood on a cliff overlooking the river Litani and belonged to Reynald of Sidon, by repute a clever, charming lord fluent in Arabic. They say he more than once visited Saladin’s court where he displayed knowledge of Islamic literature. And he seemed to indicate that he might one day forsake Christianity, embrace Islam, and move to Damascus. However, months went by as Lord Reynald did nothing but reinforce his castle walls and Saladin lost patience. After one visit he escorted Reynald under heavy guard to Beaufort and directed him to speak with the garrison commander. The gate must be opened. Reynald obeyed, telling the commander in Arabic to open the gate, but adding in French that he should not. Saladin or one of his counselors understood French well enough. Off went Lord Reynald to Damascus where he lodged in prison.
Saladin now considered the Franks under King Guy who had laid siege to Acre. They were camped east of the city along the little river Belus which provided fresh water. Also, they had access to the sea, which meant that vessels could unload troops and supplies. Indeed, more soldiers and militant pilgrims were arriving, by chance or through the exhortation of Heraclius preaching across Europe. Danes. Frisians. Genoese. Lombards. Flemings. Germans. Venetians. So by the end of that year a Christian city all but encircled Acre. One might see distinguished barons or knights such as James d’Avesnes as well as those of low estate who had felt moved to undertake the journey, tradesmen and peasants. Twenty or more languages could be heard. Ambroise composed and sang of how there were not women enough. Yet, as always, miraculously, they began to appear, ladies and whores. Some, disguised as men, took up arms on behalf of Christ despite their natural weakness, even as women once fought bravely to liberate Jerusalem. Three or more rode into battle astride horses, being revealed as women only when seized and stripped of armor. Beha al-Din speaks of one wearing a green mantle who used the longbow and wounded several Turks. When at last she was killed and her bow taken to Saladin he seemed astonished.
Counselors to Saladin had warned that Acre would continue to excite and tempt Christians, therefore he should raze it to the ground. Others argued that the city was too beautiful to destroy and he need only strengthen it. Accordingly he had brought from Egypt a renowned strategist, Emir Caracusch, who built the walls of Cairo. This emir set ranks of prisoners to do the work. They were thickening the walls and heightening towers when King Guy appeared. More Latins arrived led by nobles of Bar, Dreux, Brienne, Archbishop Gerard of Ravenna, Bishop Philip of Beauvais, the count of Guelders, as well as Margrave Louis of Thuringia and others.
We are told that Saladin thought Beaufort unimportant, and considering how many Christians threatened Acre he marched south with much of his army, leaving only a detachment to reduce the castle. Muslims say that his nephew Taqi got through Frankish lines to open a corridor, enabling those inside Acre to communicate with the Turkish host. Still, weeks and months passed, neither force able to dislodge the other. English vessels put in, but from south and east came other enemies of our Lord.
If those trapped behind the walls of Acre suffered, the soldiers of Christ fared no better. They got much they needed through access to the sea, but illness caused their skin to rot. Nor had they food enough. Germans constructed a mill for grinding wheat and corn, turned by horses, with the millstones grinding loudly, the first ever built oversea, which puzzled and alarmed the Turks. Most earnestly did they gaze toward it, says Geoffrey de Vinsauf, fearing it might be some fresh instrument for their destruction or was meant to storm the walls. Similarly, Franks contemplated the high walls before them like the walls of Troy and a multitude of Turks camped behind. Among these soldiers of Christ that streamed to the Holy Land, how many did not pray fervently?
Now up leapt the Devil. Ambroise sang of how on a certain Friday his disciples rushed yowling and screeching at pilgrims along the coast. Templars and Hospitalers rode forth to scatter them but the Devil caused a German to lose his horse. Then he pursued it, shouting at his comrades for help but none of them was able to catch the horse. Turks saw them galloping away from battle and thought they were routed and so gathered up courage to fight once more. With truncheons, maces, and other weapons these iniquitous enemies left numbers of Christian dead beside the water, disemboweled, weltering. There was slain among others Andrew de Brienne, a valorous knight.
From that day the Saracen took heart, harrying and vexing. Saladin advanced from the north and got himself inside the city. He caused mangonels to be set up, petraries, and other machines. He was observed pacing the ramparts in ceaseless agitation. Some compared him to a lioness who had lost her young. He went three days with hardly any food, according to Beha al-Din who was there and joyously unleashed arrows toward the Christian host.
Franks on the hill of Toron saw a fleet of galleys bearing landward and thought they must be from Genoa or Venice or Marseille. But as they glided into the harbor they seized a transport full of men and victuals, took these captives inside Acre, slew them, dangled their mutilated bodies from walls to mock and defy the host. Yet is not our God a pillar of strength? Does He not hear and mercifully respond to the cries of His children? Down from Tyre with fifty vessels came Marquis Conrad de Montferrat. Saracens rowed out furiously to oppose him. Trumpets sounded. Greek fire was observed, Christian knights all ablaze hopping into the water. Others pierced by weapons tumbled overboard. Pagans climbed into one vessel and forced its mariners from the upper deck while those below sought to escape by rowing, hence the oars pulled different ways according to Franks below or Turks above. And here a Saracen galley was dragged to shore, assaulted by Christian women. Women grabbed Turks by their black locks, treated them shamefully, cut their throats with knives. Surely the Turks felt humiliated to be struck down by the weak hands of women.
Even so, like a multitude of insects here came more enemies, pagans of a different race, impetuous, hideous, savage heathen dark in aspect, of huge size and exceeding ferocity, abhorred by God and nature, showing crimson caps in lieu of helmets, wielding clubs notched with iron teeth, their standard a carved image of Mahomet. Ambroise reckoned their number at five hundred thousand. He likened these tossing waves of crimson caps to a cherry orchard ripe with fruit.
During the feast of Saint James a great company of destitute pilgrims, ten thousand at least, rushed against Saladin’s tents and unbelievers fled wildly in all directions. So the hungry pilgrims went about picking up food, whatever good things t
hey could find. But the Turks, looking back, seeing them hampered, returned to hurl themselves at these foolish people. Seven thousand died. More would have perished except for certain knights who rode out to save them. Torel de Mesnil gave up the ghost that day and was sorely lamented. The Devil, who never sleeps, contrived this work which left the host diminished. Or it may be, as some think, our blessed Lord beckoned more martyrs to His kingdom. Similar affronts would trouble this army of God beneath the walls of Acre. Divers misadventures would the Lord suffer to befall His children, considering that He wished to try them with hardship even as He tried the saints, as gold itself must be tried in the furnace.
Atop a high rock adjoining the port looms the Tower of Flies, so called because in ancient days it was a place of sacrifice where swarms of flies settled on broken flesh. Acre was then situated at Mount Toron not far distant and was called Ptolmais. They say the ruins of Ptolmais exist to our day. Perhaps. There is a tower called Accursed that surmounts the wall enclosing the city, which earned its name because here were minted those thirty pieces of silver used to betray our Lord. There is a hill called the Mosque that is the sepulcher of Memnon, although no one can say how or why the husk of this great Ethiopian king came to be here. And the little river Belus flowing past Acre is enriched with glassy sand, for which reason Solinus named it a wonder of the world. Close by is a flat rock where Africa, Asia, and Europe meet, three divisions of the world. Now this is Acre toward which streamed eminent Christian princes to confront the tumultuous horde of Saladin. Here came Nargenot du Bourg, Otho de la Fosse, William Goez, Count Richard from Apulia, Engelram de Vienne, Theobald de Bar, Count John from Loegria, Hervey de Gien, Guy de Dampierre, Count Nicholas from Hungary, Count John from Seis with a nephew of the Danish king. Also, chiefs of the Danes and four hundred fighting men. Here came the bishop of Verona. Who does not perceive in this the hand of our Sovereign? Is not His mercy everpresent for those who defend His name?
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