The Portable Medieval Reader

by James Bruce Ross

  I have, however, witnessed a case of their medicine which was quite different from that.

  The king of the Franks had for treasurer a knight named Bernard ... who (may Allah’s curse be upon him!) was one of the most accursed and wicked among the Franks. A horse kicked him in the leg, which was subsequently infected and which opened in fourteen different places. Every time one of these cuts would close in one place, another would open in another place. All this happened while I was praying for his perdition. Then came to him a Frankish physician and removed from the leg all the ointments which were on it and began to wash it with very strong vinegar. By this treatment all the cuts were healed and the man became well again. He was up again like a devil....

  NEWLY ARRIVED FRANKS ARE ESPECIALLY ROUGH: ONE INSISTS THAT USAMAH SHOULD PRAY EASTWARD

  Everyone who is a fresh emigrant from the Frankish lands is ruder in character than those who have become acclimatized and have held long association with the Moslems. Here is an illustration of their rude character.

  Whenever I visited Jerusalem I always entered the Aqsa Mosque, beside which stood a small mosque which the Franks had converted into a church. When I used to enter the Aqsa Mosque, which was occupied by the Templars ... who were my friends, the Templars would evacuate the little adjoining mosque so that I might pray in it. One day, I entered this mosque, repeated the first formula, “Allah is great,” and stood up in the act of praying, upon which one of the Franks rushed on me, got hold of me and turned my face eastward saying, “This is the way thou shouldst prayl” A group of Templars hastened to him, seized him, and repelled him from me. I resumed my prayer. The same man, while the others were otherwise busy, rushed once more on me and turned my face eastward, saying, “This is the way thou shouldst prayl” The Templars again came in to him and expelled him. They apologized to me, saying, “This is a stranger who has only recently arrived from the land of the Franks and he has never before seen anyone praying except eastward.” Thereupon I said to myself, “I have had enough prayer.” So I went out and have ever been surprised at the conduct of this devil of a man, at the change in the colour of his face, his trembling and his sentiment at the sight of one praying towards the qiblah.

  ANOTHER WANTS TO SHOW TO A MOSLEM GOD AS A CHILD

  I saw one of the Franks come to al-Amir Mu‘in-al-Din (may Allah’s mercy rest upon his soul!) when he was in the Dome of the Rock, and say to him, “Dost thou want to see God as a child?” Mu’in-al-Din said, “Yes.” The Frank walked ahead of us until he showed us the picture of Mary with Christ (may peace be upon him!) as an infant in her lap. He then said, “This is God as a child.” But Allah is exalted far above what the infidels say about him!

  FRANKS LACK JEALOUSY IN SEX AFFAIRS

  The Franks are void of all zeal and jealousy. One of them may be walking along with his wife. He meets another man who takes the wife by the hand and steps aside to converse with her while the husband is standing on one side waiting for his wife to conclude the conversation. If she lingers too long for him, he leaves her alone with the conversant and goes away.

  Here is an illustration which I myself witnessed:

  When I used to visit Nablus, I always took lodging with a man named Mu’izz, whose home was a lodging-house for the Moslems. The house had windows which opened to the road, and there stood opposite to it on the other side of the road a house belonging to a Frank who sold wine for the merchants. He would take some wine in a bottle and go around announcing it by shouting, “So and so, the merchant, has just opened a cask full of this wine. He who wants to buy some of it will find it in such and such a place.” The Frank’s pay for the announcement made would be the wine in that bottle. One day this Frank went home and found a man with his wife in the same bed. He asked him, “What could have made thee enter into my wife’s room?” The man replied, “I was tired, so I went in to rest.” “But how,” asked he, “didst thou get into my bed?” The other replied, “Well, I found a bed that was spread, so I slept in it.” “But,” said he, “my wife was sleeping together with theel” The other replied, “Well, the bed is hers. How could I therefore have prevented her from using her own bed?” “By the truth of my religion,” said the husband, “if thou shouldst do it again, thou and I would have a quarrel.” Such was for the Frank the entire expression of his disapproval and the limit of his jealousy....

  From Memoirs of Usamah, trans. P. K. Hitti (New York: Columbia University Press, 1929).

  A Crusader’s Criticism of the Greeks

  ODO OF DEUIL

  c. 1148

  AND then the Greeks degenerated entirely into women; putting aside all manly vigour, both of words and of spirit, they lightly swore whatever they thought would please us, but they neither kept faith with us nor maintained respect for themselves. In general they really have the opinion that anything which is done for the holy empire cannot be considered perjury. Let no one think that I am taking vengeance on a race of men hateful to me and that because of my hatred I am inventing a Greek whom I have not seen. Whoever has known the Greeks will, if asked, say that when they are afraid they become despicable in their excessive debasement and when they have the upper hand they are arrogant in their severe violence to those subjected to them....

  The city [Constantinople] itself is squalid and fetid and in many places harmed by permanent darkness, for the wealthy overshadow the streets with buildings and leave these dirty, dark places to the poor and to travellers; there murders and robberies and other crimes which love the darkness are committed. Moreover, since people live lawlessly in this city, which has as many lords as rich men and almost as many thieves as poor men, a criminal knows neither fear nor shame, because crime is not punished by law and never entirely comes to light. In every respect she exceeds moderation; for, just as she surpasses other cities in wealth, so, too, does she surpass them in vice. Also, she possesses many churches unequal to Santa Sophia in size but equal to it in beauty, which are to be marvelled at for their beauty and their many saintly relics. Those who had the opportunity entered these places, some to see the sights and others to worship faithfully.

  Conducted by the emperor [Manuel Comnenus], the king [Louis VII of France] also visited the shrines and, after returning, when won over by the urgency of his host’s requests, dined with him. That banquet afforded pleasure to ear, mouth, and eye with pomp as marvellous, viands as delicate, and pastimes as pleasant as the guests were illustrious. There many of the king’s men feared for him; but he, who had entrusted the care of himself to God, feared nothing at all, since he had faith and courage; for one who is not inclined to do harm does not easily believe that anyone will harm him.

  Although the Greeks furnished us no proof that they were treacherous, I believe that they would not have exhibited such unremitting servitude if they had had good intentions....

  Distrusting their pledge, scorning their favours, and foretelling the injuries which we afterwards endured, the bishop of Langres, however, urged us to take the city. He proved that the walls, a great part of which collapsed before our eyes, were weak, that the people were inert, that by cutting the conduits the fresh water supply could be withdrawn without delay or effort. He, a man of wise intellect and saintly piety, said that if that city were taken it would not be necessary to conquer the others, since they would yield obedience voluntarily to him who possessed their capital. He added further that Constantinople is Christian only in name, not in fact, and, whereas for her part she should not prevent others from bringing aid to Christians, her emperor had ventured a few years previously to attack the prince of Antioch. He said: “First he took Tarsus and Mamistra and numerous strongholds and a broad expanse of land, and, after expelling the Catholic bishops in the cities and replacing them with heretics, he besieged Antioch. And although it was his duty to ward off the near-by infidels by uniting the Christian forces, with the aid of the infidels he strove to destroy the Christians.” ...

  To us who suffered the Greeks’ evil deeds, however, divine
justice, and the fact that our people are not accustomed to endure shameful injuries for long, give hope of vengeance. Thus we comfort our sad hearts, and we shall follow the course of our misfortunes so that posterity may know about the Greeks’ treacherous actions.

  From De profectione Ludovici VII in orientem, trans. V. G. Berry (New York: Columbia University Press, 1948).

  Why the Crusaders Failed

  WILLIAM OF TYRE

  Late twelfth century

  AT THIS point I must digress somewhat from the course of my story, not to wander about aimlessly, but to bring out something of value. The question is often asked, and quite justly, why it was that our fathers, though less in number, so often bravely withstood in battle the far larger forces of the enemy and that often by divine grace a small force destroyed the multitudes of the enemy, with the result that the very name of Christian became a terror to nations ignorant of God, and thus the Lord was glorified in the works of our fathers. In contrast to this, the men of our times too often have been conquered by inferior forces; in fact, when with superior numbers they have attempted some exploit against adversaries less strong, their efforts have been fruitless and they have usually been forced to succumb.

  The first reason that presents itself, as we carefully and thoughtfully study this condition of our times, looking for aid to God, the Author of all things, is that our forefathers were religious men and feared God. Now in their places a wicked generation has grown up, sinful sons, falsifiers of the Christian faith, who run the course of all unlawful things without discrimination....

  A second reason occurs to us in passing. In earlier times, those first revered men who came to the lands of the East led by divine zeal and aflame with spiritual enthusiasm for the faith were accustomed to military discipline; they were trained in battle and familiar with the use of weapons. The people of the East, on the contrary, through long-continued peace, had become enervated; they were unused to the art of war, unfamiliar with the rules of battle, and gloried in their state of inactivity. Therefore it is not strange that men of war, even though few in number, easily held their own even against larger numbers and could boast of their superiority in carrying off the palm of victory. For in such matters (as those who have had more experience in war know better than I), facility in arms due to long and continual practice, when opposed to untrained strength and lack of persistence, generally wins.

  A third reason, no less important and effective, forces itself upon my attention. In former times almost every city had its own ruler. To speak after the manner of Aristotle, they were not dependent on one another; they were rarely actuated by the same motives, but, in fact, very often by those directly opposite. To contend in battle against adversaries of widely differing and frequently conflicting ideas, adversaries who distrusted each other, involved less peril. Those who feared their own allies not less than the Christians could not or would not readily unite to repulse the common danger or arm themselves for our destruction. But now, since God has so willed it, all the kingdoms adjacent to us have been brought under the power of one man. Within quite recent times, Zangi, a monster who abhorred the name of Christian as he would a pestilence, the father of this Nureddin who has lately died, first conquered many other kingdoms by force and then laid violent hands on Rages, also called Edessa, which even within our memory was the splendid and notable metropolis of the Medes. He took this city with all its territories and put to death all faithful believers found within its borders.

  Then his son, Nureddin, drove the king of Damascus from his own land, more through the treachery of the latter’s subjects than by any real valour, seized that realm for himself, and added it to his paternal heritage. Still more recently, the same Nureddin, with the assiduous aid of Shirkuh, seized the ancient and wealthy kingdom of Egypt as his own, in the manner already related more fully when the reign of King Amaury was under discussion.

  Thus, as has been said, all the kingdoms round about us obey one ruler, they do the will of one man, and at his command alone, however reluctantly, they are ready, as a unit, to take up arms for our injury. Not one among them is free to indulge any inclination of his own or may with impunity disregard the commands of his overlord. This Saladin, whom we have had occasion to mention so frequently, a man of humble antecedents and lowly station, now holds under his control all these kingdoms, for fortune has smiled too graciously upon him. From Egypt and the countries adjacent to it, he draws an inestimable supply of the purest gold of the first quality known as obryzum. Other provinces furnish him numberless companies of horsemen and fighters, men thirsty for gold, since it is an easy matter for those possessing a plenteous supply of this commodity to draw men to them....

  From A History of Deeds Done beyond the Seas, trans. E. A. Babcock and A. C. Krey (New York: Columbia University Press, 1943).

  The Expedition of the Grand Company to Constantinople

  RAMÓN MUNTANER

  1302

  “THEN, Lord,” said Frey Roger, “by your leave, I shall send two knights with an armed galley to the emperor of Constantinople [Andronicus II Palaeologus], and shall let him know that I am ready to go to him with as great a company of horse and foot, all Catalans and Aragonese, as he wishes, and that he should give us pay and all necessaries; that I know he greatly needs these succours, for the Turks have taken from him land of the extent of thirty journeys; and he could not do as much with any people as with Catalans and Aragonese, and especially with those who have carried on this war against King Charles.” And the lord king [Fadrique I of Sicily] answered, “Frey Roger, you know more in these matters than we do; nevertheless, it seems to us that your idea is good, and so ordain what you please, we shall be well satisfied with what you ordain.” And upon this Frey Roger kissed the king’s hand and departed from him and went to his lodging where he remained all that day arranging matters. And the lord king and the others attended the feast and the diversions and disportings.

  And when the next day came, he had a galley equipped and called two knights whom he trusted, and told them all he had planned; and also told them that, above all, they should make a treaty by which he would obtain, as wife, the niece [daughter] of the emperor of Lantzaura [Bulgaria] and also that he be made grand duke of the empire; and again, that the emperor give pay for four months to all those he would bring, at the rate of four onzas a month to each armed horseman and one onza a month to each man afoot. And that he keep them at this pay all the time they wished to remain, and that they find the pay at Monemvasia. And Frey Roger gave them the articles of all this, as well of these matters as of all they were to do. And I know this, as I, myself, was present at the dictating and ordering of these articles. And he gave them power, by an adequate permit, to sign everything for him, as well about the marriage as about other matters. And, assuredly, the knights were worthy and wise, and when they had heard the plan, a few articles would have sufficed them; nevertheless all was done in regular order.

  With that, when they were ready, they took leave of Frey Roger who held the matter for concluded, because his renown was great in the house of the emperor, from the time he was commanding the ship of the Templars, called the Falcon, when he had done many favours to ships of the emperor which he met beyond the seas, and he knew Greek very well. And so, likewise, he was very renowned in Romania and throughout all the world for the help he had given so freely to the lord king of Sicily, and so he was able to provide himself very fully with followers. Thus En Berenguer de Entenza, with whom he had sworn brotherhood, promised to follow him ... and many other Catalan and Aragonese knights; and of the almugavars [special infantry] full four thousand, all expert, who, from the time of the lord king En Pedro until that day, had carried on the war in Sicily. He was very cheerful, and helped all meanwhile as much as he could; he did not leave them in want of anything.

  And the galley went so fast that, in a short time, it was at Constantinople where it found the emperor, Skyr Andronicus and his eldest son, Skyr Miqueli. And when the emperor
had heard the message, he was very joyous and content and received the messengers well and, in the end, the matter came to pass as Frey Roger had dictated; the emperor wished Frey Roger to have to wife his niece, daughter of the emperor of Lantzaura. She was at once affianced to one of the knights for Frey Roger. Then Skyr Andronicus agreed that all the company Frey Roger would bring should be in the pay of the emperor; four onzas pay for each armed horse and one onza for each man afoot, and four onzas for each boatswain and one onza for each steersman, and twenty silver reales for each crossbowman and twenty-five silver reales for each seaman of the prow; and they should be paid every four months. And if, at any time, there was anyone who wished to go west, that the reckoning be made according to the agreement and that he be paid and allowed to return, and receive pay for two months whilst returning; and that Frey Roger be made grand duke of all the empire. And grand duke is a title which means the same as prince and lord over all the soldiers of the empire, with authority over the admiral; and all the islands of Romania are subject to him and also the places on the seacoasts.

  And the emperor sent the charter of his title of grand duke to Frey Roger in a handsome gold casket, signed by him and his sons, and he sent him the baton of the office and the banner and hat (all the officials of Romania have a special hat the like of which no other man may wear). And so likewise he granted that they should find provision of pay at Monemvasia and of all they would need on arrival.