Deus Lo Volt!

the day when the Dispersion of Apostles is celebrated. And should His Holiness wish to know what was done to these unbelievers, know that in Solomon’s Porch the knights rode through Saracen blood as high as the knees of horses. But while they considered who ought to hold the city they learned that the King of Babylon with a host of soldiers encamped before Ascalon, whose purpose was to lead the Franks into captivity. Therefore the army of God went out to meet him. And God was present. Christian soldiers rushed against the infidels with such alacrity that one might have taken them for a herd of deer rushing to quench their thirst in water. So all the treasure belonging to the King of Babylon was seized while one hundred thousand Moors perished by the sword. Those drowned in the sea surpassed counting. Likewise, many were slain among thickets of thorns. Nor should it be omitted that on the day preceding this battle the army captured untold thousands of camels, oxen, and sheep, which were divided among the pilgrims. And when the army proceeded, glorious to relate, these animals organized themselves into squadrons to accompany the soldiers, and halted or charged as did the host. Meanwhile the clouds overhead protected and sheltered these soldiers from the heat of the sun. And when the victory had been celebrated the army returned in triumph to Jerusalem. Therefore all those of the catholic Church of Christ and of the Latin church should exult in the bravery and devotion of their brethren. May they sit down at the right hand of God who lives and reigns eternally.

This letter they despatched to His Holiness Paschal, who became pontiff at the demise of His Holiness Urban II, following the memorable victory of Ascalon.

How is it that we know the beginning of things but not their end? Less than one year after Jerusalem was liberated Duke Godfrey fell ill at Caesarea, having attended a banquet given by the emir. Some think he ate poisoned fruit. Whatever the truth, he continued to Joppa but there his spirit failed. He asked to be carried to the Holy City. In the pleasant shadows of Jerusalem he improved, if not much. Remedies were sought far and wide, to no advantage. On the eighteenth day of July in the year of our Savior 1100 he went the way of all flesh to accept perpetual life. He was buried at the entrance to the chapel of Adam near the foot of Golgotha. So passed from view the first Latin ruler of Jerusalem.

For three months the throne stood vacant. At length, perhaps by agreement among certain lords, or in deference to Godfrey’s last wish, his brother Baldwin was elected. The bishop of Ramlah with an escort of knights rode hastily to Edessa but did not find Baldwin. They were told he had set out to rescue Lord Bohemond who was captured by Turks.

It so happened that Armenians in the city of Melitene greatly dreaded an attack by the emir Malik Ghazi and appealed to Bohemond for help. Since he had numerous Armenian friends such as the bishops of Marash and Antioch, he responded gladly. With three hundred knights he went marching up the river Euphrates toward Melitene. By all accounts he marched inattentively through the hills. Malik Ghazi caught him unaware, massacred the reckless knights. Bohemond himself, seeing no escape, cut off a lock of his hair, entrusting it to a sergeant who slipped away and got to Edessa. In that way Baldwin learned what happened. And there was Bohemond’s yellow hair to prove his sergeant spoke the truth.

Malik Ghazi large with success rode to the very walls of Melitene where he shouted insults and displayed bloody Frankish heads. But when he found out that Baldwin was en route he withdrew toward the mountains. Baldwin followed Malik Ghazi for three days. Then, not liking the look of things, and because he doubted Bohemond could be saved, he turned around. By this time, say Arab chronicles, Bohemond dressed in chains was on his way to the distant castle of Niksar.

So it was not until Lord Baldwin got back to Edessa that he learned his brother Godfrey was dead and he, himself, would be king of Jerusalem.

September passed arranging for this new estate, deputizing a cousin to act as regent of Edessa. In October, grieving somewhat upon his brother’s death, all the same rejoicing at such good luck, he set out for Jerusalem. From Antioch he sent his wife with her ladies by sea to Joppa.

Fulcher de Chartres relates that two leagues above Beyrouth they came to a narrow place in the public road, no more than a ledge on the cliff. One hundred thousand soldiers could not get through, he writes, if sixty armed men resolutely blocked the way. From ancient times this has been a famous passage. Every general who forced it has left some inscription on the cliff. Here may be seen the writing of Pharaoh Ramses, Nebuchadnezzar, Septimius Severus, and others. Lord Baldwin proceeded cautiously. What lay in wait but a great many Arabs and Turks commanded by Ginanhadoles and Ducath. We pretended one thing and thought another, says Fulcher. We feigned boldness but feared death. I very much wished to be in Chartres or Orléans, as did everyone else.

Baldwin retreated a little. Next morning a little further. Enemies of Christ followed. But when the passage narrowed he turned swiftly to attack and by nightfall had sent them flying. Many in despair hurled themselves from rocky crags into the sea. Others met the point of the sword. Others dispersed quicker than rabbits bounding away to the mountains or scurrying to safety behind the walls of Beyrouth. After this Baldwin was not molested.

When he approached the Holy City all came forth to honor him. Greeks, Syrians, many bearing crosses and lighted candles. They escorted him to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and with ringing voices praised God.

Lord Baldwin rested six days in