Tancred’s nephew Roger was found among innumerable dead at the foot of a great jeweled cross, his skull split to the nose. Ilghazi made off with his head, his armor, and the cross, carrying these trophies to Aleppo. News of the battle preceded him. The citizens of Aleppo butchered sheep and danced in the street when he arrived. They saw naked Franks dragged over stones, Christian heads displayed on lances. This much to the delight of those who recalled how Jerusalem was sacked.
When news of this defeat reached Antioch the people thought Ilghazi would come to murder them and raze the city, but he did not. Muslims say he drank so much wine that he was seized with a violent ague and could not get out of bed for twenty days. Meanwhile he sent word of his victory to the caliph who honored him with a splendid robe and a title, Star of Religion. Three years later Ilghazi dropped shrieking into the fiery pit when the true and unbiased voice of God was heard.
Ibn al-Athir wrote in his account of the Arab world how Turcomans such as fought the pilgrims were brutal nomads oblivious to the teaching of Islam. They enrolled beneath the banner of cupidity, each with a pouch of flour and dried sheep flesh, and consented to follow Ilghazi only so long as they were paid. They put jugs of water in front of captive Franks, killing those who tried to drink. Numerous soldiers of Christ taken alive on that sanguine field gave up the ghost in such a way, yet we know they came face to face with Him.
Pilgrims who determined to visit the Holy Land would travel uneasily by ship past Saracen castles. Should our Lord deign to guide and protect them, at length they came to port at Joppa where they were met with joy by Christians eager for news of the distant West, for news of loved ones in Gaul or England or the Netherlands or Germany. These newcomers told what they knew of kingdoms and families, which was a source of grief or bewilderment or rejoicing. Many perished en route. Albert of Aix declares that in a single year three hundred ships fell victim to pirates. How many servants of Christ were hurled into the sea, sold into bondage? But if they got safely to Jerusalem and Bethlehem and other holy places they were able to fulfill their vows, grateful they did not see the vile crescent of Islam defiling the domes of churches. Most returned to their homes with glorious accounts of what they had seen, such as splinters from the True Cross found beneath the shrine of the Sepulcher. They had seen water that gushed from the rod of Moses, shreds of Blessed Mary’s robe, two thorns from the crown that Jesus wore, and in a glass vial they beheld some darkness from one of Egypt’s seven plagues.
Certain pilgrims chose not to return but settled in the East. And with the passing years these Franks, Lombards, Germans, Scots, and Danes who lived in Outremer grew increasingly Asiatic. They forgot the cities of their birth, Marseilles, Düsseldorf, Genoa, Canterbury. They became men of Antioch or Galilee. They wore slippers and loose clothing. Their women wore veils. They slept in the long noon heat. They established fresh codes of law and new tribunals, inherited servitors, possessed homes. Some chose to marry Christian women of Syria or a Saracen that had received the grace of baptism. Therefore Turks might live at a Christian house, related through marriage. Indeed, while speaking various languages they learned to understand all. Hence they asked themselves why they should go back to the West that had been their home, since the East proved generous. Those with few coins in Europe now fondled more bezants than they could count. This seemed a great miracle, enough to amaze the world. Surely the Lord wishes to enrich all of us and draw us to Him. And because that is what He desires, that is what we also desire. What is pleasing to Him, that would His children do with loving and submissive hearts, for we would live in Him throughout eternity.
It happened when King Baldwin neared his sixtieth year that he resolved to punish Egypt for egregious wickedness. Therefore with two hundred knights and four hundred men afoot he marched south to Pharamia, an ancient city close by the mouth of the Nile. Here, too, is an old city called Tanis where long ago the Lord worked signs before Pharaoh through his servant Moses. The inhabitants of Pharamia fled in terror when King Baldwin arrived so he took it without a blow. Next morning he went to contemplate the fabulous river, which is called Gihon by Israelites, which he had not seen. He gazed upon it with delight, marveling at the water because this river originates in Paradise. Yet how could that be? We are told that Paradise is found to the east, but to the east lies the Red Sea. Has the Gihon a second source? Or if it does emanate from Paradise to the east, how shall it resume a course west of the Red Sea? As good Boethius notes, when we observe a thing contrary to expectation there must be error and confusion in our thought.
The Red Sea is red because of discolored rock, yet if its water is poured in a vessel it remains pure and limpid. What better witness to the inimitable strength of God? The Red Sea derives from an ocean to the south but extends like a tongue almost to Mount Sinai, one day’s journey by horse. From this sea to the Great Sea, or Mediterranean, is thought to require five days on horseback through a parched and desolate region encompassing much of Egypt, Numidia, and Ethiopia. As to where the Mediterranean originates, some point to the Straits of Gades with no source but the surging ocean. Others trace
