We made haste to Normandy, where Robert had to finance, recruit and prepare a new army for an expedition the like of which had not been attempted since the days of the legions of Rome.
Robert garnered his resources over the first few months of 1096 in concert with many others from as far afield as Germany, Christian Spain and southern Italy to put together the host of avenging Christians that the Pope had called for. We heard the news of each new contingent and listened to the ever more hateful rhetoric with growing anxiety.
Besides Robert of Normandy and Raymond of Toulouse, the men who provided the majority of the Crusade’s money and manpower were some of the richest men in Europe: Godfrey of Bouillon, the second son of Count Eustace of Boulogne, who mortgaged all his estates to pay for his adventure; Count Robert of Flanders who, like Raymond of Toulouse, was driven by religious fanaticism; Stephen, Count of Blois, who was bullied into going by his domineering wife to atone for his many sins; and Baldwin of Boulogne, Godfrey’s brother, who was motivated by simple greed and had every intention of staying in the Holy Land to create his own Christian fiefdom.
The formidable Bohemond of Taranto, the eldest son of Robert Guiscard, also ‘took the cross’ to the Holy Land, as it came to be known — through the practice adopted by the Crusaders of sewing a cross on to their surcoats, or painting it on to their shields. A man who stood a head taller than any of his contemporaries, he was as fierce as he was tall and had spent his life fighting Byzantines and Muslims in southern Italy and the Adriatic.
Bohemond also brought a large group of Norman knights from Calabria, Apulia and Sicily, battle-hardened men used to fighting Arab armies. Among them was another giant, Tancred of Hauteville — only twenty years old and fluent in Arabic, he had already made a reputation for himself as a ferocious warrior.
There was one other leader of the Crusade, whose army of peasants, thieves and vagabonds left Europe long before the knights and professional soldiers. Peter the Hermit, a short, skinny ascetic with long, unkempt hair, was not fond of washing himself or his meagre clothes, walked barefoot, drank only wine and ate only fish. Despite his repulsive appearance and odd habits, he was a remarkable orator who inspired large crowds, which followed him around as if he were a messiah. By May of 1096, his multitude, over 20,000 strong, was on its way to Constantinople. The horde had almost no money, few weapons and little idea where the Holy Land was, but they had a blind faith compelling them to go — men and women, young and old, from all over Europe.
When Peter the Hermit’s followers reached Germany, their anti-Muslim hatred found another, much easier target — the other ‘infidels’, the placid and inconspicuous Jews who had lived at peace in Europe for centuries. Like a contagion, as the Crusaders passed through the towns and cities of central Europe, their fanaticism spread to the local population, inciting them to slaughter their Jewish neighbours and fellow citizens in their thousands.
What we feared would happen had begun, but long before we had expected it. The Jews just happened to get in the way.
Robert’s biggest dilemma in preparing his army was how to pay for it. The sum required was so huge, it would have impoverished his duchy for years.
He called the Brethren together to discuss it.
‘I estimate I need four times my annual income to pay for the thousands of people who want to make the journey. Several of my ancestors made pilgrimages to Jerusalem; most never came back. I’ve been checking the accounts. Do you realize that, as well as knights and infantry, I need to take a complete duplicate of my administration and every skill and trade in the realm, from grooms to blacksmiths, whores to falconers? My steward has calculated that we will need four hundred carts and double the number of oxen to pull them! I think we can find enough whores, but where will I find eight hundred oxen?’
Imperturbable as always, Edwin came up with the obvious solution.
‘Can’t you take fewer people?’
‘If only that were possible; every priest in the realm is preaching salvation to those who take up the cross. They are swearing oaths to God to free the Sacred Places. Once they’ve done that, I can’t deny them passage. That would be tantamount to heresy — and would lead to me being accused of the same crime as the Muslims.’
I had anticipated Robert’s dilemma and had been thinking about it for a while.
‘Robert, I have a suggestion for you.’
‘Please! I need a very large pot of gold.’
‘Well, I think I know where there is one. Rufus covets Normandy like a parched man craves water. Why don’t you pledge him a controlling share of the wealth of the dukedom? I have spoken to your Chancellor, and he estimates its value at around 10,000 German marks. According to the great ledger of taxes and tithes drawn up in your father’s reign, if the King were to impose a geld of four shillings per hide throughout the entire kingdom, he could raise the money. He wouldn’t be very popular, but I don’t think that would bother Rufus.’
‘Edgar, you’re a cunning old fox; that might work!’
A few weeks later, Rufus, King of England, made a personal delivery of the huge geld.
He entered Rouen in grand style with enough coin to acquire two-thirds of the duchy: 67 barrels, each containing 100 pounds of silver. In exchange he took possession of his homeland and united England and Normandy. His long-term ambition had been achieved — sovereignty over a land that stretched from the wildernesses of Wales and Scotland to the gates of Paris.
Robert, although saddened by the loss, was at long last freed from the burden of his inheritance and possessed of sufficient resources to begin a dramatic new adventure in a distant land.
PART FIVE
25. The Purple
We had to reach the Alps before winter, and in September of 1096 all was ready for the long journey across Europe. The various contingents took different routes, partly out of preference, but also to help spread the impact of the vast horde on local supplies of fresh food.
Robert’s Norman army included many Norman knights based in England and a few dozen native Englishmen who could afford the costs of horses, grooms and men-at-arms. I was given the honour of leading the English with my own staff and retinue. Edwin became my standard-bearer and Sweyn my aide-de-camp. He was granted a full knight’s title by Robert — Sir Sweyn of Bourne — which allowed Adela to revert to her role as Sweyn’s wife and take the title Lady Adela of Bourne, thus granting her sufficient status to mix with other high-born Crusaders. Robert also found a title of esteem for Estrith, appointing her as Abbess of Fecamp, a dormant appellation within his gift for a foundation that had been closed during his father’s reign.
Several other lords and knights brought their wives — some even brought their children — so Adela and Estrith had far more female company than they had been used to.
Our route took us via Lyon and Geneva and we crossed the Alps well before the first snows, refreshing ourselves with an extended stay outside the gates of Turin. We were feted everywhere we went with wild cheering and gifts of food, wine and religious relics. Masses were said for us, and many of our knights were blessed with more amorous gifts by women along the route.
In some places, a few particularly ardent souls took the spontaneous decision to join the Crusade, closed up their houses, gathered their belongings and weapons and found a place in the convoy.
I often looked back to admire the remarkable sight that we presented — an immensely long band of colour weaving its way through the lush autumn countryside. The usual martial array of heraldic pennons, gonfalons and war banners in every hue imaginable had been superseded by the blood red of Christ’s cross. It also seemed to be painted on every shield and embroidered on every surcoat and cloak, creating a striking statement of common cause.
Songs and prayers often broke the monotonous trundle of the carts and the clatter of hooves, and there were always the laughter and animated conversation of excited people, enthused by their mission.
Robert was a well-organized leader. The daily march was carefully shepherded and the route meticulously
