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CHAPTER IX

From the First Crusade to the death of Saladin.

THE world, as we have seen, was at this time divided into two grand religious parties, namely, the Christians and the Mahometans, each of whom affected to regard the small territory of Palestine, which they called the Holy Land, as an invaluable acquisition. The origin of the Crusades may therefore be attributed to a superstitious veneration for the places where our Saviour had lived and performed his miracles, which annually brought vast numbers of pilgrims from all parts of Christendom to visit the city of Jerusalem, and those particular spots in its vicinity which had been rendered especially memorable by his preaching, sufferings and death. Although the Saracens under Omar, their second caliph, had taken Jerusalem, and conquered Palestine, in the seventh century, they allowed the pilgrims to continue to visit their favorite haunts on payment of a small tribute. In 1065, however, the Turks wrested the holy city, as it was styled, from the Saracens; and, as they were much more fierce and barbarous than the latter, the pilgrims could no longer with safety perform their devotions; and Europe resounded with complaints against the infidel possessors of Palestine, who profaned the holy places and so cruelly treated the devotees.

Europe was at the time full of enthusiastic warriors, who wanted but little stimulus to lead them to the field of glory; and Pope Gregory VII. had already meditated and urged the union of Christendom against the religion of Mahomet. Besides the religious motive of freeing Jerusalem from the dominion of the Turks, some views of ambition might have induced the court of Rome to encourt of Rome to engage in this project. But whatever might have been the chief motives, an opporchief motives, an opportunity soon presented itself, which was seized with avidity. A bold enthusiast, named Peter, who from his ascetic life was called the Hermit, having been on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, represented the oppression of the holy city, and the cruel treatment which the Christians suffered in terms so appalling to Urban II. (who filled the papal see at the time), that the pontiff listened to his scheme for unitto his scheme for uniting all the Christian States against the Turks, and leading armies into Asia, sufleading armies into Asia, sufficient in number and prowess to conquer these warlike people by whom the Holy Land was held in subjection. In consequence of this a council was summoned, and a meeting of clergy and laity took place in a field in the neighborhood of Placentia at which 4,000 ecclesiastics and 30,000 laymen were present. Both Peter the Hermit and the pope represented in the most vivid colors the direful situation of their brethren in the east, and the indignity offered to the religion of Christ. Their speeches were suited to the passions of their hearers, and so well seconded by the adventurous spirit of the times, that a violent and tumultuous declaration of war burst forth from all sides; and the assembled multitude devoted themselves cheerfully to a service that they believed to be meritorious in the sight. of heaven. The zealous Peter next visited the chief cities and sovereigns of Chriscities and sovereigns of Christendom, calling upon them to rescue the sepulchre of their Saviour from the tyrannous grasp of the Turks. Another council was speedily held at Clermont in Auvergne, which was attended by many princes and the greatest prelates and nobles; and when Urban and the Hermit renewed their pathetic declamations, the whole aspathetic declamations, the whole assembly burst forth in a general exclamation, " It is the will of God!" words which were immediately attributed to divine inspiration, and adopted as the signal of rendezvous and battle. Men of all ranks now flew to arms with the utmost ardor; and a cross of red cloth was affixed to their right shoulder; hence the names of crusade (or croisade) and crusaders were derived to express this new expedition, professedly undertaken on religious grounds. However imprudent the project, the prevailing taste and prejudices of the age occasioned its being adopted without exits being adopted without examination. Independent of this their passions were absorbed in their love of war; they were delighted with the thoughts of adventure, and the brave were attracted by the hopes of gain as well as with the love of glory. What was not to be exglory. What was not to be expected from the valor of an infinite number of warriors fighting under the banner of the cross ? No means were left unemployed to swell their ranks. The rich and poor, the saintly and the criminal, were alike eager to show their devotion in the cause. Sovereigns shared in and applauded it; the nobility with their vassals engaged in it; and the clergy not only loudly extolled it from the pulpit, but taught the people to consider it as an atonement for their sins. No wonder then that the number of adventurers at last became so numerous that their leaders grew apprehensive lest the greatness of the armament should disappoint its purdisappoint its purpose. Some were elated at the prospects of worldly advantage which opened to their view, as they beheld in perspective the rich conquests in Asia; others thought of the expiation of their offences in the tumult of war, and rejoiced that they could gratify their inclinations while performing a sacred duty. If they succeeded, their fortune seemed to be secured in this world; if they died, a crown of martyrdom was promised in the next. So many causes uniting had almost an insurmountable power; and their concurrences is one of the most curious phenomena to be met with in history.

An undisciplined multitude, computed at three hundred thousand men, led the way, under the command of Peter the Hermit, and a soldier of fortune, called Walter the moneyless. They passed through Hungary and Bulgaria, towards Constantinople; and trusting to supernatural aid for the supply of their wants, they made no provision for substinence on their march. They were, in fact, composed partly of fanatics and partly of wretches bent on plunder; and the result was, as might have been expected, that the enraged inhabitants of the countries which they pillaged fell upon and nearly annihilated them before they could reach Constantinople, the place appointed for their general rendezvous. The more disciplined armies followed soon after. Among their leaders were the celebrated Godfrey of Bouillon, with his brothers, Baldwin and Eustace; Robert, duke of Normandy; Hugh, brother of Philip I. king of France; Robert, earl of Flanders; Raymond, count of Toulouse, and other experienced commanders.

Thus led, this host of warriors traversed Germany and Hungary, passed over the strait of Gallipoli, conquered Nice in 1097, Antioch and Edessa in 1098, and lastly, Jerusalem in 1099; of which city Godfrey of Bouillon was chosen king; but he refused to bear that title in the Holy Land; and died in 1100. In 1102, an army of 260,000 men left Europe on the same destination; they perished, however, partly on the march and partly by the sword of the sultan of Iconium. Such was the issue of the first crusade: but the spirit which had been thus excited was not to be so readily extinguished: a second, a third and several other crusades were undertaken during a succession of almost two hundred years, and ended in very similar results. In 1201, the town of Acre, or Ptolemais, in which the descendents of Godfrey still maintained the regal title, was plundered by the Sultan of Egypt, and the Christians were driven out of Syria.