# 5.9 The Muslim reaction: Ibn al-Athir, The First Crusade (13th c.). Original in Arabic. From THe MUSLIM POINT OF VIEW, the conquests “for the Lord” that Stephen of Blois spoke about were, tothe contrary, entirely ungodly. In the writings of ibn al-Athir (1160-1233), the key events of the First Crusade—the siege and conquest of Antioch, the capture of Jerusalern —are told with some dispassion, for al~Athir, while drawing on earlier sources, was writing over a cen- tury after the events. His inclusion of a poem by al-Abiwardi shows that, just as a new Hebrew liverature of martyrdom emerged after the massacre of the Jews, $0 too an Arabic literature of Iamentation accompanied the Muslim experience of the First Crusade. How would you compare his account of the siege of Antioch with that of Stephen of Blois in his letter home, above, p. 293? How would you compare the sentiments in che poem of al-Abiwardi here with those of Raban in his poem above, p. 286? [Source: Arab Historians ofthe Crusades, ed. and trans, (from Arabic) Francesco Gabrieli, trans, (Geom Italian) E. J. Costello (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1966), pp. 3-12 (slightly emg eS RORIRTE modified),} ‘THE FRANKS SEIZE ANTIOCH The power of the Franks frst became apparent when in the year 478 {1085-86 they invaded the territories ‘of Islam and took Toledo and other parts of Ands- Iusia, as was mentioned carlice. Then in 484 [1091] they attacked and conquered the island of Sicily® and ‘turned their attention co the African coast. Certain of | their conquests there were won back agein but they hhad other successes, as you will ee. In 490 [1097] the Franks attacked Syria. Thisis how itll began: Baldwin, their King, a kinsman of Rogez the Frank who had conquered Sicily" assembled 2 ‘great army and sent word to Roger saying: “I have assembled a great army and now I am on my way to ‘you, to use your bases for my conquest ofthe African coast. Thus you and I shall become neighbors.” Roger called together his companions and consulted them about these proposals. “This will bea fine thing both for them and for us!” they declared, “for by this means these lands will be converted to the Faith!" At this Roger raised one leg and farted loudly, and swore thatit was of more use than their advice. “Why?” “Be~ cause if this army comes here it will need quantities of provisions and fleets of ships to transport it to AVtica, as well as reinforcements from my own troops. Then, if the Franks succeed in conquering this territory they will take it over and will need provisioning from Sicily. This will cost me my annual profit from che harvest. If they fail they will return here and be an embarrass- ‘ment to me here in my own domain, As well as all this ‘Tamim will sy that T have broken faith with him and violated our treaty, and friendly relations and commu- nications between us will be disrupted. As far as we are concerned, Aftica is always there. When we are trong. ‘enough we will tke it.” He summoned Baldwin's messenger and stid to hhim: “I you have decided to make war on the Mus- lims your best course will be to free Jerusalem from. their rule and thereby win great honor. I am bound by certain promises and treaties of allegiance with the rulers of Aftica.” So the Franks made ready and set out to attack Syria. Another story is that the Fatimids of Egypt were aftaid when they saw the Seljuks extending their 1 The first date isthe Llamic one, the anne Hajime (4H), named aftr the hija or emigration of Muhammad vo Medina; che second dates = The year 1 AN ie egal t0 622 2 This date cleanly refer to the ond ofthe Norman conquest of Sicily. 3 No “King Baldwin" ld the Fase Crusade, bu several Baldwins were involved int, and later one of them, Beldwin of Boulogne (41:8) was crowned King of Jerusalem 4 Roger Guissrd (10). 5S Tamim wa the Zird emir of Tunisia 296 FIVE: THE EXPANSION oF EUROPE (¢.1050-C.1150)‘empire through Syria a far as Gaza, until they reached the Egyptian border and Atsiz! invaded Egype itself They therefore sent co invite the Franks to invade Syria and so protect Egypt from the Muslims Bur God knows best. ‘When the Franks decided to attack Syria they marched east ro Constantinople, o that they could cross the sttaits and advance into Muslim territory by the easier, land route. When they reached Constanti- nople, the Emperor of the East refused them permis- sion to pass through his domains.” He said: “Unless you first promise me Antioch. I shall not allow you to cross into the Muslim empire.” His real intention ‘as to incite them to attack the Muslims, for he was convinced that the Turks, whose invincible control over Asia Minor he had observed, would exterminate every one of them. They accepted his conditions and in 490 (1097) they crossed che Bosphorus at Constan- sinople. Iconium and the rest of the area into which they now advanced belonged to Qilij Aran iba Su laiman ibn Quelamish, who barzed their way with his troops. They broke through in rajab 490 (July 1097]. crossed Cilicia, and finally reached Antioch, which they besieged. “When Yaghi Siyan, the ruler of Antioch, heard of their approach, he was not sure how che Christian people of the city would react, so he made the Mus- Tims go outside the city on their own to dig trenches and the next day sent che Christians out alone 0 continue the task. When they were ready to return hhome atthe end ofthe day he refused to allow chem. “Antioch is yous,” he said, “but you will have Icave it to me until I see what happens between us and the Franks." “Who will protect our children and our wives?" they suid. “I shall look after them for you.” So they resigned themselves to heir fae, and lived in the Frankish camp for nine months, while the city ‘was under siege ‘Yaghi Siyan showed unparalleled courage and wis- dom, strength and judgment. If all the Franks who died had survived they would have overrun all the lands of Islam. He protected the families ofthe Chhris- tians in Ansioch and would not allow a hair of their heads to be touched. After the siege had been going on for a long time the Franks made a deal with one of the men who were responsible for the towers, He was a breastplate maker called Ruzbih whom they bribed with a for- tune in money and lands. He worked in the tower that stood over the siverbed, where the river flowed cout ofthe city into the valley. The Franks sealed their ‘pace with the breast-plate maker, God damn him! and rade their way tothe water-gate, They opened itand catered the city. Another gang of them climbed the rower with ropes, At dawn, when more than 500 of them were in the city and the defenders were worn ‘out afer the night watch, they sounded their trum- pets. Yaghi Siyan woke up and asked what the noise ‘meant. He was told that erampets had sounded from the citadel and that it must have been taken. In fact the sound came not from the citadel but from the tower, Panic seized Yaghi Siyan and he opened the city gates and fled in terzor, with an escort of thirty pages. His army commander arrived, bac when he discovered on enquiry that Yaghi Sivan had fled, he made his escape by another gate. This was of great hhelp to the Franks, for ifhe had stood firm for an hous, hey would have been wiped out. They entered the city by the gates and sacked i, slaughtering all the ‘Muslims they found there. This happened injumada { [4ot: April/May 1098]. As for Yaghi Siyan, when the sun rose he recovered his self control and realized thac ‘his ight had taken him several sok? from the city. He asked his companions where he was, and on hear ing chat he was four faith from Antioch he repented of having rushed to safety instead of taying to fight co the death. He began to groan and weep for his deser- tion of his household and children. Overcome by the violence of his grief he fell fainting from his horse. His companions tried to lift him back into the saddle, ‘but they could not get him to st up, and so left him for dead while chey escaped. He was at his ast gasp ‘Aes ba Usa Seljuk general "The Fatimid rats of Egype were Shi'ite Masts Jane sr, secording to European sources (One farsa is about four mies 3) The “Emperor of the East” refers to Byzantine Emperor Alexus (4.1118). 5 5.9 WBN AL-ATHIR, THE FIRST CRUSADE (13TH €.) 297 scsccuniscinnannicnssal iiaa feminine nie CRRRtOSREE CRAs noma: = eos e ‘when an Armenian shepherd came past, killed him, ‘cut off his head and took it to the Franks 2t Antioch, ‘The Franks had written to the rulers of Aleppo and Damascus to say that they had no interest in any cities but those that had once belonged to Byzantium, ‘This was. piece of deceie calculated to dissuade these rulers from going to the help of Antioch, When Qawam ad-Daula Kerbuga’ heard that the Franks had taken Antioch he mustered his army and advanced into Syria, where he camped at Mar) Dab, All the Tarkish and Arab forces in Syria rallied 0 him except forthe army from Aleppo. Among his suppore- fers were Dugag ibn Tutush’ the Ata-beg Tughtkin, Jnnah aé-Daula of Hims, Assan Tash of Sanjar, Sulaiman ibn Artug and other less important emis, ‘When the Franks heard of cis they were alarmed and anid, for their troops were weak and short of food. ‘The Muslims advanced and eame face to face with the Franks in front of Antioch. Kerbuga, thinking that the present crisis would force the Muslims to remain loyal to him, alienated them by his pride andill-treat- ment of chem. They plotted in secret anger to betray hhim and deserc him in the heat of batle. ‘After taking Antioch the Franks camped there for twelve days without food. The wealehy ate their horses and the poor ate carrion and leaves from the tees. Their leaders, faced with this situation, wrote ro Kerbuga to ask for safe-conduct through his territory but he refused, saying “You will have to fight your way out.” Among the Frankish leaders were Baldvvin, Saint Gilles, Godirey of Bouillon, the farure Count of Edessa, and their leader Bokemond of Antioch, There was also 2 holy man who had great influence cover them, a man of low cunning, who proclaimed that the Messiah had a lance buried in the Qusyan, a great building in Antioch:* "And if you find i you will be victorious and if you fil you will surely dic.” Before seying this he had buried a lance in a cerrain spor and coneealed all trace of it. He exhorzed chem to fast and repent for three days, and on the fourth day he led them all co the spot with their soldiers and workmen, who dug everywhere and found the lance as he had told them* Whereupon he cried “Rejoice! For victory is secure.” So on the fifth day they lefe the city in groups of five or six. The Muslims said to Kerbuga: “You should go up to the city and kill them cone by one as they come out; itis easy t0 pick them off snow that they have split up.” He replied: “No, wait until they have all come out and then we will kill hem.” He would not allow thems to attack the enemy, and when some Muslims killed a group of Franks, he ‘went himself to forbid such bebaviour and prevent its recurrence. When all he Franks had come out and not ‘one wat left in Antioch, they began to attack strongly, and the Muslims turned and fled. This was Kerbuga’s fault, first because he had treated the Muslims with such contempe and scom, and second because he had prevented their killing the Franks. The Muslims were completely routed without striking a single blow or firing a single arrow. The last co flee were Sugman ibn Artug and Janah ad-Daula, who had been sent to set an ambush. Kerbuga escaped with them, When the Franks saw this they were afraid chat a trap was being set for chem, for there had not even been any fighting. to fice from, so they dared not follow them. The only ‘Muslims co stand firm were a detachment of warriors from the Holy Land, who fought to acquire merit in God's eyes and to seek martyrdom. The Franks killed them by the thousand and stripped their camp of food and possessions, equipment, horses and arms, with which they re-equipped themselves THE FRANKS TAKE MA'ARRAT AN-NU'MAN ‘After dealing this blow to the Muslims the Franks ‘marched on Ma'arrat an-Nu'man and besieged it. The inhabitants valiantly defended their city. When the Franks realized the fierce determination and devotion of the defenders they built a wooden tower as high as the city wall and fought from the top of i, but failed to do the Muslims any serious harm. One night a few “Muslims were seized with panic and in their demoral- “This was Ketbogha, che Tusksh governor of Moni (203) Dugag was Seljuk ruler af Damstews 109-1104. ‘This ba reference tothe church of St. Peter in Antioch Wester sources do not accise Peter of burying ‘The finding ofthe Sacred Lance ae the ingasion of Peter Bartholomew was a major turniig point for the erasade armies 298 FIVE: THE EXPANSION OF EUROPE (¢.1950-C.1150)ized state thought that if they barricaded themselves into one of the town's largest buildings they would bbe in a better position to defend themselves, so they. climbed down from the wall and abandoned the posi- tion they were defending. Others saw them and fol= owed their example, leaving another stretch of wall undefended, and gradually, a5 one group followed another, the whole wall was left unprotected and the Franks scaled it with ladders. Their appearance in the city terrified the Muslims, who shut themselves up in their houses. For three days che slaughter never stopped; the Franks killed more than 100,000 men and took innumerable prisoners. Afier taking the town the Franks spent six weeks shut up there, then sent an expedition to ‘Arga, which they besieged for four months. Although they breached the wall in many places they failed to storm it. Mangidh, the ruler of Shaizar, made a treaty with them about ‘Arqa and they let it to pass on to Hims, Here too the ruler Jonah ad-Daula made a treaty with chem, and they advanced to Acre by way of an-Nawagir. However they did not succeed in taking Acre. THE FRANKS CONQUER JERUSALEM ‘Taj ad-Daula Tutush was the Lord of Jerusalem but had given it asa fief to the emir Sugman ibn Artug the Tarcoman. When the Franks defeated the Turks at Antioch the massacre demoralized them, and the ‘Egyptians, who saw that the Turkish armies were be- ‘ing weakened by desertion, besieged Jerusalem under the command of al-Aftal ibn Badr al-Jamali. Inside the city were Artuq’s sons, Sugman and Iighazi, their cousin Sunij and their nephew Yaquti. The Egyptians brought more than forty siege engines to attack Je~ rrusalem and broke down che walls at several points. ‘The inhabitants put up a defence, and the siege and. fighting went on for more than six weeks. In the end. the Egyptians forced the city to capitulate in sha'ban, 489 [August 1096)’ Sugman, Ighazi and their friends ‘were well treated by al-Aflal, who gave them large gifts of money and let them go free. They made for Damascus and then crossed the Euphrates. Sugman settled in Edessa and Ilghazi went on into Iraq. The Egyptian governor of Jerusalem was a certain Iftikhar ad-Daula, who was still there at the time of which we are speaking” ‘fer their vain attempt to rake Acre by siege, the Franks moved on to Jerusalem and besieged it for more than six weeks. They built two towers, ‘one of which, near Sion, the Muslims burnt down, killing everyone inside it. It had scarcely ceased to ‘burn before 2 messenger arrived to ask for help and to bring the mews that the other side of the city had fallen. In fact Jerusalem was taken from the north on the morning of Friday 22 sha‘ban 492 (ss July 1099). ‘The population was put co the sword by the Franks, who pillaged the area for a week. A band of Muslims barricaded themselves into the Oratory of David? and fought on for several days. They were granted their lives in return for surrendering. The Franks honored ‘heir word, and the group left by night for Ascalon. In the Masjid al-Aqsa the Franks slaughtered more than 70,000 people, among them a large number of Imams and Muslim scholars, devout and ascetic men who had left their homelands to live lives of pious seclu- sion in the Holy Place. The Franks stripped the Dome of the Rock" of more chan forty silver candelabra, each of ther weighing 3,600 drams, and a great silver amp weighing forty-four Syrian pounds, as well as 2 hundred and fifty smaller silver candelabra and more than twenty gold ones, and a great deal more booty. Refugees from Syria reached Baghdad in ramadan, among them the qadi Abu Sed al-Harawi. They told the Caliph’s ministers a story that wrung their hearts and brought tears to their eyes. On Friday they ‘went to the Cathedral Mosque and begged for help, ‘weeping so that their hearers wept with them as they described the sufferings of the Muslims in that Holy City: the men killed, the women and children taken prisoner, the homes pillaged. Because of the terrible hhardships they had suffered, they were allowed to break the fix. 1 nic the Fai ook rao agus 15k 2 ‘The eran aac on eemlenbgan nee tp. 13 Known as the Tower of David in European soures, it was in the citadel a Jerusalem (and is not to be confused with the small sanceusry ofthe same name inthe Temple presi) 4 The rock from which, Muslims believe, Muhammad acended into heaven. Over it was built the “Mosque of Umar.” the chief amie monument in Jerse, 5.9 UN AL-ATHIR, THE FIRST CRUSADE (13TH C.) 299 q5.10 Ie was the discord between the Muslim princes, at wwe shall desribe, that enabled the Franks to overrun the country. Abu I-Muzaflaral-Abiwardi* composed several poems on this subject, in one of which he says: We have mingled blood with flowing tears, and there is no room left in us for pity. ‘To shed tears is a man’s worst weapon when the swords stir up the embers of war. Sons of Islam, behind you are battle in which heads rolled at your fect Daze you slumber in the blessed shade of saevy, where life is as soft as an orchard ower? How can the eye sleep between the lids at time of disasters that would waken any sleeper? ‘While your Syrian brothers can only sleep om the backs of their chargers, orin vuleures' bellies! ‘Muse the foreigners feed on our ignominy, while you ‘rail behind you the train of pleasant life, like men whose world is t peace? ‘When blood has been spile, when sweet girls must for shame hide their lovely faces in their hande! ‘When the white swords’ points are red with blood, and the iron of the brown lances is stained with gore! ‘Ac the sound of sword hammering oa lance young childeen's hair turns whice, ‘This is was, and the man who shuns the whirlpool co save his life shall grind his teeth in penitence. ‘This is war, and the infidel’s sword is naked in his hhand, ready to be sheathed again in men's necks and seals ‘This is war, and he who lies in the tomb at Medina 0 sons of I see my people slow to raise the lance against che ‘enemy: I see the Faith resting on feeble pillars For fear of death the Muslims are evading the fire of bate, refusing to believe that death will surely strike them.” ‘Must che Arab champions then suffer with resigns tion, while the gallant Persians shut their eyes to their dishonor? ‘The crusade in Spain and Portugal: The Conquest of Lisbon (3147-1148). Original in Latin. Many Eunoreas Caruotics CONSIDERED the Reconguiste of the Iberian Peninsula another theater of the crusade, In fact, one group of crusaders let for the Second Crusade by way of the North Sea and England. They arrived in Spain in 1147 and were immediately put to work con- uering the Muslims at Lisbon. The anonymous author of The Conquest of Liston, evidently an Anglo-French priest with high connections in both England and Spain, personally participated in the siege. In the excerpt below he records 2 speech given by Peter, bishop of Oporto, who ral. lied the army to undertake the assault. Peter's chetoric was precisely that of the popes and other preachers who had inspired armies for the First and now Second Crusade. The siege was, Peter said, a sacrifice, a pious pilgrimage, and a righteous use of force against robbers and murderers. Although the warriors were on their way to Jerusalem, they could do no better than pause to do God's good work in Spain first, In this text the term “Moors” refers to the first Islamic invaders of Spain, who had by 1147 been sectled there for about 400 years, while the “Moabites” are the Almoravids, more recent arrivals from the Maghreb, The passage below begins as the crusaders" ships pulled into the port of Oporto on their way to the Holy Land, What justifications does 1 An lagi poc, wating afer che fall of Jerusslem, 12 The image hore is ofthe Prophet who, from the tomb, raises his voice to rebuke hit descendants (he sons of Hashim), that isthe unworthy caliphs whose opposition ro che cruszdes is only half-hearted. yee FIVE: THE EXPANSION OF EUROPE (€.1059-€.1150)