To his reverend lord M., by God's grace
archbishop of Reims, A. of Ribemont, his vassal and humble servant--greeting.
In as much as you are our lord
and as the kingdom of France is especially dependent upon your care we tell to
you, our father, the events which have happened to us and the condition of the
army of the Lord. Yet, in the first place, although we are not ignorant that
the disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord, we advise
and beseech you in the name of our lord Jesus to consider what you are and what
the duty of a priest and bishop is. Provide therefore for our land, so that the
lords may keep peace among themselves, the vassals may in safety work on their
property, and the ministers of Christ may serve the lord, beading quiet and
tranquil lives. I also pray you and the canons of the holy mother church of
Reims, my fathers and lords, to be mindful of us, not only of me and of those
who are now sweating in the service of God, but also of the members of the army
of the lord who have fallen in arms or died in peace.
But passing over these things,
let us return to what we promised. Accordingly after the army had reached
Nicomedia, which is situated at the entrance to the land of the Turks, we all,
lords and vassals, cleaned by confession, fortified ourselves by partaking of
the body and blood of our lord, and proceeding thence beset Nicaea on the
second day before the Nones of May. After we had for some days besieged the
city with many machines and various engines of war, the craft of the Turks, as
often before, deceived us greatly. For on very day on which they had promised
that they would surrender, Soliman and all the Turks, collected from
neighboring end distant regions, suddenly fell upon us and attempted to capture
our camp. However the count of & Gilles with the remaining Franks, made an
attack upon them and killed an innumerable multitude. All the others fled in
confusion. Our men moreover, returning in victory and bearing many heads fixed
upon pikes and spears, furnished a joyful spectacle for the people of God. This
was on the seventeenth day before the Kalends of June.
Beset moreover and routed in
attacks by night and day, they surrendered unwillingly on the thirteenth day
before the Kalends of July. Then the Christians entering the walls with their
crosses and imperial standards, reconciled the city to God, and both within the
city and outside the gates cried out in Greek end Latin, "Glory to Thee, 0
God." Having accomplished this, the princes of the army met the emperor
who had come to offer them his thanks, and having received from him gifts of
inestimable value, some withdrew with kindly feelings, others with different
emotions.
We moved our camp from Nicaea
on the fourth day before the of July and proceeded on our journey for three
days. On the fourth day the Turks, having collected their forces from all
sides, again attacked the smaller portion of our army, killed many of our men
and drove all the remainder back to their camps. Bohemond, count of the Romans,
count Stephen, and the count of Flanders commanded this section. When these
were thus terrified by fear, the standards of the larger army suddenly
appeared. Hugh the Great and the duke of Lorraine were riding at the head, the
count of St. Gilles and the venerable bishop of Puy followed. For they had
heard of the battle and were hastening to our aid. The number of the Turks was
estimated at 260,000. All of our army attacked them, killed many and routed the
rest. On that day I returned from the emperor, to whom the princes had sent me
on public business.
After that day our princes
remained together and were not separated from one another. Therefore, in
traversing the countries of Romania and Armenia we found no obstacle, except
that after passing Iconium, we, who formed the advance guard, saw a few Turks.
After routing these, on the twelfth day before the Kalends of November, we laid
siege to Antioch, and now we captured the neighboring places, the cities of
Tarsus and Laodicea and many others, by force. On a certain day, moreover,
before we besieged the city, at the "Iron Bridge" we routed the
Turks, who had set out to devastate the surrounding country, and we rescued
many Christians. Moreover, we led back the horses and camels with very great
booty.
While we were besieging the
city, the Turks from the nearest redoubt daily killed those entering and
leaving the army. The princes of our army seeing this, killed 400 of the Turks
who were lying in wait, drove others into a certain river and led back some as
captives. You may be assured that we are now besieging Antioch with all
diligence, and hope soon to capture it. The city is supplied to an incredible
extent with grain, wine, oil and all kinds of food.
I ask, moreover, that you and
all whom this letter reaches pray for us and for our departed brethren. Those
who have fallen in battle are: at Nicaea, Baldwin of Ghent, Baldwin Ghalderuns,
who was the first to make an attack upon the Turks and who fell in battle on
the Kalends of July, Robert of Paris, Lisiard of Flanders, Hilduin of
Mansgarbio [Maxingarbe], Ansellus of Caium [Anseau of Caien], Manasses of
Glaromonte [Clermont], Laudunensis.
Those who died from sickness:
at Nicaea, Guy of Vitreio Odo of Vernolio [Verne uil (?)], Hugh of Reims; at
the fortress of Sparnum, the venerable abbot Roger, my chaplain; at Antioch,
Alard of Spiniaeco Hugh of Galniaco.
Again and again I beseech you,
readers of this letter, to pray for us, and you, my lord archbishop, to order
this to be done by your bishops. And know for certain that we have captured the
Lord 200 cities and fortresses. May our mother, the western church, rejoice
that she has begotten such men, who are acquiring for her so glorious a name
and who are so wonderfully aiding the eastern church. And in order that you may
believe this, know that you have sent to me a tapestry by Raymond "de
Castello."
Farewell.
(Before Antioch, c. February 10, 1098)
