1 The Alexiad On the Crusades Anna Comnena c 1100 Among the sources for the First Crusade there is a history of the eastern emperor Alexius written by his daughter Anna Comnena 1 The Arrival of the Crusaders Alexiad 10 5 Moreover Alexius was not yet or very slightly rested from his labors when he heard rumors of the arrival of innumerable Frankish armies He feared the incursions of these people for he had already experienced the savage fury of their attack their fickleness of mind and their readiness to approach anything with violence And finally he kept ever in mind this information which was often repeated and most true that they were known to be always immoderately covetous of anything they strove after and to break very easily for any reason whatsoever treaties which they had made Accordingly he did not indulge in any rest but made ready his forces in every way so that when occasion should demand he would be ready for battle For it was a matter greater and more terrible than famine which was then reported Forsooth the whole West and as much of the land of barbarian peoples as lies beyond the Adriatic Sea up to the Pillars of Hercules all this changing its seat was bursting forth into Asia in a solid mass with all its belongings taking its march through the intervening portion of Europe A certain Gaul Peter by name surnamed KukuPeter had set out from his home to adore the Holy Sepulcher After suffering many dangers and wrongs from the Turks and Saracens who were devastating all Asia he returned to his own country most sorrowfully He could not bear to see himself thus cut off from his proposed pilgrimage and intended to undertake the expedition a second time After Peter had promoted the expedition he with 80 000 foot soldiers and 100 000 knights was the first of all to cross the Lombard strait Then passing through the territory of Hungary he arrived at the queenly city For as anyone may conjecture from the outcome the race of the Gauls is not only very passionate and impetuous in other ways but also when urged on by an impulse cannot thereafter be checked Our Emperor aware of what Peter had suffered from the Turks before urged him to await the arrival of the other counts 3 Hugh the Great of France Alexiad 10 6 10 7 As we said above there were among the Latins such men as Bohemund and his fellow counselors who eager to obtain the Roman Empire for themselves had been looking with avarice upon it for a long time Seeing an opening for their plans in the expedition which was promoted by Peter they stirred up this huge movement and in order to deceive the more simple they feigned a crusade against the Turks to regain the Holy Sepulcher and sold all their possessions Moreover a certain Hugh brother of the King of France who conducted himself with the spirit of a navatus on account of his wealth and power and the nobility of his birth decided to leave his fatherland as if to set out for the Holy Sepulcher Upon reaching this decision he looked forward to a most glorious meeting and announced in letters full of swollen insolence to 2 the Emperor Know O King that I am King of Kings and superior to all who are under the sky You are now permitted to greet me on my arrival and to receive me with magnificence as befits my nobility At this time the Governor of Durazzo was John son of Isaac the Sebastocrator of whom we have spoken above Nicolaus Maurocatacalon in command of the fleet had arranged his ships at stations around the port of Durazzo so that he could make excursions and watch the seas lest perchance pirate ships might secretly approach To each of these men therefore the Emperor after hearing this letter from Hugh immediately sent a message bidding the Governor of Durazzo watch closely by land and sea for the arrival of this man upon whose coming a messenger was to be sent quickly to the Emperor Hugh however was to be received magnificently He further ordered the commander of the fleet to be constantly alert and on the watch with every faculty awake not with his usual negligence Meanwhile Hugh reached the seacoast of Longobardy there he sent envoys to the Governor of Durazzo twenty four in number each decorated with gold and red breastplates Along with them went Count Carpenter and that Helia who had fled from the Emperor at Thessalonica These men addressed the following message to the Governor Be it known to you O Governor that our lord Hugh will soon be here bringing with him from Rome the golden banner of St Peter moreover know that he is the highest leader of all the armies of France Prepare yourself therefore to receive him and the army obeying him according to the dignity of his power and gird yourself about to meet him While they were thus commanding the Governor Hugh as it is said came from Rome into Longobardy leaving Bari toward Illyricum he was caught by a most awful storm and lost the greater number of his ships together with their oarsmen and passengers The little boat in which he saved himself was cast up by the waves as though they spewed it forth on the seacoast which lies half way between Durazzo and another place called Palus It too was half cut to pieces Two men who were on the watch for his arrival met him after he had been saved and pressed him with these words The Governor is awaiting your arrival desiring very much to enjoy your coming Thereupon Hugh immediately asked for a horse and one of those men dismounting from his horse very dutifully gave it over to him As a result the Governor after seeing that Hugh was safe was the first to greet him and asked whither and whence and what dangers and evils had befallen him in sailing And when he had been set upon his feet and refreshed with kind words the Governor then put before him a well prepared feast After dinner he released him but did not yet permit him to walk about freely for all these things had been quickly announced to the Emperor and the Governor was waiting to find out his commands from him When the Emperor was informed he quickly sent Butumites to Epidamnus which we have often called Durazzo with orders to bring Hugh back with him and not to return by the direct road but by turning aside to bring him to Constantinople through Philippopolis for he was afraid of the forces and throngs of Gauls who followed The Emperor treated him honorably with all kindness and gave him in addition considerable sums of money He immediately urged the man to attach himself to him the Emperor and to bind himself by the
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