The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 06: (From Barbarossa to Dante)
Philosophy
The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 06: (From Barbarossa to Dante)
World history
Richard's warlike impetuosity once more burst forth. With a handful of
followers he put to sea and hastened to Jaffa. When he came in sight
of the harbor, the Turks were already inside the town, plundering in
every direction, and assailing the last remains of the garrison. After
a short reconnoitre Richard drove his vessel on shore, rushed with an
echoing war-cry into the midst of the enemy's superior force, and by
his mighty blows actually drove the Turks in terror and confusion out
of the place. On the following day he encamped with contemptuous
insolence outside the gates with a few hundred horsemen, when he was
suddenly attacked by as many thousands. In one instant he was armed,
drove back the foremost assailants, clove a Turk's head down to his
shoulders, and then rode along the wavering front of the enemy, from
one wing to the other. "Now," cried he, "who will dare a fight for the
honor of God?" Henceforth his fame was such that, years after, Turkish
mothers threatened their children with "King Richard is coming!" and
Turkish riders asked their shying horses if "they saw the Lion-hearted
King."
But these knightly deeds did not advance the war at all. It was
fortunate for the Franks that Saladin's emirs were weary of the long
strife, and the Sultan himself wished for the termination of
hostilities in consequence of his failing health. The favorable terms
of the former treaty, more especially the possession of Jerusalem,
were of course no longer to be obtained. The Christians were obliged
to be content, on August 30, 1192, with a three-years' armistice,
according to which the sea-coast from Antioch to Joppa was to remain
in the possession of the Christians, and the Franks obtained
permission to go to Jerusalem as unarmed pilgrims, to pray at the Holy
Sepulchre. Richard embarked directly, without even taking measures for
ransoming the prisoners.
As may easily be imagined, the Christians were deeply exasperated by
such a peace; the Turks rejoiced, and only Saladin looked forward with
anxiety to the future, and feared dangerous consequences from the
duration of even the smallest Christian dominion in the East. The most
active and friendly intercourse, rarely disturbed by suspicion, soon
began between the two nations. On the very scene of the struggle
mutual hatred had subsided, commercial relations were formed, and
political negotiations soon followed. In the place of the mystic
trophy which was the object of the religious war, Europe had gained an
immense extension of worldly knowledge and of wealth from the struggle
of a hundred years.
THE TEUTONIC KNIGHTS
THEIR ORGANIZATION AND HISTORY
A.D. 1190-1809
F.C. WOODHOUSE
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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