[840] There were many motives which induced Frederic to return to Europe besides disgust at the ungrateful conduct of the Syrian Christians. The Pope, not content with using the spiritual sword against him, had unsheathed the temporal one, and was waging a furious war against the imperial lieutenant in Italy. It would seem a strange fact that John of Brienne, ex-king of Jerusalem, and father-in-law of the emperor, was in command of the papal forces which ravaged his son-in-law's territories, had we not good reason to believe that Frederic's conduct to Violante (who was now dead) had been of a nature that so chivalrous a man as John of Brienne was not likely to pass unnoticed, when his daughter was the sufferer. However, it is but just to remark that the reason why his crusade did not entirely restore the Holy Land to the dominion of the Christians, is to be found in the vindictive and unchristian enmity of Pope Gregory IX. towards the Emperor Frederic. [841] Matthew Paris. [842] Sanutus. [843] Regist. Greg. Noni, Vertot Preuves. [844] Matthew Paris, 1237. [845] Matthew Paris; Sanutus. [846] Sanutus, lib. iii. page 216. [847] The Emir of Karac was but a dependant of the Sultaun of Damascus. [848] Matthew Paris; Litteræ Comit. Richardi. [849] Sanutus; Vertot. [850] Bibliothéque Oriental; Joinville; Ducange; Sanutus, 217; Continuation of William of Tyre. [851] Joinville; Matthew Paris; Bernard in Martenne. [852] Joinville; Matthew Paris; Epist. Fred. Imper. [853] Ducange; Joinville; Bernard. [854] Bernard; Joinville, Matthew Paris. [855] The whole of these events are extremely obscure in history. I have followed Joinville more than any other author, because I find his account more clear and satisfactory. Ducange's valuable notes have greatly aided me; but even that indefatigable investigator has not been able to arrive at precise certainty. The accounts in Matthew Paris do not well harmonize with those of persons who had more immediate means of information. Vincent of Beauvais states, that the Corasmins were finally exterminated, not in a battle, but in separate bodies by the peasantry. Their whole number seems to have been about twenty thousand men. Bernard the Treasurer, in Martenne, corroborates the statement of Vincent of Beauvais. [856] Joinville; Bernard in Martenne; Guillaume Guiart. [857] Matthew Paris; Joinville. [858] Joinville. [859] Guillaume Guiart; Joinville. [860] Joinville; Branche des royaux Lignages. [861] Joinville. [862] Joinville; Guillaume Guiart; Ducange. [863] Joinville; Ducange, Guillaume Guiart. [864] See note XII. [865] Ducange; Joinville; Guillaume Guiart. [866] A. D. 1254. [867] A. D. 1270. [868] Joinville. [869] Guillaume Guiart. [870] Joinville. [871] Branche des royaux et Lignages; Sermon de Robert de Saincereaux. [872] Charles, King of Sicily, was brother to St. Louis. [873] Guillaume Guiart; William of Nangis. [874] Hemingford; Langtoft; Matthew Paris, continuation.