The History of the Crusades (vol. 1 of 3)Michaud, J. Fr. (Joseph Fr.)
History
The History of the Crusades (vol. 1 of 3)
Michaud, J. Fr. (Joseph Fr.)
Crusades
Raymond alone still experienced some resistance. Warned of the success
of the Christians, by the clashing of arms, and the tumult he heard in
the city, he endeavoured still further to animate his soldiers. The
latter, impatient to join their companions, abandoned their tower and
machines, which they could no longer move. They planted ladders and
swords, by the means of which they mounted the rampart, whither they
were preceded by the count of Thoulouse, Raymond Pelet, the bishop of
Bira, the count de Die, and William de Sabran. Nothing now could stop
their progress; they dispersed the Saracens, who with their emir had
taken refuge in the fortress of David,[177] and soon all the Crusaders
united in Jerusalem embraced, wept for joy, and gave all their
attention to the completion of their victory.
Despair, however, for a moment forced the bravest of the Saracens to
rally, and they charged with impetuosity the Christians, who, in
the security of victory, were proceeding to the pillage.[178] The
latter were even beginning to give way before the enemy they had so
recently conquered, when Everard de Puysaie, of whom Raoul de Caen has
celebrated the bravery, revived the courage of his companions, placed
himself at their head, and once more spread terror among the infidels.
From that moment the Crusaders had no more enemies to contend with.
History has remarked that the Christians entered Jerusalem on a Friday,
at the hour of three in the afternoon; exactly the same day and hour at
which Christ expired for the salvation of the human race. It might have
been expected that this memorable epoch would have awakened sentiments
of mercy in their hearts; but, irritated by the threats and protracted
insults of the Saracens, incensed by the sufferings they had undergone
during the siege, and by the resistance they had met with even in the
city, they filled with blood and mourning that Jerusalem which they
came to deliver, and which they considered as their own future country.
The carnage soon became general, for all who escaped from the swords
of Godfrey and Tancred, fell into the hands of the Provençals, equally
thirsting for blood. The Saracens were massacred in the streets and in
the houses; Jerusalem contained no place of refuge for the vanquished.
Some sought to escape death by throwing themselves from the ramparts;
others flocked in crowds to the palaces, the towers, but particularly
to the mosques,—but nowhere could they escape the pursuit of the
Christians.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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