volume one
volume one volume one
G4 HISTORY or THE CRUSADES. the governor of Xissa, v^ho was touched with the misery of the Crusaders, and gave them provisions, arms, and clothing. The soldiers of Walter, tried hy merited reverses, conducted bv a chief who was wanting in neither skiU nor courage, became ap^ain attentive to the voice of religion, and passed through Thrace vrithout committing any disorders. After two months of fatisiue and miserv, thev arrived under the walls of Constantinople, where the emperor Alexis permitted them to wait for the army of Peter the Hermit. This army, which was then passing through Germany, was about to be treated Averse than its vanguard had been. The cenobite Peter, more enthusiastic than his soldiers, was more sldlful in exciting their zeal than in directing it. He showed neither the moderation nor the prudence of his lieutenant, and had no idea how to avoid the dangers which awaited him on his route. On arriving on the frontiers of Hungary, he learnt the ill-fortune that his companions had met with,* and the projects of hostilities formed, as he was told, against the army of the pilgrims. Tlie bodies of several of the Crusaders hung at the gates of Semlin, which the historians of tlie crusades call Ma]IeviUe,f attracted his regard and drew forth his indignation. At this sight, he gave the signal for vengeance and war. The trumpets sounded, the soldiers seized their arms, and hastened to the carnage. Terror preceded them into the city. On their first attack the people took to flight, and sought refuge upon a hill, one side of which was defended by woods and rocks, and the other by the Danube. They were pursued and forced into this last asylum by the furious midtitude of the Crusaders. ISIore than four thousand of the inhabitants of Semlin fell under the swords of the conq^uerors. The * Among the small number of knights in the army of Peter, were Renaud de Bre'is, Gauthier de Breteuil, Fealcber d' Orleans, and Godfrey Burel d'Etampes. t William of Tyre and other Latin historians call this city 3/
HISTORY OF TUE CKUSADES. 65 bodies carried down Ly the river bore the tidings of tliis horrible victory as far as Belgrade. At this intelligence the Bulgarians and Hungarians were seized with grief and indignation, and in all parts flew to arms. The Crusaders still remained in Semlin, and were glorifying themselves upon their triumph, when all at once an army, assembled in haste by Coloman, king of Hungary, presented itself to their view. Peter had nothing to oppose to his enemies but tlie soldiers whose bliad fury he had himself excited, and with whom it was impossible to make any military disposition. He did not dare to wait for the army of Coloman, and hastened to cross the Morava. On gaiuing the territories of the Bulgarians, the Crusaders found the villages and cities abandoned ; even Bel- grade, the capital, was without inhabitants ; they had fled into the forests and mountains. Peter's soldiers, after a painful march, in want of pro\dsions, and "v^'ith difficulty finding guides to conduct them, arrived at last at the gates of Nissa, a place sufficiently well fortified to be seciu-e from a first attack. The Bulgarians showing themselves upon their ramparts, and the Crusaders leaning on their arms, inspired each other with a mutual fear. This fear at first prevented hostilities ; but harmony could not last long between an army without discipline and a people that had been irritated by Adolence. The pilgrims, after having obtained provisions, had just set forward on their march, when a quarrel between the inhabitants and some of the soldiers caused war to break forth with inveteracv.* A hundred German Crusaders, whom William of Tyre styles cliildren of JBelial, and who fancied they had cause of complaint agamst some merchants, wishing to avenge themselves, set fire to seven mills placed upon the Nissava. At the sight of this fire, the inhabitants of Nissa rushed from their ramparts, and falling upon Peter's rear-guard, massacred all who fell in their way, bore ofi" two thousand carriages, and made a great number of prisoners. Peter, who had already quitted the territory of Nissa, warned of the disaster of his companions, returned immediately * Consult William of Tyre, or still better, Albert d'Aix, who, of all the historians of the crusades, enlarges most upon these first expeditions.
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G4<br />
HISTORY or THE CRUSADES.<br />
the governor of Xissa, v^ho was touched with the misery<br />
of the Crusaders, and gave them provisions, arms, and<br />
clothing.<br />
The soldiers of Walter, tried hy merited reverses, conducted<br />
bv a chief who was wanting in neither skiU nor<br />
courage, became ap^ain attentive to the voice of religion,<br />
and passed through Thrace vrithout committing any disorders.<br />
After two months of fatisiue and miserv, thev<br />
arrived under the walls of Constantinople, where the emperor<br />
Alexis permitted them to wait for the army of Peter<br />
the Hermit.<br />
This army, which was then passing through Germany,<br />
was about to be treated Averse than its vanguard had been.<br />
The cenobite Peter, more enthusiastic than his soldiers,<br />
was more sldlful in exciting their zeal than in directing it.<br />
He showed neither the moderation nor the prudence of his<br />
lieutenant, and had no idea how to avoid the dangers which<br />
awaited him on his route. On arriving on the frontiers of<br />
Hungary, he learnt the ill-fortune that his companions had<br />
met with,* and the projects of hostilities formed, as he was<br />
told, against the army of the pilgrims. Tlie bodies of several<br />
of the Crusaders hung at the gates of Semlin, which the<br />
historians of tlie crusades call Ma]IeviUe,f attracted his<br />
regard and drew forth his indignation. At this sight, he<br />
gave the signal for vengeance and war. The trumpets<br />
sounded, the soldiers seized their arms, and hastened to the<br />
carnage. Terror preceded them into the city. On their<br />
first attack the people took to flight, and sought refuge<br />
upon a hill, <strong>one</strong> side of which was defended by woods and<br />
rocks, and the other by the Danube. They were pursued<br />
and forced into this last asylum by the furious midtitude of<br />
the Crusaders. ISIore than four thousand of the inhabitants<br />
of Semlin fell under the swords of the conq^uerors. The<br />
* Among the small number of knights in the army of Peter, were<br />
Renaud de Bre'is, Gauthier de Breteuil, Fealcber d' Orleans, and Godfrey<br />
Burel d'Etampes.<br />
t William of Tyre and other Latin historians call this city 3/
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