volume one

HISTOEY or THE CRUSADES. 127
them quickly forget all their fatigues. That country into
which they were about to enter embraced within its territories
Palestine, the object of all their wishes, prayers, and
labours. In all ages Syria has attracted conquerors, by the
fertility of its soil and its wealth. In the time of David and
Solomon, it already boasted sevei-al flourishing cities. At
the period of the Crusades it had undergone a great many
re^'olutions, but its fields, though covered with celebrated
ruins, still preserved some portion of their fecundity.
The first of the Syrian provinces that presented itself to
the eyes of the Christians was the territory of Antioch.
Towards the east extended the states of the sultans of
Aleppo and Mousoul. Further, at the foot of Mount
Libanus, was seen the principality of Damascus ; on the
coast stood Laodicea, Tripoli, and the cities of Sidon and
Tyre, so celebrated in both sacred and profane antiquity.
All these cities, which scarcely maintained a shadow of their
former splendour, were governed by emirs who had shaken
off the yoke of the sultans of Persia, and reigned as sovereign
princes over the ruins of the empire of Malek-Scha.
The Crusaders advanced as far as the ancient Chalcis,
then called Artesia, of which they made themselves masters.
To arrive before Antioch they had to pass over a bridge
built over the Orontes, and defended by two towers masked
with iron. JS^othing could resist the van, commanded by the
duke of JNTormandy. The Normans soon got possession of
the bridge, and passed the river. Terror seized upon the
Mussulman ranks, and they sought shelter, with the greatest
haste, within the walls of the city. The whole Christian
army, drawn up in battle array, with trumpets sounding
and flags flying, marched towards Antioch and encamped
within a mile of its walls.
The sight of this city, so celebrated in the annals of
Christianity, revived the enthusiasm of the Crusaders. It
was within the walls of xlntioch that the disciples of Jesus
Christ first assumed the title of Christians, and the apostle
Peter was named the first pastor of the young church. No
city had contained within its bosom a greater number of
martyrs, saints, and doctors ; no city had beheld more
miracles worked for the faith. During many centuries, the
faithful had been accustomed to come into one of its