volume one

HISTORY or THE CUUSADES. 253
amiy "whicli had counted under its standards more than a
hundred thousand pilgrims.
A second army of Crusaders, led by the count de Nevers
and the count de Bourges, advanced as far as Ancyra, and
directed its course towards Heraclea.* This army looked
for traces of that which had preceded it ; but instead of
finding the Christians, they soon met with the victorious
anny of the Turks, which came to meet them, attacked them,
and routed them. The count de Nevers with great difficulty
found refuge in Germanicopolis. Taking for guides some
Grreek soldiers, he was pillaged and abandoned by them in a
desert. He v\'ent through the greatest dangers for several
days ;
and, exhausted with fatigue and covered with rags, he
at length arrived at Antioch, whither the news of his defeat
had preceded him.
A third troop, composed, according to the authors of the
time, of more than a hundred and hfty thousand pilgrims,
set out from Constantinople under the orders of the count
of Poictiers, the duke of Bavaria, and Hugh de Vermandois.
They took possession of Philomelium and Samalia, and
marched across devastated provinces towards the city of
Stankon, where they expected to unite themselves with the
army of the count de Nevers. It was before this city that
the pilgrims heard of the disasters and defeat of the Christian
armies that had preceded them. They advanced towards
Heraclea, and were not long in meeting with the army of
Kilidge Arslan, which was waiting for them in an advantageous
position. As they had no longer anything to hope
for except from their courage, they did not seek to avoid the
enemy. A rividet which separated the Christians from the
infidels, was the signal and the theatre of battle. The Crusaders,
pressed by thirst, rushed towards it in crowds. The
Turks immediately discharged upon them a shower of javelins
and arrows. The two armies were soon completely
engaged; but the Christians fighting in a confined and
marshy place, could neither draw up their forces nor make
use of the lance or the sword. Their bravery and their
efforts were of no avail against the sldlful manoeuvres of
Kerbogha and Kilidge Arslan. The Turks penetrated the
* For these various positions, see the Map and the explanatory Memoir.