volume one

306 niSTOKT OF THE CEUSADES.
The Old Man of tlie Mountaius commanded the death of
the emir of Mossoul, who had defended the city of Damascus
against the Christians. The murder of the Mussulman
emir threw S^-ria into a state of excitement and trouble
but from the bosom of this disorder arose a new and formidable
power. Zengui, son of Aksancar, one of the most
skilful captains of his age, obtained the principality of
Mossoul, got possession of Emessa and Aleppo, with several
other cities of Svria, and founded the dynasty of the Atabecks,
or governors of the prince, which was destined to
dominate oyer the East, and render itself formidable to the
Christians.*
Whilst this new power was rising in S}Tia, the Christian
states of the East were at their highest point of prosperity.
The county of Edessa, which contained a great portion of
the rich provinces of Mesopotamia, had all the Armenian
princes as its allies and auxiliaries. Several cities of Coele-
syria, Cilicia, and Lower Armenia constituted the principality
of Antioch, the most extensive and the most flourishing of
the Christian provinces.
The coimty of Tripoli comprised several places situated
on the Sea of Phoenicia, from Margath to the river Adonis.
This river, celebrated in both sacred and profane history,
bounded on the north the kingdom of Jerusalem, which,
towards the south, extended on the sea-coast as far as the
gates of Ascalon, and towards the east, to the deserts of
^Vrabia.
These four states formed a redoubtable confederacy.
Europe beheld with pride these Christian colonies, which
had cost her so much blood ; she was afflicted at their re-
verses, and rejoiced at their progress. The safety of Christianity
appeared identified with their preservation. The
bravest of the Christians were alwavs ready to devote
themselves for the heritage of Cln-ist ; religion offered no
recompense equal to that promised to their valour, and
charit)' itself became warlike.
Erom the bosom of an hospital consecrated to the service
of pilgi-ims and the poor, issued heroes armed against the
• See, for the origin and the reign of Zengui, the History of the
Atabecks, by Ben Latir.
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