volume one

312 niSTOET or the ceusades.
The king of Jerusalem, as protector of the confederation
of the Franks in Asia, determined to re-establish order, and
took the road to Antioch Tvith his barons and the knights of
the Temple and St. John. The count of Tripoli, who had
embraced the party of Alise, undertook to stop the king of
Jerusalem on his passage. The powers of these two princes
a battle ensued, and the plains of Phoenicia were
met ;
stained ^vith the blood of Christians shed in unnatural strife.
Foulque of Anjou, after having routed the troops of the
count of Tripoli, gained the banks of the Orontes, silenced
the contending factions, and re-estabhshed, peace. To perfect
his work, he resolved to bestow the daughter of Bohemond
on a husband able to defend her rights, who would
merit the confidence of the Christian warriors. S}Tia presenting
to him no prince or knight worthy of his choice, he
turned his eyes towards the princes of Europe, and nominated
Eavmond of Poictiers governor of Antioch, as Baldwin II.
had chosen him himself governor of Jerusalem. Thus
Europe, which had found defenders for the Christian states
of Asia, supplied them also with princes and kings. Eaymond
of Poictiers, brother of TTilliam, duke of Aquitaine,
left France with the scrip and staff of a pilgrim, and came
into Svria to espouse the daughter of Baldwin, and reign
u-ith her on the banks of the Orontes.
The troubles of Antioch had re-sdved the pretensions of
the emperors of Constantinople. John Comnenus, son
and successor of Alexius, put himself at the head of an
army, took possession of some places in Cilicia, and encamped
before the walls of Antioch. After several conflicts,
in which victory remained uncertain, neirotiations were
opened, which ended in the oath of obedience to the emperor
being taken by Baymond of Poictiers. The two princes,
united bv a treatv, resolved to turn their arms ao:ainst the
Saracens. Their troops, which they commanded in person,
attacked without success Aleppo and several other cities of
Svi'ia : the want of a e:ood understandinir. which accompanied
the G-reeks and Latins at all times, was sure to defeat
their enterprises. The emperor returned with vexation to
Antioch, of which he endeavoured to make himself master,
but was compelled by a sedition to leave the city hastily. He
i^on formed the project of ^-isiting Jerusalem at the head of