3.2. "Equinox Chronology" of Matthew Vlastar and Scaligerian Chronology We have already briefly said above that the "Collection of Patristic Rules" by Matthew Vlastar contains an inaccurate theory of the vernal equinox. Let us dwell on this very interesting question

The history of mankind is, unfortunately, not always a world of discoveries and achievements, but often a chain of a myriad of wars. These include those committed from the XI to the XIII centuries. This article will help you understand the reasons and reasons, as well as trace the chronology. Attached to it is a table compiled on the topic of "Crusades" containing the most important dates, names and events.

Definition of the concepts of "crusade" and "crusader"

The Crusade is an armed offensive by the Christian army against the Muslim East, which lasted for a total of about 200 years (1096-1270) and was expressed in no less than eight organized actions of troops from Western European countries. In a later period, this was the name of any military campaign with the aim of converting to Christianity and expanding the influence of the medieval Catholic Church.

The crusader is a participant in such a campaign. On his right shoulder he had a patch in the form of the same image was applied to the helmet and flags.

Reasons, reasons, goals of trips

Military demonstrations were organized. The formal reason was the fight against Muslims in order to free the Holy Sepulcher, located in the Holy Land (Palestine). In the modern sense, this territory includes such states as Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Gaza, Jordan and a number of others.

Nobody doubted the success. At that time, it was believed that everyone who becomes a crusader will receive the remission of all sins. Therefore, joining these ranks was popular with both knights and city dwellers and peasants. The latter, in exchange for participation in the crusade, received liberation from serfdom. In addition, for the European kings, the crusade was an opportunity to get rid of powerful feudal lords, whose power grew as their holdings increased. Wealthy merchants and townspeople saw economic opportunities in military conquests. And the highest clergy themselves, led by the popes, viewed the crusades as a way to strengthen the power of the church.

The beginning and end of the era of the crusaders

The 1st Crusade began on August 15, 1096, when an unorganized crowd of 50,000 peasants and urban poor went on a campaign without supplies or preparation. They were mainly engaged in looting (since they considered themselves the warriors of God, who owns everything in this world) and attacked the Jews (who were considered the descendants of the murderers of Christ). But within a year, this army was destroyed by the Hungarians who met along the way, and then by the Turks. Well-trained knights followed the crowd of the poor on the crusade. By 1099, they reached Jerusalem, capturing the city and killing a large number of residents. These events and the formation of a territory called the Kingdom of Jerusalem ended the active period of the first campaign. Further conquests (until 1101) were aimed at strengthening the conquered borders.

The last crusade (eighth) began on June 18, 1270 with the landing of the army of the French ruler Louis IX in Tunisia. However, this performance ended unsuccessfully: even before the start of the battles, the king died of a pestilence, which forced the crusaders to return home. During this period, the influence of Christianity in Palestine was minimal, while Muslims, on the contrary, strengthened their positions. As a result, they captured the city of Acre, which put an end to the era of the Crusades.

1st-4th crusades (table)

5-8th crusades (table)

Outcomes

How successful were the numerous crusades, the table clearly demonstrates. Among historians there is no unequivocal opinion about how these events influenced the life of Western European peoples.

Some experts believe that the Crusades opened the way to the East, establishing new economic and cultural ties. Others point out that this could have been done even more successfully through peaceful means. Moreover, the last crusade ended in outright defeat.

One way or another, significant changes have taken place in Western Europe itself: an increase in the influence of the popes, as well as the power of kings; the impoverishment of the nobility and the rise of urban communities; the emergence of a class of free farmers from the former serfs who received freedom through participation in the crusades.

I. First Crusade. Clermont Call (from the chronicle of Robert Reims "Jerusalem History")

Book. 1, ch. 1. In the year of the Lord's incarnation, one thousand ninety-fifth, in the land of Gaul, namely in Auverne, there was solemnly a council in a city called Clermont; Pope Urban II participated in the council with the Roman bishops and cardinals. And this cathedral was extremely famous for the fact that many Gauls and Germans gathered as bishops,

and princes.

Having resolved church affairs on it, Mr. Pope went out into a vast area, for no room could accommodate everyone (who was present). And so the Pope addressed everyone with a convincing speech (imbued with) rhetorical sweetness; he said (like this):

“The people of the Franks, the people of the overseas, (the people), according to the position of their lands and according to the Catholic faith, (as well as), according to the veneration of the holy church, stands out among all nations; my speech turns to you and our admonition rushes to you. We want you to know what sad reason brought us to your land, what necessity calls you and all the faithful (Catholics). From the borders of Jerusalem and from the city of Constantinople, important news came to us, and even before very often it reached our ears that the people of the Persian kingdom, a foreign tribe alien to God, a people stubborn and rebellious, unsettled in heart and unfaithful to God with their spirit, invaded the lands of these Christians, he devastated them with sword, robbery, fire, he himself destroyed by shameful killing, and the churches of God either razed to the ground, or adapted for his rituals ...

The Greek kingdom has already been curtailed and destroyed by them to such an extent that the (lost) one cannot be bypassed even in two months. Who has the labor to take revenge for all this, to snatch (from them), who, if not you, whom God has exalted before all the power of arms and greatness of spirit, with dexterity and valor to crush the heads of his enemies who oppose you?

May the deeds of your ancestors, the valor and glory of King Charlemagne and his son Louis (the Pious) and your other sovereigns, who destroyed the kingdoms of the pagans and pushed the boundaries of the holy church there, move you and induce your souls to the courage of your ancestors. Especially, let the holy Sepulcher of the Lord, our Savior, the Sepulcher, which the wicked now possess, and the holy places that they basely defile and shamefully smear with their wickedness, urge you.

About the most powerful warriors and offspring of invincible ancestors! Do not try to renounce their glorious valor - on the contrary, remember the courage of your forefathers. And if a tender affection for children, and parents, and wives keeps you, ponder again what the Lord says in the Gospel: “Who will leave their homes, or brothers, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land for the sake of a name Mine, he will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life. "

Let no wealth attract you to itself and let no family affairs bother you, for this land that you inhabit is squeezed from everywhere by the sea and mountain ranges, it is constrained by your multiplicity, but it does not abound in abundance of riches and barely feeds those, who handles it. From here comes the fact that you bite and devour each other, wage wars and inflict many mortal wounds on each other. Let the hatred between you cease, let the enmity cease, the wars subside and all sorts of strife and discord fall asleep. Take the path of the Holy Sepulcher, pluck this land from the wicked people, conquer it for yourself; the earth, as the Scripture says, flows with milk and honey.

Ch. 2. Jerusalem is the navel of the earth, the most fruitful land in comparison with others, this land is like a second paradise. The Redeemer of the human race glorified her with his coming, adorned her with (his) deeds, redeemed her with death, immortalized her with burial.

And this royal city, located in the middle of the earth, is now in full with its enemies and is being destroyed by peoples who do not know the Lord. He longs (for liberation) and longs for liberation, (he) does not stop praying for you to come to his rescue. He demands this help especially from you, for, as we have already said, before other existing peoples you are awarded by God with wonderful power

Enter this path to atone for your sins, being filled with confidence in the spotless glory of the kingdom of heaven. "

When the Pope in his skillful speech said this and much like that, everyone who was there was united by a common feeling, so they cried out: “This is what God wants! This is what God wants! " Hearing this, the venerable Vladyka of Rome lifted up his eyes to heaven, thanked God and, with a wave of his hand, demanding silence, he said (again):

“Dear brothers ... if it were not for the Lord God, who was present in your thoughts, your voice (so) unanimous would not have been heard; and although it proceeded from many (mouth), its source was one. That is why I say to you that it was God who pulled out such a voice from your throats, which (he) put into your chest. Let this cry be a military signal for you, for this word was uttered by God. And when you have a battle with the enemy, let everyone cry out God's word with one voice: This is what the Lord wants! This is what the Lord wants!

We do not command and exhort that elders or weak people who do not own weapons should go on this campaign, and let in no way women set off on a journey without their husbands, or brothers, or legal witnesses. They are more of a hindrance than a reinforcement, and a burden rather than a benefit.

Let the rich help the poor and at their own expense lead with them those fit for war. Priests and clerics of any rank should not go without the permission of their bishops, for if they go without such permission, the trip will be useless for them. And laymen should not go on a pilgrimage except with the blessing of a priest. And the one who takes in his soul the intention to move on this holy pilgrimage, and makes a vow to God, and offers himself to Him as a living, holy and very pleasing sacrifice, let him wear the image of the Lord's cross on his forehead or chest. The one who wishes, having made a vow, to return (remove the vow), let him place this image on his back between the shoulder blades ... ".

Letter from the leaders of the First Campaign to Pope Urban II dated September 11, 1098

To the Honorable Mr. Pope Urban - Bohemond and Raymond, Count of Saint-Gilles, Gottfried, Duke of Lorraine, and Robert, Count of Normandy, Robert of Flanders, Count, and Count Eustathius of Bouillon (send) greetings and (promise) faithful service and, like sons to their spiritual father, (declare) true obedience in Christ. We all want and wish to tell you how by the great grace of the Lord and His clear support we (was) taken Antioch, and the Turks, who inflicted much reproach on our Lord Jesus Christ, were captured and killed, (so) we, Jerusalemites of Jesus Christ, avenged the injustice done to God; (how) we, who had previously besieged the Turks, were then (ourselves) besieged by the Turks who came from Khorasan, Jerusalem, Damascus and many lands, and how by the grace of Jesus Christ we were liberated.

After Nicaea was taken and we defeated a huge mass of Turks, whom we met, as you (already) heard, in the July Kalends (July 1, 1097) in the Doriley Valley, (and after) they persecuted the great Soliman (Suleiman II) and all his (people), and devastated (his) lands and plundered riches, having acquired and pacified all of Romania, we began the siege of Antioch. While it was besieged by us, we underwent many disasters from the battles (which took place) near the city with the Turks and pagans, who often attacked us in large numbers, so that we can hardly say that we ourselves were rather besieged by those who who were kept locked up in Antioch. In the end, having overcome them in all these battles and thus ensuring the triumph of the Christian faith, I, Bohemond, conspired with a Turk who betrayed this city to me; the day before, I, along with many of Christ's soldiers, put several ladders to the wall, and so on June 3 we took a city that resisted Christ. We killed Cassian himself, the ruler of this city, with many of his soldiers, and left our wives, sons, household members with gold, silver and all their good. We failed to take, however, the citadel of Antioch, well fortified by the Turks; when they wanted to seize it the next day, they saw outside the city walls an endless multitude of Turks, scattered across the fields. As we had expected for many days, they came to fight with us ... And so, when they saw that they could not harm us from this side, they surrounded us from everywhere so (tightly) that none of us could get out and could not get in to us. For this reason, we were all so depressed and discouraged that many, dying of hunger and dying from all other misfortunes, killed their emaciated horses and donkeys and ate (their meat).

Meanwhile, the highest mercy of the almighty God, who cares for us, came to our aid; in the temple of blessed Peter, the prince of the apostles, we found the Lord's spear, which ... pierced the side of our Savior ... And we were so encouraged and strengthened thanks to the find of the holy spear and many other divine revelations that those who were before and they were drooping (in spirit), now, seized with a willingness to fight courageously, one urged the other.

So we were under siege for three weeks and four days (from June 4 to June 28, 1098), and on the eve of Peter and Paul's day (June 28), trusting God and confessing all our worries, praying, we left the gates of the city with all our military equipment; there were so few of us that we believed ourselves that we would not have to fight against them, but flee from them. Then we prepared for battle and placed detachments of both foot and horse so that the main forces would be with the spear of the Lord; in the very first clash (we) forced the enemy to flee ... Having won the victory, we pursued the enemies all day, killed many enemy soldiers, (and then) joyful and triumphant moved towards the city. The fortress that was mentioned, the emir, who was sitting in it with a thousand soldiers, surrendered to Bohemund, surrendering himself; with the assistance of Bohemond, he converted to the Christian faith, and in this way our Lord Jesus Christ subdued the whole city of Antioch to the Roman religion and faith. But, as it usually happens, something sad always intrudes into joyful events: on August 1, when hostilities ceased, the Bishop of Puis died, whom you sent to us as your vicar and who enjoyed great honor throughout the war.

Now we, your sons, deprived of the parent sent to us, turn to you, our spiritual father. You, who proclaimed this campaign and with your word prompted all of us to leave our lands and leave what was in them, you who ordered us to persecute Christ, carrying his cross, and inspired us (the thought) to exalt the Christian name! Finish what (himself) called us to, come to us and persuade everyone you can come with you ... Does it not seem that there is nothing fairer on earth for you, who is the father and head of the Christian religion, to come to the main city and capital of a Christian name and would end the war, which is your own (war), in your own name? We defeated the Turks and the pagans, but we cannot cope with the heretics, with the Greeks and Armenians, the Syrians and the Jacobites. So, again and again we appeal to you, our dear father: come as a father and head to your fatherland, sit on the pulpit of blessed Peter, whose vicar you are; and may you have us, your sons, in complete obedience ... Root out with your power and with our power destroy all heresies, whatever they may be.

And so, together with us, you will complete the march along the path of Jesus Christ, begun by us and by you predetermined, and you will open the gates of both Jerusalem (earthly and heavenly) to us and make the Holy Sepulcher free, and put the Christian name above everyone

If you come to us and complete, together with us, the journey begun by your destiny, the whole world will obey you. May God himself inspire you to do this, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen!

The capture of Jerusalem (from the anonymous Italian-Norman chronicle "Acts of the Franks and Other Jerusalemites")

Book. X. Ch. 33. In November (1098), Raymond, Count of Saint-Gilles, left Antioch with his army ... On the fourth day from the end of November, he reached the city of Maarna, where a great multitude of Saracens, Turks, Arabs and other pagans had accumulated, and the next day he entered into battle with them. After a short time, Bohemond set off after the count with his army and on Sunday joined them (the Provençals). Two days before the beginning of December, they fell with all their might from everywhere on the city and, moreover, with such heat and impetuosity that the stairs were raised right against the walls; but the power of the Gentiles was so great that on that day (ours) could not do anything to harm them. Seeing that they could not do anything and were only wasting their strength, our lords, (namely) Raimund, Count Saint-Gilles, commanded to build a mighty and high wooden fortress; This fortress was invented and built in four tiers: on its upper tier stood many knights, and Evrard the Hunter loudly blew his trumpet; below, dressed in their armor, the knights pushed the fortress close to the wall, directly opposite a certain tower. Seeing this (structure), the pagans immediately made a (throwing) weapon, with the help of which they began to throw large stones at (our) fortress, so that they almost killed (all) our knights. Greek fire was also thrown at the fortress, hoping to set it on fire and destroy it; but almighty God did not want the fortress to burn down this time - after all, it was higher than all the city walls.

Our knights, who were on the upper tier - Hillelm of Montpellier and many others threw huge stones at those who defended the city walls, and with such force hit them into their shields that both the shield and the enemy warrior himself, killed on the spot, fell down into town. Thus, some fought, while others, holding spears decorated with heraldic ribbons and feathers, tried to grab and draw enemies with spears and hooks. So they fought until the evening.

And behind the fortress stood priests and clergy, dressed in church robes, praying and conjuring God to protect his people, uplift Christianity and humiliate paganism. And at the other part (walls) the knights fought every day (with the infidels); they put stairs to the walls of the city, but the resistance of the pagans was such that ours could not achieve any success. Finally, Gufier de Latour was the first to rush up the stairs to the wall; however, under the weight of many others, the ladder broke down at once; yet with a few warriors he climbed the crest of the wall. The rest found another ladder, and many knights and foot soldiers climbed it; they climbed the wall. Then the Saracens rushed at them both on the wall (itself) and (below) on the ground with such fury, shooting arrows and piercing them directly with their spears that many of ours, seized with fear, jumped from the wall.

While these brave men, who remained on the crest of the wall, were taking their blows, others who were below, under the shelter of the fortress, undermined the wall. The Saracens, seeing that ours were digging, were seized with horror and began to flee to the city. All this happened on Saturday, December 11, at the evening hour, when the sun was setting.

Bohemond ordered through translators to convey to the chiefs of the Saracens, so that they themselves, together with their wives, children and other property, gathered in one palace, which is located above the gate, personally promising to save them from their mortal fate.

All of our people entered the city, and no matter what goods they found in the houses and cellars, each one took it into his property. When the day came, wherever they met any of them (Saracens), be it a man or a woman, they killed. There was not a single nook and cranny in the city where the corpses of the Saracens were lying, and no one could walk along the city streets except stepping over their dead bodies. Bohemond also seized those whom he ordered to enter the palace, and took from them everything that they had, namely, gold, silver and various jewelry (which were with them); Some he ordered to be killed, while others he ordered to be taken away for sale to Antioch ...

Book. X. Ch. 37. And so, overwhelmed with joy, we approached Jerusalem on Tuesday, eight days before the June Ides, and miraculously laid siege to (the city). Robert of Normandy besieged it from the north, near the church of the first martyr of St. Stephen, where he was stoned for Christ; Count Robert of Flanders adjoined him (the Duke of Normandy). From the west, the Duke Gottfried and Tancred besieged (the city). From the south, fortified on Mount Zion, near the church of St. Mary, the mother of God, where the Lord was at the last supper with his disciples, the Count Saint-Gilles led the siege ... On Monday (June 13) we bravely went to the attack; we rushed with such a rush that if the stairs were ready, the city would be in our hands. Nevertheless, we destroyed the small wall and raised a ladder to the main wall, our knights climbed up it, tying hand-to-hand with the Saracens and the defenders of the city - they fought (with them) with their swords and spears; many of ours, and even more of the enemies found (here their) death ...

During this siege we were so tormented by thirst that we sewed the skins of bulls and mules and brought water into them six miles away; from such and such vessels we drank disgusting water, and just as from this disgusting water, we suffered daily from rye bread. The Saracens, of course, set up secret ambushes for us at the surrounding springs and streams; everywhere they killed our people and cut into pieces those they met; and the cattle were taken to their caves ...

Night and day, Wednesday and Thursday (13th and 14th July), we set out with a mighty effort from all sides to attack the city; but before invading there, the bishops and priests, preaching and admonishing everyone, commanded that for God's sake a procession be arranged around the fortifications of Jerusalem, pray fervently, do alms and observe fasting.

On Friday (July 15), when day came, we rushed to the fortifications, but could not damage the city in any way; and we were all overwhelmed (by this) and seized with great fear. Then, as the hour approached, when our Lord Jesus Christ was worthy to endure the torment of the cross for us, our knights, standing on the movable tower, fiercely grappled (with the enemy); among them (were) Duke Gottfried (Bouillon) and Count Eustathius, his brother.

At this time, one of our knights named Le-told climbed the stairs to the wall of the city. As soon as he was at the top, all the defenders of the city ran away from the walls, through the city, and ours set off after them, killed and beheaded them, (pursuing) up to the temple of Solomon, and already there was such a massacre that ours were ankle-deep in blood ... Ours seized many men and women in the temple and killed, as much as they wanted, and as much as they wanted, they kept them alive. Many pagans of both sexes tried to take refuge on the roof of Solomon's temple; Tancred and Gaston Béarnne gave them their banners *. The crusaders scattered throughout the city, grabbing gold and silver, horses and mules, taking (for themselves) houses full of everything

(Later), rejoicing and crying with immeasurable joy, our people came to bow to the Tomb of the Savior Jesus and return his debt to him (that is, to fulfill the vow). The next morning, unnoticed, our men climbed onto the roof of the temple, rushed to the Saracens and, drawing their swords, began to decapitate men and women; (some of them) threw themselves down from the roof. Seeing this, Tancred fell into a violent anger.

Ch. 39. Thereafter, our (lords) decreed in the council that each would give alms and pray that God would choose whom He would like, that he should reign over others and rule over the city ... on the eighth day after the city was taken (22 July ), (the lords) elected Duke Gottfried as the prince of the city, who defeated the pagans and saved the Christians. Likewise, on St. Peter in chains (August 1) was elected patriarch of the wisest and most venerable husband named Arnulf.

Third crusade

Richard I the Lionheart (From The Chronicle of Ambergris)

The French king got ready to go, and I can say that when he left he received more curses than blessings ... And Richard, who did not forget God, gathered an army ... loaded throwing shells, preparing for the campaign. Summer was over. He ordered the walls of Acre to be fixed and oversaw the work himself. He wanted to return the Lord's inheritance and would have returned it, had it not been for the intrigues of his envious people.

The king was in Jaffa, restless and sick. He kept thinking that he should have left her because of the defenselessness of the city, which could not imagine opposition. He summoned Count Henri, the son of his sister, the Templars and Hospitallers, told them about the suffering he experienced in his heart and in his head, and convinced them that some should go to guard Ascalon, others would stay to guard Jaffa and give him the opportunity to leave for Acre to undergo medical treatment. He could not, he said, act otherwise. But what can I tell you? All refused him and answered briefly and clearly that they would not in any case guard the fortresses without him. And then they left without a word ... And here the king is in great anger. When he saw that the whole world, all people, dishonest and unfaithful, were leaving him, he was embarrassed, confused and lost. Seniors! Do not be surprised that he did the best he could at that moment. He who seeks honor and avoids shame chooses the lesser of evils. He preferred to ask for an armistice than to leave the land in great danger, for others had already left it and openly embarked on ships. And he instructed Safadin, brother Saladinov, who loved him very much for his valor, to arrange for him the best truce as soon as possible ... And the truce was written and brought to the king, who was alone, without help, two miles from the enemies. He accepted it, because he could not act otherwise ... And whoever tells the story differently will lie ...

But the king could not remain silent about what was in his heart. And he ordered to tell Saladin (many Saracens heard this) that the truce is concluded for them for three years: he needs one to return to himself, the other to gather people, the third to return to the Holy Land and conquer it.

The king sincerely thought to do what he said: to return the Holy Sepulcher. He did not know what was hanging over him ...

From a letter from Saladin to the Baghdad Caliph

Is there even one Muslim who follows the call that comes when his name is called? In the meantime, look at Christians, what masses they flock, how they hurry vying with each other, how they support each other, how they sacrifice their riches, how amicably they stick together, how they endure the greatest hardships. They have no king, sovereign, island or city, no man, no matter how insignificant he may be, who would not send his peasants, his subjects to this war, who would not allow them to appear in the field of courage; they do not have a strong person who would not take part in this campaign; everyone wants to be useful to the wicked goal of their zeal ... On the contrary, Muslims are listless, lack of courage, indifferent, weary, insensitive, not zealous of faith ... You, who come from the blood of our prophet Mohammed, you must therefore take his place and to do at this time what he himself would have done if he had been among his people - to preserve the memory of him in the world and let the truth triumph; because he entrusted us and all Muslims to your patronage

III. Crusader states in the Holy Land. Privileges of the Venetians in the Kingdom of Jerusalem (from the treaty concluded between Venice and the Kingdom of Jerusalem in 1124)

We, Gormund, by the grace of God, patriarch of the holy city of Jerusalem, with our brothers subordinate to the church, with Mr. Wilhelm de Buris, constable, and Paen, chancellor, together with all the assembled barons of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, having gathered in Akkon, in the Church of the Holy Cross ... confirmed the holy Evangelist Mark *, the mentioned Doge and his successors and the Venetian people ... the promises of King Baldwin **. Namely: in all cities subject to the said king, his successors and all his barons, the Venetians must have a church and a whole street, one square and a bathhouse, as well as a bakery; they must possess all this forever on inheritance law, free from all extortions, on a par with royal property. If the Venetians wanted to start a bakery, mill, scales, measures for measuring wine, oil or honey in their neighborhood in Akkone, then let it be allowed without objection to all the residents there who just want to freely bake, grind, swim, as if it were everything was royal property. But the measures of free-flowing and liquid bodies should be used as follows. Precisely when the Venetians trade among themselves, one must measure by their own, that is, Venetian, measures; and when the Venetians sell their goods to foreigners, they must sell according to their own, that is, Venetian, own measures. When the Venetians buy something from peoples other than the Venetians, then they must accept (the goods) by royal measure and at a fixed price.

At the same time, the Venetians should not in any way pay any duty established by custom or on any other basis, neither when staying in one place, nor when selling, buying, or leaving, except for the case when they arrive or leave, transporting their pilgrim ships; then they must certainly pay, according to royal custom, a third part to the king himself ...

If a contentious case or dispute arises between two Venetians, let it be settled in a Venetian court; and if anyone has a complaint or a claim against a Venetian, let it be decided in the same court. If the Venetian sues a non-Venetian, he will receive satisfaction in the royal curia.

In addition, if a Venetian dies, leaving a will or not ... his property is transferred to the Venetians. If a Venetian is shipwrecked, he must not suffer damage to his property *. If he dies in a shipwreck, his remaining belongings will be passed on to his heirs or other Venetians. Further, the Venetians should have the same judicial power ... over the townspeople of any nationality living in the quarter and the houses of the Venetians, which the king has over his subjects.

Finally, the Venetians are given an eternal, hereditary and indisputable possession of the third part of the cities of Ascalon and Tire, with the lands belonging to it, which are now in the power of the Saracens, and not the Franks, and which, with God's help, will be conquered, starting from Peter's day, together with Venetians ... and the third part they will dispose of on the same rights that the king enjoys in his two parts. "

Public life in Palestine at the beginning of the XIII century. (from "Jerusalem History" by Jacob Vitriysky ")

Let's start with the sanctuary of the Lord * ... Shepherds grazed themselves, collecting wool and milk of sheep, but not caring about souls and even giving the parishioners examples of betrayal; fat cows on the mountain of Samaria, they became rich from Christ's poor. They grew fat by the legacy of the crucified ... although the Lord said to Peter: "Feed your sheep," however, we never heard him say: "Shear your sheep" ... Everywhere in the church they set up stalls for sellers of pigeons and tables for money changers, whom the Lord himself expelled ** ... Drowning in abundant luxury, weakened by shameful idleness, they not only crumbs that fell from the Lord's table, but whole loaves and delicious meals delighted their puppies ... ***

After the monks, having strengthened themselves beyond measure thanks to their huge possessions, were poisoned by the poison of wealth, they began to despise their superiors, breaking the bonds of obedience ... **** They not only became unbearable for the church, but also crossed, hating and humiliating each other friend, to open grievances up to violence and fights ... Many of them, more pious, righteous and God-fearing men, observed the saving rule and the holy orders of the order and ... “did not go to the council of the wicked and did not enter the path of sinners .. . ". However, the wickedness of the wicked and the unethical prevailed ... And therefore, due to the weakening of the severity of church discipline, the laity and (various) malevolent people neglected the instructions of their prelates, having little respect for the harsh justice of the spiritual sword.

The laity, the more noble and powerful they were, the more destructively they were led astray. A corrupted and perverted generation ... descended from the aforementioned pilgrims *, they inherited the property, not the good manners of their fathers, and abused the earthly goods that their fathers obtained with their own blood, actively fighting for the glory of God. And their sons, called Pullans, nurtured in pleasures, weak and effeminate, more accustomed to baths than to battles, devoted to filth and luxury, wore folded clothes like women ... Anyone who knows enough how the Saracens despise them, does not doubt how inactive and lethargic, cowardly and cowardly they are ... Concluding alliances with the Saracens, they rejoice in peace with the enemies of Christ. Being at enmity among themselves for the most empty reason, stirring up discord, strife and war among themselves, they often ask for help against Christians from the enemies of our faith and are not ashamed to waste ... to the detriment of Christianity of forces and means that should be turned to the glory of God against the pagans ... Pullans not only do not show gratitude, but even in many places oppress pilgrims who, with great difficulty and unbearable expenses, leaving themselves and their property to the Lord, from afar, from the most distant countries, come both out of piety and out of a desire to give them help**. ... And then the pullans become immensely enriched, oppressing and ruining the pilgrims when selling and exchanging things and various deals, and charging them an unreasonably high fee for the stay ...

There are (there) other people who, from ancient times living in this country under the rule of various masters - Greeks, Romans, Latins * and barbarians, Saracens, Christians, for a long time carry in different forms the yoke of slavery - being slaves everywhere, always paying taxes, they intended by their masters for agriculture and other lower needs; they are completely incapable of military affairs and useless in battle like women, except for a few who can only have bows and arrows. They are called surians (/ hawking spies for a small fee, they betray the secrets of Christians to the Saracens among whom they grew up, they use their language more willingly than any other, and to a large extent imitate their augmented morals ... According to Saracen custom they keep their wives locked up and wrap them and their daughters in veils ... beards, like the Saracens, the Greeks, And almost all Eastern peoples, they do not shave but "CH" face decoration, honor and glory of a person ...

Life of European feudal lords in Palestine as depicted by an Arab writer (from the "Book of Edification" by Osama ibn Munkiz **)

Glory to the Creator and Creator. Anyone who understands the work of the Franks well will exalt Allah and glorify him. He will see in the Francs only animals with the dignity of valor in battle and nothing more, just as animals have valor and courage in attacks.

I will tell you something about the affairs of the Franks and their strange mind. In the armies of King Fulco, son of Fulco *, there was a distinguished horseman who came from their country on a pilgrimage and was returning there. He made friends with me, became attached to me and called me "my brother", there was a great friendship between us, and we often visited each other. When he was about to return by sea to his country, he told me: "O my brother, I am going to my country and I would like you to send your son with me." And my son was with me at that time, and he was fourteen years old.

“Let him look at our knights, learn reason and knightly customs. When he returns, he will become a real smart person. " My ears were struck by these words, which a reasonable one could not have uttered; for even if my son were captured, captivity would not have been more difficult for him than a trip to the country of the Franks. I replied to my friend: “I swear on your life, the same was in my soul, but what keeps me from this is only that his grandmother - my mother - loves him very much and did not allow him to leave with me until she made me swear to bring him back to her. " - "So your mother is still alive?" the franc asked. “Yes,” I said. “Then don't act against her wishes,” he said.

Here is one of the amazing examples of healing among the Franks: the ruler of al-Munaytyr ** wrote a letter to my uncle, asking him to send a doctor to cure several of his sick comrades. His uncle sent him a Christian doctor named Sabit. Less than twelve days later, he returned back. “How soon did you heal the sick,” we told him. “They brought a knight to me,” the doctor told us, “on whose leg an abscess had formed, and a woman suffering from dryness: I put a small compress on the knight, and his abscess opened and began to heal. I ordered the woman to warm up and moisten her composition with a diet *. A Frankish doctor came to these patients and said: “This one does not understand anything about treatment. How do you prefer, "he asked the knight," to live with one leg or die with both? " “I want to live with one leg,” the knight answered, “Bring me a strong knight,” said the doctor, “and bring a sharp ax.” The knight came with an ax, and I was present. The doctor put the patient's leg on the log and said to the knight: "Hit his leg with an ax and cut it off with one blow." The knight struck a blow in front of my eyes, but did not cut off the legs, then he struck her a second time, the brain flowed out of the leg bones, and the patient died immediately. Then the doctor looked at the woman and said: "In this woman's head, the devil who fell in love with her, shave her head." The woman was shaved, and she again began to eat the usual food of the Franks - garlic and mustard. Her dryness increased, and the doctor said, "The devil has entered her head." He grabbed a razor, cut the skin on her head with a cross and tore off her from the middle of her head so much that her skull bones became visible. Then he rubbed her head with salt and she died immediately. I asked them: "Do you still need me?" They said, "No." Then I left, having learned from their healing what I did not know before ... "

All the Franks who have only recently moved from the Frankish lands to the East are distinguished by more rude morals than those who settled here and communicated with Muslims ...

Once I went with Emir Muin ad-Din (may Allah have mercy on him) to Jerusalem. On the way, we stopped at Nabulus. There, a blind Muslim youth, well dressed, came to Muin ad-Din. He brought fruit to Muin ad-Din and asked permission to enter his service in Damascus .. Muin ad-Din allowed him, and I asked the young man about this, and I was told that his mother had been married to a franc and had killed her husband. Her son lured Frankish pilgrims with cunning and killed them with the help of his mother. In the end, he was suspected of this and the Frankish method of court was applied to him. They set up a huge barrel, filled it with water, and secured a wooden beam above it. Then the suspect was seized, tied, by the shoulders to this crossbar and thrown into a barrel. If this man was innocent, he. would submerge in the water, and he would be lifted with this rope, and he would not die in the water. If he had sinned in any way, then he could not have immersed himself in the water. When this young man was thrown into the water, he tried to dive, but he could not, and they condemned him, may Allah curse them, and burned his eyes out. This man later arrived in Damascus, and Emir Muin ad-Din (may Allah have mercy on him) provided him with everything he needed. The emir said to one of his servants: "Take this man to Burkhan ad-Din al-Balhi, may Allah have mercy on him, and tell him to order someone to teach him how to read the Koran and some of the laws." The blind man then said to Muin ad-Din. “Victory and conquest! That's not what I thought. " - "What did you expect from me then?" - asked the emir. "That you give me a horse, a mule and weapons," the young man replied, "and make me a rider." “I never thought that the blind could become riders,” the emir replied.

Many Franks settled in our lands and made friends with Muslims. These francs are much better than those who have recently arrived from the Frankish countries, but they are an exception that cannot be judged at all. Here's an example. Once I sent my comrade to Anti-ohia on business. The leader there was Theodor ibn al-Safi, with whom I had a great friendship. He was very influential in Antioch. One day he said to my friend: "One of my Frankish friends invited me to his place, you will come with me to see their custom." “I went with him,” said my friend, “and we entered the house of a knight. This was one of the old-timers who arrived here during the first campaigns of the Franks. He was released from clerical and military service, he had possessions in Antioch, the income from which he lived. They brought us a beautifully set table, clean and well prepared food. The knight saw that I was abstaining from food, and said to me: “Eat, please your soul; I myself do not eat anything from Frankish dishes and I keep Egyptian cooks, I eat only what they cook, and there is no pork meat in my house. " I began to eat, but was careful, and then we left. One day I was walking through the market and a Frankish woman became attached to me. She muttered something in their language; and I didn't understand what she was saying. A crowd of Franks gathered around us, and I was convinced of my death. Suddenly this same knight approached. He saw me, came up to me and said, turning to the woman: "What have you got with this Muslim?" “This man killed my brother Ursa,” she exclaimed, and this Ursus was a knight in Apamea * who was killed by one of Ham's troops. The knight shouted at her and said: “This man is from the Burg, that is, a merchant. He does not fight or take part in combat. " He shouted at those gathered, and they scattered; then the knight took my hand and went with me. My salvation from death was the result of what I ate with him. "

IV. Fourth Crusade. Pope Innocent III's Epistle on the Crusade

Burning with an ardent desire to free the Holy Land from the hands of the wicked, ... we decree ... that in a year from this June ... all those who have undertaken to sail across the sea should gather in the kingdom of Sicily ... by that time we too. ... we dispose to arrive a city to the north of Sheizar, which belonged there personally, so that the Christian army could, with our advice and help, settle down and go on a campaign with the divine ...

We wish and command ... that all those who themselves did not personally go to the aid of the Holy Land, put an appropriate number of soldiers and take upon themselves the necessary expenses for three years, each according to his own strength ..

We have decreed ... that all clerics, both subordinates and prelates, should present one-twentieth of the Church's income for the benefit of the Holy Land for three years ...

We ourselves and our brothers, the cardinals of the holy Roman church, will contribute one tenth in full; let it be known that everyone is obliged to do so on pain of excommunication ...

We give special advantages to the crusaders from the time they set out on a campaign; they enjoy exemption from all levies and taxes and other burdens; their face and their property, after accepting the cross, are under the patronage of Blessed Peter and our own ...

Since for the execution of such an enterprise it is especially necessary that the princes and the Christian peoples observe peace, we, at the insistence of the holy ecumenical council, decided that for at least four years universal peace should be preserved throughout the whole earth ...

Sermon on the Crusade (1198 - November 1199)

1. Know that in the year one thousand one hundred and ninety-seventh from the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, during the time of Innocent, the apostle of Rome, and Philip, king of France, and Richard, king of England, there was a certain saint in France named Fulk of Neuilly (this Neuilly is located between Lanny on the Marne and Paris); and he was a priest and kept the parish from the city. And this Fulk, of whom I am telling you, began to preach the word of God in France and in other surrounding lands; and know that our Lord worked many miracles through him.

2. Know that the glory of this holy man has spread so far as to reach Innocent, the apostle of Rome; and the apostle sent his people to France and instructed this pious man to preach his cross, the apostle, by will. And after that he sent there his Cardinal Master Pierre de Chappe, who accepted the cross; and instructed through him to give such remission of sins to the crusaders, as I tell you: all those who take up the cross and serve God in the army for one year will be forgiven all the sins they have committed and in which they confessed. Since this forgiveness was so great, the hearts of the people were greatly moved, and many accepted the cross because the forgiveness was so great.

(Geoffroy de Villardouin "The Conquest of Constantinople")

Taking a vow of the crusade (from November 28, 1199 to the first months of 1200)

3. The next year after this piety

Fulk's steve husband thus preached the word

God, there was a tournament in Champagne, in a certain castle, called

the emerging Ekri; and by the grace of God it happened that

Thibault, Count of Champagne and Brie, accepted the cross, as well as

and Louis, Count of Blois and Chartres. ... So you know

that this Count Thibault was a young man no older

twenty two years old; and Count Louis was no more than two

tsati seven years. Both of these earls were nephews

King of France and second cousins, as well as, with

on the other hand, the nephews of the King of England.

4. Together with these two counts they took a cross two

very noble barons of France, Simon de Montfort and

Renault de Montmirail. Great glory passed through all

lands when these two noble men took up the cross.

Treaty of the Crusaders with Tsarevich Alexei (January 1203)

91. Fifteen days after that, Mar arrived

Keyes Boniface of Montferrat, which had not yet been

appeared, and Mathieu de Montmorency, and Pierre de Brassier, and

many other gallant men. And after another Friday

For days, ambassadors from Germany returned, who

came from King Philip and from the young heir

Constantinople. Both the barons and the Doge of Venice gathered

were in a certain palace where the doge was located. And then

the ambassadors turned to them and said: “Seniors, we are

King Philip and the son of Emperor Constant sent to you

Tinopolsky, who is the brother of his wife. "

92. "Seniors," said the king, "I am sending to you

brother of my wife, and I give him to the right hand of God and to

your hands. As you go to fight the cause

God, and for the right, and for justice, then we must,

if you can, return the inheritance to those

from whom it was unrighteously taken away. And the prince will conclude

with you the most notable agreement that ever

generally consisted with anyone, and will show you the most

generous aid to reclaim the Overseas land. "

93. “First of all, if it pleases God,

you returned to the prince his legacy, he will supply all

the empire of Romania into submission to Rome, from which it

you have been walking and that you have become impoverished; and he will give you 200 thousand.

marks of silver and provisions for the whole rati, small and

great. And he will personally go with you to the ground

Babylonian * or send his ambassadors there, if you

consider it the best, with 10 thousand warriors at your own expense;

and he will provide you with this service for one year. And all

the days of his life he will keep in the Overseas land

at your own expense 500 knights ".

94. “Seniors,” said the ambassadors, “we have everything

the authority to enter into such an agreement if

you, for your part, want to conclude it. And know

* Egypt was called "the land of Babylon" in those days.

that such a noble agreement has never been offered to anyone, and that whoever refuses to conclude it does not seem to have a great desire for conquest. " And the barons said they would discuss it; and the next day a meeting was appointed; and when they gathered, these words were conveyed to them.

95. It said this and that. And the abbot spoke

de Vaux of the Cistercian order, and said that part,

which wanted the disintegration of the army; and they said that

in no way will they agree, because it meant

to oppose the Christians, and they went with

all not for that and want to go to Syria.

96. The other side answered them: “Good shade

ora, in Syria there is nothing you can do and you will soon

see for yourself when you see those who left

us and went to other harbors. And know that

Overseas land will be conquered only through

Babylonian land or through Greece, if at all

will someday be recaptured; and if we give up

of this agreement, we will forever be disgraced. "

97. This is how the army was in strife; and you don't

wonder the laymen were at odds, white monks

of the Cistercian order were also in strife.

Abbot of Loos, a very holy and righteous man, and

also the other abbots who held his side,

preached and appealed to people for mercy - during

the name of God keep the army intact and enclose it

agreement, for it is such a matter by which

the best way is to recapture the Overseas Land. A ab

bat de Vaux and those who held his side preached

and constantly repeated that all this is evil and that it should be

go to Syria and do what they can.

98. And then the Marquis Boniface of Montfer intervened

ratsky and Baudouin, Count of Flanders and Hainaut, and Count Louis,

and Count Hugues de Saint-Paul, and those who held their side,

and they said that they would conclude this agreement, for they would

disgraced if they rejected him. And so they went to the house

doge; and the ambassadors were summoned; and entered into an agreement

on such conditions, which you have already heard, having fastened

his oaths and letters with hanging seals.

99. And the book will tell you that there were only 12 people who took an oath from the French, and there were no more. Among them were the Marquis of Montferrat, Count Baudouin of Flanders, Count Louis of Blois and Chartres, and Count Hugues de Saint-Paul, and eight others who held their side. So an agreement was made, and letters were made, and a date was set for the arrival of the young heir; and this date was fixed on the fifteenth day after Easter.

Capture of Constantinople

LXX. ... It was on Friday, about 10 days before Palm Sunday (April 9, 1204), when the pilgrims and Venetians finished equipping their ships and making their siege weapons and prepared to go on the attack. And then they lined up their ships side to side, and the French loaded their weapons of war on barges and galleys, and they moved towards the city, and the fleet stretched out along the front almost a league; and all the pilgrims and Venetians were superbly armed ...

LXXI. When the ships were about to dock, the Venetians then took good ropes and pulled their ships as close to the walls as possible; and then the French set up their guns, their "cats", their "carts" and their "turtles" for the siege of the walls; and the Venetians scrambled onto the jumpers of their ships and went furiously against the attack of the walls; at the same time the French set out on the attack, using their guns. When the Greeks saw that the French were attacking, they began to throw such huge blocks of stone onto the siege weapons of the French that you could hardly tell; and they began to crush, smash into pieces and turn into chips all these tools, so that no one dared to stay either in themselves or under these guns, and on the other hand, the Venetians could not reach either the walls or the towers, so much they were high; and on that day the Venetians: and the French could not achieve success in anything - neither to take possession of the walls, nor the city. When they saw that they could not do anything here, they were greatly discouraged and stepped back ...

LXXI1. ... When the barons returned and got off the ships, they gathered together and in great confusion said that it was for their sins that they could not undertake anything against the city, nor break forward; and then the bishops and clergy of the army discussed the situation and judged that the battle was legal and that they had the right to make a good attack, - after all, the inhabitants of the city from ancient times professed faith, obeying the Roman law, and now they came out of obedience to him and even said "that the Roman faith is nothing not worth it, and they said that all who profess it are dogs; and the bishops said that they therefore have the right to attack the Greeks and that this not only would not be any sin, but, on the contrary, would be a great pious deed.

LXXII1. And then they began to shout all over the camp, so that on Sunday morning (April 11) everyone would appear for a sermon: the Venetians and everyone else; so they did. And then the bishops began to preach in the camp ... and they explained to the pilgrims that the battle was legal, for the Greeks are traitors and murderers and loyalty is alien to them ... who would go to the attack, and the bishops commanded the pilgrims to properly confess and receive communion and not to be afraid to fight against the Greeks, for they are the enemies of the Lord ...

LXXIV. Then, when the bishops dissuaded their sermons and explained to the pilgrims that the battle was legal, they all confessed properly and received the sacrament. When Monday morning came, all the pilgrims were well equipped, put on chain mail, and the Venetians prepared for the attack the jumpers of their naves, and their yuissiers, and their galleys; then they lined them up side to side and set out to make an attack; and the fleet stretched out a good league along the front; when they came to the shore and as close as they could to the walls, they dropped anchor. And when they anchored, they began to violently attack, shoot with bows, throw stones and throw Greek fire on the towers; but fire could not overcome the towers because they were covered with skins (soaked in water). And those in the towers fiercely defended themselves and threw shells from at least 60 stone throwers, with each blow hitting the ships; the ships, however, were so well protected by oak flooring and vines that the hits did not do them much harm, although the stones were so large that one person could not lift such a stone from the ground ... And in all there were no more than four or five naves, which could reach the height of the towers - they were so high; and all the tiers of wooden towers, which were built over the stone ones, and there were five, or six, or seven such tiers, were filled with warriors who defended the towers. And the pilgrims attacked in this way until the nave of the bishop of Soissons hit one of these towers; he was carried directly to her by a miracle of God, for the sea is never calm here; and on the bridge of this nave were a certain Venetian and two armed knights; as soon as the nave hit the tower, the Venetian immediately grabbed it with his feet and hands and, having contrived as soon as he could, entered the tower. When he was already inside, the warriors who were on this tier - Angles, Danes and Greeks - saw him and jumped towards him with axes and swords and chopped everything to pieces. Meanwhile, the waves again carried the nave, and he again hit this tower; and while the ship was nailed to the tower again and again, one of the two knights - his name was Andre de Durboise - does nothing other than grab hold of this wooden tower with his feet and hands and manage to crawl into it. When he was in it, those who were there pounced on him with axes, swords and began to violently unleash blows on him, but because by God's thanksgiving he was in chain mail, they did not even wounded him, for the Lord, who did not want to protect him, not to be beaten further, not to die here. On the contrary, he wanted the city to be taken ... And so the knight got to his feet and, as soon as he got to his feet, drew his sword. When they saw him standing on his feet, they were so amazed and seized with such fear that they fled to another tier, lower. When those who were there saw that the wars that were above them started to run down, they left this tier and did not dare to stay there any longer; and then another knight ascended into the tower, and then many more warriors: And when they found themselves in the tower, they took strong ropes and firmly tied the nave to the tower, and when they tied it, many soldiers ascended; and when the waves threw the nave back, this tower swayed so strongly that it seemed as if the ship was about to overturn it, or - in any case, it seemed to them with fear - that it would forcefully tear the nave away from it. And when those who were placed on other, lower tiers, saw that the tower was already full of Frenchmen, they were seized with such great fear that no one dared to stay there any longer, and they all left the tower ... And meanwhile, as soon as this tower was taken in such a miraculous way, the nave of lord Pierre de Brechal hit another tower; and when he hit it again, those who were on the bridge of the nave bravely attacked this tower, so successfully that by a miracle of God this tower was also removed.

LXXV. When these two towers were taken and captured by our people, they did not dare to move on, for they saw many warriors on the wall around them, in other towers, and below the walls - and it was a real miracle how many there were. When sir Pierre Amiens saw that those who were in the towers did not budge, and when he saw the position of the Greeks, he did nothing but descend with his soldiers onto dry land, occupying a piece of solid ground that was between by the sea and by the wall. When they got down, they looked ahead and saw a disguised entrance: the leaves of the former gate had been torn out, and the entrance itself was again walled up; then Pierre Amiens approached there, having with him only a dozen knights and only about 60 squires. There was also a cleric by the name of Alom de Clari, who showed great courage whenever there was a need ... that they were not all crushed; and sir Pierre and his soldiers did not spare their forces there, undertaking these military labors and efforts, and they continued to destroy this disguised entrance with axes and good swords, drekol, iron crowbars and spears that they made a big breach there. And when the entrance was broken through, they looked in and saw so many people - both noble and low-born, that it seemed there was half the world; and they did not dare to enter there.

LXXVI. When Alom, the cleric, saw that no one dared to enter there, he stepped forward and said that he would enter there. Well, there was a certain knight, his brother named Robert de Clari, who forbade him to do this and who said that he would not be able to enter there, but the cleric said that he would do it; and so he crawled there, clinging to his feet and hands; and when his brother saw this, he grabbed him by the leg and began to pull him towards him, but the cleric still managed to enter there in defiance of his brother. When he was already inside, the Greeks, and there were a great many of them, rushed to him, and those who stood on the walls met him, throwing huge stones. When the cleric saw this, he drew his knife, rushed at them and forced them to flee, chasing them in front of him like cattle. And then he shouted to those who were outside - Senor Pierre and his people: “Seniors, go boldly! I see them retreat in complete frustration and flee. " When Messire Pierre and his people who were outside heard this, they entered the breach, and there were no more than a dozen knights, but there were still about 60 squires with them, and all were on foot. And when they got inside and those who were on the walls or near this place saw them, they were seized with such fear that they did not dare to stay in this place and left most of the wall, and then ran in all directions ...

LXXVIII. ... Messire Pierre ... sent a detachment of his squires to the gates that were nearby, and ordered them to be smashed to pieces and opened. And they went and so they began to strike at these gates with axes and swords until they broke the large iron bolts and bolts, which were very strong, and unlocked the gate. And when the gates were unlocked, and those who were on this side saw this, they drove up their yissiers, brought their horses out of them, and then jumped on them and through these gates entered the city on the move .. When those who defended the towers and the walls, saw that the French entered the city and that their emperor was running away, they did not dare to stay there, but ran in all directions; this is how the city was

LXXX. When the morning of the next day (April 13) came, the priests and clergy in full vestments appeared in a procession to the camp of the French and the Angles also came there, the Danes and people of other nations and in loud voices asked for mercy, told them about everything that the Greeks had done, and then they told them that all the Greeks had fled and there was no one left in the city except the poor people. When the French heard this, they were very happy; and then it was announced in the camp that no one should take a dwelling for themselves, "before they establish how they will be taken. And then noble people, powerful people gathered and held advice among themselves, so that neither the lesser people, nor the poor knights did anything at all about They did not know this, and decided that they would take for themselves the best houses of the city, and it was from then that they began to betray the lesser people, and show their treachery, and be bad companions ... And then they sent to seize all the best and richest houses in the city, so that they occupied all of them before the poor knights and lesser people had time to know about it.And when the poor people found out about it, they moved in all directions and took what they could take; and they found many dwellings and occupied a lot them, and many still remained, for the city was very large and very crowded. And the Marquis (Boniface of Montferrat) ordered to take for himself the Lion's Mouth palace (Vukoleon palace), and the monastery of St. Sophia, and the houses of the patriarch; and other noble people, such , like the counts, commanded to take some of the richest palaces and richest abbeys that could be found there ...

LXXXI. And then they ordered that all the captured goods be carried to a certain abbey, which was in the city. All the good was taken there, and they chose 10 noble knights from the pilgrims and 10 Venetians, whom they considered honest, and set them up to guard this good. When the good was brought there, and it was very rich, and there were so many rich utensils of gold and silver, and so many gold-woven fabrics, and so many rich treasures that it was a real miracle, all this huge good that was carried there; and never since the creation of the world has such an enormous amount of good, so noble or so rich, been seen and won - not in the time of Alexander, not in the time of Charlemagne, not before or after; I myself think that in the 40 richest cities in the world there would hardly have been as much good as was found in Constantinople. Yes, and the Greeks say that two-thirds of earthly riches are collected in Constantinople, and a third is scattered around the world. And the very people who were supposed to protect the good, took away the jewels from gold and everything they wanted, and so they plundered the good; and each of the powerful people took for themselves either gold utensils, or gold-woven silks, or what he liked best, and then carried them away. In this way, they began to plunder the good, so that nothing was divided for the common good of the army or for the good of the poor knights or squires who helped to conquer this good, except perhaps for large silver like silver basins, which noble townspeople used in their baths. ..

LXXXII. When the city was taken and the pilgrims settled, as I told you about this, and when the palaces were taken, they found innumerable riches in the palaces. And Lionmouth Palace was so rich and built as I will tell you now. Inside this palace, which the marquis had taken for himself, there were five hundred chambers, all of which were adjacent to each other and were all lined with golden mosaics; it had from a good 30 churches, both large and small; and there was one in it, which was called the Holy Church, and which was so rich and noble that there was not a single door hinge, not a single latch, in a word, no part, which are usually made of iron and which would not be entirely of silver and there was not a single pillar that was not either jasper or porphyry or other rich gems. And the flooring of the chapel was of white marble, so smooth and transparent that it seemed as if it was made of crystal ... Many rich shrines were found inside this church; there they found two pieces of the cross of the Lord ... an iron tip from a spear with which our Lord was pierced in the side, and two nails with which his hands and feet were nailed; and then in one crystal vessel they found most of the blood he had spilled; and there they also found the tunic in which he was dressed, and which was removed from him when he was led to Mount Calvary; and then a blessed crown was found there, with which he was crowned, and which had such sharp thorns of sea reed as the tip of an iron awl. And then they found there a part of the robe of the Blessed Virgin, and the head of Monsignor St. John the Baptist, and so many other rich relics that I simply could not list them for you or tell you everything in truth ...

LXXXIV. And then the pilgrims looked at the vastness of the city, and the palaces, and the rich abbeys, and the rich monasteries, and the great wonders that were in the city; and they marveled at this for a long time, and especially marveled at the monastery of St. Sofia and the wealth that is there

(Robert de Clari, "The Conquest of Constantinople")

28-01-2017, 12:30 |

Campaigns of the crusaders, which began at the end of the XI century. play an important role in the history of Medieval Europe. This is an indicator of how many people, including the clergy, under the guise of good intentions, went to liberate the Holy Lands in Palestine. In fact, most people pursued their own personal goals, often selfish. This is the conquest of new territories, absolution, just booty and, at worst, outright robbery.

The very history of the Crusades is filled with many secrets, many of which we can no longer reveal. On the other hand, the crusaders for some seem to be glorified warriors who overcame many lands and participated in bloody battles. Let's take a look at the Crusades table.

Table of the first crusades

The most famous are the first four Crusades. A lot of historical materials are presented about them and their participants. And we can safely argue that, for example, German and French feudal lords took part in the first campaign. And in the second there are knights and peasants. And the campaign was led by three illustrious commanders and rulers of different states.

So, in 1095, at the Council in Clermont, the then Pope announced the beginning of a holy campaign to Palestine, where the Holy Sepulcher was located. At that time, these lands were occupied by the Seljuk Turks, and it was necessary to urgently free them from the Muslims. Consider the table below for the first three Crusades.

Table of the last crusades

The rest of the crusades were caused by the reasons for the reconquest of Jerusalem. The goals of these campaigns, in addition to the reconquest of Jerusalem, were the conquest of Constantinople and other lands of the East. Indeed, in the West, there was a sorely lack of land. And such trips were mainly set off by those people who hoped to find their new home in the East.

Capturing the same Jerusalem, many soldiers remained to live there, started families. The seventh and last Eighth Crusades were already carried out against Egypt. But they were unsuccessful, like the previous ones. Due to the unpreparedness of the participants in the campaign and sometimes the climatic conditions, the crusaders did not achieve their goals. Consider the table of the last Crusades.

Table of the results of the Crusades

The crusades in the history of world civilization took up an entire era. Despite the fact that many of the eight campaigns were unsuccessful, they left a mark on history. Each campaign was accepted by the population with great enthusiasm. People marched with the crusaders with a warm hope for the future. Only now everything turned into a collapse.

They did not succeed in freeing Palestine from Muslims, they failed to seize new lands there. And only with each campaign the number of the dead increased. Not always from a sword or arrows. Sometimes many warriors died from plague epidemics. The table below presents the results of the Crusades.

Crusades table video

Chronological table

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The ending

Chronological table At the end of this "Sketch" we give a table of the main events from 800 BC. NS. until 1931 n. The reader should have a clear understanding of the true relationship between historical and geological time. Let me quote from recently

Chronological table Judea, Jesus and Christianity Before 4 BC - the birth of Jesus according to the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 2: 1). 4 BC - death of Herod the Great. 6 A.D. - the birth of Jesus according to the Gospel of Luke (Luke 2: 1–7). Census of Quirinius, governor