Certainty: 2 Godfrey's diplomatic negotiations with Alexios & Bohemond. Alexios I made increasingly urgent requests for Godfrey of Bouillon to enter the capital for an audience. Godfrey refused them all out of mistrust and suspicion. But he did send a distinguished delegation to make his apologies: Cono of Montaigu, Baldwin of Bourcq, and either Godfrey of Esch [Albert of Aachen] or his brother Henry [William of Tyre]. They were frank about Godfrey's lack of trust, which Alexios said was misplaced. Around the same time, Godfrey received a letter from Bohemond, suggesting that they should meet back in Adrianople or Philippopolis, and attack Constantinople in March. Godfrey politely refused to use crusading force in this way against Christians. Alexios, facing threats like this, sent written orders to station mercenary troops on the line from Athyra to Philea, to cut communication between Godfrey and Bohemond and other approaching counts
Certainty: 3 Birth of Manuel (son of Alexios I). Birth of Manuel Komnenos (son of Alexios I) in February
Certainty: 2 Tancred fought prominently as Bohemond's army crossed the Vardar. Alexios I was naturally wary of Bohemond, and probably asked his captains to harrass his force as it reached the Vardar. The river was in spate, and with the enemy on the far bank formed an obstacle which held up the army for a time. Finally Tancred crossed with a small force. He had to defend against a spirited attack by troops of Turkish descent, then took the initiative himself and defeated them with heavy losses. Most of Bohemond's army, by one way or another, followed him across the river, but there was still a considerable force left behind. The enemy attacked these, with some success. Thus a messsage was sent to Tancred for help, and he returned to the river bank. Spurning a boat, he swum his horse across the river, followed by his men in boats; they defeated the other half of the enemy force, who ran away, beginning to feel the terrible power of the name "Tancred". They took a good deal of plunder, much of it rich and ornate. He was widely praised for the victory
Certainty: 2 Theophylaktos told the bishop of Kitros that his silence was due to the passage of the First Crusade. Theophylaktos of Ohrid explained his reasons for the silence in their correspondence: he had only just got used to the passage (or invasion?) of the Franks, and had failed to discover conscientious letter-carriers. At last he had found a suitable monk
Certainty: 3 Godfrey's relations with the Byzantines descended into violence. [Marriage of Anna and Nikephoros] Alexios realised that Godfrey was determined not to meet him, and again stopped the market and sent snipers to his camp. [Anna Komnene speaks of an interview of Alexios with Latin counts which dragged on and made the crusaders outside the city anxious.] Godfrey called a council, which decided that his brother Baldwin should seize the bridge they had crossed and return to the walls of the city, so as not to be bottled up beyond it in palaces along the Bosporos. Baldwin seized the bridge and held it all day, while Godfrey gathered his men, burning the buildings where they had lived, especially near the Silver Lake. They crossed back over the bridge, and battle began with the Byzantines between Kosmidion and Blachernai. They attacked the city walls. A courtier of Alexios was killed [or nearly killed] by a crusader arrow. Alexios alone was calm in this tense situation, not wearing armour and restraining those who wished to retaliate, especially as it was Holy Week [This dating by Anna Komnene is surely too late]. This did not calm the crusaders, who redoubled their attacks, provoking one strong sally. The kaisar Nikephoros Bryennios and his bowmen helped keep control without shooting to kill. Both sides claimed victory, as the Byzantines withdrew inside the walls; night intervened to restore calm. The crusader army camped in the open again, despite Alexios' plans. The next day, Godfrey was advised by Hugh of Vermandois to accept Alexios' invitation, though Godfrey hoped to avoid Hugh's slavish status. For the following six days Godfrey's forces plundered all round the city, gathering plenty of food
Certainty: 3 Godfrey of Bouillon finally waited on Alexios I in his palace & took oaths of allegiance. After the devastation caused by Godfrey's men, Alexios made a new effort to meet him, offering hostages to ensure that Godfrey was treated well. He feared that the expected arrivals of new armies would make the situation dangerous. Anna Komnene refers to another battle, won (with losses) by the Byzantines. Finally Godfrey agreed, provided the hostages inspired conference. Alexios offered Ioannes, his eldest son, the future Ioannes II. Godfrey moved his men back across the bridge to the palaces along the Bosporos, and sent Baldwin of Bourcq and Cono of Montaigu to pick up Ioannes. He then sailed to the city, attended by Garnier of Grez and Peter of Astenois. Godfrey's brother Baldwin was left in charge of the army and the hostage. The well-dressed Godfrey made a good impression: Alexios greeted him and his nobles with the kiss of peace, and asked all their names, but did not rise as they knelt before him. He made Godfrey his adopted son, clothing him as an emperor: the crusaders swore loyalty to Alexios, promising to return to the Byzantines (via the emperor's representative) all places once belonging to them. They agreed on peaceful and fair commerce, with severe penalties for offenders. Godfrey shared a meal at the emperor's table. Alexios gave his visitors rich gifts, which were repeated in succeeding weeks. The crusaders left the city in awe, and Ioannes was returned to his father
Certainty: 3 Godfrey & his men after taking oaths were transferred to Asia. When new armies appeared at the beginning of Lent, Alexios suggested to Godfrey that he and his army cross to Asia, and he willingly agreed, as the army had damaged the buildings along the Bosporos. They camped near Chalcedon at Pelekanos, with generous rations. From soon after Christmas nearly to Pentecost four men went weekly from the palace to Godfrey, laden with bezants and small change, most of which was recycled back by buying food. The prices of goods were kept low
Certainty: 3 "Count Raoul" arrived outside Constantinople, & was fought & coaxed across the strait like Godfrey before him. Count Raoul [known to Anna Komnene but apparently to no western source] arrived outside Constantinople with 15,000 men. As with Godfrey, it was plain that he wanted to wait for others before crossing the straits. (Konstantinos) Opos was sent to persuade him and Pegasios to ferry him over: together they fought and defeated him, forcing him to go. [It is tempting to identify him with Robert of Flanders, the leader of a significant contingent arriving at this time whose passage is not detailed in Anna's account; but the little we do know about Robert's time in the capital makes a different impression from that of "Raoul".]
Certainty: 2 Bohemond was invited by Alexios I to come to Constantinople ahead of his army. Alexios I received reports about Bohemond's huge army, assembled from many sources without coercion, with special mention of the ferocity of Tancred and his brothers. Alexios then sent a friendly embassy, praising Bohemond and his father, asking him and his men to avoid violence, promising supplies and urging him to hurry to Constantinople, where wealth and honours awaited, as well as his distinguished colleagues. Bohemond realised the deceit but replied with thanks (or was seduced by it, according to Ralph of Caen). From Apros (or Ipsos), Bohemond went ahead with a small escort, choosing the men carefully, and leaving Tancred in charge of the army. Tancred began to think how to avoid the net of Byzantine cunning which was closing round Bohemond
Certainty: 3 Robert of Flanders followed the others, becoming the emperor's man & crossing the straits. Robert of Flanders crossed from Bari to Dyrrachium at the beginning of winter, spending the bad weather in a fertile area; in spring he began to follow the others. He was invited by Alexios to leave his army before reaching the city and visit him in the palace; primed by the others, he did, and like them he was well received, swore fealty and received huge gifts. He spent some days recovering in Constantinople, had several important interviews with Alexios, then took his army across to join his fellows: they discussed the task ahead
Certainty: 3 A crusader knight sat on Alexios' throne & received a lecture on fighting the Turks. His careful treatment of crusading leaders became for a time [in the text of Anna Komnene] more general: they were greeted, fed, and housed from Kosmidion up the Bosporos, even to Hieron (!). There was a general oath-taking ceremony for new crusader arrivals, for which Godfrey was called from Pelekanos, as the oath to be taken was the one he had sworn to Alexios. After the oaths were taken, a knight sat on Alexios' throne; he was told to rise by Baldwin, Godfrey's brother, to respect local custom, especially as he had just sworn allegiance to Alexios. The knight rose and accepted Baldwin's rebuke without comment, but he looked daggers at Alexios and quietly abused him for rudeness in sitting alone before such noble company. Alexios saw the knight mutter as he rose from the throne, and asked an interpreter to translate: Alexios listened, but said nothing at the time. As the man left, Alexios asked him who he was: he was a pure-blooded Frankish noble, whose challenges to single combat were never taken up. Alexios warned him and everyone else against such complacency, with a brief lecture, as the Turks were terrible foes
Certainty: 3 Bohemond reached Constantinople & held a tense but positive meeting with Alexios I. When Bohemond arrived at the capital Alexios sent first a delegation and then Godfrey to ask him to visit him. When he came, he greeted him with the kiss of peace, and after initial probing had long and friendly discussions with him and (it seems) formally accepted him as his man, with a whole treasury full of gifts. Ralph of Caen speaks of an oath of homage, and the grant of a tract of the Byzantine Empire so large that a horse would take fifteen days to cross its length and eight to cross its breadth (as Bohemond immediately wrote to Tancred). According to Anna Komnene, when Bohemond asked to become domestikos of the East, Alexios demurred, saying it was not yet time for this. She also questions Bohemond's religious motivation as a crusader, says he refused to eat food cooked by Byzantines, and suggests he had a complex over low birth and poverty, sometimes accepting gifts only when Alexios gestured to remove them. Bohemond encouraged other leaders to take the oath, but failed with his own nephew Tancred
Certainty: 2 Tancred avoided contact with Alexios I, & undermined Bohemond. Baldwin's nephew Tancred felt passionately that the crusade was being corrupted, agonising over his own position. He avoided contact with Alexios I, crossed the straits at night and in disguise, and passed unnoticed. Beyond the Bosporos he removed the disguise on the way to Nicaea, and felt safer. His actions infuriated his uncle and Alexios. Tancred made a point by sending Atropius and Guarinus as messengers to summon Bohemond while the latter was helping Alexios to impose on Raymond of Toulouse the same oath he had taken himself. The two messengers were told to summon Bohemond to duty on the crusade, because the Turks were threatening. Alexios, who (as intended) discovered the message, interrogated the messengers, discovered they could not be cowed and dismissed them without punishment. But Bohemond was forced to promise to bring Tancred into line. Tancred was increasingly angry at the net of obligations enveloping him
Certainty: 3 Raymond of Toulouse after angry hostility to Alexios I became his closest ally. At Raidestos Raymond met imperial messengers, other crusaders, and his own envoys, who all urged him to go on to speak with Alexios, so as not to delay the crusade. He left the army, was well received by Alexios and pressed to swear agreements like the rest, but totally refused; meanwhile, his army was attacked by Alexios' men. Hearing of this, Raymond accused Alexios of treachery in enticing him away and attacking his men, and called on other leaders to avenge him. Bohemond, Godfrey and Robert of Flanders, summoned by Alexios to calm him, told him to conceal his fury and he trusted them; all protested to Alexios, who publicly claimed innocence while offering amends. Raymond was fully reconciled to Alexios, swore agreement and all received more gifts. His army arrived and crossed to join the rest. Its leaders were William, bishop of Orange, Raimbold, count of Orange, Centule of Bigorre, Gaston of Bearn, Gerard of Rousillon, Raymond Pilet, William of Forez, William of Amanieu and William of Montpellier. He stayed in the city for a time, urging Alexios, like the others, to lead the crusade himself, but without success. Alexios discussed with him the route to be followed and the defects of other crusaders. The party arrived as the other crusaders were leaving, and the subsequent delay nearly made him late for the battle outside Nicaea
Certainty: 3 Early arrivals among the crusaders moved on towards Nicaea. Godfrey of Bouillon, Bohemond and early arrivals among the crusaders went to Rouphinianai to make preparations for an attack on Nicaea. There they were joined by Peter the Hermit with the remains of his forces. Later, envoys arrived from Raymond of Saint-Gilles, asking them to wait for him and Adhemar of le Puy; they refused, indicating a swifter but steeper route by which latecomers could catch them up. Lack of food made the early arrivals press on, and they divided, some going to Nicaea via Nikomedeia, others by sea
Certainty: 3 Counts of Normandy & Blois reached Constantinople. Robert, count of Normandy, and Stephen, count of Blois announced their arrival at Constantinople just as the others were leaving. They had reached Apulia at the start of winter with Hugh of Vermandois, Robert of Flanders etc., but while the latter crossed over from Bari, they had not found ships ready to venture across the Adriatic at that late date. They were forced to winter in Apulia and Calabria, losing some pilgrims who shamefully went home, then mustering at Brindisi at at the onset of spring to cross to Dyrrachion. The voyage was calm. They peacefully crossed Illyricum, Macedonia and Thrace along the Via Egnatia, with a four-day stop at Thessalonike. They camped for 14 days outside Constantinople, where they were welcomed like the others by Alexios I with many gifts, but only allowed into the city for hour-long visits in relays, in groups of five or six, to pray in the churches. Robert and Stephen swore agreements with Alexios and crossed to Nicaea to avoid further delay. In their company were Eustace of Boulogne; Rotrou of Perche; Stephen of Aumale; Alan Fergent; Conan of Lamballe; Roger of Barneville and the historian Fulcher of Chartres
Certainty: 3 Crusader forces reached Nicaea: position of contingents in the siege. The crusader leaders moved on without waiting for Raymond and Adhemar. Some with their armies converged on Nikomedeia, where they met Peter the Hermit, who described his disaster. They then went to Nicaea, taking appointed places around the city for the siege, partly to increase the pressure by encouraging competition, and leaving room for latecomers. Godfrey of Bouillon, his brother Baldwin and Eustace were on the east, Bohemond, Tancred, Robert of Normandy and Robert of Flanders on the north, and Hugh of Vermandois, Raymond of Toulouse and Adhemar (latecomers) and Stephen of Blois on the south. Also mentioned were Achard of Montmerle, Alan Fergent, Anselm of Ribemont, Arnulf of Tirs, Baldwin of Bourcq, Baldwin of Mons, Baldwin Chauderon, Baldwin of Ghent, Bernard of St-Valery, Conan of Lamballe, Cono of Montaigu, Dodo of Cons, Don Walker of Chappes, Drogo of Nesle, Engelrand of St Pol, Garnier of Grez, Gaston of Beziers, Gerard of Rousillon, Gerard of Quierzy, Gerard of Gournay, Gilbert of Traves, Gozelo of Montaigu, Guy of Possesse, Heribrand of Bouillon, Hugh of Saint-Pol, Ioannes of Nijmegen, Lambert of Montaigu, Louis of Mousson, Milo Louez, Oliver of Jussey, Peter the Hermit, Peter of Astenois, Raimbold of Orange, Raymond Pilet, Rainald of Beauvais, Reinhard of Toul, Robert son of Gerard, Rodolph, Ruthard son of Godfrey, Stephen of Blois, Stephen of Aumale, Tatikios, Thomas of La Fere, Walo of Chaumont, Walter of St-Valery, Walter of Verveis, William of Forez and William of Montpellier. Alexios was at Pelekanos, observing all sides in the conflict, and hoping, with the aid of Manuel Boutoumites, his greatest confidant, to capture Nicaea for himself
Certainty: 1 Death of Alexios I's youngest son Manuel, probably just after baptism. Alexios I's youngest son Manuel died on a May 16. It is likely that he died soon after baptism. His elder sister Theodora was soon after called Alexios' youngest daughter
Certainty: 2 Theophylaktos of Ohrid sought help from powerful friends against accusations of Lazaros. Theophylaktos wrote to two of his major patrons, Adrianos Komnenos and Nikephoros Bryennios, about crises which seriously affected his relationship with Alexios I. As well as more long-term problems, the main cause was Lazaros, a paroikos of Ohrid who aspired to freedom, who accused Theophylaktos to the emperor of being immensely rich and living in palaces of Persian luxury, and of being responsible for a fire which allegedly destroyed Lazaros' own property. The accusations were made at one or more imperial audiences, and were confirmed by formal oaths. Lazaros was put up to his accusations by certain tax officials who treated him well. A parallel problem at a slightly earlier time was caused by Medenos, probably himself a tax official. Adrianos and Nikephoros were praised for previous aid and their good offices requested in these cases too
Certainty: 1 Theophylaktos wrote to Niketas ho tou Serron & Nikolaos Kallikles. Theophylaktos of Ohrid sent a letter to the didaskalos of the Great Church (Niketas ho tou Serron), asking for help, as Niketas was in an opportune position. The carrier was his brother, Demetrios or an anonymous brother. He encouraged his correspondent to ask the brother for more information about the archbishop's troubles (probably to do with the Bulgarian attempt to blacken his name)
Certainty: 0 Theophylaktos wrote about his troubles to Theodoros Smyrnaios, perhaps from Pelagonia. [A letter with similar content to those sent with Theophylaktos' brother, but it does not mention its bearer.] Theophylaktos sent a letter to Theodoros Smyrnaios, speaking about his troubles as tragedies
Certainty: 0 Theophylaktos wrote to Ioannes Peribleptenos, about resuming their correspondence. There had been a gap in communication between them. Theophylaktos desired to resume the correspondence
Certainty: 3 Kilic Arslan I of Nicaea approached his besieged city. Kilic Arslan received many appeals from the people of Nicaea as the crusaders advanced, but was slow to respond; the citizens thus called on Manuel Boutoumites, so as to surrender to Alexios rather than be sacked by the crusaders. Manuel sent them many letters detailing promises made by Alexios if they surrendered to him. Thus when Kilic Arslan was slow to arrive, Manuel was invited to Nicaea to give assurances in person. However they expelled him after only two days, because they heard news that the sultan was due to arrive with a relief force. The sultan had sent two men to examine the position outside Nicaea, and to encourage the defenders inside with news of his attack the next day. Both were intercepted, one being killed. The other was interrogated by a group including Godfrey and Bohemond, who discovered the secret of the planned attack, and were able to warn Raymond and Adhemar to hasten their arrival. The informant was spared because he expressed a wish to convert to Christianity. He was honoured and rewarded when his predicted time for the enemy attack turned out to be accurate. After the battle he escaped to Nicaea
Certainty: 3 Kilic Arslan I arrived & fought a battle in which he failed to relieve his city.
Anna Komnene speaks of an initial engagement in which Raymond of Saint-Gilles, with aid from the other crusader armies, defeated a detachment of Turkish scouts. Latin sources begin from the messenger of Kilic Arslan who was tortured into revealing his master's plans, allowing the crusaders to complete their circuit of the city in time, though Raymond and Adhemar arrived only just before the battle. The Turks attacked the latecomers, expecting the space allotted to them to be empty. The Provencal troops, exhausted and unprepared, resisted heroically, but began to tire and were threatened by reinforcements. But Bohemond, Godfrey and Robert of Flanders came to their aid, charging together, supported by Robert of Normandy [though he had probably not yet arrived], Baldwin of Boulogne and Baldwin Chauderon. Tancred too arrived, from his distant position. The Turks resisted for an hour but then were defeated with heavy losses, and Kilic Arslan was no longer able to influence the progress of the siege, giving the defenders the right to surrender. Particularly distinguished in the fighting were Tancred, Guy of Possesse, Guy of Garland and Roger of Barneville. After the victory, some captives and a thousand heads of dead Turks were sent to Alexios I. He gratefully sent cash and silk fabrics as rewards to the leaders, and made sure that plentiful supplies were available
Certainty: 3 Turkish nobles removed from Nicaea by a Byzantine ruse. Though he had accepted the surrender of Nicaea, his forces were few in comparison with the headstrong Latins, and even the Turkish defenders of Nicaea. He therefore took charge of the keys of the only open gate. He let the Turkish leaders out of the gate during the night in small groups, to be ferried to Hagios Georgios. There he stationed Radomir and Monastras, warning them to send on each group at once to Alexios, so that they could not combine. His warning proved a prophecy: while Radomir and Monastras followed orders and sent the men at once, all was well. But once they allowed a bigger group to form, the Turks plotted to kill their guards or take them as prisoners to the sultan. The prisoners captured their guards and carried them off. But when they reached Mt Azalas and were resting their horses, Radomir and Monastras, both of whom spoke Turkish, warned their captors of the dangers of trying to reach the sultan in the disturbed political situation, and convinced them to go to Alexios instead. When he and Monastras 15001 with their Turkish allies reached Alexios 1 at Pelekanos, he welcomed them cheerfully, treated the Turks generously, but later reprimanded his two commanders so severely that they needed soothing words to restore their morale
Certainty: 3 Siege of Nicaea. During the siege, Hartmann of Dillingen and Henry of Esch spent a lot of time and money on a siege-engine to protect those undermining the wall, but they finally failed: it was crushed by stones from above and overbalanced, with heavy casualties. An Apulian engineer was more successful, allowing the undermining of the wall, but leaving the fortification still defensible. An attempt to widen the breach was unsuccessful. A major problem to the attackers was the lake of Nicaea, which allowed Kilic Arslan to supply the defenders unhindered. Alexios stopped this by providing ships, which the crusaders dragged on carts from the sea at Kios to the lake. Under the command of Manuel Boutoumites, they were manned with fully-armed soldiers, and provided with excess flags, trumpets and drums, to give a false impression of their numbers; they cut off access from that side of the city. Tatikios and Tzitas landed from boats at Hagios Georgios and rode up to Nicaea with a huge supply of arrows. They joined combined assaults under western command, covering the crusaders with a heavy shower of arrows. Alexios also provided siege-engines of his own design. Raymond of Toulouse concentrated his siege-engines on the tower of Gonatas where Kilic Arslan's wife, sister and children were said to live. They were terrified and tried to escape from the siege via the lake, but were captured and handed to Alexios. Godfrey of Bouillon's men suffered from an accurate and abusive archer, who killed many of them till Godfrey himself killed him with an arrow, to discourage any more such effrontery. Prominent crusader casualties included Baldwin Chauderon, Baldwin of Ghent, Galo de Insula, Guy of Possesse and William of Forez
Certainty: 3 Surrender of Nicaea to Boutoumites & Alexios I. The leaders of Nicaea began to despair of relief after Kilij Arslan lost the battle outside the city. Tatikios from outside Nicaea and Alexios I in secret negotiations via Manuel Boutoumites constantly reminded them that it would be safer to surrender to him than to the crusaders, who were hoping for a sack. Thus Boutoumites was invited into the city, showed the inhabitants Alexios' chrysobull promising amnesty, raised Byzantine flags and began acclamations. Alexios was generous to prisoners taken in the siege, especially the sultan's family. At this time Pakrad somehow escaped from Alexios and was taken by Baldwin of Boulogne, while Peter the Hermit received back some of his men. The crusader leaders received gifts from Alexios and accepted the fait accompli, since they had to move on, but the common soldiers complained of the lack of booty, which was not stipulated in any agreements with Alexios. Though pressed to allow the Crusaders to worship at the churches of Nicaea, Boutoumites, now the doux of Nicaea, only allowed 10 of them at a time into the city, thus preventing them from disputing the fact that it was surrendered to Alexios rather than to them
Certainty: 2 Tancred met Alexios I after the fall of Nicaea. After accepting thr surrender of Nicaea, Boutoumites also persuaded the crusader leaders to return to Pelekanos, especially those who had not yet taken an oath to Alexios. Bohemond was enthused (as always) by Boutoumites' promises of gifts from Alexios, and tried to persuade Tancred, one of those who had not sworn, to take the oath; Tancred was the last to hold out. He claimed Bohemond was his only lord, to whom he would be faithful till death. He is said to have lectured Alexios on the kind of honest leadership required for him to gain Tancred as a willing adherent. Pressured by Alexios' relatives, he said he would swear if given the imperial tent, maybe full of money, plus the sum of all Alexios' other gifts. Georgios Palaiologos, fiercely loyal to Alexios, found Tancred's reaction hypocritical, and jostled him contemptuously. Tancred went for him, but Bohemond stopped Tancred, saying it was wrong to insult imperial relatives; Alexios also intervened. Ralph of Caen said that Tancred and Alexios parted on bad terms, and that Bohemond (and Tancred too) had in some way to break free from an imperial messenger [from discussions, or greater limitations on their freedom?] before leaving with the other crusaders
Certainty: 3 A nun from Trier was forced to live with a Turk, freed at the fall of Nicaea, but returned to him. A nun from Trier had been captured with the army of Peter the Hermit at Kibotos, and made to live with a Turkish man, but freed at the fall of Nicaea. When her case was examined, she sought forgiveness for unchaste acts performed under duress, calling on Henry of Esch, who knew her, for aid. Henry recognised her and persuaded Godfrey of Bouillon to pity her. She was pardoned on the advice of Adhemar of le Puy; but she seems to have returned to the Turk when he promised conversion and marriage
Certainty: 2 Gift to Alexios I of young Turkish prisoner Ioannes Axouch. He was taken prisoner at the capture of Nicaea, given to Alexios I, and become the friend and playmate of Ioannes II
Certainty: 3 Crusaders left Nicaea, divided into two armies to ease problems of supply. As the crusaders said farewell to Alexios, he gave them Tatikios with the force under his command, on one hand to help and protect them in all circumstances, on the other to take over from them any fortresses they captured. In case there were westerners who did not want to go further on the crusade, Alexios sent Boutoumites to hire them for the garrison of Nicaea. Because the way ahead was barren and Kilic Arslan was preparing to stop them, Ralph of Caen states that they took plenty of food. The crusaders left Nicaea on June 29, and at a bridge soon after (near Leukai) decided to divide the army because of problems of supplies. Ralph of Caen wonders whether this was an accident later rationalised as a strategy. Bohemond, Tancred, Robert of Normandy, Stephen of Blois and (perhaps) Hugh of Vermandois went to the left and others to the right, finally camping 2 miles apart. The sources are not clear on the location of Hugh of Vermandois ans Robert of Flanders. Bohemond's army marched a little more quickly than the other. Fulcher of Chartres (who was present in Bohemond's division) noticed the absence of half the crusaders and their men, but did not know the reason
Certainty: 3 Battle of Dorylaion, stage 1: army of Bohemond surrounded. The half of the divided army led by Bohemond (including Tancred, Robert of Normandy and Stephen of Blois) was attacked at daybreak near Dorylaion by Kilic Arslan, who had recouped his strength after the battle outside Nicaea, gathering noble allies from 30 days' journey around. His army was all on horseback, and nearly all archers. It is uncertain from the sources whether the attackers realised that they were only dealing with half the crusaders. The Turks were able to surround Bohemond's forces, so that the knights were left free, but the foot-soldiers and non-combatants (including women) were at the mercy of the attackers. Bohemond and Robert of Normandy were marshalling the crusader ranks. Tancred was fighting desperately among the enemy, from where he was extricated, against his will, by Bohemond, who was trying to keep the army together. Robert of Paris and William Marchesius, Tancred's brother, were killed. The over-confident count who had sat on Alexios' throne made an unsuccessful charge. Bohemond found the best available defensive position and sent off a messenger at a gallop to summon the rest of the army, but was losing heavily and close to defeat
Certainty: 3 Battle of Dorylaion, stage 2: arrival of second army led to a crusader victory. As Bohemond's half of the army was in difficulties, the cavalry of the other half appeared, led by Godfrey of Bouillon and his brothers Baldwin and Eustace, Raymond of Toulouse and Hugh of Vermandois, who had all galloped off at great speed as soon as they heard of the problem. Hugh was the first to arrive, and began to turn the tide of battle. The struggle was taken up by Robert of Flanders, and then decisive blows were struck by Duke Godfrey, but were limited by a nearby mountain. Finally Hugh and Godfrey scaled the the mountain and were joined by Raymond of Toulouse to clear the enemy from it, so that they were fleeing all over the field. The battle lasted from the second to the eighth hour of day, and ended in a crusader victory. Kilic Arslan's army, especially in cavalry, was far larger than that of the crusaders. His losses were both more numerous and more prominent than those of the crusaders, who mainly lost common people. Adhemar and the clerics did much to raise morale, while the following specially distinguished themselves in the fighting: Baldwin of Boulogne, Baldwin of Bourcq, Baldwin of Mons, Galo of Calvo Monte, Gaston of Bearn, Gerard of Quierzy (who ran through a powerful Turk), Rainald of Beauvais, Thomas of La Fere, Walo of Chaumont, Ruthard son of Godfrey, Gaston of Beziers and Rodolph [Hugh of Vermandois was probably the first to attack from the second division of the army, though he is also reported to have been in the first; Robert of Flanders is sometimes recorded as playing the role generally assigned to Robert of Normandy in the first division, though its is implied elsewhere that he was one of those galloping up from the second. This account owes much to that of Ralph of Caen, the most detailed but also the most poetic of medieval versions.]
Certainty: 3 Godfrey of Bouillon injured by a bear at Antioch in Pisidia. The main army reached Antioch in Pisidia. There, while Godfrey of Bouillon was out hunting, he saw a poor pilgrim being chased by a huge bear. He intervened to save the man, but in the process injured himself with his own sword, and thus fell prey to the bear. He continued to defend himself till Husechin arrived, and they were able to kill the bear. The pilgrim alerted the whole army, who came to see their wounded leader. Godfrey was badly injured, lost a lot of blood and could not for some time play his full role in the crusade
Certainty: 3 Other crusader battles in crossing Asia Minor. Two Turkish leaders, the emirs Hasan and Tanisman (probably the Danishmend Malik Ghazi Gumustegin), barred the way of the crusaders, probably at Herakleia. They were attacked immediately, Bohemond leading the charge. The Turks soon withdrew. [Anna Komnene has little idea of the course and location of this battle]
Certainty: 3 Severe illness of Raymond of Toulouse. Raymond of Toulouse fell seriously ill and was carried on a litter, so close to death that he was given the last rites by William, bishop of Orange. At the universal supplication of the crusaders, God had mercy and he recovered
Certainty: 3 Main crusader army rested at Mar'ash. While Baldwin, brother of Godfrey of Bouillon, and Tancred operated separately in Cilicia, the main army reached Mar'ash and rested for a time. Godfrey there lost to sickness Baldwin's wife Godehilde of Tosny, who had been entrusted to his care in Baldwin's absence, and his own steward Udelard of Wissant. According to William of Tyre, Baldwin of Boulogne returned to Mar'ash from Cilicia to see how his brother Godfrey was recovering from his injuries. He was reprimanded by Godfrey for his behaviour to Tancred. Bohemond said nothing out of respect for Godfrey
Certainty: 3 Tancred descended into Cilicia & liberated Tarsos .
While the other leaders followed the long route to Antioch, Tancred decided to be more direct, and with a tiny force, considering the populous areas he was attacking. At Antioch in Pisidia, with Richard of the Principate and Robert of Anzi, he went ahead to Philimelion, Ikonion and Herakleia, then entered Cilicia over the Cilician Gates, besieging the imposing city of Tarsos. He tricked some of its army into an ambush. An Armenian friend of his failed to have the citizens open their gates, but persuaded them to fly his standard to show they would surrender to Bohemond when he arrived. He besieged the city and forced the Turkish garrison to flee [Ralph of Caen: this happened later in other versions]. He was hailed as a liberator by the Christians, and apparently allowed into the city, but not its defensive towers
Certainty: 3 Baldwin of Boulogne & Tancred in Cilicia: Tarsos. At this point a substantial army was seen approaching Tarsos. Tancred at once moved against it, but found it was that of Baldwin of Boulogne. Each army thought the other was Turkish. Baldwin, with Peter of Astenois, Reinhard of Toul, Baldwin of Rethel, and Gilbert of Montclair, as well as Norman troops under Cono of Montaigu, had also left the main army near Antioch in Pisidia and reached Cilicia by a longer route, having lost their way and run short of food. Tancred entertained them in a spirit of sharing, but Baldwin began to insist on a superior position, even claiming that Tancred's military success at Tarsus was due to his own threatening approach. The next day Baldwin became jealous of Tancred's standard over the city and they nearly came to blows. There was competition over the size of forces and the power of their respective sponsors, Bohemond and Godfrey. At first, Bohemond's reputation was the more formidable, but Baldwin's army was larger, so his standard replaced Tancred's and the latter felt quite baffled how to respond. He left for Adana. Baldwin was later let into two towers of Tarsos, which he garrisoned with the help of Guynemer of Boulogne and his pirate fleet, which appeared in the harbour. Baldwin excluded from Tarsos 300 of Bohemond's men, reinforcements for Tancred, who camped outside and as a result were massacred by the Turks of Tarsos who chose that night to escape; this made Baldwin unpopular, even with his own men
Certainty: 3 Baldwin of Boulogne & Tancred in Cilicia: Mopsuestia. [Ralph of Caen's text is defective at this point, and also differs from other sources: Ralph makes Ursinus ruler of Adana, the others Welf; Ralph makes the fighting between Christians a series of challenges to single combat, while the others narrate an organised battle. Though the dramatis personae are similar, it is hard to reconcile the accounts into a single version]. Tancred went to Adana, ruled by the Burgundian Welf, another independent crusader, who first kept him out, then let him in at a price. [Adana was ruled by Ursinus, who told how he had emancipated the Armenians of the town]. Tancred then left Adana to attack Mopsuestia, and captured it after some resistance, slaughtering the Turkish defenders and demolishing the walls. But then Baldwin again came and camped in a nearby garden. He left Tarsos because he was already comparing the possibilities of Tell Bashir and Edessa. He had difficulty in finding a way over poorly maintained local bridges. He was forced to stay for a time at Mopsuestia by the severe illness of Cono of Montaigu. He asked Tancred for peace and good market conditions for buying food; surprisingly, Tancred granted them, despite fury over Baldwin's previous behaviour. Richard of the Principate and Robert of Anzi incited Tancred to attack Baldwin in revenge for the loss of Tarsos, calling him a coward; but his men were outnumbered and driven back into the town. Richard and Robert, with Gilbert of Montclair and Giselbert of Clermont from Baldwin's army, were captured in a sharp battle at a narrow bridge outside Mopsuestia. [Only Richard is mentioned as captured, as the result of a single combat; Richard and Cono then helped make peace]. Next day, all prisoners were freed and the two sides grieved for the fallen and were reconciled, remembering their crusading vows. Baldwin went to Mar'ash (or maybe directly to the east?), losing Peter of Astenois and Reinhard of Toul to the main army
Certainty: 3 Tancred made further conquests in Cilicia. After Baldwin of Boulogne left him at Mopsuestia, Tancred conquered the Castle of the Maidens, he captured and destroyed the Castle of the Shepherds, and also demolished the Castle of the Young Men, all strongholds in the Turkish mountains. He also captured Alexandretta, demolishing its gates and walls, and destroyed smaller places in the mountains which had caused trouble; he killed most of the Turks he found, captured others, but was willing to be bought off. Strengthened by the rest of Guynemer's fleet, he overwhelmed the whole of Cilicia, and became rich by extorting money from nervous Armenian and Turkish rulers in the mountains. He was much envied
Certainty: 3 Robert of Flanders sent off to liberate Artah. By a decision of the council of crusaders at Mar'ash, Robert of Flanders was sent off to liberate Artah, a town rich in supplies, whose Christian inhabitants were oppressed by the Turks. He took with him 1000 knights, including Robert of Roseto, Roger of Rozoy and Gozelo of Montaigu. At the start of the siege, the Turks retired to the citadel, but were killed by Armenians and other Christians, who opened the gates to the crusaders. A major Turkish force soon came from Antioch to recapture Artah, but Robert defended it till the main crusading army arrived; his men were drawn into an ambush by Turkish provocation, but managed to return to the city and beat off an assault but with heavy losses. Gozelo of Montaigu fell sick and died at Artah. A similar story is told by Ralph of Caen about Artah, but with Tancred and Baldwin of Boulogne as protagonists. Baldwin came first, captured Artah but was himself besieged by forces from Antioch. When Tancred arrived, the enemy at first thought his army stronger than it was, and withdrew; then they sent more troops and tried to trap the Latins [cf. the ambush set for Robert of Flanders.] Baldwin and Tancred were no more able to cooperate than they had been in Cilicia. The Latins were defeated by Turkish bowmen in a battle, and had to endure a siege. Finally Baldwin took over Artah, then went off to the east with Cono of Montaigu and Airard. Tancred was involved in obscure skirmishing in the area. [The involvement of Tancred is not impossible, but Baldwin had probably left earlier for the Euphrates. Ralph does not mention Robert of Flanders. Cono of Montaigu is included by others in the sieges of Antioch and Jerusalem]
Certainty: 3 Baldwin of Boulogne went off east into Armenian lands, & captured castles. Pakrad the Armenian, whom Baldwin of Boulogne had captured at Nicaea, was constantly telling Baldwin to take some troops and go with him to a region which he could occupy easily with a few men. At last Baldwin did so, going north to a rich area, inhabited by Armenians, with a small force and Pakrad as his guide and the historian Fulcher of Chartres as his chaplain. He besieged Tell Bashir, and its Armenian poulation overthrew the Turks and submitted to him, as a Christian; he took Ravendel in a similar way and other places. He made Pakrad governor of Ravendel. But he received reports from other Armenian allies, Fer and Nichosios, of Pakrad's treachery with the Turks against Alexios I. They advised him to dismiss Pakrad as governor. Baldwin, knowing his trickery, was persuaded. He asked Pakrad to return Ravendel, but he stubbornly refused. Finally he demanded its return, and tortured him, to force him to give it up. Eventually only the threat of being torn apart made Pakrad send a message, via Fer, to his son, who was guarding Ravendel, to hand it over to Baldwin. Pakrad was freed from imprisonment, but excluded from Baldwin's circle. Baldwin garissoned Ravendel with his own men, and went on consolidating his power in the neighbourhood
Certainty: 3 Crusaders arrived at Antioch: positions of contingents in siege.
As the crusaders approached Antioch, its ruler, Yaghi Siyan, sought help from eastern allies, his pleas seconded by Kilic Arslan I; many supplies and materials were gathered near Antioch, with refugee reinforcements. Alexios I was rumoured to be about to send a large army, but the crusaders decided not to wait for him, or for another rumoured crusade. They began the siege on October 18, Bohemond and Tatikios arriving at the head of the army. They camped opposite the Gate of St Paul, on the east side of the city, with Robert of Normandy, Robert of Flanders, Stephen of Blois, Stephen of Aumale, Hugh of St Pol and Hugh of Vermandois, covering the wall up to the Gate of the Dog. Raymond of Toulouse and Adhemar of Le Puy camped opposite the Gate of the Dog to the north-east, covering the wall down to the Gate of the Duke and Godfrey of Bouillon. The latter camped from the gate of the Duke to the north, covering the wall up to the Gate of the Bridge with his brother Eustace and Baldwin of Hainault, Reinhard of Toul and Cono of Montaigu. To save swimming across the river when foraging, a bridge of boats was built near Godfrey's camp, opposite the Gate of the Duke. Raymond and Adhemar were exposed to sorties from the Gate of the Dog over a stone bridge. To stop this they tried vainly to destroy the bridge, or to guard it with a wooden tower or missiles from siege engines. The gate was finally blocked with stones and trees
Certainty: 3 Sale by siblings Ioannes & Maria to Konstantinos Triphyles of vineyard & field at Thessalonike. The brother and sister Ioannes and Maria were left property by their parents: from their mother, a vineyard of around 3 modioi at Marmarosyrtes (near Thessalonike), from their father the priest Demetrios a house in the quarter of Asomatoi (inside the city). They sold the vineyard and a field to their neighbour, Konstantinos Triphylles, for 45 nomismata. The contract of sale was drafted by the priest and notarios Michael Kazikes, and signed by him on his own behalf, and for Theodoros the furrier (Maria's husband) and Ioannes Armenes, protos of the kamelaukia-makers of Thessalonike. The contract was also signed by Katharos, presbyter of Kyrtou, Nikolaos tou Starou, deacon, Leon Synadenos, furrier and Stephanos Argyros, primikerios of the nomikoi
Certainty: 2 Absence of Robert of Normandy from Antioch, helping the English at Laodikeia. Robert of Normandy probably left the siege of Antioch before Christmas for a considerable time [it is impossible to be precise over dates: mention of his presence on some subsequent occasions may well be mere formulaic listing of the leaders]. He went to Laodikeia which was occupied by English troops loyal to Alexios I, in the hope of leading them. He spent his time in relaxation, though he did distribute some of the food which was plentiful there. He had to be summoned back three times, finally with threats of anathema, before he returned to Antioch
Certainty: 3 Foraging & ambushes during the siege of Antioch. Turkish ambushes killed several prominent crusaders in the orchard outside the Gate of the Duke, especially Adelbero, son of the count of Luxembourg, and the noblewoman with whom he was playing dice, and Arnulf of Tirs. Godfrey was furious at these losses in the area he was supposed to be defending, and had the orchard cut down. Because of the increasing famine in the army outside Antioch, the council of the crusaders decided that Bohemond and Robert of Flanders should go foraging, while Raymond and Adhemar of le Puy stayed in the camp. Bohemond and Robert twice collected considerable plunder, but were unable to get enough food back to the camp to last long: Turkish troops were able to surround the raiding parties and remove their booty. Tancred caused problems for Turkish foraging: he encouraged the Antiochenes to come out and forage at night in large numbers, then struck, killing 700 of them; he sent Adhemar a tithe of 70 heads, for which he gained a cash reward, so he could pay his debts. He also fought three Turks in combat on his own, observed by his squire, and killed them all
Certainty: 1 Patriarch Nikolaos Grammatikos excommunicated Athonite monks committing certain crimes. The patriarch Nikolaos Grammatikos ordered the excommunication of any Athonite monks who had committed certain crimes, together with anybody who came into contact with them. The crimes concerned involved the allowing of children and beardless youths on the Holy Mountain