Disorderly gathering of Lombard crusaders at Constantinople, camping by Bosporos

Summary:
At the insistance of Alexios I, Anselm, archbishop of Milan, Albert of Biandrate and the other leaders of the Lombard crusade led their unruly band quickly to Constantinople, where they camped on the shore of the Bosporos for two months. They would not move on because they were waiting for French or German contingents, but continued to inflict criminal injuries on the local Byzantine population. Alexios tried to get them across to Civetot or Rouphinanai, but in vain. When he cancelled their food, they attacked the palace (Blachernai?), killing a young imperial kinsman and a pet lion. Anselm, Albert and Hugo of Montbeel intervened in the rioting by the Lombards which had led to the attack on Blachernai, and stopped it, coaxing the people back to their tents; then the leaders visited Alexios himself to calm him. They pleaded eloquently that the leaders were innocent, as the riot had been caused by troublemakers. Alexios stressed that damage had been regular and consistent, but finally was persuaded to forgive them. He bribed the Lombard leaders with gifts to cross the Bosporos, succeeding with Albert, who received 10 horses, but failing with Anselm, who feared that once crossed they would be betrayed to the Turks. Food and peace were restored 
Dates:
1101 March-April 
Albert, count of Biandrate (Albert 26102)
  • He, with Anselm 26102 pleaded eloquently to Alexios 1 that the leaders were innocent, as the riot had been caused by troublemakers; Alexios stressed that damage had been regular and consistent, but finally was persuaded to forgive them (:) Albert of Aachen VIII.5
  • He, with Anselm 26102 and Hugh 26101, intervened in the rioting by the Lombards which had led to an attack on Blachernai, and stopped it, coaxing the people back to their tents; then he and Anselm visited Alexios 1 himself to calm him (:) Albert of Aachen VIII.5
  • He, Albert 26102 and the other leaders led their men to Constantinople, where they camped on the shore of the Bosporos for two months; they were waiting for French or German contingents, but continued injuring the Byzantines (:) Albert of Aachen VIII.3
  • When Alexios tried to get the Lombards out of the way over the strait, they all refused to go before their French and German allies arrived; he cancelled their food, so they attacked the palace (Blachernai?), killing Anonymus 26149 and a pet lion (:) Albert of Aachen VIII.4
  • Two Norman brothers called Phlantras [in fact Lombard brothers from Biandrate] arriving in Constantinople with their troops (in the crusade of 1101); they were advised to follow the coast path to Jerusalem, but it became obvious that they wanted to go to Chorasan instead (:) Anna Komnene 346.54-61
Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (Alexios 1)
  • To make the Lombards move on, he cut off food; they attacked Blachernai, killed Anonymus 26149 and a pet lion, but were calmed by their leaders, who came to mollify him; he complained about the consistent damage they caused, but finally pardoned them (:) Albert of Aachen VIII.5
young kinsman of Alexios I (Anonymus 26149)
  • He was killed in an attack on the palace (Blachernai?) by the Lombard crusaders, furious that Alexios had cut off their food; a pet lion also died Albert of Aachen VIII.4
Anselm, archbishop of Milan (Anselm 26102)
  • He, with Albert 26102 and Hugh 26101, intervened in the rioting by the Lombards which had led to an attack on Blachernai, and stopped it, coaxing the people back to their tents; then he and Albert visited Alexios 1 himself to calm him (:) Albert of Aachen VIII.5
  • He, with Albert 26102 pleaded eloquently to Alexios 1 that the leaders were innocent, as the riot had been caused by troublemakers; Alexios stressed that damage had been regular and consistent, but finally was persuaded to forgive them (:) Albert of Aachen VIII.5
  • He, Albert 26102 and the other leaders led their men to Constantinople, where they camped on the shore of the Bosporos for two months; they were waiting for French or German contingents, but continued injuring the Byzantines (:) Albert of Aachen VIII.3
  • When Alexios tried to get the Lombards out of the way over the strait, they all refused to go before their French and German allies arrived; he cancelled their food, so they attacked the palace (Blachernai?), killing Anonymus 26149 and a pet lion (:) Albert of Aachen VIII.4
Guy, brother of Albert of Biandrate (Guy 26101)
  • Two Norman brothers called Phlantras [in fact Lombard brothers from Biandrate] arriving in Constantinople with their troops (in the crusade of 1101); they were advised to follow the coast path to Jerusalem, but it became obvious that they wanted to go to Chorasan instead (:) Anna Komnene 346.54-61
Hugh of Montbeel (Hugh 26101)
  • He, with Albert 26102 and Anselm 26102, intervened in the rioting by the Lombards which had led to an attack on Blachernai, and stopped it, coaxing the people back to their tents (:) Albert of Aachen VIII.5
Ouzas, Uze mercenary under Alexios I (Ouzas 15001)
  • Provoked by the behaviour of the army of William 4014, Welf 26102 and Ida 26101 as they came from Hungary, he stopped them crossing a bridge at Adrianople; Radulf 107 was killed and Arduin 26101 and others captured: but then Ouzas himself was seized (:) Albert of Aachen VIII.35
  • After the fight both sides declared a truce and prisoners were freed; then he let the crusaders cross the bridge, gave them a licence to buy food and a safe-conduct to Constantinople, where they stayed five weeks (:) Albert of Aachen VIII.35-36