Raymond of Toulouse after angry hostility to Alexios I became his closest ally

Summary:
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 
Dates:
1097 April 21 
Adhemar of le Puy (Adhemar 4001)
  • Had from the beginning travelled with Raymond 61; the two arrived with their following in Constantinople when the other crusaders were impatient to leave (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 16.29-17.12
  • He arrived at Constantinople late with Raymond 61, delayed there with Raymond and was faced with the same problem of catching up with the others (:) Albert of Aachen II.20
Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (Alexios 1)
  • An agreement was sworn by Raymond 61 by mediation of other crusaders, and Alexios gave them all more gifts; he refused Raymond's proposal (previously made by others) that he join the crusading army as leader (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 22(21).1-22
  • Refused military leadership of the crusade on the malicious and deceitful excuse that Byzantium was surrounded by enemies, Bulgarians, Cumans and Petchenegs, who needed his constant vigilance (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 22(21).22-33
  • Was nervous of Raymond 61 because of his distinction and size of his forces, so sent a welcoming embassy to await him at Dyrrachion; they delivered a letter praising him, asking him to avoid violence and promising supply of food (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 18.1-19
  • Other crusaders calmed fury of Raymond 61, but joined with him in vigorous protest; faced by unanimity, Alexios had to make a public protest of innocence whilst offering reparations, yet another sign of Byzantine malice and deceit (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 21(20), 1-31
  • Worried at Raymond 61's fury and repenting of a plan which had backfired, he summoned Godfrey 51, Bohemond 61 and Robert 62 to calm him; they, despite sharing his anger, advised Raymond to conceal it, as there was too much to lose (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 21(20), 1-12
  • When Raymond 61 refused to swear agreement, he ordered commanders to harrass his army, with great violence if necessary; he relied on the agreements sworn by other crusaders, and on his control of ships which might bring their armies back (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 19.12-24
  • His violence towards Raymond 61's army shows insincerity and malice of his whole policy towards crusaders; all his generosity was a frightened and desperate attempt to stop the meeting of two or more armies outside the city (: ) nec liberalitatis eat nec gratie, sed timoris desperati et fraudulete versutie William of Tyre bk. 2, 19.24-34
  • His men attacked Raymond 61's forces unexpectedly at night, and killed large numbers before they rallied and resisted nobly, leading to despair at all levels of the army; the clergy had to plead to bring them back to their vows (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 20.1-21
  • He received the parties of Robert 63 and Raymond 61, exchanging gifts for pledges of allegiance as before; with Raymond he became specially close, and detained him for so long that he had to be summoned urgently for the battle at Nicaea (:) Albert of Aachen II.20-24
  • In Raymond 61 in Constantinople he found a great friend and confidant; he kept him behind for special discussions on the route and the problems of other crusaders (:) Anna Komnene 320.23-321.42
  • Sent envoys again to Raymond 61 at Raidestos to leave his army and come a little earlier to complete business with him; received him honourably and pressed him to swear an agreement like previous leaders, but he completely refused (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 18.37-19.12
Bohemond of Taranto (Bohemond 61)
  • When Raymond 61 furiously accused Alexios 1 of treachery, Bohemond was one of those summoned by Alexios to conciliate him; though they shared Raymond's indignation, they advised him to conceal it, as there was too much to lose: in association with Godfrey 51 and Robert 62 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 21(20), 1-12
  • He stayed on the European side of the straits, to try to reconcile Alexios 1 with Raymond 61; Alexios was trying to force on Raymond the same oath given by Bohemond; Tancred 61's avoidance of all contact did not help, and Bohemond was forced to promise to bring him into line (:) Ralph of Caen 12
Centule of Bigorre (Centule 4001)
  • Arrived in Constantinople with Raymond 61 of Toulouse and Adhemar 4001, when the other crusaders were impatient to leave (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 17.7-8
Gaston of Bearn (Gaston 4002)
  • Arrived in Constantinople with Raymond 61 of Toulouse and Adhemar 4001, when the other crusaders were impatient to leave (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 17.6
Gerard of Rousillon (Gerard 4001)
  • Arrived in Constantinople with Raymond 61 of Toulouse and Adhemar 4001, when the other crusaders were impatient to leave (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 17.6
Godfrey of Bouillon, duke of Lower Lorraine, first Latin ruler of Jerusalem (Godfrey 51)
  • When Raymond 61 furiously accused Alexios 1 of treachery, Godfrey was one of those summoned by Alexios to conciliate him; though they shared Raymond's indignation, they advised him to conceal it, as there was too much to lose: in association with Bohemond 61 and Robert 62 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 21(20), 1-12
Raimbold, count of Orange (Raimbold 4001)
  • Arrived in Constantinople with Raymond 61 of Toulouse and Adhemar 4001, when the other crusaders were impatient to leave (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 17.5
Raymond of Saint-Gilles, count of Toulouse (Raymond 61)
  • Had from the beginning travelled with Adhemar 4001; the two arrived with their following in Constantinople when the other crusaders were impatient to leave: in association with Adhemar 4001, William 4002, Raimbold 4001, Gaston 4002, Gerard 4001, William 4005, William 4003, Raymond 4002, Centule 4001 and William 4004 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 16.29-17.12
  • Was fully reconciled to Alexios by the other crusaders, swore an agreement and all received more gifts; was told not to delay as others returned to their armies; his army arrived and was immediately ferried over to join the rest (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 22(21), 1-11
  • At Rodosto met three groups of messengers, from Alexios 1, from other crusaders, and his own, whom he had sent ahead; all advised him to go ahead of the army and complete business with Alexios 1, so as not to delay the crusade (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 18.37-44
  • Stayed behind in city for a time on personal business; tried also to persuade Alexios 1 to join crusading army as its leader, prompted by preceding crusaders who had made him the same suggestion (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 22(21).11-22
  • Left army in care of bishops and nobles; was honourably received into imperial presence and pressed to swear an agreement with Alexios 1 like previous leaders, but completely refused; meanwhile, his army was harrassed by Alexios' men (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 19.1-17
  • Failed to persuade Alexios to lead the crusaders, as (he said) Byzantium was surrounded by enemies who demanded constant vigilance — a malicious and deceitful excuse; his business completed, Raymond followed the others to Nicaea (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 22(21).22-60
  • Hearing of this violence, spoke of betrayal and accused Alexios 1 of treachery in enticing him away and then attacking his men; called other leaders to avenge him, as having advised him to come; but was unable to achieve his vengeance (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 20.21-36
  • Took advice of Godfrey 51, Bohemond 61 and Robert 62 to conceal his fury, trusting himself to their judgement; all four protested to Alexios 1, forcing him by their unanimity publicly to claim innocence while offering amends (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 21(20), 1-31
  • His forces, attacked unexpectedly at night, had heavy losses before they rallied and resisted nobly, leading to despair over the crusade among both people and nobles; the clergy had to plead hard to bring them back to their vows (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 20.1-21
  • He was one of the last to arrive in Constantinople with Adhemar 4001, then made a treaty with Alexios 1, staying in the capital for 15 days, meeting the emperor often, winning rich presents and becoming his man, with special esteem (:) Albert of Aachen II.20
  • Because he stayed some time with Alexios 1, responding to rich presents by becoming a close ally, he was late to take up a position outside Nicaea; a place in the ring of besiegers was left for him (:) Albert of Aachen II.24
Raymond Pilet (Raymond 4002)
  • Arrived in Constantinople with Raymond 61 of Toulouse and Adhemar 4001, when the other crusaders were impatient to leave (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 17.7
Robert II, count of Flanders (Robert 62)
  • When Raymond 61 furiously accused Alexios 1 of treachery, Robert was one of those summoned by Alexios to conciliate him; though they shared Raymond's indignation, they advised him to conceal it, as there was too much to lose: in association with Godfrey 51 and Bohemond 61 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 21(20), 1-12
William, bishop of Orange (William 4002)
  • Arrived in Constantinople with Raymond 61 of Toulouse and Adhemar 4001, when the other crusaders were impatient to leave (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 17.4-5
William, count of Forez (William 4003)
  • Arrived in Constantinople with Raymond 61 of Toulouse and Adhemar 4001, when the other crusaders were impatient to leave (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 17.7
William Amanieu (William 4004)
  • Arrived in Constantinople with Raymond 61 of Toulouse and Adhemar 4001, when the other crusaders were impatient to leave (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 17.8
William of Montpellier (William 4005)
  • Arrived in Constantinople with Raymond 61 of Toulouse and Adhemar 4001, when the other crusaders were impatient to leave (: ) William of Tyre bk. 2, 17.6-7