Mass departures of crusaders for home

Summary:
After the battle of Askalon, once peace was made between Godfrey and Raymond, many crusaders decided to return home. With tearful farewells, Godfrey instructed them to send new crusaders to replace themselves. Robert of Flanders, Robert of Normandy, Gaston of Beziers and Cono of Montaigu planned to return via Laodikeia to the lands of their birth. The two Roberts were to be welcomed and feted by Alexios I as they passed through Constantinople. Robert of Normandy would spent the rest of his life in an unsuccessful struggle against Henry II of England, dying in prison. Raymond was afraid of losing Laodikeia, Tortosa and other cities to Bohemond, and so he kept his base in Syria. He was to leave his wife (Elvira of Leon-Castile) and his household at Laodikeia, and later travel to Constantinople, where he was received kindly and magnificently by Alexios, with generous gifts; he would return to his wife two years later. Baldwin of Bourcq left with them, but remained at Antioch as a mercenary with Bohemond. Godfrey (with Tancred) was the only major crusader left 
Dates:
1099 August-September 
Elvira of Leon-Castile, wife of Raymond of Toulouse (Anonyma 4007)
  • When Raymond 61 returned to Constantinople after the First Crusade, was left at Laodikeia with her household (: ) William of Tyre bk. 9, 13.32-38
  • When Raymond 61 left Jerusalem after completing the Crusade, she was left at Laodikeia while he went to Constantinople, expecting to return (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.32.1
Baldwin of Bourcq, Baldwin II, king of Jerusalem (Baldwin 52)
  • He had set out from Jerusalem homewards like the rest, but stayed in Antioch with Bohemond 61 as a mercenary; he was later invited by Baldwin 51 to Edessa to replace him, with the land as a fief; he went, and was at once established in authority (:) Albert of Aachen VII.31
Cono, count of Montaigu (Cono 4001)
  • He with Robert 62, Robert 63 and Gaston 4001 soon arranged to return by ship from Laodikeia to the lands of their birth, leaving behind Raymond 61, who was afraid of losing Laodikeia, Tortosa and other cities to Bohemond 61 (:) Albert of Aachen VI.60
Gaston of Beziers (Gaston 4001)
  • He with Robert 62, Robert 63 and Cono 4001 soon arranged to return by ship from Laodikeia to the lands of their birth, leaving behind Raymond 61, who was afraid of losing Laodikeia, Tortosa and other cities to Bohemond 61 (:) Albert of Aachen VI.60
Godfrey of Bouillon, duke of Lower Lorraine, first Latin ruler of Jerusalem (Godfrey 51)
  • Once peace was made with Raymond 61, he was told by Robert 62, Robert 63, Raymond and others that they were going home; he, who would stay, said tearful farewells, stressing the need for them to find new crusaders to preserve Jerusalem (:) Albert of Aachen VI.53
  • When crusader leaders left, he had only Tancred 61 as major ally, and 300 knights and 2,000 footsoldiers, with few, scattered cities and poor walls; tried unsuccessfully to increase power by attack on Arsuf, but had no ships (: ) William of Tyre bk. 9, 19.1-48
  • After the battle at Askalon, he was left, with Tancred 61, as the only major leader in Jerusalem, as the others left for home or other destinations (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.32.1
Henry, duke of Normandy and count of Anjou, later Henry II, king of England (Henry 4002)
  • Deprived Robert 63 of the throne of England, which was his due on return from Jerusalem, and would persecute him for the rest of his life, so that he died in prison (: ) William of Tyre bk. 9, 13.10-31
Raymond of Saint-Gilles, count of Toulouse (Raymond 61)
  • He was afraid of losing Laodikeia, Tortosa and other cities to Bohemond 61, and so stayed in Syria, while Robert 62, Robert 63, Gaston 4001 and Cono 4001 soon arranged to return by ship from Laodikeia to the lands of their birth (:) Albert of Aachen VI.60
  • Once peace was made with Godfrey 51, he with Robert 62, Robert 63 and others told Godfrey they were going home; Godfrey, who would stay, said tearful farewells, stressing the need for them to find new crusaders to preserve Jerusalem (:) Albert of Aachen VI.53
  • Went from Palestine to Laodikeia, where he left his wife Anonyma 4007 and his household, and travelled to Constantinople, where he was received kindly and magnificently by Alexios 1, with generous gifts; would return to his wife in two years (: ) William of Tyre bk. 9, 13.32-38
  • After the defeat of the Egyptians at Askalon and visiting all the pilgrim sites, he decided to leave, like many other leaders; he went to Laodikeia in Syria, left Anonyma 4007 there, and went on to Constantinople, expecting to return (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.32.1
Robert II, count of Flanders (Robert 62)
  • He with Robert 63, Gaston 4001 and Cono 4001 soon arranged to return by ship from Laodikeia to the lands of their birth, leaving behind Raymond 61, who was afraid of losing Laodikeia, Tortosa and other cities to Bohemond 61 (:) Albert of Aachen VI.60
  • Once peace was made with Raymond 61, he with Robert 63, Raymond and others told Godfrey 51 they were going home; Godfrey, who would stay, said tearful farewells, stressing the need for them to find new crusaders to preserve Jerusalem (:) Albert of Aachen VI.53
  • After battle near Askalon, decided his pilgrimage had come to an end and went home, via Constantinople, where he was received with many gifts by Alexios 1 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 9, 13.1-7
  • After the defeat of the Egyptians at Askalon and visiting all the pilgrim sites, he decided to leave, like many of the other leaders; he went by sea to Constantinople with Robert 63, and then home overland (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.32.1
Robert [Curthose], count [duke] of Normandy (Robert 63)
  • He with Robert 62, Gaston 4001 and Cono 4001 soon arranged to return by ship from Laodikeia to the lands of their birth, leaving behind Raymond 61, who was afraid of losing Laodikeia, Tortosa and other cities to Bohemond 61 (:) Albert of Aachen VI.60
  • Once peace was made with Raymond 61, he with Robert 62, Raymond and others told Godfrey 51 they were going home; Godfrey, who would stay, said tearful farewells, stressing the need for them to find new crusaders to preserve Jerusalem (:) Albert of Aachen VI.53
  • After battle near Askalon, decided his pilgrimage had come to an end and went home, via Constantinople, where he was received with many gifts by Alexios 1; spent remainder of his life in unsuccessful struggle against Henry 4002, dying in prison (: ) William of Tyre bk. 9, 13.1-31
  • After the defeat of the Egyptians at Askalon and visiting all the pilgrim sites, he decided to leave, like many of the other leaders; he went by sea to Constantinople with Robert 62, and then home overland (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.32.1