Joscelin of Edessa escaped from Kharpurt to Tell Bashir & finally Jerusalem

Summary:
Joscelin escaped from the immediate area of the fortress, and sent one of his companions back with a ring to confirm the fact to Balswin II, as they had planned. He then had to conquer hunger, thirst and exhaustion on his unfamiliar journey on foot to the Euphrates. With the help of the other two, who were strong swimmers, Joscelin, who was not, crossed the river on inflated wineskins. He then slept a little, and met an Armenian family who gave him some figs and grapes. The husband recognised him, had been kindly treated by him in the past and wanted to help, but had to be warned not to act in a way which would draw people's attention. Joscelin travelled for a distance on their donkey, with their daughter sitting in front of him crying loudly, and he could not pacify her. He eventually reached Tell Bashir, where he was welcomed by his wife and the whole castle, and rewarded the Armenian. From there he was escorted to Antioch and Jerusalem, trying everywhere to organise forces for the rescue of Baldwin. He dedicated at Mt Calvary the two fetters he still carried, one of iron, the other of silver 
Dates:
1123: 
noisy daughter of Armenian who helped Joscelin (Anonyma 237)
  • For a time, Joscelin 4001 was riding on her father, Anonymus 870's little donkey, and holding her in front of him, so as not to draw attention to the group; but she cried and made a lot of noise in a way in which Joscelin could not pacify her, especially as he could not offend her father (:) Fulcher of Chartres 3.24.11-12
wife of Joscelin of Edessa (Anonyma 238)
  • She welcomed her husband Joscelin 4001 with great joy to Tell Bashir after his escape from Kharpurt (:) Fulcher of Chartres 3.24.13
three companions in escape of Joscelin of Courtenay from Kharpurt (Anonymi 4005)
  • Three companions left Kharpurt with Joscelin 4001; one was sent back with his ring as a token of escape, the other two as good swimmers helped him cross the Euphrates on wineskins and reach Tell Bashir (: ) William of Tyre bk. 12, 18.30-20.12
Armenian peasant who helped Joscelin of Edessa (Anonymus 870)
  • He had some figs and grapes, which he gave to Joscelin 4001 after he had swum the Euphrates and slept a little in exhaustion; he recognised and saluted him, and had been well treated by him in the past, so he had be stopped from killing a pig to feed him, which would have drawn people's attention (:) Fulcher of Chartres 3.24.9-11
  • As Joscelin 4001 rode on his donkey, he gave him his daughter Anonyma 237 to hold so as not to draw attention to the group; unfortunately the little girl cried and made a lot of noise, and Joscelin could not pacify her; however they reached Tell Beshir, where he was given an appropriate reward (:) Fulcher of Chartres 3.24.11-13
Joscelin I of Courtenay, count of Edessa (Joscelin 4001)
  • With two companions escaped from Kharpurt to Tell Bashir in grave danger, hunger, thirst and exhaustion, swimming Euphrates on wineskins; was escorted from there to Antioch and on to Jerusalem, calling everywhere for aid for Baldwin 52 (: ) William of Tyre bk. 12, 20.1-18
  • After swimming the Euphrates he was exhausted and starving, and slept a little; then one of Anonymi 4005 found Anonymus 870, who had some figs and grapes; the man recognised Joscelin and saluted him, and had to be stopped from killing his pig to feed him (an unusual action which would call attention) (:) Fulcher of Chartres 3.24.5-6
  • He then rode for a time on the donkey of Anonymus 870, holding his daughter Anonyma 237 on the beast in front of him to escape notice; the child cried and made a lot of noise which Joscelin could not quiet, but nothing more could be done for fear of offending her father (:) Fulcher of Chartres 3.24.11-12
  • He finally reached Tell Beshir and was welcomed by his wife Anonyma 238 and the whole castle; a suitable reward was given to Anonymus 870; but after a rest Joscelin was taken on to Antioch and Jerusalem, where he dedicated at Mt Calvary the two fetters he carried, one of iron, the other of silver (:) Fulcher of Chartres 3.24.13-14