Medieval Sourcebook:
The Siege and Capture of Nicea:
Collected Accounts
MAY-JUNE, 1097
Nicea, which has been the scene of the destruction of the popular
crusade was the capitla of t the Seljuq ruler Kilij Arslan. It
was essential to capture it to gain access to the main land route
through Asia Minor to Syria. The crusaders attacked and laid siege
to Nicea on May 21 1097. On June 19 the city surrendered to an
army of Alexius I (instead of dealing with the reputedly violent
Latins). Nicea was the first major Crusader victory
1. The Gesta Account
And thus Duke Godfrey went first to Nicomedia, together with Tancred
and all the rest, and they were there for three days. The Duke,
indeed, seeing that there was no road open by which he could conduct
these hosts to the city of Nicaea, for so great an army could
not pass through the road along which the others had passed before,
sent ahead three thousand men with axes and swords to cut and
clear this road, so that it would lie open even to the city of
Nicaea. They cut this road through a very Darrow and very great
mountain and fixed back along the way iron and wooden crosses
on posts, so that the pilgrims would know the way. Meanwhile,
we came to Nicaea, which is the capital of all Romania, on the
fourth day, the day before the Nones of May, and there encamped.
However, before Lord Bohemund had arrived, there was such scarcity
of bread among us that one loaf was sold for twenty or thirty denarii. After the illustrious man, Bobemund, came, be
ordered the greatest market to be brought by sea, and it came
both ways at the same time, this by land and that by sea, and
there was the greatest abundance in the whole army of Christ.
Moreover, on the day of the Ascension of the Lord we began to
attack the city on all sides, and to construct machines of wood,
and wooden towers, with which we might be able to destroy towers
on the walls. We attacked the city so bravely and so fiercely
that we even undermined its wall. The Turks who were in the city,
barbarous horde that they were, sent messages to others who had
come up to give aid. The message ran in this wise: that they might
approach the city boldly and in security and enter through the
middle gate, because on that side no one would oppose them or
put them to grief. This gate was besieged on that very day - the
Sabbath after the Ascension of the Lord - by the Count of St.
Gilles and the Bishop of Puy. The Count, approaching from another
side, was protected by divine might, and with his most powerful
army gloried in terrestrial strength. And so he found the Turks,
coming against us here. Armed on all sides with the sign of the
cross, he rushed upon them violently and overcame them. They turned
in flight, and most of them were killed. They came back again,
reinforced by others, joyful and exulting in assured (outcome)
of battle, and bearing along with them the ropes with which to
lead us bound to Chorosan. Coming gladly, moreover, they began
to descend from the crest of the mountain a short distance. As
many as descended remained there with their heads cut off at the
hands of our men; moreover, our men hurled the heads of the killed
far into the city, that they (the Turks) might be the more terrified
thereat. Then the Count of St. Gilles and the Bishop of Puy took
counsel together as to how they might have undermined a certain
tower which was opposite their tents. Men were assigned to do
the digging, with arbalistae and bowmen to defend them
on all sides. So they dug to the foundations of the wall and fixed
timbers and wood under it and then set fire to it. However, evening
had come; the tower had already fallen in the night, and because
it was night they could not fight with the enemy. Indeed, during
that night the Turks hastily built up and restored the wall so
strongly that when day came no one could harm them on that side.
Now the Count of Normandy came up, Count Stephen and many others,
and finally Roger of Barneville. At length Bohemund, at
the very front, besieged the city. Beside him was Tancred, after
him Duke Godfrey, then the Count of St. Gilles, next to whom was
the Bishop of Puy. it was so besieged by land that no one dared
to go out or in. There all our forces were assembled in one body,
and who could have counted so great an army of Christ? No one,
as 1 think, has ever before seen so many distinguished knights
or ever will again!
However, there was a large lake on one side of the city, on which
the Turks used to send out their ships, and go back and forth
and bring fodder, wood, and many other things. Then our leaders
counselled together and sent messengers to Constantinople to tell
the Emperor to have ships brought to Civitote, where there is
a fort, and that he should order oxen to be brought to drag the
ships over the mountains and through the woods, until they neared
the lake. This was done forthwith, and he sent his Turcopoles
with them. They did not want to put the ships on the lake on the
very day that they were brought across, but under cover of night
they launched them on the lake itself, (The boats were) filled
with Turcopoles well decorated with arms. Moreover, at earliest
daybreak the ships stood in good order and hastened through the
lake against the city. The Turks marvelled upon seeing them, not
knowing whether they were manned by their own forces or the Emperor's.
However, after they recognized that it was the host of the Emperor,
they were frightened even to death, weeping and lamenting; and
the Franks were glad and gave glory to God.
The Turks, moreover, seeing that they could have no further aid
from their armies, sent a message to the Emperor that they would
willingly surrender the city, if he would permit them to go entirely
away with their wives and children and all their substance. Then
the Emperor, full of vain and evil thinking, ordered them to depart
unpunished, without any fear, and to be brought to him at Constantinople
with great assurance (of safety). These he cared for zealously,
so that he had them prepared against any damage or hindrance from
the Franks. We were engaged in that siege for seven weeks and
three days. Many of our men there received martyrdom, and, glad
and rejoicing, gave back their happy souls to God. Many of the
very poor died of hunger for the name of Christ, and these bore
triumphantly to heaven their robes of martyrdom crying with one
voice, "Avenge, Lord, our blood which has been shed for Thee,
who are blessed and praiseworthy forever and ever. Amen."
In the meanwhile, after the city had been surrendered and the
Turks had been conducted to Constantinople, the Emperor, more
and more rejoiced because the city had been surrendered to his
power, ordered the greatest alms to be distributed to our poor.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses
and Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 101-103
2. Raymond d'Aguiliers
Thereupon, we crossed the sea and went up to Nicaea. For the Duke,
Bohemund, and the other princes had preceded the Count and were
engaged in the labors of the siege. The city of Nicaea is very
strongly fortified by nature, as well as by art. It has on the
west a very large lake flowing up to the wall; on the remaining
three sides is a moat filled with the overflow of certain little
streams; in addition, it is encircled by walls so high that neither
the assaults of men nor the attacks of any machine are feared.
Indeed, the ballistae of the neighboring towers are so
turned with reference to one another that no one can approach
without danger; however, if anyone wants to approach nearer, he
is easily overwhelmed from the top of the towers without being
able to retaliate.
Accordingly, this city, such as we have described, was besieged
by Bohemund from the north, by the Duke and the Alemanni from
the east, by the Count and Bishop of Puy from the middle, for
the Count of Normandy was not yet with us. But we believe this
one incident should not be passed over - that when the Count was
about to encamp there with his men, the Turks, descending from
the mountains in two squadrons, attacked our army. Their plan,
indeed, was that while one party of the Turks assailed the Duke
and the Alemanni who were on the east, the other party, entering
the middle gate of the city and passing out through another, would
easily drive our men from the camp at a time when they were not
expecting such an attack. But God, who is wont to reverse the
plan of the impious, so altered their preparations that, as if
it had been arranged, He sent the Count, who was preparing to
encamp with his men, upon the squadron of Turks which was now
about to enter the city. He put them to flight at the first charge
and, after killing several, pursued the rest to the top of the
mountain. The other party of Turks which wanted to attack the
Alemanni was put to flight in the same way and destroyed. After
this, machines were constructed and the wall attacked in vain,
for it was very firm against us and was valiantly defended by
arrows and machines. So we fought five weeks with no result. At
length, through God's will, some men of the household of the Bishop
and the Count dangerously enough approached the comer tower which
faced the east, and having made a testudo, they began, after a
struggle., to undermine one of the towers and by digging threw
it to the ground. Thus the city would have been taken, had not
the shadows of night prevented. However, the wall was rebuilt
during the night, and this rendered our former labor vain. At
length the city, terrified with fear, was compelled to surrender.
One reason was that the ships of the Emperor which had been dragged
over the land were let down into the lake. They therefore gave
themselves up to the Emperor, since they now expected no further
aid and saw the army of the Franks increasing daily, while they
were cut off from their forces. The Count of Normandy had come.
Alexius had promised the princes and the people of the Franks
that be would give them all the gold, silver, horses, and goods
within (the city), and that be would establish there a Latin monastery
and hospice for the poor Franks; besides, that be would give to
each one of the army so much of his own possessions that they
would always want to fight for him. Accordingly, the Franks, placing
faith in these promises, approved the surrender. And so, when
Alexius had received the city, be afforded the army such an example
of gratitude that as long as they live the people will curse him
and proclaim him a traitor.
We recognized, then, that the Emperor had betrayed Peter the Hermit,
who had long before come to Constantinople with a great multitude.
For he compelled him, ignorant of the locality and of all military
matters, to cross the Strait with his men and exposed them to
the Turks. Moreover, when the Turks from Nicea saw that unwarlike
multitude, they cut them down without effort and delay to the
number of sixty thousand. The rest, indeed, fled to a certain
fortified place and escaped the swords of the Turks. The Turks,
made bold and haughty by this, sent the arms and the captives
which they had taken there to the Saracens and the nobles of their
own race, and they wrote to the peoples and cities far off that
the Franks were of no account in battle.
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses
and Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 103-105
3. Anna Comnena
[Alexiad 11:2]
But though the Emperor wished to attach himself to the Gauls and
advance with them against the barbarians, yet, fearing their countless
multitude, he decided to go to Pelecanum, in order that
by camping near Nicaea he might learn what was happening to the
Gauls, and also learn the undertakings of the Turks outside, as
well as the conditions in the city. . . .
[Alexiad 11:3]
The august Emperor tarried about Pelacanum for some time,
since he desired those Gallic counts who were not yet bound to
him also to take the oath of loyalty. To this end, he sent a letter
to Butumites, asking all the counts in common not to start upon
the journey to Antioch until they had said farewell to the Emperor.
If they did this, they would all be showered with new gifts by
him. Bohemund was the first to prick up his ears at the mention
of money and gifts. Quickly won by these words of Butumites, he
strove industriously to force all the others to return to the
Emperor - so greatly did cupidity move the man. The Emperor received
them on their arrival at Pelecanum with magnificence and
the greatest show of goodwill. At length, when they were assembled,
he addressed them thus: "'You know that you have all bound
yourselves to me by oath; if you do not now intend to ignore this,
advise and persuade those of your number who have not yet pledged
faith to take the oath." They immediately summoned the counts
who had not sworn. All of these came together and took the oath.
Tancred, however, nephew of Bohemund and a youth of most independent
spirit, professed that he owed faith to Bohemund alone, and would
serve him even to death. Rebuked by the loud protest of those
of his own fellows who stood near, and of the Emperor's retinue,
besides, he turned toward the tent in which the Emperor was then
dwelling the largest and most capacious which anyone has ever
seen and, as if to make sport of them, said, "if you give
me this (tent) full of money and, in addition, all the other presents
which you gave all the counts, I, too, will take the oath."
But Palaeologus, full of zeal for the Emperor, could not endure
the mocking speech of Tancred and pushed him away with contempt.
Then Tancred, very ready with his arms, sprang upon him. Seeing
this, the Emperor arose hastily from his seat and stood between
them. Bohemund, too, restrained the youth, saying "It is
not fitting shamefully to strike the kinsman of the Emperor."
Then Tancred, recognizing the disgrace of his insolence toward
Palaeologus, and persuaded by the advice of Bohemund and the others,
offered to take the oath himself....
Source:
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses
and Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 109-110
4. Emperor Alexius I: Letter
to the Abbot of Monte Cassino
How much you have written to my empire, most venerable servant
of God, abbot of the monastery of Monte Cassino! I have read your
letter which declares honor and praise to my empire. Toward me
and my subjects there is, indeed, very great favor from Almighty
and Most Merciful God, for many are His blessings. Through His
compassion and by His grace He has honored and exalted my empire.
However, not only because I have nothing of good within me, but
because I sin above all men, I daily pray that His compassion
and patience may be sent to sustain my weakness. But you, filled
with goodness and virtue, judge me, sinner that I am, a good man,
and truly you have the advantage of me. My empire, though it is
praised without having work worthy of praise, holds the praise
to its own condemnation.
"I beseech you earnestly to furnish aid to the army of Franks,
your most thoughtful letters state. Let your Venerable Holiness
be assured on that score, for my empire has been spread over them
and will aid and advise them on all matters; indeed, it has already
cooperated with them according to its ability, not as a friend,
or relative, but like a father. It has expended among them more
than anyone can enumerate. And had not my empire so cooperated
with them and aided them, who else would have afforded them help?
Nor does it grieve my empire to assist a second time. By God's
grace, they are prospering up to this day in the service which
they have begun, and they will continue to prosper in the future
as long as good purpose leads them on. A multitude of knights
and foot soldiers have gone to the Eternal Tabernacle, some of
which were killed; others died. Blessed, indeed, are they, since
they met their end in good intent! Besides, we ought not at all
to regard them as dead, but as living and transported to life
everlasting and incorruptible. As evidence of my true faith and
my kind regard for your monastery, my empire has sent you an epiloricum, adorned on the back with glittering gold.
Sent in the month of June, (1098) sixth Indiction, from the most
holy city of Constantinople.
Source:
Latin text in Hagenmeyer, 152-153
August. C. Krey, The First Crusade: The Accounts of Eyewitnesses
and Participants, (Princeton: 1921), 110-111
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© Paul Halsall December 1997
halsall@murray.fordham.edu
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