The Crusade of Frederick Barbarossa

The History of the Expedition of the Emperor Frederick and Related Texts

G.A. Loud

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9781317036845
• Edition: 1
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: World History
• Index: History

This is the first English translation of the main contemporary accounts of the Crusade and death of the German Frederick I Barbarossa (ruled 1152-90). The most important of these, the 'History of the Expedition of the Emperor Frederick' was written soon after the events described, and is a crucial, and under-used source for the Third Crusade (at least in the Anglophone world). The account begins with two letters describing the disaster of Hattin and Saladin's subsequent conquest of most of the Holy Land (the second of these is addressed to the duke of Austria). It goes on to describe how the emperor took the Cross, the preparations and recruitment for the Crusade, the diplomatic contacts of Barbarossa with the Byzantine Emperor and the Sultan of Iconium in an attempt to secure a peaceful passage for the expedition, and the Crusade itself: the journey through the Balkans and the gruelling march through Asia Minor, beset by Turkish attack, until its arrival at Antioch on 21st July 1190, eleven days after the emperor had drowned while crossing a river in Cilician Armenia. The 'History' gives a vivid account of the sufferings of the German army as it traversed Asia Minor. The account of the expedition itself appears to be, or to be based upon an eyewitness record, cast in the form of (often) a daily memoir. However, it concludes with an account of the captivity and release of Richard I in Germany, Henry VI's conquest of the kingdom of Sicily, and of the preparations for a new Crusade under his leadership. In addition, a number of further accounts related to, and expanding, the 'History of the Expedition' have also been translated, including a contemporary newsletter about the death of the emperor, as well as the narrative of Otto of St Blasien, placing the Crusade into context twenty years later, and a contemporary account of the capture of Silves in Portugal by German crusaders on their way to the Holy Land in 1189. This collection is a valuable companion volume to the three other volumes relating to the Third Crusade in this series: The Conquest of Jerusalem and the Third Crusade, trans. Edbury, the Itinerarium Peregrinorum et Gesta Regis Ricardi, trans. Nicholson, and The Rare and Excellent History of Saladin, trans. Richards.

The History of the Expedition of the Emperor Frederick

When I consider the desolation and the miserable captivity through which the land of the Lord and the city of the King of all kings, which was once the Lady of [all] peoples and the ruler of every province, is now made subject to the slavery of barbarian foulness, I judge it worthy of lamentation by every Christian. For when I think how the worship of the Christian religion has collapsed there, where the origin of our salvation is derived and the Catholic faith had its beginning, as I think over the praiseworthy struggles of these men and that ‘those who stood against the wall for the house of the Lord’¹ did deeds worthy of memory, I am compelled to weep with the prophet and with Him in whom the truth of all prophecy is explained. For indeed this truth, and the prophet of the truth, challenges us to sorrow as we weep over the various ruins of that same city, and especially since the reason for the lamentation in our time is much more serious than the previous evil that gave rise to lamentation. But, according to the dispensation of human destiny, when we read that Jesus wept over the ruin of this same city and had mercy upon it, we hope and trust that we shall appease this manifestation of His wrath and anger, which we have undoubtedly deserved and it is certain that we have provoked against us, and we shall receive assistance through His pious compassion: ‘for though He cause us grief, He who has smitten us will revive us’,² namely so that Jerusalem will be restored to those of us who survive on earth, and those who die for this same land will receive as reward the vision of eternal peace in that heavenly homeland, whose citizens are they who prove through their triumph in a glorious battle that it is granted [to them] as a habitation. Therefore, among other matters and after other grave and frequent desolations, I propose to describe what took place in the year of our Lord 1187, in the time of the most glorious Frederick, august Emperor of the Romans, when the church beyond the seas started to be shaken by Saladin of Egypt, insofar as I can reveal it from the truthful account of those who were present at this capture, desiring to recount this not as a history but as a lamentable tragedy.

I have indeed judged it suitable to place the letters that those across the sea have written concerning these sad events to those on this side of it at the beginning of this work.³

We make known to you, Lord Archimbald, Master of the Hospitallers of Italy, and the brothers all the events that took place in those regions beyond the sea. You should therefore know that the King of Jerusalem was at Saffuriyah around the feast of the apostles Peter and Paul⁴ with a great army of at least 30,000 men. He had been fully reconciled with the Count of Tripoli, and the count was present with him and his army. And behold Saladin, the pagan king, marched on Tiberias with 80,000 horsemen, and he captured Tiberias. After this had happened, the King of Jerusalem was informed, and he moved from Saffuriyah and marched with his men against Saladin. The latter attacked him at Meskenah on the Friday after the feast of the apostles Peter and Paul.⁵ Battle was joined, and they fought fiercely throughout the day, until night put an end to the struggle. With the coming of night the King of Jerusalem pitched his tents near Lubiyah, and the next day, which was a Saturday, he set off with his army [once again]. At around the third hour the Master of the Temple began the battle with all his brothers, but they did not receive help, and God allowed them to lose the majority of their men. After that the king with his army forced his way with great difficulty to a point about a league from Nimrin, and then the Count of Tripoli came to the king and had him pitch his tents next to a mountain that is like a castle, but they were only able to erect three tents. As they did this, the Turks saw them throwing up their defences and lit fires around the king’s army, and these were so hot that the horses were roasting, and they were unable either to eat or drink. Then Baldwin of Fatinor, Bachaberbochus of Tiberius and Leisius, along with three other companions, deserted the army and went to Saladin, and, what is sad to say, they renounced their faith. They surrendered themselves, and they told him about the situation of the army of the King of Jerusalem and its dire straits. Thereupon Saladin sent against us Taqi-al-Din with 20,000 chosen knights, who fell upon the Christian army. Ferocious fighting continued from Nones until Vespers, and on account of our sins many of our men were killed, and the Christian people were defeated. The king and the Holy Cross were captured, as were the count Gabula,⁶ Milo of Colaverdo,⁷ Humphrey the younger,⁸ Prince Rainald, who was captured and put to death, Walter of Arsur, Hugh of Gibelet, the lord of Botrun and the lord of Maraclea. A thousand other of our better men were captured or killed, so that among the knights and foot soldiers no more than 2,000 escaped. The Count of Tripoli, lord Balian and Rainald, lord of Sidon, escaped.

After this Saladin gathered his army once again, and on Sunday he came to Saffuriyah and captured it, along with Nazareth and Mount Tabor. On Monday he came to Acco, which is called Acre, and the people of Acre surrendered themselves [to him]. Similarly the people of Haifa, Caesarea, Jaffa, Nablus, Ramla, St George,⁹ Ibelin, Belfort, Mirabel, Toron, Gwalêr,¹⁰ Gaza and Daron all surrendered. After this, just as our galley was sailing from Tyre, they sent Balian¹¹ to Saladin, that he might go to Jerusalem and they would surrender the city. And we fled on the galley to Lattakia, and we heard that Tyre was to be surrendered. However, these cities are still safe, and they desperately need the assistance of the western Church: namely Jerusalem, Tyre, Ascalon, Marqab, Antioch, Lassar,¹² Sahyun and Tripoli. But so great is the multitude of Saracens and Turks that from Tyre, which they are besieging, as far as Jerusalem they cover the surface of the earth like countless ants. And unless help is brought quickly to these remaining cities listed above and the very few eastern Christians who are left, they too will be left to the plundering of the raging gentiles, who are thirsting for Christian blood.

Another letter was sent to Leopold, the illustrious Duke of Austria.¹³

Hermenger, through the patience of Christ the servant of the poor and humble provisor of the brothers of the holy Hospital of Jerusalem, with the whole convent of brothers, [sends] greeting to the most illustrious lord and his benefactor Leopold, the distinguished Duke of Austria, with sincere devotion and the gift of appropriate prayers. We believe, most illustrious duke, that the wretched fall of the land of Jerusalem is well known to your exalted lordship. As a deserved consequence of its sins, the Lord has become ashamed of His land and has laid a heavy hand on His patrimony. Justly and rationally expending His wrath and fury on our unrestrained faults, He allows the cause of the Christians beyond the sea to grow daily worse. For in this present summer the wicked Saladin has utterly destroyed the town of Tortosa, apart from the Templars’ citadel,¹⁴ and after burning down the town of Valania has entered the land of Antioch. He has seized all that region right up to the gates of Antioch itself, including the most celebrated towns of Gibelet and Laodicia,¹⁵ and the very powerful castles of Saone, Gorda, Cavea and Rochefort. He has besieged and captured Tarpasac and Gaston on the far side of Antioch, and almost the whole principality apart from our mighty castle of Margab has been laid waste and lost. What is even worse is that the prince and the people of Antioch have made an agreement with Saladin, that if they do not receive help within seven months from the start of this October they will surrender and shamefully hand over Antioch [itself], which was gained through the blood of faithful Christians, without even one stone being thrown. You should also know that in the land of Jerusalem the most powerful castles of Kerak and Montreal [which are] in Arabia beyond the River Jordan and near the Dead Sea have surrendered owing to starvation. We are most fearful concerning Saphet, which belongs to the Temple, and we have heard nothing about our castle of Belvoir, although [we do know that] they have been under close siege for some time and are forced to endure dreadful hardships.¹⁶

I have put these letters here so that the attentive reader can realise what mighty grief swayed the hearts of all Christians throughout the world to avenge the injury done to the Cross and to Christ.

Thus ‘the land of promise’ and the ‘inheritance of the Lord’,¹⁷ the Holy Land where the feet of the Lord trod, was with the city of Jerusalem miserably given over to destruction. Some of its inhabitants were slain, while others were led off with the king into captivity, while thanks to our sins the Holy Cross was carried away by its enemy, Saladin. Dreadful sadness and faint-heartedness indeed afflicted all the followers of Christ throughout the world. Therefore God roused the spirit of Frederick, the most serene Emperor of the Romans, and directed his thinking towards rescuing the land of redemption from the hands of the Saracens who were afflicting the Christians and punishing their unbridled audacity. Indeed, neither the aches and pains of old age nor the efforts of the lengthy campaigns which he had waged for many years against rebels to restore the well-being of the Roman Empire and on which he had won most notable victories, not even an abundance of wealth and comforts nor pressing affairs of state could prevent him from boldly undertaking the lengthy and difficult road of holy pilgrimage with all the forces of the empire. He spared neither himself, nor his long-stockpiled wealth, nor his much-loved sons. This glorious elderly man inspired the young by his example to wage war for Christ, considering this to be a good ‘fulfilment of his courageous endeavours’,¹⁸ if by driving out the enemies of the Christian faith he might restore peace to the eastern Church and restore the holy places that they had profaned to the service of God.

Meanwhile Pope Gregory of holy memory, who had previously been called Albert and under his predecessor held the office and rank of chancellor in the Roman Church, was appalled by the ruin of the church of Jerusalem.¹⁹ For, as it is written, ‘he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow’,²⁰ and he feared that the wrath of Almighty God posed an immediate threat to the entire Church, that He might, as is read in Ezekiel, ‘begin at my sanctuary’,²¹ that is He might first wreak destruction upon the land of our salvation in retribution for the sins of the Christian people, and thereafter extend this havoc more widely through the entire Church, if we did not humble ourselves with the worthy fruits of penitence. Hence he sent out apostolic letters to all the churches of these lands with timely advice and encouragement to all the sons of the holy Catholic Church, their mother, in which he roused them to free the land of Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre of the Lord from the hand of the barbarians. He promised everyone pardon for their sins and the certainty of eternal blessedness through entry to the kingdom of Heaven for those who faithfully undertook the journey of salvation overseas against the common enemies of the Church.

We have thus good reason to include below his letter of exhortation sent to all the faithful.²²

On hearing with what severe and terrible ...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Dedication
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Preface
• Maps
• Genealogical Charts
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• The History of the Expedition of the Emperor Frederick
• The History of the Pilgrims
• The Chronicle of Magnus of Reichersberg
• A Letter Concerning the Death of the Emperor Frederick
• The Chronicle of Otto of St Blasien 1187–1197
• An Account of the Seaborne Journey of the Pilgrims Heading to Jerusalem Who Captured Silves in 1189
• Frederick I’s Imperial ‘Land Peace’ (issued at Nuremberg, 29 December 1188)
• Bibliography
• Index