[49] In the year 548 A.E. [1099] Baudoin/Baldwin (Paghtin), brother of Count St. Gilles, went to Tell Bashir with 1,700 horsemen and captured it. When the prince of Edessa, the curopalate, heard about this he was delighted and sent to him to come to his aid. So Baudoin went to Edessa with 180 horsemen. Everyone came out to greet him with great ceremony and led him into the city of Edessa. Curopalate T'oros displayed great honor and friendship toward the count, giving him numerous gifts and establishing an oath of unity with him. The prince of the Armenians [g104], Kostandin, also came from Gargar with 50 cavalry. T'oros took them out to battle against Balduk, the emir of Samosata. He sent after them forces from the city and infantry from the district. They went to Samosata and looted the flourishing outskirts. At first, the foreigners did not dare to come out against them, but when they saw that [the Christians] were persisting, the foreigners arose against them and cut them down. Baudoin and the count escaped by a hairsbreadth and fled to Edessa. Then some forty impious men from the city of Edessa took counsel with the count about Baudoin, [planning] to kill Curopalate T'oros and give the city to Baudoin. And he agreed with their wicked plan. They similarly united the entire city, including Kostandin, around this plot. Thus all of them attacked the property of T'oros and his princes, trapped T'oros within the citadel, and ferociously battled against him. Depressed, [T'oros] requested an oath from them that they would leave him unharmed to take his wife and children to his father-in-law in Melitene. An oath was sworn by the count in the church of the Blessed Apostles, and by the holy Cross of Varag. Then T'oros [g105] gave the citadel to the count. The princes entered the citadel, and the citizens seized T'oros and threw him from the wall into the midst of a mob. On the feast of K'arasunk' [Tuesday in the sixth week of Lent] they killed him by stabbing him with their swords in many places. Then they tied ropes around his feet and dragged [his body] along with insults. Thus did those men who had broken their vow wickedly deal with this good and God-loving man; and they turned Edessa over to Baudoin. In the same year the aspasalar of the Persian [ruler] Berk-yaruq, who was named Kerbogha (Kurapagha), came with numerous troops to war against the forces of the Romans. He came and encamped by the gates of the city of Edessa until harvest time and devoured their victuals. He warred against Edessa for forty days. [50] Then the son of Yaghi-Siyan, the emir of Antioch, came and threw himself at Kerbogha's feet, begging him to come to his aid and relating that the army of the Christians was small and starving. Kerbogha moved all the troops of the foreigners from East to West, from Babylon and those parts, from Damascus and all the coastal areas, and from Jerusalem to the desert areas. He assembled 800,000 cavalry and 300,000 infantry and boastfully and pridefully came against the Christians to the gates of Antioch. Up to that point they still had not taken Antioch from the Turks. Before they had reached Antioch, divine mercy was implanted in the heart of one Christian named Ge'org, a maker [g106] of swords, leather-goods, and armor. He had held a hollow for ten months which was bordering Bohemond's [holdings]. During this ten month period Bohemond and the sword maker had become acquainted and friendly, and planned to give the city to the Christians, so that when the sparapet of the Persians, Kerbogha (Gorpara), arrived they would not be completely wiped out. He said to Bohemond: "Your comrades have promised you only the city, but I will both give you the city and save you from the Persians." Bohemond went to his comrades and related this conversation to them. All the Roman princes agreed to this out of their fear of the Persians who were coming against them in huge numbers and were already close to Hant'ap'. They gave Bohemond the ornament of dundundluz and others if he wanted, if he would not give his share except with Bohemond's signature, so that Antioch would be his alone and his family's (?) Bohemond took the document in his hands and went and showed it to that fathful man [? Ge'org], and he planned to inform his brother that he wanted him to give up the city, arguing to him that this [course of action] was necessary to save the Christians. [He would say]: "Were it possible I myself would kill all [of the enemy]." But the goodly confederate did not inform his brother. Rather he waited until evening and when the brother was sound asleep, he secretly went in[to his chamber] and killed him [g107]. He emerged and placed ladders [against the wall], and the Christians climbed up and went into the city. They found the citizens unawares. Putting swords to work, [the Christians] slaughtered everyone they chanced upon in Antioch. Those who escaped by a hairsbreadth fled into the citadel. Just then Kerbogha arrived with innumerable troops and completely surrounded the city. Thus the good man [?] did not spare his brother for the believers and/or the reasons he had given. The one residing in Antioch was called Prince Bohemond, from the line of the first Bohemond. As we mentioned, when the Romans entered the city and when Kerbogha was besieging it and afflicting them, the Christian forces were suffering hunger, as the city had long since been running out of victuals. So they thought to pledge an oath to the foreigners and give the city to them and return to their own land. Miracle-working God, for Whom the impossible is possible, opened the gates of His mercy and looked upon their suffering. [51] The blessed apostle Peter appeared to a pious Roman, a poor deacon, saying: "Lo, the spear which the impious Jews used to pierce Our Lord Jesus Christ in the side is located in the reliquary in front of the altar of our church. Take it out and go forth with it into battle, and you will triumph over them." And the same [g108] vision appeared a second and a third time, until the man believed in it. Then he went and related it to Count Godfrey [of Bouillon], to Bohemond, and to all the princes. They started to pray and to rejoice exceedingly. At that point, a messenger arrived from the army of the foreigners, seeking to go to war. The princes replied: "We shall emerge tomorrow." The next morning Bohemond arranged his brigades for battle—15,000 cavalry and 170,000 infantry—and went out with them to fight. They had the spear of Christ before them. Now the forces of the foreigners covered the face of the plain from end to end, fifteen ranks deep. Then Count St. Gilles erected the spear of Christ opposite the standards of Kerbogha and Gorparan. On his left was the lion-visaged Tancred, while on his right was Count Robert of Norway (Ungr'ats' R'o'pert). Thus did Godfrey and Bohemond face the dense mass of troops of the foreigners' army. The Christians, one and all, called upon God to assist them and then turned with faith upon the foreigners. By the grace of God they gained on them, and blazed like a fire spreading through hay, burning the army of the foreigners. Those who turned to flight also fell to their swords, such that the country filled up with their corpses. Their goods were forsaken to their slayers, while 300,000 of their infantry [g109] were annihilated. [The Crusaders] took an incalculable number of horses, mules, and weapons, and returned to Antioch laden with booty, in joy and exultation.

In the year 549 A.E. [1100] the army of the Romans went against the blessed city of Jerusalem. En route troops of foreigners came against them in battle. When they reached 'Arqah (Arka), there was a ferocious battle between the two sides. The Franks conquered the foreigners, captured 'Arqah, and wrought much destruction. Then they continued on to the gates of Jerusalem and greatly harassed the Jerusalemites with fighting for six days. At that time the blessed patriarch of the Armenians, Grigoris Vkayase'r, was in Jerusalem and the foreigners wanted to kill him. But God delivered him from their hands. The Christian forces, fighting strongly, entered the city. Then Count Godfrey took the sword of Vespasian and attacked [g110] the foreigners with his troops, killing 66,000 men in the temple. Thus was the holy city of Jerusalem freed from paying taxes to the infidel. The same year some 300,000 [Muslims] assembled in a huge mass, from Egypt, Nubia, and all the lands from Ethiopia to the borders of India, and went against Jerusalem. When the Christians heard about this they were horror-struck. Since they did not dare to go against them, they all left the city, reasoning that if they were unable to battle, they would turn around and flee to their own land. [The antagonists] met each other by the shore of the ocean. Seeing the Christian troops, the king of the Egyptians launched an attack and the two sides clashed. As the battle raged, the Franks triumphed and put to flight the Nubians and others, slaughtering them like sheep. Some 100,000 of the fugitives fell into the sea and drowned. Then the believers returned to Jerusalem in triumph, loaded with their [enemy's] goods [g111].

[52] In the same period [lived] Grigor, curopalate of the East. He was from the Pahlawuni clan, the son of Vasak, son of Hasan, and the brother of Lord Barsegh, kat'oghikos of the Armenians. He massed troops and went with them to the village called Kaghzuan where he unexpectedly fell upon the Turks at night, ferociously killing them and putting the rest to flight. Then, victorious, he returned to the city of Ani. While he was unconcernedly traveling along, a Hagarene who had concealed himself in a tree, shot him in the mouth with an arrow. He fell to the ground from the force of the blow, and the great Grigor died. There was deep mourning throughout the entire House of Shirak. That same year the great prince of the Armenians, Kostandin, son of Ruben, reposed in Christ leaving two sons, T'oros and Lewon. We wrote about Kostandin earlier. He was one of the Armenian princes of King Gagik, the Bagratid, son of Ashot. After the death of King Gagik, he had come to the Taurus Mountains where he bravely and valiantly seized control over a great part of the Taurus Mountains, ruling many fortresses and districts which he ravished from the Muslims. Before his death there appeared a wondrous omen: flashing fire, like lightning, penetrated the fortress of Vahka, striking a silver plate and, penetrating five of them, emerged from the opposite side of the house. They said that this presaged [g112] the death of Kostandin. He died that year with a good confession in Christ, and was buried in the blessed congregation of Kastagho'n. May the Lord have mercy on him. In the same year there was famine throughout all the countries, and great distress in the city of Edessa, since rain had not fallen for a full year. The famine in Edessa grew so great that a Byzantine woman cooked and ate her son. Similarly a Tachik ate his wife. For God had destroyed the power of bread; they ate but were not filled. Now it seems to me that this was God's revenge for the unjust death of Curopalate T'e'odoros, lord of Edessa, who was slain.

In the year 549 A.E. [1100] God's bounty came upon the entire country and man and beast were satiated. In the same year the great count Godfrey with his troops came to Caesarea of the Phillipians. The Tachik princes came out to him in friendship, bringing food which they placed before them. And he and those with him ate of it without precaution. But the food was mixed with a fatal poison. After a few days [g113] Count Godfrey and forty men with him died. They buried him in the blessed city of Jerusalem, in front of Golgotha, and they gave superintendency of the city to Sir Tancred, since he happened to be there. They sent to Edessa and brought Godfrey's brother, Baudoin, and gave Jerusalem to him. Tancred arose and went to Antioch to his mother's brother, Bohemond. At that time a military commander of the Byzantines, the prince of princes named T'at'ul, was under the command of Emperor Alexius in Marash, which [city the Crusaders] had given over to Alexius, according to their oath. [53] Bohemond, the count of Antioch, and his sister's son, Richard, went to take Marash from the Byzantine emperor, but after doing battle they were unable to take it from the valiant T'at'ul, who was of Armenian nationality. At that point the lord of Sebastia, Danishmend (Danushman), came against Melitene and warred with it, while Gabriel (Ghavril), prince of the city, sent to Bohemond, saying: "Come help us and I will give Melitene to you." So Bohemond and Richard left Marash and went against Danishmend. When Danishmend learned about this, he put ambushes in numerous places along their route [g114]. [The Crusaders] advanced along the way without a care, without armor, while their weapons were being carried by bearers, as is the custom until the battle site was reached. Then suddenly Danishmend's troops filled up [the area], pounced on them, slaughtered everyone, and captured Bohemond and Richard. They also killed two bishops, Cyprianus and Grigorius, who, though Armenian by nationality, were dear to Bohemond and circulated around with him. At such a tragedy the infidels rejoiced and the Christians grieved. When Baudoin, count of Edessa, and all the Frankish people heard about this they pursued Danishmend but were unable to overtake him. He had captured the princes and taken them to Neocaesarea (Nikisar), and [the Crusaders], unable to reach them, turned back. The count of Edessa returned to Edessa and gave the city to the other Baudoin, who was styled Baudoin of Le Bourg (Te"po'rg), who had previously been a vassal of Bohemond. He himself harassed the city, took much treasure, and went to Jerusalem, as we related above, where he ruled as king in place of his brother, Count Godfrey. Tancred went to Antioch. Now these things befell the Frankish troops because of their unjust deeds, abandoning the road of truth, and traversing the byways of impiety. Thus did God remove from them His earlier assistance and triumphs, and He strengthened their foes. In the same year Sokman, son of Artuk, a brave and martial man [g115], came to the city of Saruj (Sruch) with many troops, and subjected the entire country to raiding and looting. When Baudoin Le Bourg and Fulcher (Fujer),the count of Saruj, heard this news, they went against the Turks, but they were put to flight. And [the Turks] killed the troops of the Franks and the Armenians, also killing that valiant warrior, Fulcher, while Baudoin escaped to Edessa with three horsemen, sorrowfully. Then he arose and went to Antioch, where he requested [additional] troops. The foreigners were then battling against the citadel of Saruj where all the Christians had gathered, among them the bishop (papios) of Edessa. Yet other Christians in the city made common cause with the Turks. After seven days Baudoin Le Bourg arrived with 700 horsemen and 8,000 infantry. He attacked the Turks and put them to flight, killing 700 and capturing 50 emirs. Having expelled the Turks, they turned against the city and put everyone to the sword, taking their goods, women and children. Antioch and all its territories filled up from their captivity, and Saruj was laid waste by the nation of Franks.

[54] In the year 550 A.E. [1101] a great wonder took place at Jerusalem, as the lamp which usually was lit on Holy Saturday [g116] in the Lord's Sepulcher did not light up until meal time on Easter Sunday. This was proof of their deviation, for the nation of Franks had abandoned their customary benevolent deeds and descended into indiscriminate fornication and loathsome acts, which are unworthy of narration. They had designated women as attendants of the divine Tomb, while the clerics and priests did not desist from eating, drinking, and satisfying their physical desires. They removed all the Christian peoples from their own inheritance. But when the lamp did not light up, [the Franks] realized [what they had caused]. They restored all the peoples to their [previous] places and [restored] the congregation attending to [the site] of the blessed Resurrection. Once they had done these things, and the five Christian [communities of Jerusalem] prayed, that lamp lighted up on Sunday at meal time. They rejoiced and praised God.

In the year 551 A.E. [1102] the Frankish Count St. Giles turned back with his 10,000 fighting cavalry, and came to Constantinople. He gave the lance of Christ to Emperor Alexius, who received him with affection and gave him many gifts. But [g117] [Alexius] dealt with him in a diabolical manner. He gave him guides but told them to lead him via waterless places, and he had all the places that they would pass through burned, so that [the Franks] would not find anything [to eat]. Thus [the Franks] encountered grave difficulties, and ended up eating their own horses, as they found no villages or people along the way. Alexius wrought yet another iniquitous act against [St. Giles], for he notified the sultan [about events] and urged him to come and destroy them. Kilij-Arslan assembled numerous troops and fought with [the Crusaders], completely wiping them out. Count St. Giles with 300 horsemen fled to Antioch. At that point Tancred arrested him and put him into prison in irons at Sarvandik'ar. After some days the patriarch of Antioch and all the clerics beseeched Tancred and [he] freed [St. Giles]. Then Count St. Giles went against Tripoli and besieged it. He constructed a city opposite [Tripoli] and remained there greatly harassing it. During this period, a great count from the Frankish nation, named William (Petewin) [William IX, duke of Aquitaine and count of Poitou], arrived [g118] in Constantinople with 300,000 cavalry. He spoke with the Byzantine emperor with great arrogance, styling him "Eparch" instead of "Emperor." The entire House of the Byzantines was terrified of him. They gave him many treasures and made friends with him so that he would not harm the emperor or his lands. But the emperor dealt with William in the same manner as he had dealt with St. Giles. He had him led via uninhabited and waterless routes. He also notified Kilij-Arslan who notified Danishmend. [These two rulers] massed an incalculable host and the [opposing] sides clashed in the plain called Olosi (O'lasi). There was a ferocious battle lasting most of the day, and the face of the plain was covered with blood. The Byzantine troops and their commander fled, and the Romans wandered around like sheep in a foreign land, while the infidels mercilessly cut them down. When William saw the destruction of his troops he climbed up onto a mountain, while the foreigners surrounded the base of the mountain. That day was a grievous one for the Christians. William bitterly wept at the destruction of his forces. Then he fled in despair to Antioch with 400 horsemen. The rest of his troops were totally wiped out. William then went to Jerusalem, and after some days returned to his own land swearing to come back again to fight the Persians and to exact vengeance on the Byzantine emperor Alexius. In the same year the emir of Egypt, Arabia, and Nubia came against Jerusalem. Baudoin, the king of Jerusalem, came out against them with few soldiers, and the foreigners put them to flight back to Jerusalem. Then the foreigners returned to Ascalon with their heads held high.

[55] In the year 552 A.E. [1103] the Byzantines deviated from [the proper celebration of] Easter as they had done previouly during the reign of Emperor Basil. The cause of this, it was said, was [the pique of] a certain Byzantine philosopher, named Irion (Ilion), who was embittered at the other Byzantine philosophers who had not invited him to their assembly where they were correcting the calendar. [Irion] secretly removed some calculations [for the month] of April causing Easter to be off every 95 years or more often. At first the Byzantines did not notice this. Following the deaths of those philosophers who were unaware [of the discrepancy], their successors merely accepted matters as though they were correct. As a result of this [erroneous Easter controversy] [g120], the Byzantines caused much hardship for the Armenian people, until the people of Edessa wrote to Lord Grigoris [for guidance] and received his reply. The same year the king of Egypt and Damascus once again massed troops and came against the city of Jerusalem. The king of Jerusalem, [Baudoin], went against them in battle but the Egyptians put them to flight. However just then, with God's aid, Frankish ships appeared with cavalry troops, and they crushed the Arab forces and put them to flight. Then the king of Jerusalem set off for Acre. But a Tachik was secretly hiding in a bush and shot the king in the side with an arrow. The Tachik was immediately killed, but the king remained incurable until he died. There was great mourning in Jerusalem for the king.

[56] In the year 553 A.E. [1104] violent anger was visited on the city of Edessa. In the morning severe rains fell mixed with hail, and then a flood broke in the wall and a large part of the city collapsed. Many animals were killed but not a single human was hurt. In the same year they ransomed Count Bohemond from Danishmend for 100,000 [g121] dahekans, through the mediation of the Armenian prince, Vasil. Vasil himself supplied 10,000 dahekans. He expended a good deal of effort to have [Bohemond] brought to his territory. He paid the ransom, retrieved him, and with great honor took him to the renowned fortress of Hor'omklay. He rested him and after not too many days sent Bohemond to Antioch. With a solemn oath [Bohemond] became the [adopted] son of Gogh Vasil, and they greatly liked each other. Gogh Vasil previously, from his childhood onward, had been a brigand—killing, stealing, and ravishing, and living with [a band of] his comrades. His acts of injustice succeeded and he was gradually able to advance, becoming lord of many fortresses and districts: K'eson, Peheson, R'apan, P'arzman, Hor'omklay and numerous other districts. He was a God-loving and pious man, a builder of the land who made the churches gleam and who decorated the monasteries and gave gifts to the priests, and provided for orphans and widows. He was endowed with every [kind of] piety. May his memory be blessed. Now Danishmend took Bohemond's sister's son, Richard, and gave him as a gift to Alexius, the Byzantine emperor, in exchange for much treasure. The same year Baudoin, count of Edessa, massed troops and invaded the territory of Mardin. He captured innumerable flocks of sheep, oxen, horses, and camels, and slaughtered the Turks, taking their women and children into captivity to Edessa. In the same year the patriarch of the Armenians, Lord Barsegh [g122], left the city of Ani with his attendants and came to Edessa. Count Baudoin honored him as befitted a patriarch and gave him gifts of villages and estates. In the same year Lord Step'anos, kat'oghikos of the Aghuanians, died and Lord Barsegh sent a bishop there to be their kat'oghikos. He went and resided in Ganjak, but subsequently was found unworthy of the honor. When Lord Barsegh learned about this he deposed him from the [kat'oghikosal] throne and [expelled him] from the land.

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