[57] In the year 554 A.E. [1105] Baudoin, count of Edessa, and Joscelin, and Bohemond of Antioch massed all the Christian forces and went against [the city of] Harran, which they harassed with warfare. Now it happened that a certain impious Frank took [a loaf of] bread, cut it open, defecated into it, then placed the loaf at the gates of the city. One of the residents pounced on it, and took that loaf to eat. When he saw the loathsome act and related it to the citizens, the wise men said that God's righteousness would not excuse such an unworthy deed. At that point troops of the Persians came upon them [under] the emir of Mosul, Chokurmish (Chkrmish), and Sokman, the son of Artuk [g123]. The Frankish princes went against them at a place called Oshnut, two days' distance from the city. The count of Edessa and Joscelin became inflated with pride and got ahead of Bohemond so that they themselves would be the first to fight and enjoy the glory of triumph. When the two sides clashed in battle, the Persian forces won and put the Franks to flight, killing many and taking Baudoin and Joscelin captive. They took Baudoin to Mosul and Joscelin to Hisn Kaifa. There was a great slaughter on that day. Now Bohemond and Tancred fled with their troops to Antioch, and there was great mourning in all Christian localities for those [killed]. Bohemond planned to go to the land of the Franks, get [additional] cavalry and return. So he entrusted Antioch and Edessa to his sister's son, Tancred. When he reached the Frankish land, the wife of a [deceased] influential count who was lord of a land [tried to] force Bohemond to marry her, [and rule] the land [g124] and cavalry. But [Bohemond] refused, saying that he had sworn to get cavalry and return to aid the Christians. But the woman harassed him. When she was unable to convince him, she had him seized and put into prison in iron chains. Finally [Bohemond] consented and sired two sons. After five years Bohemond died, never having returned to these parts. In the same year the great Emir Danishmend died. He was [originally] from a Christian clan, and was a good man who was a builder of the land, and a lover of the Christians. He was survived by thirteen sons. The senior son, Melik Ghazi, bestially slaughtered his other brothers. In the same year Sokman, son of Artuk, died. [Artuk] had formerly held Jerusalem, and left clear traces in the church of the Holy Resurrection where three of his arrows are embedded in the church's ceiling. His son, Sokman, was a wicked shedder of blood. He had assembled numerous troops and went to aid Tripoli, but he was slain en route and his troops fled to their own land, to Persia. [58] In the same year the sultan of Persia, Berk-yaruq, Malik-Shah's son, died. His brother, Tap'ar, occupied his throne. In the same year Marash was taken from the Byzantines. T'at'ul, the prince of princes, had given Marash to Joscelin and had sold the icon of the Mother of God for much gold to the great prince T'oros, son of Kostandin, son of Ruben. [T'at'ul] himself then went to Constantinople. The image of the holy Mother of God was brought to the blessed congregation of Ark'akaghin. In this period Lord Grigoris Vkayase'r came to the great prince Gogh Vasil and [g125] was received with great honor. He had brought the kat'oghikos, Lord Barsegh, there and by the order and consent of Gogh Vasil he settled him in the blessed congregation called Shughr, close to the new city, and entrusted to him the two sons of Apirat, Grigoris and Nerse's, the sister's sons of Lord Grigori, kat'oghikos of Egypt, who were of the Pahlawuni clan from the line of Saint Gregory. He urged him to raise them with care since they were to be inheritors of the blessed throne. Then he himself passed to Christ in the year 555 A.E. [1106], having held the patriarchate for 40 years. He was buried at the monastery called Karmir [Red], close to K'esun. Then the abbot of the monastery, Lord Step'anos, convened a great assembly on the day of his burial and, with the honor befitting a patriarch, entrusted him to Christ. Prince Gogh Vasil and the entire assembly conducted extensive mourning over him. In the same year the great vegetarian hermit Markos died at 65 years of age and was buried at the blessed congregation of Kastagho'n. In the same year the emir of Mosul, Chokurmish, came and descended to the gates of the city of Edessa where the general Richard was. Tancred quaked with fear of him. The city's guards emerged with infantry troops to fight with them, but the foreigners put them to flight, filled into the city of Xandak, and slew 400 of their men. Thus there was great mourning in Edessa [g126] while Chorormish triumphantly returned to his home. In the same year Count St. Giles died in Tripoli and he entrusted the area outside the city gates which he had built up, to his sister's son, Bertram, who was a brave and martial man. In this period [the city of] Aplast'an experienced great harassment from the Franks and, due to this wickedness, the Armenian people wanted to requite them with evil. So they made friendship with the Turks and secretly had them brought into the citadel. Then they called out to the military commander of the Franks, saying: "Take your troops and go, and may God be with you!" The military commander, enraged, attacked the citizens but the residents, with the aid of the foreigners, conquered and killed them. Not a single one of them was left alive. This happened, fittingly, because of the impiety of the Frankish people who had corrupted the country and made a ruin of it and, one might say, obstructed the worship of God in every place under their rule. Indeed, the flame of their wickedness rose higher than that of the infidels, since they did not leave anyone any silver or gold whatever. In the same year the [church of] Saint Sophia in Edessa collapsed, and once again the comet appeared. In the same year the Arabs arose from Damascus and wanted [g127] to rule Aleppo. Count Tancred attacked and killed some 15,000 of them and then returned to Antioch with the booty. In the same year Chokurmish, the emir of Mosul, and Chavli (Jovli) fought each other. Chavli was victorious. [Chokurmish] was struck by an arrow and perished after a few days. He had given over his land to Kilij-Arslan and also gave him Baudoin whom he was holding in captivity. Kilij-Arslan assembed troops and went and took over Mosul and Jazira and all of [Chokurmish's] lands. Before this he had gone to Edessa but, unable to take it, he went and captured Harran.

[59] In the year 556 A.E. [1107] there was a ferocious battle between the sultan of the West, Kilij-Arslan, and Chavli in the area of Mosul. Chavli defeated the sultan['s army], killing Kilij-Arslan himself, while the survivors fled to Melitene. However his death occasioned great sorrow for the Christians, since he was a good and merciful man. He left four sons who ruled over his districts. In this year the Persian forces massed, some 12,000 men, and came over the Taurus Mountains, devastating the land of Anazarba. With innumerable captives and booty they crossed the plain of Marash and [g128] entered the country of Gogh Vasil, in the territory of Nukrakan. Hearing about this, Gogh Vasil assembled his troops and, like lion cubs, they sprang on them, putting them all to the sword. They took their spoil and captives and principals, and returned in great triumph to K'esun, giving thanks to the Lord.

In the year 557 A.E. [1108] the foreigners sought vengeance against Gogh Vasil. They assembled some 7,000 troops and during the harvest season came upon them, slaying the harvesters. With many captives they descended on the fortress called Hart'an. When Gogh Vasil learned about this, he prepared to fight against them with 500 horsemen and 1,000 infantry. The Armenian troops fought bravely, attacking the army of the foreigners. They urged one another on, those unbeatable warriors of Christ: Petros, the mother's brother of Gogh Vasil and Tgha Vasil [Kamsarakan] with a brigade of knights from his own clan, Aplasat' and Tigran with their troops. They poured the wrath of God upon the foreigners. They defeated and killed them, capturing their sultan and many emirs whom they drove before them into captivity. They rescued all the captives, joyfully returning home and giving thanks to the Lord. That same year Joselin ransomed Baudoin for 30,000 [g129] dahekans. Then he came to the Armenian prince, Gogh Vasil, who gave him a splendid reception and many gifts. Baudoin massed troops in Gogh Vasil's city of R'apan to fight against Sir Tancred. Baudoin and Joscelin wrought an impious deed by sending to the Tachik emir Chavli and bringing him in to help them with 7,000 horsemen. They initiated warfare with Tancred because of the districts which Tancred had seized when Joscelin and Baudoin were in captivity and which he did not return to them when they were freed. And not just for this reason. [60] For [Tancred] wanted to make both of them his vassals, [something] they rejected. Vasil added 800 of his own men and other troops were brought from the Byzantine emperor's forces in the city of Mamistra, making a numerous body. Tancred then came against them with 1,000 horsemen and 2,000 infantry in the territory of Tell Bashir. Thus Baudoin and Tancred fought each other, while the Persian troops cut down some 300 of Tancred's infantry. But as the battle intensified Tancred defeated Baudoin and put him to flight. Then he turned upon Chavli in fury, killing 4,000 of his men. Tancred returned in great triumph while Baudoin took refuge in his fortress of Ravendan (Arewe"ndayn) and Joscelin in his fortress of Tell Bashir. When the Edessenes learned about this they were plunged into great mourning, because they thought that Baudoin had died in battle [g130]. The citizens took counsel together by the Papios [bishop] at the Frankish church of Saint John in the interests of unity, since they were afraid that Tancred might come and that Edessa might be turned over to Richard who, in accordance with his prior custom, would ruin it. They all told the Papios: "Let your and our guards hold the citadel until it becomes clear who will be lord of the city." One day later Baudoin and Joscelin entered Edessa. When they heard about these [developments] they were extremely angry. Baudoin and Joscelin destroyed and committed acts of cruelty toward many Christians. They even took the city's bishop, Lord Step'anos, in order to blind him. But when the citizens learned about the man's innocence, they ransomed him for 6,000 dahekans and so freed him. Through such [acts of] injustice and false judgements did they conduct themselves, ravishing the belongings of innocent Armenians, Greeks, and Syrians.

In the year 558 A.E. [1108] Baudoin, count of Edessa, assembled forces and went against the city of Harran. Accompanying them was an Armenian prince, Aplasat', a brave and martial man. When they arrived there they commenced laying waste the countryside. But suddenly the Turks with 1,080 horsemen and 700 infantry came against them, killing some 150 Frankish horsemen. As the fight progressed the Franks wanted to flee. At that point Aplasat' roared like a lion [g131], shouted to his troops and struck a brigade of the foreigners, turning them back. The Franks returned to Edessa. When Aplasat' observed their conduct he turned around and came to Gogh Vasil from whom he had separated due to a dispute. In the same year Tripoli was taken from the Turks. Baudoin had been unable to take it, but had constructed a city opposite it. When he died he entrusted the city to his sister's son, Tancred, and the latter harassed it for eleven years with a siege. Subsequently they gave it to Tancred. But Bertram and the king of Jerusalem were opposed to this, since they wanted to possess it. The patriarch made peace between them and they returned to their own places. But the king of Jerusalem again made war against Tripoli and captured it. The Franks loaded up with its looted gold and brocade. [61] In the same year the count of Edessa wanted to fight as before with Tancred and sent to Maudud (Mamtut) to come to his aid. The latter willingly came with 100,000 horsemen and summoned Baudoin to come to him. But [Baudoin] was afraid to go. Maudud was enraged, thinking that he had been deceived by [Baudoin], and so he turned against Edessa in battle. When Baudoin saw this he sent Joscelin [g132] to fetch more cavalry. [Joscelin] went to the king of Jerusalem and found him encamped against Beirut. Now Maudud had besieged [the area] around Edessa for 100 days, putting the city in danger of starvation, as there was no way either of entering or exiting it. Then the king took Beirut from the Tachiks. Joscelin displayed numerous feats of bravery there. The king of Jerusalem and Bertram came to Tancred in Antioch, took all the Frank soldiers, and went to Gogh Vasil. Gogh Vasil and Aplgharip, the lord of Bira, followed after the king of Jerusalem with all their troops until they reached Edessa. When Maudud heard about this he arose from where he was and crossed to the other side of the city, while the Christian forces encamped before the gates of Edessa. The next day they prepared to fight, placing the holy cross on the highest of their standards and carrying it in front of the troops. Meanwhile the Turks had retreated to Harran, laying an ambush in front of [the pursuing] troops. When the Christians learned about this they did not continue the pursuit but turned about and descended on the fortress of Shenaw and battled with it. At this point Tancred heard rumours of a plot against him from some slanderers. He took his troops [g133], went to Samosata, and descended to the banks of the Euphrates. All the Frankish troops followed him. When the residents of the city and districts of Edessa saw this they went after the Franks, one and all. Two Franks then went to Maudud and apostasized Christ, and they told him that the Frankish army had fled. As soon as [Maudud] heard this he turned back after them and shed their blood from Edessa to the Euphrates. The Franks had already crossed the river and so were unable to help, since the broad river was between them, while the infidels were on the near side of the river and killed [fugitives] there. Maudud returned to his home with many captives while the Franks turned back full of shame, since instead of bringing salvation to the Christians, they had brought destruction to them. In the same year the troops of the Turks assembled and penetrated the land of Anazarba, killing Christians in the district of Marpa. The Armenian prince T'oros, Kostandin's son, did not dare to engage them in battle, so they returned to their own land. In the same year there was a baleful omen in the district of Vaspurakan in the land of the Armenians, because blazing fire fell upon the sea of Vaspurakan [Lake Van] accompanied by great thundering. The fish in the lake perished and were heaped up on the shore stinking all around [the lake], and here and there the earth had been torn asunder.

[62] In the year 560 A.E. [1111] the aforementioned Maudud came with many troops and descended on [g134] [the fortress of] T'lkuran, which he captured. There were forty Franks there whom he killed. Then he took Go'tet'il and went to Saruj where many [fighters] flocked to him [including] the great emir Ahmad-Il (Ahmatil), and Sukman, the emir of the East, son of Bursuk. They crossed the Euphrates and went to Tell Bashar, where Joscelin was situated, placing the fortress in dire straits. But they were unable to take it. Then Maudud and Joscelin became brothers. Mahdud went to Shaizar, close to Antioch, and Tancred mustered a large number of troops. He went to Baudoin, king of Jerusalem, and Bertram, count of Tripoli, and they encamped opposited each other at Shaizar. However, they did not fight. In the nighttime Maudud departed to his own land, and the Christians, to theirs. In the same year Emir Sukman died unexpectedly while on the road. In the same year vengeance [g135] was exacted on the muderers of the innocent [King] Gagik. [The killers were] three brothers, sons of Mandale'. They held a secure fortress, called Kendr'o'skawi, near Dzknjur River overlooking the land of Cappadocia. The first brother had made friendship with T'oros, son of Kostandin, and lord of Vahka, and had promised to give him that fortress, since it was on his border and the Turks were afflicting them greatly. T'oros went to them on a friendly visit, taking along his troops. They camped close to the place and [T'oros] sent to them to come out to him. At that point one of the three brothers took an expensive dagger, a robe, and [other] gifts and came and placed them before [T'oros]. Then, while they were eating and drinking, T'oros brought up the promise made concerning the fortress, and [the son of Mandale'] renounced that pledge, saying: "We cannot give it up, because it is our patrimony." When T'oros realized that he had been deceived by them, he responded: "Take your presents and go, and henceforth watch out for me." Before their eyes T'oros turned [as though he were going] home, but secretly, during the night, he returned. He laid ambushes around the fortress and then distanced himself with his cavalry. When day broke [the inhabitants of the fortress] came out, each going about his business. Suddenly they saw the ambushes and fled up to the fortress. [T'oros' men] pursued them, but [the fugitives] reached the fortress and closed the inner gate against them. But they were unable to close [?the outer] gate. T'oros' infantry seized the gate and set fire to the fortress. The terrified inhabitants opened the gate on the other side and [g136] began to flee. T'oros' forces seized the fugitives and took the fortress. Then they went and informed T'oros who was greatly astonished and happily came and entered the fortress. He began to ask about the treasures, since the gold and silver of the entire district was stored there. T'oros said to the sons of Mandale': "Bring forth Gagik's sword and royal robe." They brought it to him. When T'oros saw them, he wept bitterly as did all the troops with him. Then he asked angrily: "Where is your treasury?" But they stubbornly refused to show him where it was. [T'oros' forces] began to torture them. One of them hurled himself from an elevation and died. [T'oros] started to torture the senior brother, who insolently told T'oros: "You are an Armenian man; we are Roman princes. What answer will you give to our emperor [for what you are doing]?" Transported into a rage, T'oros shouted: "You are the ones who killed Gagik, that mighty man who was anointed as king, who bowed to kiss you like a father and who loved you. What answer will you give to the Armenian people [about that]?" Then, seizing a club, [T'oros] attacked him and, weeping bitterly, began striking wildly until [the man] perished. And T'oros thanked God that he had been found worthy to take vengeance on those wicked men for the blood of the innocent Gagik. His own father's father, Ruben, had been one of King Gagik's princes. Then [T'oros] took many treasures of gold and silver and all their belongings, as well as the [surviving] brother and brought them to Vahka. He left guards at the fortress.

[63] In the year 561 A.E. [1112] Maudud came with his troops to Edessa and invested it. Count [g137] Joscelin took 100 horsemen and 100 infantry and entered Saruj on the feast-day of Elias. The foreigners allocated 1,500 horsemen and attacked Saruj. But Joscelin fell upon and killed 150 of them, additionally capturing 10 of their chiefs, while the rest [of the foreigners] fled back to their army. Maudud arose with all his troops and began a campaign against Saruj, but at that point Joscelin had secretly departed and entered Edessa. Simultaneously, some men from Edessa secretly went [to Maudud] and said that in exchange for gifts they would give the city into his hands. [Maudud] gave them numerous gifts, and then entered the city at night. Then Baudoin and Joscelin arose onto the wall with their troops and valiantly harassed the troops of the infidels, hurling them down from the heights, and emptying the city of the foreigners. Baudoin tortured to death many of the citizens, while Maudid returned to Khorasan in great disgrace. In the same year the count of Antioch, Tancred, massed troops and went against Gogh Vasil. He besieged Raban and took it, and then went against Kesoun. Gogh Vasil assembled his forces and brought other troops from the Persians to help him. He encamped opposite [Tancred]. But then they came to a peaceful agreement by which they each returned to the other the fortresses they had captured. Gogh Vasil gave up Hisn-Mansur, T'awre'sh [g138], Uremn, P'ersin, Raghtip, and Hart'an to Tancred, and [Tancred] returned to Antioch. In the same year Gogh Vasil died, leaving the Armenians in great mourning. All the remaining princes of the Armenians had assembled by him, and the patriarchal throne had been placed in his land. Lord Barsegh was his father-confessor as well as the trustee appointed by [Gogh Vasil] to establish his successor, Tghay Vasil, in his place. The latter had been nourished in his House like his own son, and was of the Kamsarakan clan on his mother's side. [Gogh Vasil's] burial was conducted with royal ceremony at Karmir monastery. They divided up many of his belongings and gave them, for his soul, to the poor and bereft and also [gave his property] to Tancred and his wife and to the other princes who surrounded him. Then Lord Barsegh held an assembly and seated Tghay Vasil on the throne. Everyone was pleased by this since [the son] was attractive in every way, physically and militarily. He was the son-in-law of Lewon, the son of Kostandin, and was married to his daughter. They were delighted and gave thanks to God. In the same year that valiant warrior of Christ, Tancred the lord of Antioch, died. He left the city to his sister's son, Roger (R'o'che'l), who was a brave and martial man.

[64] In the year 562 A.E. [1113] the impious Emir [g139] Maudud came to Harran. Count Joscelin and Baudoin were in Tell Bashir. Evil rumours reached him to the effect that the citizens had brought [Maudud] there with the intention of giving the city to him. [Baudoin] took these rumours as truth and resolved to ruin them. He sent Payens, the count of Saruj, to Edessa and ordered him to remove all the inhabitants of the city, burn it, and depart, so that no one would be found there. A spectacle of bitter weeping could be seen there as people were separated from their belongings and homes, with no one exempted. In one day they were evicted from the city and such a city [as Edessa] remained deserted, since everyone had departed for Samosata. At that time Maudud had passed from Harran to Jerusalem to fight against the king of Jerusalem. When Baudoin, lord of Edessa, learned about this he was ashamed of the unjust deed he had done, and ordered that all [the deportees] be returned to their homes. Maudud went and encamped against Tiberias (Tapar) [g140], while the king of Jerusalem sent and summoned the lord of Antioch, Roger, as well as the count of Tripoli to come to his aid; and both of them went willingly. Now it happened that the Jerusalemites wanted the victory solely for themselves, so they did not wait for the forces of Antioch and Tripoli, but instead made the attack. But because God was opposed to their pride, the Turks triumphed. A Turk was valiantly occupied [fighting] with the king and was striking his shoulders with an iron mace. But just at that moment Roger and the others arrived, saw the king's plight, and then brave Roger attacked and killed that valiant Turk with his spear. The man died instantly. The Christians grew stronger and they killed a thousand men of the Turks, while the rest fled. Then Maudud turned about and went to Damascus, planning to ruin Tughtigin, lord of Damascus. But when Tughtigin learned about this he freed from prison a Persian man who had been condemned to death, and promised him his freedom and gifts, and on the spot gave him 500 pieces of red [gold] if he would kill Maudud while he was praying in the mosque. This [assassin] himself was killed by someone else. The troops departed to their own land. In the same year in the month of Tre' the blessed patriarch, Lord Barsegh, died through a tragic accident. He was in the village called Varderi [g141], near Antsanit', and was on the rooftop praying with his students when the house collapsed. No one was hurt except for Lord Barsegh who hit his back against a wall and broke his spine. He survived for three days during which he had himself taken to Shughri and seated Apirat's son, Grigoris, on the [kat'oghikosal] throne. [Barsegh] then died and was buried. After the death of Lord Barsegh, a multitude of bishops, vardapets, and priests assembled at Karmir monastery and anointed Lord Grigoris as kat'oghikos of the Armenians [Grigor III Pahlawuni, 1113-1166]. However he was under the tutelege of elders, since he was still a boy and did not yet have a beard.

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