Crusading Warfare

Exploring the Military History of the Crusades

William James Hamblin
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 The Oath to Alexios;
Crossing the Bosphorus
February-May 1097
0 500 1000 m At Constantinople 1097/02-05
Primary Sources:
Albert 2.8-21
Anna 10.9-11
Fulcher 1.9.1-4
Gesta 1/3-2/5 Al Blachernae
Peter 1-2 Palace
rus
1 o
Ralph 2-7 s ph
Raymond 2 Bo
1- {Feb-Mar} Godfreys army

G
William 2.5-23

ol
Go winters in Pera, across the Golden

de
all
==== Pera Horn from Constantinople.

n
)W

H
Peters FC 159-179 [Albert 2.15b]

or
ian

n
Romanos

os
od
Asbridge 109-113 Gate

e
Th
Frankopan 118-138 Holy

t(

Ch
Harris 60-72 Apostles

ea

ain
Rubenstein 89-99

Gr
Runciman 1:142-171
-
Pryor, J. The oaths of the
leaders of the First Forum of
Crusade to Emperor Constantine
Aleius I Comnenus: Hagia
fealty, homage Sophia
Parergon 2 (1984):
111-141 Hippodrome Bucoleon
Palace

Sea of

Marmara
0 500 1000 m Godfreys Oath to Alexios 1097/02-03

2- Singly or in groups, the

crusaders begin to take oaths of
loyalty to Alexios. [Albert 2.15b] Al Blachernae
Palace
rus
h o
2 3 o sp
B

G
ol
Go

s
Godfreys Oath (Anna)

de
all
Pera

n
)W
2a- {late Jan} [Anna 10.9e]

H
or
ian
[Godfrey] went to the Emperor [Alexios] and

n
Romanos

os
swore the oath which was required of him, 3- [Gesta 2/6=11-12]

od
Gate
namely, that whatever towns, countries or Ordinary Crusaders Oppose Oaths to the Emperor

e
Th
forts he managed to take which had formerly Holy After Bohemond had settled in, the emperor sent to invite

t(

Ch
Apostles

ea
belonged to the Roman Empire, he would him to a secret conference. Duke Godfrey and his brother

ain
Gr
deliver up to the Governor expressly sent by were also present, and the count of St Gilles was near the
the Emperor for this purpose. After he had city. Then the emperor, who was troubled in mind and
taken this oath, and received a large sum of fairly seething with rage, was planning how to entrap
money, he was invited to the Emperor's hearth these Christian knights by fraud and cunning, but by
Forum of
and table. God's grace neither he nor his men found place or time to
Constantine
harm them. At last all the elders of Constantinople, who
Hagia
were afraid of losing their country, took counsel together
Sophia
Godfreys Oath (Albert) and devised a crafty plan of making the dukes, counts
2b- {late Jan} [Albert 2.16b] Hippodrome and all the leaders of our army swear an oath of fealty
Bucoleon
[Godfrey] not only gave himself to [Alexios] as to the emperor. This our leaders flatly refused to do, for
Palace
a son, as is the custom of that land, but even as they said, Truly, this is unworthy of us, and it seems
a vassal with hands joined. Thus indeed the unjust that we should swear to him any oath at all.
emperor and duke were fastened together by Perhaps, however, we were fated to be misled often by
an unbreakable chain of complete trust and our leaders, for what did they do in the end? They may
friendship. say that they were constrained by need, and had to
humble themselves willy-nilly to do what that
abominable emperor wanted.
Sea of

Marmara
Camped in Environs of Constantinople Bohemonds Arrival 1097/04/09-10
Pe Hu RF Go 0 10 20 m
0 10 20 30 km
Black Sea
4- {10 Apr} Bohemond and a small
Bo escort arrive at Constantinople to
negotiate with Alexios.
[Albert 2.18c; Ralph 11b]

us
or
ph
4

s
Bo
Sosthenium

Salabria Pera
Chrysopolis

Al Constantinople
Rodosto Chalcedon

Pelekanon Nicomedia

Sea of Civitot

Marmara

Ascanian Nicaea

Cyzicus
0 500 1000 m Bohemond and Alexios 1097/04/10
5a- Bohemonds Oath [Albert 2.18b]
Bohemond refused at first, and replied that he was much too afraid 5c- [Gesta 2/6=12; Ralph 11]
of the emperor because he was regarded as a crafty and sly man, but The Gesta claims that Alexios
in the end he was convinced by the duke [Godfreys] good promised:
promise and comforting words. At last he confidently went into the Al 1- He would give Bohemond the lands
Blachernae
around Antioch
emperor's palace, where he was received with a kiss of peace and Palace
2- He would personally come with the rus
all friendship and esteem. Then, after they had held several h o
5 crusade o sp
conferences and consultations between them, Bohemond became B
3- He would provide an army, navy,

G
the emperor's man, and with an oath and a pledge of trust he

ol
s
and supplies

de
all
made an agreement with him that he would not keep for himself
Pera

n
)W

H
any part of the emperors realm, except by his favour and consent.

or
ian
And at once gifts were brought to Bohemond, as they had been to

n
Romanos 5d- Bohemond as Grand Domestikos [Anna

os
Godfrey, wonderful and unbelievable treasures in goldGate and

od
10.11e]

e
silver, vessels also, valuable in their workmanship and adornment

Th
Holy When Bohemond demanded the office of Great
and far more splendid than anyone can imagine.

t(

Ch
Apostles Domestic of the East [domestikaton ts anatols

ea

ain
Gr
= Imperial Viceroy of Anatolia], he did not gain
5b- Bohemonds Oath [Gesta 2/6=11-12] his request, for he was trying to 'out-Cretan a
When the emperor had heard that Bohemond, that Cretan.' For the Emperor feared that if he
most distinguished man, had come, he ordered him gained power he would make the other Counts
to be received with proper ceremony, but took care Forum of his captives and bring them round afterwards
to lodge him outside the city. he told Bohemond Constantine to doing whatever he wished. so he flattered
that he would Hagia him with fair hopes by saying, The time for that
[1] give him lands beyond Antioch, fifteen days' Sophia has not come yet; but by your energy and
journey in length and eight in width, provided that reputation and above all by your fidelity it will
Hippodrome Bucoleon
he would swear fealty with free consent, and he come ere long.
Palace
added this promise, that if Bohemond kept his oath
faithfully he would never break his own. The
emperor for his part guaranteed good faith and 5e- [Ralph 9-10]
security to all our men, and swore also to Alexios encourages Bohemond as
[2] come with us, bringing an army and a navy, father to son; affirms Gods favor on
and the crusaders. Alexios promises:
[3] faithfully to supply us with provisions both by there are garments, gold, horses, and
land and sea, and to take care to restore all those Sea of all the remaining abundance of the
things which we had lost. treasury for you. You will find such
Marmara a font of gold.
0 500 1000 m Other Princes take the Oath 1097/04

6- [Albert 2.21d]
Other Princes Take the Oath
At this same time Robert, count of Normandy, Stephen of Blachernae
Blois, and Eustace, Duke Godfrey's brother, were likewise Palace
rus
there They also entered into a treaty and friendship with h o
6 o sp
the emperor; they became his men in sworn allegiance and B

G
were honoured by him with very many gifts.

ol
s

de
all
Pera

n
)W

H
or
ian

n
Romanos

os
od
Gate

e
Th
Holy

t(

Ch
Apostles

ea

ain
Gr Forum of
Constantine
Hagia
Sophia
Hippodrome Bucoleon
Palace

Sea of

Marmara
Camped in Environs of Constantinople Departure of Godfrey 1097/04/early
Pe Hu RF Bo 0 10 20 m
0 10 20 30 km
Black Sea

us
or
ph
s
Bo
7- Alexios military advice to the Crusaders Sosthenium

[Anna 10.11d-e]
[Alexios said] Now the time has come which will
give you your fill ofSalabria
fighting. But I strongly advise
you not to place yourself in the rear nor in the front of Pera
Chrysopolis

Al Constantinople
Rodosto your line, but to stand in the centre of the
Chalcedon
hemilochitae, for I have had a long experience of the 7 8- {mid-April} Godfreys
Turkish method of fighting. It was not to this man
army is transported to
only that he gave this advice, but to all the others he Go Anatolia by Alexios fleet.
foretold the accidents likely to happen on their
[Albert 2.17c]
journey, and counselled them never to pursue the
barbarians very far when God granted them a
victory over them, for fear of being killed by Pelekanon Nicomedia
falling into ambushes. Seaof 8
[Alexios] also instructed them in the Turks' usual
methods of warfare, and suggested the manner in
Civitot

Marmara
which they should dispose the army and arrange
their ranks, and advised them not to go far in
pursuit of the Turks when they fled.

Ascanian Nicaea

Cyzicus
Camped in Environs of Constantinople Battle of Sosthenium 1097/04/mid
Bo 0 10 20 m
0 10 20 30 km
Black Sea

9a- {1097/04 mid}

us
9b- Battle of Sosthenium [Anna 10.10a]

or
Battle of Sosthenium

ph
After this man the Count called Raoul arrived with fifteen thousand horse and foot and

s
Bo
bivouacked by the Propontis the rest he quartered on the shore right up to Sosthenium Sosthenium [Anna 10.10a]
[stinye]. [He] put off crossing [to Anatolia]as he, too, was awaiting the arrival of the others Against Count Raoul.
9
who were coming after him, but the Emperor foreseeing what might happen, dreaded their advent,
and tried to hurry on Raoul's crossing by every possible means.Salabria
So he sent and had [Byzantine general] Opus fetched (a man of noble mind and not inferior to Pera
Chrysopolis

Al Constantinople
anyone in military experience), and when he arrived he dispatched him with some other brave
Rodosto Chalcedon
men overland to Raoul with orders to compel the latter to cross the straits. But when he found
that Raoul would certainly not obey the Emperor's order, but rather spoke impudently and
most insolently of the Emperor, he drew up his lines for battle, thinking perhaps to terrify the Hu RF
barbarian, and in this way persuade him to sail across to the other side.
But Raoul drew up the Franks he had with him more quickly than can be told, and rejoiced
'like a lion that has lighted upon a huge carcass,' and straightway commenced a serious battle
Pelekanon Nicomedia
with Opus.
Now Pegasius came to the place by sea in order to transport the SeaFranks,
of and when he saw the 10
battle being fought on land, and the Franks attacking the Roman army very boldly, he
10- {mid April}
Civitot

disembarked, and himself attacked the Franks from the rear. In this battle many were killed,
Marmara
but a far greater number wounded, and consequently the survivors asked to be put across the Robert of Flanders and Hugh of
sea. Vermandois cross to Civitot, either
Now the Emperor in his great prudence reflected that if they joined Godfrey and related what with Godfrey, or shortly after.
had happened to them, the latter would be enraged against him, so he gladly received their
request, put them on boats and transported them by sea to the Saviour's tomb (= Jerusalem).

Ascanian Nicaea
Crusaders Camped in Anatolia

Go Pe Cyzicus
 Camped in Environs of Constantinople Arrival of Raymond 1097/04/late
Bo 0 10 20 m
0 10 20 30 km
Black Sea
12- {21 April} Raymond
arrives at Constantinople to
consult with Alexios.
13a- {late April} Complex and
[Raymond 2e; Albert 2.20]
rancorous negotiations between

us
Raymond and Alexios are

or
ph
s
mediated by Bohemond.

Bo
12 [Raymond 2e; Ralph 12b]
Ra

Salabria Pera
Chrysopolis

Al Constantinople
Rodosto
13 Chalcedon

11
11- {1097/04/mid} Raymonds 13b- Raymonds Version of the Oath
crusaders march to Rodosto, [Gesta 2/6=13; Albert 2.20d; William 2.21]
where they set up camp. There Therefore the count took the advice of his friends and
they receive ambassadors from swore that he would respect the life 'and honour of
Alexios on 18 April. Alexius, and neither destroy them nor permit anyone Pelekanon Nicomedia
[Raymond 2d] else to do so; but when he was asked to do homage he
Sea of
said that he would not, even at the peril of his life. Civitot

Marmara

Ascanian Nicaea
Crusaders Camped in Anatolia

Go Pe Hu RF Cyzicus
Camped in Environs of Constantinople Arrival of Tancred with Bohemonds Army 1097/04/26
Bo 0 10 20 m
0 10 20 30 km
Black Sea

Ta

us
or
ph
s
Bo
14 15a- {26 Apr} Tancred Avoids taking the Oath
[Albert 2.19a; Gesta 2/7=13; Ralph 12]
14- {26 Apr}Salabria Tancred secretly crosses to Godfreys camp in
Pr
The Italo-Norman army commanded
by Tancred arrives at Constantinople.
Pera
order to avoid giving an oath to Alexios. Alexios
Chrysopolis

Al Constantinople
allows him to proceed because he already has
Rodosto Bohemonds oath. [Tancred] took off the
Chalcedon

14- {late Apr} equipment of heavily armed mounted soldier and

Raymonds Provenal army remains dressed like a foot soldier.
camped at Rodosto
15
15b- Tancred Avoids taking the Oath [Albert 2.19a]
Tancred, who was Bohemond's sister's son, crossed the straits Pelekanon Nicomedia
with all the Sea
menof
and equipment that belonged to himself as Ta
well as to Bohemond, keeping it a secret from the emperor, the
duke, and Marmara
Bohemond, so that he would not also be made
Civitot

subject to him.

15c- Tancred Rejects gifts [Ralph 11-12]

The leaders of the Franks have been corrupted by gifts
[from Alexios].

Ascanian Nicaea
Crusaders Camped in Anatolia

Go Pe Hu RF Cyzicus
Camped in Environs of Constantinople Bohemond and Raymond cross to Anatolia 1097/05/early
0 10 20 m
0 10 20 30 km
Black Sea

16- {27 Apr} Provenal army

us
arrives at Constantinople.

or
ph
s
Bo
16

Salabria Pera
Chrysopolis

Al Constantinople
Rodosto Pr Chalcedon

Ra
18- {early May} Raymond and
the Provencal crusaders cross 18
to Civitot.
Pelekanon Nicomedia
17
Sea of Bo
Civitot

Marmara 17- {early May} Bohemond

and the Italo-Normans cross to
Civitot.

Ascanian Nicaea
Crusaders Camped in Anatolia

Go Pe Hu RF Ta Cyzicus
Camped in Environs of Constantinople Arrival of Robert of Normandys Army 1097/05/06-14
0 10 20 m
0 10 20 30 km
Black Sea

RN 20

20- {14 May} Robert of Normandys

us
army arrives at Constantinople on 14

or
ph
s
May; They meet the other crusaders,

Bo
and camp there for two weeks {to 28
May}. They are provided a full and
fair food market outside the city, but

Salabria Pera
are permitted to enter Constantinople Chrysopolis

only in small groups to worship in the Al Constantinople

Rodosto churches there. [Fulcher 1.8.8] Chalcedon

Pelekanon Nicomedia

Sea of
Civitot

Marmara
19- {early May} Godfreys army Go
marches towards Nicaea.
{6 May} Godfreys crusaders arrive at
Nicaea. [Fulcher 1.8.8] 19
Crusaders Camped at Nicaea

Go Hu RF Ta

Ascanian Nicaea
Crusaders Camped in Anatolia

Ra Bo Cyzicus
Camped in Environs of Constantinople Arrival of Robert of Normandys Army 1097/05/14-28
RN 0 10 20 m
0 10 20 30 km
Black Sea

us
or
ph
s
Bo

Salabria Pera
Chrysopolis
21
Al Constantinople
Rodosto Chalcedon
21- {14-28 May} Robert of Normandys
army rests at Constantinople for two weeks.
They are provided a full and fair food market
outside the city, but are permitted to enter
Constantinople only in small groups to
worship in the churches there. Robert takes Pelekanon Nicomedia
the oath to Alexios[Fulcher 1.8.8]
Sea of
Civitot

Marmara
Ra

22- {16 May} Raymond and the Provenal 22

army arrive at Nicaea. [Fulcher 1.8.8]
Crusaders Camped at Nicaea

Go Hu RF Bo Ta
Ascanian Nicaea
Crusaders Camped in Anatolia {6 May - 19 June}
See the Nicaean
Cyzicus
Campaign Atlas
 Robert of Normandys Army arrives at Civitot 1097/06/early
0 10 20 m
0 10 20 30 km
Black Sea

us
or
ph
s
Bo
Salabria Pera
Chrysopolis

Al Constantinople
Rodosto Chalcedon

RN

Pelekanon Nicomedia
23- {29 May} Robert of Normandys
Sea of 23
crusaders are transported to Anatolia.
[Fulcher 1.8.8] Civitot

Marmara
RN
24- {3 June} Robert of Normandy and
Stephen of Blois arrive at Nicaea.
24
Crusaders Camped at Nicaea

Go Hu RF Bo Ta Ra
Ascanian Nicaea
Crusaders Camped in Anatolia {6 May - 19 June}
See the Nicaean
RN Cyzicus
Campaign Atlas
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