The crusaders; or, Scenes, events, and characters, from the times of the crusades (1859) (14596974147)

Identifier: crusadersorscene00keig (find matches)
Title: The crusaders; or, Scenes, events, and characters, from the times of the crusades
Year: 1859 (1850s)
Authors: Keightley, Thomas, 1789-1872
Subjects: Crusades
Publisher: London J.W. Parker
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto



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mto unite and avert the common danger; but private enmityprevailed too strongly among them to suffer them toattend to his representations, and he was left to his ownunaided efforts for the defence of Antioch. f Baghi Sevan, thus left to himself, began to make pre-parations for a vigorous defence. He was naturally ofa rigid character, and he let no feelings of justice orhumanity impede him in his course. Hitherto the Chris-tians of Antioch had been suffered by their Turkishmasters to pursue their occupations undisturbed, beingonly excluded from public offices and from military ser-vice ; but now, dreading their correspondence with theenemy, he expelled them all from the town, retained theirwives and property as security for their peaceful conduct.He collected provisions and military stores, and repaired * These names were given to the gates by the Franks, when they were inpossession of Antioch. t Called Cassianus (Hassan?) by the historians; Cassano by the poet. Jer.Del. c. vi. st. 56.
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E 3 1097.) THE CHRISTIANS BEFOEE ANTIOCH. 83 and strengthened the fortifications. With the addition ofthose Turks of the neighbouring districts who had soughtshelter in Antioch, the garrison amounted to from six toseven thousand horsemen, and between fifteen and twentythousand foot-men.*l The Christians before Antioch. T^E/E the chiefs led their troops beneath the walls of the-^ strong city of Antioch, they held a solemn council todeliberate on the mode in which they should proceed. In this council the opinions were twofold. Some main-tained that they should not venture to sit down before sostrong a town at that season of the year, just as thewinter was about to commence. They advised that thearmy should take up its quarters for the winter in thefruitful districts about them, and in the spring, when theywould be aided by the troops of the Greek emperor, andby bodies of pilgrims from the West, commence the workwith vigour. On the other side it was argued that the army had,with the aid