That day a large
detachment
of archers arrived on foot from the Biqa?
Arab-Historians-of-the-Crusades
Special detachments of sappers from Khurasa?
n and Aleppo began work at several suitable places, digging into the bowels of the earth until their tunnels, propped up with beams and special equipment, reached under the towers of the city wall.
The next step was to light the fires, and they applied to Zangi for permission.
This was given after he had been into the tunnels to inspect them and had admired their imposing work.
The wooden supports were fired, flames spread and devoured the beams, the walls above the tunnels crumbled, and the Muslims took the city by storm.
Many men of both sides were killed when the walls collapsed, and many more Franks and Armenians were killed, wounded or put to flight.
The city was taken at dawn on Saturday 26 jumada II/23 December 1144.
Then the looting and the killing began, the capturing and pillaging.
The hands of the victors were filled with money and treasure, horses and booty enough to gladden the heart and make the soul rejoice.
Then Zangi ordered that the carnage should
Part One: From Godfrey to Saladin 31
come to an end, and began to rebuild the walls where they had been damaged. He appointed suitable men to govern and defend the city and to look after its interests. He reassured the inhabitants with promises of good government and universal justice. Then he left Edessa for Saru? j, to which the Franks had fled, and took it. Indeed every region and town through which he passed was immediately handed over to him.
(IBN AL-ATHI? R, XI, 64-6)
On 61 jumada II of that year the Ata-beg 'Ima? d ad-Din Zangi ibn Aq Sunqu? r seized from the Franks the city of Edessa and other forts in the Jazira. 1 The Franks had penetrated far into this area, as far as Amid and Nusaibi? n, Ras al-'Ain and ar-Raqqa. Their influence extended from near Mardi? n to the Euphrates, and covered Edessa, Saru? j, al-Bira, Sinn ibn 'Utai? r, Jamli? n, al-Mu'azzar, Quradi and other cities as well. All these and other regions west of the Euphrates belonged to Joscelin, the most famous of the Franks and the leader of their army by virtue of his valour and command of strategy. Zangi knew that if he made a direct attack on Edessa the Franks would concentrate there to defend it, and it was too well fortified to be an easy conquest. He moved to Diya? r Bakr, to give the Franks the impression that his interests lay elsewhere and that he was in no position to attack their kingdom. When the Franks felt sure that he could not extract himself from the war he was fighting with the Artuqids and other princes at Diya? r Bakr, and so felt safe from him, Joscelin left Edessa and crossed the Euphrates to move westwards. As soon as Zangi's spies informed him of this, he issued orders to his army to set out the next day for Edessa. His ami? rs were summoned to his presence, and he ordered food to be served. 'No one', he said, 'shall eat with me at this table unless he is prepared to hurl his lance with me tomorrow at the gates of Edessa. ' The only ones who dared to come forward were a solitary ami? r and a youth of humble birth whose bravery and prowess were known to all, for he had no equal in battle. The ami? r said to him; 'What are you doing here? ' but the Ata-beg intervened: 'Leave him, for his, I can see, is not a face that will be lagging behind me in battle. '
The army set out and reached the walls of Edessa. Zangi was the first to charge the Franks, but the young man was at his side. A Frankish knight lunged at Zangi from the side, but the ami? r faced him and transfixed him with his lance,2 and Zangi was saved.
They besieged the city and attacked it for three weeks. Zangi made several assaults on it, and used sappers to mine the walls. He was straining every nerve in the struggle, for fear that the Franks should marshal their forces and march on him to relieve the" fortress. Then the sappers undermined the wall and it collapsed, and Zangi took the city and besieged the citadel. The citizens and their goods were seized, the young taken captive, the men killed. But when Zangi inspected the city he liked it and realized that it would not be sound policy to reduce such a place to ruins. He therefore gave the order that his men should return every man, woman and child to his home together with the goods and chattels looted from them. This was done in all but a very few cases, in which the captor had already left the camp. The city was restored to its former state, and Zangi installed a garrison to defend it. Then he
A '2' must have fallen out here; the real date is that given by Ibn al-Qala? nisi. Northern Mesopotamia.
Could also mean 'fell, struck by him'.
1 1 2
32 Arab Historians of the Crusades
received the surrender of Saru? j and other cities west of the Euphrates. The only exception was al-Bira, a strongly defended fort on the bank of the Euphrates. 1 So he marched on it and besieged it, but it was well stocked and well guarded, and so after some time, as by God's will we shall describe, he lifted the siege.
It is said that a great authority on genealogies and biographies tells the following story: the King of Sicily sent a naval expedition that ravaged Tripoli in North Africa. Now there was in Sicily a learned, God-fearing Muslim whom the King held in great respect, relying on his advice rather than that of his own priests and monks; so much so that the people used to say that the King was really a Muslim. One day, as the King was standing at a window overlooking the sea, he saw a small boat come into the harbour. The crew told him that his army had invaded Muslim territory, laid it waste and returned victorious. The Muslim sage was dozing at the King's side. The King said to him: 'Did you hear what they said? ' 'No. ' 'They told me that we have defeated the Muslims in Tripoli. What use is Muhammad now to his land and his people? ' 'He was not there,' replied the old man, 'he was at Edessa, which the Muslims have just taken. ' The Franks who were present laughed, but the King said: 'Do not laugh, for by God this man is incapable of speaking anything but the truth. ' And a few days later news came from the Franks in Syria that Edessa had been taken. 1 Certain honest and godly men have told me that a holy man saw the dead Zangi in a dream and asked him: 'How has God treated you? ' and Zangi replied, 'God has pardoned me, because I conquered Edessa. '
ZANGI's DEATH, AND A EULOGY OF HIM (IBN AL-ATHI? R, XI, 72-4)
In this year (541), on 5 rabi? ' II/14 September 1146, the Ata-beg 'Ima? d ad-Din Zangi ibn Aq Sunqu? r, martyr for the Faith, ruler of Mosul and Syria,2 was killed while he was besieging Ja'bar as we have narrated. He was killed at night, murdered by a group of his courtiers. They fled to the fortress, whose inhabitants joyfully shouted the news to the (besieging) camp. When Zangi's servants came to his bedside they found that there was still a spark of life in him. My father, one of Zangi's close friends, recalled: 'I went straight to him; he was still alive, and when he saw me, clearly wanting to make an end of it he made a sign to me with his fingers imploring me to take pity on him. At the very suggestion I fell to the ground and said: "My Lord, who has done this? " but he was beyond speech, and yielded up his soul, may the Lord have mercy on him. '
Zangi was a handsome man, with a swarthy complexion, fine eyes, and hair that was beginning to go grey. He was more than 60 years old, for he had been a baby when his father
Now Birecik in Turkey.
Faulty synchronization, possibly with the Sicilian expedition of 1142, or perhaps with the more successful one of 1146. This anecdote is another confirmation of Roger II's tolerant interest in the Muslim world. The nodding sage at his side might even be Idrisi.
Although Zangi died while attacking another Muslim (the 'Uqailid ruler of Ja'bar), the faithful Ibn al-Athi? r endows him here and elsewhere with the title 'Martyr for the Faith' (shahi? d), for his unceasing battle with the Franks.
1 1
2
Part One: From Godfrey to Saladin 33
was killed,1 as has been narrated. After his death he was buried at Raqqa. His subjects and his army went in awe of him; under his government the strong dared not harm the weak. Before he came to power the absence of strong rulers to impose justice, and the presence of the Franks close at hand, had made the country a wilderness, but he made it flower again. The population increased, and so did its prosperity. My father told me that he had seen Mosul in such a state of desolation that from the cymbal-makers' quarter one could see as far as the old Great Mosque, the maida? n and the Sultan's palace, for not a building in between remained standing. It was not safe to go as far as the old Great Mosque without an escort, so far was it from human habitation, whereas now it is the centre of a mass of buildings, and every one of the areas mentioned just now is built up. My father also told me about the occasion when Zangi arrived in the Jazira one winter. One of his chief ami? rs, 'Izz ad-Din ad-Dubaisi, who held the city of Daquqa? as a fief from him, billeted himself on a Jew. The Jew appealed to the Ata-beg, who sympathized with him. He had only to give ad-Dubaisi a look to make him pack his bags and move.
Then the Sultan himself entered the city and had his baggage and tents unpacked. My father said: 'I remember seeing his men putting up his tents in the mud, spreading straw on the ground to keep them out of the mire. Then he appeared and took up residence there. Such was the strictness of his principles. '2 Mosul had been one of the most impoverished regions before Zangi's time, but during and after his reign it blossomed with crops, sweet- smelling flowers and other plants as fruitfully as anywhere else in the world.
Zangi also used to take care to protect the honour of his subjects' women, especially his soldiers' wives. He used to say that if the soldiers' wives were not kept under strict control during their husbands' long absences on campaigns they would certainly go astray. He was the bravest man in the world. Of the time before he came to power it is enough to say that he went with the ami? r Maudu? d of Mosul to Tiberias, in Frankish territory, and flung a lance at the city gates that left a scar in the wood. In the same way he attacked the Humaidi fortress of 'Aqar, which was at the top of a lofty mountain, and flung a lance that reached as far as the walls. There are other similar stories. During his reign in Mosul he was entirely surrounded by hostile states, all doing their best to seize his kingdom. But he, far from merely defending himself from his enemies, never let a year pass without taking over a piece of enemy territory. His neighbour on the Takri? t side was the Caliph al-Mustarshid bi-lla? h, who besieged Mosul. On the Shahrazu? r side was the Sultan Mas'u? d, then Ibn Suqma? n of Khila? t, then Dawu? d ibn Suqma? n of Hisn Kaifa, then the Prince of Amid and Mardi? n, then the Franks, from Damascus to Mardi? n, and finally the Princes of Damascus itself. All these states were trying to encroach on his lands, but he attacked now this one, now that, making a conquest here, a treaty there, until at his death he had taken over several tracts of land at the expense of all his neighbours. You will find the details in the book in which we describe his reign and those of his sons. 1
The ami? r Aq Sunqu? r, who in 1094 rebelled against Tutu? sh, Sultan of Aleppo, and was executed. The chroniclers are unanimous in their praise of Zangi for his unfailing defence of the civilian populations from intimidation and extortion by his troops. According to Kama? l ad-Din, the historian from Aleppo, when Zangi's troops left that city 'they seemed to be walking between two ropes,' so careful were they not to trample the crops. They knew from experience that the Ata-beg was not a man to be trifled with.
1 2
The History of the Ata-begs of Mosul, in which Ibn al-Athi? r displays to the full his patriotism and
1
loyalty to the Zangid dynasty.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The most significant episode of the inconclusive Second Crusade, which was begun under the shadow of the loss of Edessa, was the short and ineffective siege of Damascus (1148). Ibn al-Qala? nisi was an eye-witness, and his account completes and complements that of Ibn al-Athi? r. Sibt Ibn al-Jauzi adds some picturesque details. The heroic death for his Faith and his country of the old faqi? h al-Findalawi could be taken as a symbol of the most noble and austere aspects of the Muslim resistance.
THE SECOND CRUSADE. THE SIEGE OF DAMASCUS (IBN AL-QALA? NISI, 297-300)
At the beginning of 543/1148 news was brought from several sources of the arrival of a Frankish fleet on the Syrian coast. Troops disembarked at the ports of Tyre and Acre to link up with the Franks already there. These were estimated at 100,000 men, allowing for the depredations of war, plague and famine. After the new arrivals had completed the obligatory pilgrimage to Jerusalem and returned, some by land and some by sea, they assembled in the camps of the King of Germany,1 the leading Frankish noble there, and of other, lesser princes. They had not decided which of the Muslim cities of Syria to attack. In the end they decided to besiege Damascus, for in their evil hearts they deluded themselves that they could take it, since the town and country districts merge into one another. The ami? r of Damascus, Mu'i? n ad-Din Unur, received several warnings of the invasion and made preparations to defend his realm and repulse the enemy. He fortified the more exposed positions, manned the communication trenches and the loopholes, cut off supplies to enemy bases and blocked up water-holes and springs. Meanwhile about 50,000 infantry and cavalry, with trains of camel and oxen, were marching on Damascus. As they approached the city they made for the district known as Manazil al-'Askar (Military Encampment) but found that the water supply had been cut off. So they moved on to al-Mizza and encamped there, in order to be near water. They besieged the city with cavalry and infantry. On Saturday 6 rabi? ' I 543/ 24 July 1148 the Muslims challenged them to fight, and the battle began. The army from Damascus had large numbers of auxiliaries; experienced Turkish storm-troopers, the citizen militia and volunteers fighting for the Faith. After a fierce struggle the Franks, superior in numbers and equipment, overwhelmed the Muslims, seized the water supplies and encamped in the gardens surrounding the city. They closed in on the city walls, coming up closer than any army in ancient or modern times had ever been. On this day the Malikite lawyer and scholar, the ima? m Yusuf al-Findalawi--God have mercy on him! --fell in battle,
The Emperor Conrad III. The part played by Louis VII of France is almost entirely ignored by
1
Muslim writers.
Part One: From Godfrey to Saladin 35
a martyr for the Faith, by the river at ar-Rabwa. He was facing the enemy and refusing to withdraw, in obedience to the precepts of God Almighty in His noble Book. 1 The devout 'Abd ar-Rahma? n al-Halhuli met the same fate.
The Franks set to work to cut down the trees and build fortifications with them, and to destroy the bridges. This occupied them for the whole of the night. The population of Damascus, after the experiences of the last hours, were disheartened and uncertain what to do. But at dawn on the Sunday the Muslim army made a sortie, attacked the Franks, and defeated them, killing and wounding large numbers. The ami? r Mu'i? n ad-Din performed prodigious feats in this battle, showing unparalleled valour, tenacity and indefatigable prowess in his onslaught on the enemy. The battle raged long and furiously. The infidel cavalry waited to make the charges, for which it is famous, until a favourable opportunity presented itself. Fighting was still going on at sunset. Night fell, the battle had to cease for a while, and the troops retired to their billets. The regular soldiers spent the night facing the enemy, while the population mounted guard on the walls as a security measure against an enemy so close at hand.
Meanwhile letters had been sent to the provincial governor to ask his help. Turcoman cavalry and infantry from the province poured into the area. In the morning, reinforced and heartened, the Muslims returned to the battle. They stood firm and sent clouds of arrows from long-bows and cross-bows to rain down on the enemy's cavalry and infantry, horses and camels.
That day a large detachment of archers arrived on foot from the Biqa? ', increasing the number of defenders and doubling their supply of arms. That day both sides stood firm, but on the Tuesday our army attacked like eagles on mountain partridges, or sparrow-hawks on the quails' nest. They surrounded the Frankish camp, which had been barricaded with tree-trunks from the orchards, and broke down the defences with arrows and stones. The Franks, frightened and disheartened, dared not come out. When not one showed himself the Muslims began to think that some plot or ambush was afoot. The only troops to appear were cavalry and infantry patrols on raiding missions. They dared not take the initiative until they could see an opportunity to charge the Muslims, or an avenue of escape. Anyone bold enough to come within range of the Muslims was struck down by an arrow, stone or lance. Men of the Damascus militia and from the surrounding regions lay in wait for the Franks along paths they thought safe and killed anyone who used them. The heads were taken to Damascus to be exchanged for a reward; in this way a large number of heads was collected.
News reached the Franks from many sources that the Muslims were bearing down on them to attack them and wipe them out, and they felt that their defeat was certain. They consulted among themselves, and decided that the only escape from the trap or abyss that loomed ahead of them was to take flight. At dawn on the following Wednesday they retreated in miserable confusion and disorder.
When the Muslims saw that they had gone, and observed the traces that they left in their flight, they set off the same morning to pursue them. They showered them with arrows and killed many of their rearguard in this way, and horses and pack animals as well. Innumerable corpses of men and their splendid mounts were found in their bivouacs and along the route
1I. e. the Qur'anic teaching about the Holy War; no particular passage is referred to here.
36 Arab Historians of the Crusades
of their flight,1 the bodies stinking so powerfully that the birds almost fell out of the sky. That very night they set fire to ar-Rabwa and al-Qubba al-Mamduda.
This gracious sign of God's favour brought rejoicing to Muslim hearts, and they gave thanks to the Most High for hearing the prayers raised unceasingly to Him in the days of their distress. For which let God be praised and blessed!
(IBN AL-ATHI? R, XI, 85-6)
In this year (543/1148) the King of Germany left his homeland with a large army of Franks to attack the Muslim empire. He had no doubt that with his vast supplies of men, money and equipment he would be victorious after only a brief struggle. On his arrival in Syria the Franks there presented themselves to offer their obedience and put themselves at his command. He ordered them to follow him to Damascus, to besiege and take it, as he thought. They marched off with him and surrounded the city.
The ruler of Damascus was Muji? r ad-Din Abaq ibn Muhammad ibn Buri ibn Tughtiki? n, but he wielded no effective power, the real commander being Mu'i? n ad-Din Unur, one of his grandfather Tughtiki? n's mamlu? ks. It was he who had put Muji? r ad-Din on the throne. He was a wise and just man, upright and God-fearing. He assumed responsibility for mustering an army and defending the city. For a while the Franks kept up the siege, and then on 6 rabi? ' 1/24 July they moved in to attack, cavalry and infantry together. The army came out of Damascus to meet them and fought relentlessly. Among the soldiers was the lawyer Hujjat ad-Din Yusuf ibn Diba? s al-Findalawi of the Maghrib, a very old man and a lawyer of absolute probity. When Mu'i? n ad-Din saw him marching on foot he went to meet him, greeted him and said: 'Sir, your age gives you dispensation; I will concern myself with the defence of Isla? m! ' and he begged him to retire. But the old man refused, saying: 'I have offered myself for sale, and He has bought me. By God, I neither agreed nor asked that the contract should be annulled! ' He was referring to the words of Almighty God: 'God has bought the faithful, both themselves and their possessions, and given them Paradise in exchange. '1 He went on to fight the Franks until he was killed, near an-Nairab, half a farsakh from Damascus.
The Franks gained ground and the Muslims weakened. The German king advanced as far as al-Maida? n al-Akhdar (the Green Square), and everyone was convinced that he would take the city. Meanwhile Mu'i? n ad-Din had sent a message to Saif ad-Din Ghazi, son of the Ata-beg Zangi and ruler of Mosul, calling on him to come to the aid of the Muslims and to drive off the enemy. Saif ad-Din marshalled his army and marched into Syria, bringing with him his brother Nur ad-Din Mahmu? d1 from Aleppo. When they reached Hims, Saif ad-Din sent to Mu'i? n ad-Din to say: 'I have come with every man in my realm capable of bearing arms. I ask that a condition of my attacking the Franks shall be the presence
Among whom, perhaps, 'freed from the deceptive world', lay Cacciaguida, the great-great- grandfather of Dante, the only relative of his to figure significantly in the Divine Comedy (Paradiso XV).
Qur'a? n IX, 112.
The 'Norandin' of the Crusaders; Isla? m's champion before Saladin.
1
1 1
Part One: From Godfrey to Saladin 37
of my representatives in Damascus. If I am defeated, I shall take my army inside the city and defend it from within. If we are victorious, the city is yours, and I shall not question your right to it. ' To the Franks he sent a threatening message urging them to retreat from Damascus. The Franks broke off the fight, for they had many casualties, and were alarmed at the prospect of having to face Saif ad-Din as well as the army from Damascus. They decided to conserve their forces, while the citizens repaired the defences and drew breath after the labour of unceasing combat. Meanwhile Mu'i? n ad-Din sent to the Franks to say: 'The King of the East has arrived; if you do not retreat I shall hand the city over to him, and then by God you will repent. ' To the Syrian Franks he wrote: 'What reason have you for supporting these people against us when you know that if they take the city they will seize your possessions on the coast? I warn you that if I feel that I am losing the battle I shall hand the city over to Saif ad-Din, and you may be sure that if he becomes ruler of Damascus you will not be allowed to keep a foothold in Syria. ' This message persuaded them to break their alliance with the King of Germany in exchange for the fortress of Baniya? s from Mu'i? n ad-Din. So the Syrian Franks had a private discussion with the King of Germany and frightened him with their tales of Saif ad-Din, his vast army, his constant reinforcements, and the probability that he would take Damascus despite anything that they could do to prevent him. They were so persuasive that the king withdrew his troops from Damascus. The Syrian Franks took over Baniya? s and the German Franks returned to their homeland, which is north of Constantinople and to one side. Thus God delivered the believers from their distress. Abu l-Qasim ibn 'Asakir, in his history of Damascus, says that a certain learned lawyer said that he saw al-Findalawi in a dream and asked him: 'How has God treated you and where are you? ' and received the reply, 'God has pardoned me. I am in the garden of Eden (among the blessed) stretched on couches set to face one another. '1
(SIBT IBN AL-JAUZI, 300)
. . . It was harvest time. The Franks went down into the valley and ate much of the crop, and this gave them dysentery. Many died of it, and all the others were ill. The people of Damascus were in great need, but gave alms of what they had, each in proportion to his possessions. The whole population, men, women and children, assembled in the Great Mosque. Uthma? n's Qur'a? n2 was displayed, and the people sprinkled their heads with ashes and wept tears of supplication. And God heard their prayers.
The Franks had with them a great Priest with a long beard, whose teachings they obeyed. On the tenth day of their siege of Damascus he mounted his ass, hung a cross round his neck, took two more in his hand and hung another round the ass's neck. He had the Testaments and the crosses and the Holy Scriptures set before him and assembled the army in his presence; the only ones to remain behind were those guarding the tents. Then he said: 'The Messiah has promised me that today I shall wipe out this city. 'At this moment the Muslims opened the city gates and in the name of Isla? m charged as one man into the face of death.
Qur'a? n XXXVII, 42-43.
A precious copy of the Holy Book dating from the time of the first collation of the text under the Caliph 'Uthma? n (644-56); it might even be the very copy he was reading when he was murdered.
1 2
38 Arab Historians of the Crusades
Never, in pagan times or since the coming of Isla? m, was there a day like this. One of the men of the Damascus militia reached the Priest, who was fighting in the front line, struck his head from his body and killed his ass too. As the whole Muslim army bore down upon them the Franks turned and fled. The Muslims killed 10,000, smote their crosses and their cavalry with Greek fire, and pursued the army as far as the tents. Night separated them, and in the morning the Franks were gone and no trace of them remained.
CHAPTER EIGHT
In 1154, six years after Damascus had successfully resisted the Crusaders, Nur ad-Din, Zangi's son, realized his father's old dream and became ruler of the Syrian metropolis without bloodshed. From here and from his ancestral home, Aleppo, he put new enthusiasm and efficiency into the fight against the Crusaders. Fighting continued, with mixed fortunes, for twenty years, until Nur ad-Din's death in 1174. For some time before this date his reputation had paled before the new star shining in Egypt: Saladin. This obscure official at Nur ad-Din's court was destined to crown with success a century of Muslim struggles against the Christian invaders. Ibn al-Athi? r gives an idealized picture of Nur ad-Din, as he did of his father. We can credit him with at least one quality not shared by Zangi: a certain spiritual awareness and humanity.
NUR AD-DIN'S VICTORIES AND HIS TRIUMPH AT DAMASCUS (IBN AL-QALA? NISI, 340-2)
Nur ad-Din reached the well-guarded city1 on Friday 27 rabi? ' I (552/9 May 1157) to see that supplies of military equipment were being prepared for the troops. He intended to stay there for a few days and then to move directly to where his army of Turcoman and Arab troops were mustered for the Holy War against the infidel enemy. God, if He so willed, would assist in their discomfiture and hasten their downfall.
As soon as he arrived he set to work on the task that had brought him to Damascus: ordering the building of siege-engines and the manufacture of arms that his victorious army would need, and summoning the warriors and champions of Damascus, its volunteer militia of young citizens and men from the north, to equip themselves and prepare for battle against the polytheist and heretic Franks. Then he left Damascus to join his victorious army, and pressed on without rest or delay. He left on the last Saturday of rabi? ' I and was followed by a huge throng made up of militia, volunteers, ima? ms, sufis1 and holy men. Almighty God was pleased to crown his plans and decisions with glittering success, casting down the rebellious infidels and hastening their death and utter destruction and the coming of the time when no trace of them should remain. Such a thing is not difficult for God the Omnipotent, the Almighty.
On the following Saturday, 7 rabi? ' II/18 May, a short while after the just King Nur ad-Din had surrounded Baniya? s with his victorious army, set up his siege-engines and begun the attack, a messenger-pigeon arrived in Damascus from the victorious army
1 Damascus.
1 The mystics of Isla? m, members of religious fraternities.
40 Arab Historians of the Crusades
encamped around Baniya? s, with the good news2 from. Asad ad-Din,3 who was stationed at Huni? n with Arab and Turcoman troops. The Franks--God damn them! --had sent a column of more than a hundred of their commanders and other knights to make a lightning raid on Asad ad-Din's forces, thinking that there were only a few of them, and not the thousands that were really there. When they approached, our men came out upon them from the rear like lions on their prey, and there followed an orgy of slaughter, capture and looting. Few of the Franks escaped. On the following Monday the prisoners and the heads of those killed arrived in Damascus together with their equipment and a selection of horses, shields and lances. These were paraded around the city, and the spectacle caused great joy, and gratitude to God for this second manifestation of His grace. Men have faith in His power to hasten the destruction and downfall of their enemies, for such a thing is easy for Him.
This double blessing was followed by the arrival on Tuesday of a carrier-pigeon from the well-guarded camp at Baniya? s with the news that on that day, at the fourth hour, the fort had been taken by storm. Tunnels had been dug under the walls, and when they were fired the towers had crumbled and our army had rushed in, slaughtering the defenders and pillaging the fort. The survivors fled to the citadel and barricaded themselves in there, but their capture, God willing, was not far off, with God's help and blessing.
However, it was the will of fate that the Franks should decide to band together to release Honfroi1 of Baniya? s and his companions besieged in the citadel. These men had reached the end of their resistance, and urgently entreated our Lord Nur ad-Din to have pity on them. They offered to hand over the citadel and all its contents in exchange for their lives. He refused. When, soon after this, the King of the Franks2 and all his army appeared from the mountains and took the besieging army by surprise, as well as the troops stationed on the road to intercept supplies, the only prudent thing to do was to retire and allow him to reach the defenders and bring them help. But when Baldwin saw that the walls of the lower city were in ruins and its houses destroyed he saw no hope of making the place habitable. This was the end of rabi? ' II/first ten days of June 1157.
On Wednesday 9 jumada 1/19 June more carrier-pigeons arrived with letters from Nur ad-Din's well-guarded camp. The just King had learnt that the Franks were encamped at Mallaha, between Tiberias and Baniya? s, and had pursued them with his victorious army of Turks and Arabs. As the Muslim army came upon them from behind, the Franks saw the shadow that their banners cast on them as they closed in. They seized their arms and leapt on to their horses, dividing into four detachments to attack the enemy. Then Nur ad-Din and his knights dismounted and crushed them beneath the blows of their arrows and swords. In less time than it takes to tell the enemy was completely overwhelmed and the fighting was over. Almighty and all-conquering God had sent His virtuous supporters victory and condemned the infidel rebels to hell. The Frankish cavalry was killed or captured and a great number of their infantry put to the sword; one authority says that not more than ten survived, delivered from death for the time being, but overwhelmed with terror. Some say that their King was among the survivors; some that he was killed; certainly nothing more
Nur ad-Din was the first Muslim ruler to organize a regular information service by pigeon post. Asad ad-Din Shirku? h, Nur ad-Din's faithful Kurdish general, Saladin's uncle.
Humphrey of Toron.
Baldwin III.
2 3 1 2
Part One: From Godfrey to Saladin 41
was heard of him, although the Franks searched for him far and wide. God will help us to subdue them! The Muslim army lost only two men: one of the champions mentioned earlier, who killed four infidel champions before his time came and he reached the end of his allotted span and was killed; and one other, an unknown foreigner. Both died as martyrs for the Faith, deserving a heavenly reward. May God have mercy on them. The soldiers filled their hands with booty: horses, harnesses, flocks, and provisions of all sorts. Their church with its famous treasure was Nur ad-Din's share. This was a great victory and a glorious triumph sent by Almighty God the bringer of victory to honour Isla? m and its believers and to debase polytheism and its faction.
The prisoners and the heads of the slain reached Damascus on the Sunday after the victory. On each camel the Muslims set two captive knights, and spread one of their standards filled with a certain number of scalps of hair. Their generals, commanders and governors were each mounted on a horse, fully armed and in their helmets and each carrying a standard. The infantry, Turcopules1 and sergeants walked bound together by a single rope in small groups. A huge crowd of citizens, old men, young men, women and children came out to see the glorious victory granted by God to all Muslims, and they praised and blessed Him for permitting His friends to triumph and enabling them to defeat the adversary. They praised the just King Nur ad-Din sincerely and unceasingly for being their defender and champion, honouring him for the kingly gifts with which he was endowed. Poems were also composed on the subject, one of which said:
Thus the day came for the Franks when the shame of capture, defeat and disaster engulfed them.
They were led in procession on their camels, with their standards, downcast in anguish and pain,
After they had been proud, honoured and famous, in battle and in conflict.
Thus, thus enemies perish when devastation is let loose upon them.
Taken shamefully like sheep in the pasture, shrouded night and morning in disaster. They, fools, broke the peaceful truce after it had been legally sealed.
They reaped the reward of their perfidy, and brought down the ruin and hatred that
engulfed them.
May God not defend their assembled hosts, assailed by the sharpest swords ever to
strike a blow!
The result of ungratefulness is death or imprisonment; the result of gratitude is the
highest reward.
Part One: From Godfrey to Saladin 31
come to an end, and began to rebuild the walls where they had been damaged. He appointed suitable men to govern and defend the city and to look after its interests. He reassured the inhabitants with promises of good government and universal justice. Then he left Edessa for Saru? j, to which the Franks had fled, and took it. Indeed every region and town through which he passed was immediately handed over to him.
(IBN AL-ATHI? R, XI, 64-6)
On 61 jumada II of that year the Ata-beg 'Ima? d ad-Din Zangi ibn Aq Sunqu? r seized from the Franks the city of Edessa and other forts in the Jazira. 1 The Franks had penetrated far into this area, as far as Amid and Nusaibi? n, Ras al-'Ain and ar-Raqqa. Their influence extended from near Mardi? n to the Euphrates, and covered Edessa, Saru? j, al-Bira, Sinn ibn 'Utai? r, Jamli? n, al-Mu'azzar, Quradi and other cities as well. All these and other regions west of the Euphrates belonged to Joscelin, the most famous of the Franks and the leader of their army by virtue of his valour and command of strategy. Zangi knew that if he made a direct attack on Edessa the Franks would concentrate there to defend it, and it was too well fortified to be an easy conquest. He moved to Diya? r Bakr, to give the Franks the impression that his interests lay elsewhere and that he was in no position to attack their kingdom. When the Franks felt sure that he could not extract himself from the war he was fighting with the Artuqids and other princes at Diya? r Bakr, and so felt safe from him, Joscelin left Edessa and crossed the Euphrates to move westwards. As soon as Zangi's spies informed him of this, he issued orders to his army to set out the next day for Edessa. His ami? rs were summoned to his presence, and he ordered food to be served. 'No one', he said, 'shall eat with me at this table unless he is prepared to hurl his lance with me tomorrow at the gates of Edessa. ' The only ones who dared to come forward were a solitary ami? r and a youth of humble birth whose bravery and prowess were known to all, for he had no equal in battle. The ami? r said to him; 'What are you doing here? ' but the Ata-beg intervened: 'Leave him, for his, I can see, is not a face that will be lagging behind me in battle. '
The army set out and reached the walls of Edessa. Zangi was the first to charge the Franks, but the young man was at his side. A Frankish knight lunged at Zangi from the side, but the ami? r faced him and transfixed him with his lance,2 and Zangi was saved.
They besieged the city and attacked it for three weeks. Zangi made several assaults on it, and used sappers to mine the walls. He was straining every nerve in the struggle, for fear that the Franks should marshal their forces and march on him to relieve the" fortress. Then the sappers undermined the wall and it collapsed, and Zangi took the city and besieged the citadel. The citizens and their goods were seized, the young taken captive, the men killed. But when Zangi inspected the city he liked it and realized that it would not be sound policy to reduce such a place to ruins. He therefore gave the order that his men should return every man, woman and child to his home together with the goods and chattels looted from them. This was done in all but a very few cases, in which the captor had already left the camp. The city was restored to its former state, and Zangi installed a garrison to defend it. Then he
A '2' must have fallen out here; the real date is that given by Ibn al-Qala? nisi. Northern Mesopotamia.
Could also mean 'fell, struck by him'.
1 1 2
32 Arab Historians of the Crusades
received the surrender of Saru? j and other cities west of the Euphrates. The only exception was al-Bira, a strongly defended fort on the bank of the Euphrates. 1 So he marched on it and besieged it, but it was well stocked and well guarded, and so after some time, as by God's will we shall describe, he lifted the siege.
It is said that a great authority on genealogies and biographies tells the following story: the King of Sicily sent a naval expedition that ravaged Tripoli in North Africa. Now there was in Sicily a learned, God-fearing Muslim whom the King held in great respect, relying on his advice rather than that of his own priests and monks; so much so that the people used to say that the King was really a Muslim. One day, as the King was standing at a window overlooking the sea, he saw a small boat come into the harbour. The crew told him that his army had invaded Muslim territory, laid it waste and returned victorious. The Muslim sage was dozing at the King's side. The King said to him: 'Did you hear what they said? ' 'No. ' 'They told me that we have defeated the Muslims in Tripoli. What use is Muhammad now to his land and his people? ' 'He was not there,' replied the old man, 'he was at Edessa, which the Muslims have just taken. ' The Franks who were present laughed, but the King said: 'Do not laugh, for by God this man is incapable of speaking anything but the truth. ' And a few days later news came from the Franks in Syria that Edessa had been taken. 1 Certain honest and godly men have told me that a holy man saw the dead Zangi in a dream and asked him: 'How has God treated you? ' and Zangi replied, 'God has pardoned me, because I conquered Edessa. '
ZANGI's DEATH, AND A EULOGY OF HIM (IBN AL-ATHI? R, XI, 72-4)
In this year (541), on 5 rabi? ' II/14 September 1146, the Ata-beg 'Ima? d ad-Din Zangi ibn Aq Sunqu? r, martyr for the Faith, ruler of Mosul and Syria,2 was killed while he was besieging Ja'bar as we have narrated. He was killed at night, murdered by a group of his courtiers. They fled to the fortress, whose inhabitants joyfully shouted the news to the (besieging) camp. When Zangi's servants came to his bedside they found that there was still a spark of life in him. My father, one of Zangi's close friends, recalled: 'I went straight to him; he was still alive, and when he saw me, clearly wanting to make an end of it he made a sign to me with his fingers imploring me to take pity on him. At the very suggestion I fell to the ground and said: "My Lord, who has done this? " but he was beyond speech, and yielded up his soul, may the Lord have mercy on him. '
Zangi was a handsome man, with a swarthy complexion, fine eyes, and hair that was beginning to go grey. He was more than 60 years old, for he had been a baby when his father
Now Birecik in Turkey.
Faulty synchronization, possibly with the Sicilian expedition of 1142, or perhaps with the more successful one of 1146. This anecdote is another confirmation of Roger II's tolerant interest in the Muslim world. The nodding sage at his side might even be Idrisi.
Although Zangi died while attacking another Muslim (the 'Uqailid ruler of Ja'bar), the faithful Ibn al-Athi? r endows him here and elsewhere with the title 'Martyr for the Faith' (shahi? d), for his unceasing battle with the Franks.
1 1
2
Part One: From Godfrey to Saladin 33
was killed,1 as has been narrated. After his death he was buried at Raqqa. His subjects and his army went in awe of him; under his government the strong dared not harm the weak. Before he came to power the absence of strong rulers to impose justice, and the presence of the Franks close at hand, had made the country a wilderness, but he made it flower again. The population increased, and so did its prosperity. My father told me that he had seen Mosul in such a state of desolation that from the cymbal-makers' quarter one could see as far as the old Great Mosque, the maida? n and the Sultan's palace, for not a building in between remained standing. It was not safe to go as far as the old Great Mosque without an escort, so far was it from human habitation, whereas now it is the centre of a mass of buildings, and every one of the areas mentioned just now is built up. My father also told me about the occasion when Zangi arrived in the Jazira one winter. One of his chief ami? rs, 'Izz ad-Din ad-Dubaisi, who held the city of Daquqa? as a fief from him, billeted himself on a Jew. The Jew appealed to the Ata-beg, who sympathized with him. He had only to give ad-Dubaisi a look to make him pack his bags and move.
Then the Sultan himself entered the city and had his baggage and tents unpacked. My father said: 'I remember seeing his men putting up his tents in the mud, spreading straw on the ground to keep them out of the mire. Then he appeared and took up residence there. Such was the strictness of his principles. '2 Mosul had been one of the most impoverished regions before Zangi's time, but during and after his reign it blossomed with crops, sweet- smelling flowers and other plants as fruitfully as anywhere else in the world.
Zangi also used to take care to protect the honour of his subjects' women, especially his soldiers' wives. He used to say that if the soldiers' wives were not kept under strict control during their husbands' long absences on campaigns they would certainly go astray. He was the bravest man in the world. Of the time before he came to power it is enough to say that he went with the ami? r Maudu? d of Mosul to Tiberias, in Frankish territory, and flung a lance at the city gates that left a scar in the wood. In the same way he attacked the Humaidi fortress of 'Aqar, which was at the top of a lofty mountain, and flung a lance that reached as far as the walls. There are other similar stories. During his reign in Mosul he was entirely surrounded by hostile states, all doing their best to seize his kingdom. But he, far from merely defending himself from his enemies, never let a year pass without taking over a piece of enemy territory. His neighbour on the Takri? t side was the Caliph al-Mustarshid bi-lla? h, who besieged Mosul. On the Shahrazu? r side was the Sultan Mas'u? d, then Ibn Suqma? n of Khila? t, then Dawu? d ibn Suqma? n of Hisn Kaifa, then the Prince of Amid and Mardi? n, then the Franks, from Damascus to Mardi? n, and finally the Princes of Damascus itself. All these states were trying to encroach on his lands, but he attacked now this one, now that, making a conquest here, a treaty there, until at his death he had taken over several tracts of land at the expense of all his neighbours. You will find the details in the book in which we describe his reign and those of his sons. 1
The ami? r Aq Sunqu? r, who in 1094 rebelled against Tutu? sh, Sultan of Aleppo, and was executed. The chroniclers are unanimous in their praise of Zangi for his unfailing defence of the civilian populations from intimidation and extortion by his troops. According to Kama? l ad-Din, the historian from Aleppo, when Zangi's troops left that city 'they seemed to be walking between two ropes,' so careful were they not to trample the crops. They knew from experience that the Ata-beg was not a man to be trifled with.
1 2
The History of the Ata-begs of Mosul, in which Ibn al-Athi? r displays to the full his patriotism and
1
loyalty to the Zangid dynasty.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The most significant episode of the inconclusive Second Crusade, which was begun under the shadow of the loss of Edessa, was the short and ineffective siege of Damascus (1148). Ibn al-Qala? nisi was an eye-witness, and his account completes and complements that of Ibn al-Athi? r. Sibt Ibn al-Jauzi adds some picturesque details. The heroic death for his Faith and his country of the old faqi? h al-Findalawi could be taken as a symbol of the most noble and austere aspects of the Muslim resistance.
THE SECOND CRUSADE. THE SIEGE OF DAMASCUS (IBN AL-QALA? NISI, 297-300)
At the beginning of 543/1148 news was brought from several sources of the arrival of a Frankish fleet on the Syrian coast. Troops disembarked at the ports of Tyre and Acre to link up with the Franks already there. These were estimated at 100,000 men, allowing for the depredations of war, plague and famine. After the new arrivals had completed the obligatory pilgrimage to Jerusalem and returned, some by land and some by sea, they assembled in the camps of the King of Germany,1 the leading Frankish noble there, and of other, lesser princes. They had not decided which of the Muslim cities of Syria to attack. In the end they decided to besiege Damascus, for in their evil hearts they deluded themselves that they could take it, since the town and country districts merge into one another. The ami? r of Damascus, Mu'i? n ad-Din Unur, received several warnings of the invasion and made preparations to defend his realm and repulse the enemy. He fortified the more exposed positions, manned the communication trenches and the loopholes, cut off supplies to enemy bases and blocked up water-holes and springs. Meanwhile about 50,000 infantry and cavalry, with trains of camel and oxen, were marching on Damascus. As they approached the city they made for the district known as Manazil al-'Askar (Military Encampment) but found that the water supply had been cut off. So they moved on to al-Mizza and encamped there, in order to be near water. They besieged the city with cavalry and infantry. On Saturday 6 rabi? ' I 543/ 24 July 1148 the Muslims challenged them to fight, and the battle began. The army from Damascus had large numbers of auxiliaries; experienced Turkish storm-troopers, the citizen militia and volunteers fighting for the Faith. After a fierce struggle the Franks, superior in numbers and equipment, overwhelmed the Muslims, seized the water supplies and encamped in the gardens surrounding the city. They closed in on the city walls, coming up closer than any army in ancient or modern times had ever been. On this day the Malikite lawyer and scholar, the ima? m Yusuf al-Findalawi--God have mercy on him! --fell in battle,
The Emperor Conrad III. The part played by Louis VII of France is almost entirely ignored by
1
Muslim writers.
Part One: From Godfrey to Saladin 35
a martyr for the Faith, by the river at ar-Rabwa. He was facing the enemy and refusing to withdraw, in obedience to the precepts of God Almighty in His noble Book. 1 The devout 'Abd ar-Rahma? n al-Halhuli met the same fate.
The Franks set to work to cut down the trees and build fortifications with them, and to destroy the bridges. This occupied them for the whole of the night. The population of Damascus, after the experiences of the last hours, were disheartened and uncertain what to do. But at dawn on the Sunday the Muslim army made a sortie, attacked the Franks, and defeated them, killing and wounding large numbers. The ami? r Mu'i? n ad-Din performed prodigious feats in this battle, showing unparalleled valour, tenacity and indefatigable prowess in his onslaught on the enemy. The battle raged long and furiously. The infidel cavalry waited to make the charges, for which it is famous, until a favourable opportunity presented itself. Fighting was still going on at sunset. Night fell, the battle had to cease for a while, and the troops retired to their billets. The regular soldiers spent the night facing the enemy, while the population mounted guard on the walls as a security measure against an enemy so close at hand.
Meanwhile letters had been sent to the provincial governor to ask his help. Turcoman cavalry and infantry from the province poured into the area. In the morning, reinforced and heartened, the Muslims returned to the battle. They stood firm and sent clouds of arrows from long-bows and cross-bows to rain down on the enemy's cavalry and infantry, horses and camels.
That day a large detachment of archers arrived on foot from the Biqa? ', increasing the number of defenders and doubling their supply of arms. That day both sides stood firm, but on the Tuesday our army attacked like eagles on mountain partridges, or sparrow-hawks on the quails' nest. They surrounded the Frankish camp, which had been barricaded with tree-trunks from the orchards, and broke down the defences with arrows and stones. The Franks, frightened and disheartened, dared not come out. When not one showed himself the Muslims began to think that some plot or ambush was afoot. The only troops to appear were cavalry and infantry patrols on raiding missions. They dared not take the initiative until they could see an opportunity to charge the Muslims, or an avenue of escape. Anyone bold enough to come within range of the Muslims was struck down by an arrow, stone or lance. Men of the Damascus militia and from the surrounding regions lay in wait for the Franks along paths they thought safe and killed anyone who used them. The heads were taken to Damascus to be exchanged for a reward; in this way a large number of heads was collected.
News reached the Franks from many sources that the Muslims were bearing down on them to attack them and wipe them out, and they felt that their defeat was certain. They consulted among themselves, and decided that the only escape from the trap or abyss that loomed ahead of them was to take flight. At dawn on the following Wednesday they retreated in miserable confusion and disorder.
When the Muslims saw that they had gone, and observed the traces that they left in their flight, they set off the same morning to pursue them. They showered them with arrows and killed many of their rearguard in this way, and horses and pack animals as well. Innumerable corpses of men and their splendid mounts were found in their bivouacs and along the route
1I. e. the Qur'anic teaching about the Holy War; no particular passage is referred to here.
36 Arab Historians of the Crusades
of their flight,1 the bodies stinking so powerfully that the birds almost fell out of the sky. That very night they set fire to ar-Rabwa and al-Qubba al-Mamduda.
This gracious sign of God's favour brought rejoicing to Muslim hearts, and they gave thanks to the Most High for hearing the prayers raised unceasingly to Him in the days of their distress. For which let God be praised and blessed!
(IBN AL-ATHI? R, XI, 85-6)
In this year (543/1148) the King of Germany left his homeland with a large army of Franks to attack the Muslim empire. He had no doubt that with his vast supplies of men, money and equipment he would be victorious after only a brief struggle. On his arrival in Syria the Franks there presented themselves to offer their obedience and put themselves at his command. He ordered them to follow him to Damascus, to besiege and take it, as he thought. They marched off with him and surrounded the city.
The ruler of Damascus was Muji? r ad-Din Abaq ibn Muhammad ibn Buri ibn Tughtiki? n, but he wielded no effective power, the real commander being Mu'i? n ad-Din Unur, one of his grandfather Tughtiki? n's mamlu? ks. It was he who had put Muji? r ad-Din on the throne. He was a wise and just man, upright and God-fearing. He assumed responsibility for mustering an army and defending the city. For a while the Franks kept up the siege, and then on 6 rabi? ' 1/24 July they moved in to attack, cavalry and infantry together. The army came out of Damascus to meet them and fought relentlessly. Among the soldiers was the lawyer Hujjat ad-Din Yusuf ibn Diba? s al-Findalawi of the Maghrib, a very old man and a lawyer of absolute probity. When Mu'i? n ad-Din saw him marching on foot he went to meet him, greeted him and said: 'Sir, your age gives you dispensation; I will concern myself with the defence of Isla? m! ' and he begged him to retire. But the old man refused, saying: 'I have offered myself for sale, and He has bought me. By God, I neither agreed nor asked that the contract should be annulled! ' He was referring to the words of Almighty God: 'God has bought the faithful, both themselves and their possessions, and given them Paradise in exchange. '1 He went on to fight the Franks until he was killed, near an-Nairab, half a farsakh from Damascus.
The Franks gained ground and the Muslims weakened. The German king advanced as far as al-Maida? n al-Akhdar (the Green Square), and everyone was convinced that he would take the city. Meanwhile Mu'i? n ad-Din had sent a message to Saif ad-Din Ghazi, son of the Ata-beg Zangi and ruler of Mosul, calling on him to come to the aid of the Muslims and to drive off the enemy. Saif ad-Din marshalled his army and marched into Syria, bringing with him his brother Nur ad-Din Mahmu? d1 from Aleppo. When they reached Hims, Saif ad-Din sent to Mu'i? n ad-Din to say: 'I have come with every man in my realm capable of bearing arms. I ask that a condition of my attacking the Franks shall be the presence
Among whom, perhaps, 'freed from the deceptive world', lay Cacciaguida, the great-great- grandfather of Dante, the only relative of his to figure significantly in the Divine Comedy (Paradiso XV).
Qur'a? n IX, 112.
The 'Norandin' of the Crusaders; Isla? m's champion before Saladin.
1
1 1
Part One: From Godfrey to Saladin 37
of my representatives in Damascus. If I am defeated, I shall take my army inside the city and defend it from within. If we are victorious, the city is yours, and I shall not question your right to it. ' To the Franks he sent a threatening message urging them to retreat from Damascus. The Franks broke off the fight, for they had many casualties, and were alarmed at the prospect of having to face Saif ad-Din as well as the army from Damascus. They decided to conserve their forces, while the citizens repaired the defences and drew breath after the labour of unceasing combat. Meanwhile Mu'i? n ad-Din sent to the Franks to say: 'The King of the East has arrived; if you do not retreat I shall hand the city over to him, and then by God you will repent. ' To the Syrian Franks he wrote: 'What reason have you for supporting these people against us when you know that if they take the city they will seize your possessions on the coast? I warn you that if I feel that I am losing the battle I shall hand the city over to Saif ad-Din, and you may be sure that if he becomes ruler of Damascus you will not be allowed to keep a foothold in Syria. ' This message persuaded them to break their alliance with the King of Germany in exchange for the fortress of Baniya? s from Mu'i? n ad-Din. So the Syrian Franks had a private discussion with the King of Germany and frightened him with their tales of Saif ad-Din, his vast army, his constant reinforcements, and the probability that he would take Damascus despite anything that they could do to prevent him. They were so persuasive that the king withdrew his troops from Damascus. The Syrian Franks took over Baniya? s and the German Franks returned to their homeland, which is north of Constantinople and to one side. Thus God delivered the believers from their distress. Abu l-Qasim ibn 'Asakir, in his history of Damascus, says that a certain learned lawyer said that he saw al-Findalawi in a dream and asked him: 'How has God treated you and where are you? ' and received the reply, 'God has pardoned me. I am in the garden of Eden (among the blessed) stretched on couches set to face one another. '1
(SIBT IBN AL-JAUZI, 300)
. . . It was harvest time. The Franks went down into the valley and ate much of the crop, and this gave them dysentery. Many died of it, and all the others were ill. The people of Damascus were in great need, but gave alms of what they had, each in proportion to his possessions. The whole population, men, women and children, assembled in the Great Mosque. Uthma? n's Qur'a? n2 was displayed, and the people sprinkled their heads with ashes and wept tears of supplication. And God heard their prayers.
The Franks had with them a great Priest with a long beard, whose teachings they obeyed. On the tenth day of their siege of Damascus he mounted his ass, hung a cross round his neck, took two more in his hand and hung another round the ass's neck. He had the Testaments and the crosses and the Holy Scriptures set before him and assembled the army in his presence; the only ones to remain behind were those guarding the tents. Then he said: 'The Messiah has promised me that today I shall wipe out this city. 'At this moment the Muslims opened the city gates and in the name of Isla? m charged as one man into the face of death.
Qur'a? n XXXVII, 42-43.
A precious copy of the Holy Book dating from the time of the first collation of the text under the Caliph 'Uthma? n (644-56); it might even be the very copy he was reading when he was murdered.
1 2
38 Arab Historians of the Crusades
Never, in pagan times or since the coming of Isla? m, was there a day like this. One of the men of the Damascus militia reached the Priest, who was fighting in the front line, struck his head from his body and killed his ass too. As the whole Muslim army bore down upon them the Franks turned and fled. The Muslims killed 10,000, smote their crosses and their cavalry with Greek fire, and pursued the army as far as the tents. Night separated them, and in the morning the Franks were gone and no trace of them remained.
CHAPTER EIGHT
In 1154, six years after Damascus had successfully resisted the Crusaders, Nur ad-Din, Zangi's son, realized his father's old dream and became ruler of the Syrian metropolis without bloodshed. From here and from his ancestral home, Aleppo, he put new enthusiasm and efficiency into the fight against the Crusaders. Fighting continued, with mixed fortunes, for twenty years, until Nur ad-Din's death in 1174. For some time before this date his reputation had paled before the new star shining in Egypt: Saladin. This obscure official at Nur ad-Din's court was destined to crown with success a century of Muslim struggles against the Christian invaders. Ibn al-Athi? r gives an idealized picture of Nur ad-Din, as he did of his father. We can credit him with at least one quality not shared by Zangi: a certain spiritual awareness and humanity.
NUR AD-DIN'S VICTORIES AND HIS TRIUMPH AT DAMASCUS (IBN AL-QALA? NISI, 340-2)
Nur ad-Din reached the well-guarded city1 on Friday 27 rabi? ' I (552/9 May 1157) to see that supplies of military equipment were being prepared for the troops. He intended to stay there for a few days and then to move directly to where his army of Turcoman and Arab troops were mustered for the Holy War against the infidel enemy. God, if He so willed, would assist in their discomfiture and hasten their downfall.
As soon as he arrived he set to work on the task that had brought him to Damascus: ordering the building of siege-engines and the manufacture of arms that his victorious army would need, and summoning the warriors and champions of Damascus, its volunteer militia of young citizens and men from the north, to equip themselves and prepare for battle against the polytheist and heretic Franks. Then he left Damascus to join his victorious army, and pressed on without rest or delay. He left on the last Saturday of rabi? ' I and was followed by a huge throng made up of militia, volunteers, ima? ms, sufis1 and holy men. Almighty God was pleased to crown his plans and decisions with glittering success, casting down the rebellious infidels and hastening their death and utter destruction and the coming of the time when no trace of them should remain. Such a thing is not difficult for God the Omnipotent, the Almighty.
On the following Saturday, 7 rabi? ' II/18 May, a short while after the just King Nur ad-Din had surrounded Baniya? s with his victorious army, set up his siege-engines and begun the attack, a messenger-pigeon arrived in Damascus from the victorious army
1 Damascus.
1 The mystics of Isla? m, members of religious fraternities.
40 Arab Historians of the Crusades
encamped around Baniya? s, with the good news2 from. Asad ad-Din,3 who was stationed at Huni? n with Arab and Turcoman troops. The Franks--God damn them! --had sent a column of more than a hundred of their commanders and other knights to make a lightning raid on Asad ad-Din's forces, thinking that there were only a few of them, and not the thousands that were really there. When they approached, our men came out upon them from the rear like lions on their prey, and there followed an orgy of slaughter, capture and looting. Few of the Franks escaped. On the following Monday the prisoners and the heads of those killed arrived in Damascus together with their equipment and a selection of horses, shields and lances. These were paraded around the city, and the spectacle caused great joy, and gratitude to God for this second manifestation of His grace. Men have faith in His power to hasten the destruction and downfall of their enemies, for such a thing is easy for Him.
This double blessing was followed by the arrival on Tuesday of a carrier-pigeon from the well-guarded camp at Baniya? s with the news that on that day, at the fourth hour, the fort had been taken by storm. Tunnels had been dug under the walls, and when they were fired the towers had crumbled and our army had rushed in, slaughtering the defenders and pillaging the fort. The survivors fled to the citadel and barricaded themselves in there, but their capture, God willing, was not far off, with God's help and blessing.
However, it was the will of fate that the Franks should decide to band together to release Honfroi1 of Baniya? s and his companions besieged in the citadel. These men had reached the end of their resistance, and urgently entreated our Lord Nur ad-Din to have pity on them. They offered to hand over the citadel and all its contents in exchange for their lives. He refused. When, soon after this, the King of the Franks2 and all his army appeared from the mountains and took the besieging army by surprise, as well as the troops stationed on the road to intercept supplies, the only prudent thing to do was to retire and allow him to reach the defenders and bring them help. But when Baldwin saw that the walls of the lower city were in ruins and its houses destroyed he saw no hope of making the place habitable. This was the end of rabi? ' II/first ten days of June 1157.
On Wednesday 9 jumada 1/19 June more carrier-pigeons arrived with letters from Nur ad-Din's well-guarded camp. The just King had learnt that the Franks were encamped at Mallaha, between Tiberias and Baniya? s, and had pursued them with his victorious army of Turks and Arabs. As the Muslim army came upon them from behind, the Franks saw the shadow that their banners cast on them as they closed in. They seized their arms and leapt on to their horses, dividing into four detachments to attack the enemy. Then Nur ad-Din and his knights dismounted and crushed them beneath the blows of their arrows and swords. In less time than it takes to tell the enemy was completely overwhelmed and the fighting was over. Almighty and all-conquering God had sent His virtuous supporters victory and condemned the infidel rebels to hell. The Frankish cavalry was killed or captured and a great number of their infantry put to the sword; one authority says that not more than ten survived, delivered from death for the time being, but overwhelmed with terror. Some say that their King was among the survivors; some that he was killed; certainly nothing more
Nur ad-Din was the first Muslim ruler to organize a regular information service by pigeon post. Asad ad-Din Shirku? h, Nur ad-Din's faithful Kurdish general, Saladin's uncle.
Humphrey of Toron.
Baldwin III.
2 3 1 2
Part One: From Godfrey to Saladin 41
was heard of him, although the Franks searched for him far and wide. God will help us to subdue them! The Muslim army lost only two men: one of the champions mentioned earlier, who killed four infidel champions before his time came and he reached the end of his allotted span and was killed; and one other, an unknown foreigner. Both died as martyrs for the Faith, deserving a heavenly reward. May God have mercy on them. The soldiers filled their hands with booty: horses, harnesses, flocks, and provisions of all sorts. Their church with its famous treasure was Nur ad-Din's share. This was a great victory and a glorious triumph sent by Almighty God the bringer of victory to honour Isla? m and its believers and to debase polytheism and its faction.
The prisoners and the heads of the slain reached Damascus on the Sunday after the victory. On each camel the Muslims set two captive knights, and spread one of their standards filled with a certain number of scalps of hair. Their generals, commanders and governors were each mounted on a horse, fully armed and in their helmets and each carrying a standard. The infantry, Turcopules1 and sergeants walked bound together by a single rope in small groups. A huge crowd of citizens, old men, young men, women and children came out to see the glorious victory granted by God to all Muslims, and they praised and blessed Him for permitting His friends to triumph and enabling them to defeat the adversary. They praised the just King Nur ad-Din sincerely and unceasingly for being their defender and champion, honouring him for the kingly gifts with which he was endowed. Poems were also composed on the subject, one of which said:
Thus the day came for the Franks when the shame of capture, defeat and disaster engulfed them.
They were led in procession on their camels, with their standards, downcast in anguish and pain,
After they had been proud, honoured and famous, in battle and in conflict.
Thus, thus enemies perish when devastation is let loose upon them.
Taken shamefully like sheep in the pasture, shrouded night and morning in disaster. They, fools, broke the peaceful truce after it had been legally sealed.
They reaped the reward of their perfidy, and brought down the ruin and hatred that
engulfed them.
May God not defend their assembled hosts, assailed by the sharpest swords ever to
strike a blow!
The result of ungratefulness is death or imprisonment; the result of gratitude is the
highest reward.
