Robert Rojas
Anna Comnena was a daughter of a Byzantine Emperor named Alexius Comenus, and lived at Constantinople. During this time, she watched as the crusaders arrived in her town. She summarizes the arrival in this manner. Count Godfrey made the crossing with a large number of his men, and at the urging of the emperor to cross to the far side of the Propontis, Godfrey put off this decision for many days; as he was waiting for the arrival of Bohemond. For they had a conspiracy to dethrone Alexius and take the capital, all the while, making it look as though they were on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The emperor did not want bloodshed, and had invited a few of the counts who accompanied Godfrey to dinner, to advise them to urge Godfrey to pledge an alliance to the emperor. In a short period of time, it was rumored that the emperor had taken them prisoners, and this started a war between the Latins and the Byzantines. However, as the Latins approached the gates, the emperor sat and waited, unarmed. The emperor did not want to fight for two distinct reasons: it was the day on which signified the death of Christ, and also, he wanted to avoid bloodshed between Christians. Seeing that the Latins were making ground on the gate, the emperor took action for the first time: he set his archers up to shoot at them, yet to intentionally miss, so they might not kill fellow Christians. After this battle, Huge tried to urge once again Godfrey, to take a pledge with the emperor, yet once again, Godfrey went to battle with the emperor and lost. Following this second loss, Godfrey took the pledge, and swore to return all land that had first belonged to the Roman Empire, and then was sent Pelekanum with great and plentiful supplies for him and his men. Next came Count Raoul, who would try the same tactics as Godfrey; the procrastination, the waiting for backup, ect. Opus was sent to pursue Raoul to cross over with Godfrey, yet the young man had no intentions of doing this, and so, Opus set his men in a marching formation in order that he might scare Raoul. Raoul welcomed the challenge and led his men into battle. He lost. Following this action, many more came behind him, yet the emperor set people to meet these and show acts of kindness to them. Although as many as were beaten, many more came in their place for battle for the capital.
It appears as though Anna portrays the crusaders as an unwilling people to bend the kindness of her father, the emperor, and his advice to leave his land without violence. The crusaders would make excuse after excuse as to why they had to wait on his land, all the time knowing they intended to attack the capital and take the throne from the emperor. The emperor on the other hand, seemed very kind and respectful of these foreigners in his land, and respectful to the religion and the holy days of his time. Anna, herself, must have had access to Greek literature, for she would often quote from Homer’s Illiad when referring to the Roman army, as though they too, were in some kind of heroic position to win their battles.
Anna Comnena was a daughter of a Byzantine Emperor named Alexius Comenus, and lived at Constantinople. During this time, she watched as the crusaders arrived in her town. She summarizes the arrival in this manner. Count Godfrey made the crossing with a large number of his men, and at the urging of the emperor to cross to the far side of the Propontis, Godfrey put off this decision for many days; as he was waiting for the arrival of Bohemond. For they had a conspiracy to dethrone Alexius and take the capital, all the while, making it look as though they were on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The emperor did not want bloodshed, and had invited a few of the counts who accompanied Godfrey to dinner, to advise them to urge Godfrey to pledge an alliance to the emperor. In a short period of time, it was rumored that the emperor had taken them prisoners, and this started a war between the Latins and the Byzantines. However, as the Latins approached the gates, the emperor sat and waited, unarmed. The emperor did not want to fight for two distinct reasons: it was the day on which signified the death of Christ, and also, he wanted to avoid bloodshed between Christians. Seeing that the Latins were making ground on the gate, the emperor took action for the first time: he set his archers up to shoot at them, yet to intentionally miss, so they might not kill fellow Christians. After this battle, Huge tried to urge once again Godfrey, to take a pledge with the emperor, yet once again, Godfrey went to battle with the emperor and lost. Following this second loss, Godfrey took the pledge, and swore to return all land that had first belonged to the Roman Empire, and then was sent Pelekanum with great and plentiful supplies for him and his men. Next came Count Raoul, who would try the same tactics as Godfrey; the procrastination, the waiting for backup, ect. Opus was sent to pursue Raoul to cross over with Godfrey, yet the young man had no intentions of doing this, and so, Opus set his men in a marching formation in order that he might scare Raoul. Raoul welcomed the challenge and led his men into battle. He lost. Following this action, many more came behind him, yet the emperor set people to meet these and show acts of kindness to them. Although as many as were beaten, many more came in their place for battle for the capital.
It appears as though Anna portrays the crusaders as an unwilling people to bend the kindness of her father, the emperor, and his advice to leave his land without violence. The crusaders would make excuse after excuse as to why they had to wait on his land, all the time knowing they intended to attack the capital and take the throne from the emperor. The emperor on the other hand, seemed very kind and respectful of these foreigners in his land, and respectful to the religion and the holy days of his time. Anna, herself, must have had access to Greek literature, for she would often quote from Homer’s Illiad when referring to the Roman army, as though they too, were in some kind of heroic position to win their battles.