Memoirs or Chronicle of the Fourth Crusade and the Conquest of Constantinople

THE CRUSADERS RAISE THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE

When Geoffry the Marshal of Champagne, who was keeping guard at one of
the gates of the cityo , saw this he issued from the camp as soon as
he could, with all the men that were with him, and gave command to
Manasses of lisle, who was on guard at another gate, that he should
follow after him. And he rode forth with all his force at full speed,
and in full array, to meet the fugitives, and the fugitives all
rallied round him. And Manasses of l'Isle followed as soon as he was
able, with his men, and joined himself to him, so that together they
formed a very strong body; and all those who came out of the rout, and
whom they could stop, were taken into their ranks.

The rout was thus stayed between Nones and Vespers. But the most part
of the fugitives were so afeared that they fled right before them till
they came to the tents and quarters. Thus was the rout stayed, as you
have heard; and the Comans, with the Wallachians and Greeks, who were
in full chace, ceased their pursuit. But these still galled our force
with their bows and arrows, and the men of our force kept still with
their faces turned towards them. Thus did both sides remain till
nightfall, when the Comans and Wallachians began to retire.

Then did Geoffry of Villehardouin, the Marshal of Champagne and
Roumania, summon to the camp the Doge of Venice, who was an old man
and saw naught, but very wise and brave and vigorous; and he asked the
Doge to come to him there where he stood with his men, holding the
field; and the Doge did so. And when the Marshal saw him, he called
him into council, aside, all alone, and said to him: "Lord, you see
the misadventure that has befallen us. We have lost the Emperor
Baldwin and Count Louis, and the larger part of our people, and of the
best. Now let us bethink ourselves how to save what is left. For if
God does not take pity of them, we are but lost."

And in the end they settled it thus: that the Doge would return to the
camp, and put heart into the people, and order that every one should
arm and remain quiet in his tent or

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pavilion; and that Geoffry the Marshal would remain in full order of
battle before the camp till it was night, so that their enemies might
not see the host move; and that when it was night all would move from
before the city; the Doge of Venice would go before, and Geoffry the
Marshal would form the rear-guard, with those who were with him.

RETREAT OF THE CRUSADERS

Thus they waited till it was night; and when it was night the Doge of
Venice left the camp, as had been arranged, and Geoffry the Marshal
formed the rear-guard. And they departed at foot pace, and took with
them all their people mounted and dismounted, the wounded as well
those who were whole-they left not one behind. And they journeyed
towards a city that lies upon the sea, called Rodosto, and that was
full three days' journey distant. So they departed from Adrianople, as
you have heard; and this adventure befell in the year of the
Incarnation of Jesus Christ twelve hundred and five.

And in the night that the host left Adrianople, it happened that a
company started to get to Constantinople earlier, and by a more direct
way; and they were greatly blamed therefor. In this company was a
certain count from Lombardy named Gerard, who came from the land of
the marquis, and Odo of Ham, who was lord of a castle called Ham in
Vermandois, and John of Maseroles, and many others to the number of
twenty-five knights, whom the book does not name. And they went away
so fast after the discomfiture, which had taken place on the Thursday
evening, that they came to Constantinople on the Saturday night,
though it was ordinarilyagoodfivedays'journey. Andtheytoldthenews to
the Cardinal Peter of Capua, who was there by the authority of
Innocent Pope of Rome, and to Conon of Bιthune, who guarded the city,
and to Miles the Brabant, and to the other good men in the city. And
you must know that these were greatly affeared, and thought of a
certainty that all the rest, who had been left before Adrianople, were
lost, for they had no news of them.

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PETER OF BRACIEUX AND PAYEN OF ORLEANS MEET THE RETREATING HOST

Now will we say no more about those at Constantinople, who were in
sore trouble, but go back to the Doge of Venice and Geoffry the
Marshal, who marched all the night that they left Adrianople, till the
dawn of the following day; and then they came to a city called
Pamphyle. Now listen and you shall hear how adventures befall as God
wills: for in that city had lain during the night, Peter of Bracieux
and Payen of Orldans, and all the men belonging to the land of Count
Louis, at least a hundred very good knights and one hundred and forty
mounted sergeants, and they were coming from the other side of the
straits to join the host at Adrianople.

When they saw the host coming, they ran to their arms nght nimbly, for
they thought we were the Greeks. So they armed themselves, and sent to
know what people we were, when their messengers discovered that we
were the host retreating after our discomfiture. So the messengers
went back, and told them that the Emperor Baldwin was lost, and their
lord Count Louis, of whose land and country they were, and of whose
following.

Sadder news could they not have heard. There might you have seen many
tears wept, and many hands wrung for sorrow and pity. And they went
on, all an-ned as they were, till they came to where Geoffry, the
Marshal of Champagne, was keeping guard in the rear, in very great
anxiety and misease. For Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and
Bulgaria, had come at the point of day before Adrianople with all his
host, and found that we had departed, and so ridden after us till it
was full day; and when he found us not, he was full of grief; and well
was it that he found us not, for if he had found us we must all have
been lost beyond recovery.

"Sir," said Peter of Bracieux and Payen of Orlιans to Geoffry the
Marshal, "what would you have us do? We will do whatever you wish."
And he answered them: " You see how matters stand with us. You are
fresh and unwearied, and your horses also; therefore do you keep guard
in the rear, and I will go forward and hold in hand our people, who
are greatly dismayed and in sore need of comfort." To this they
consented right willingly. So they

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established the rearguard duly and efficiently, and as men who well
knew how, for they were good knights and honourable.

THE HOST REACHES RODOSTO

Geoffry the Marshal rode before and led the host, and rode till he
came to a city called Cariopolis. Then he saw that the horses were
weary with marching all night, and entered into the city, and put them
up till noon. And they gave food to their horses, and ate themselves
of what they could find, and that was but little.

So they remained all the day in that city until night. And Johannizza,
the King of Wallachia, had followed them all the day with all his
powers, and encamped about two leaaues from them. And when it was
night, those in the city all armed themselves and departed. Geoffry
the Marshal led the van, and those formed the rear-guard who had
formed it during the day. So they rode through that night, and the
following day (16th April) in great fear and much hardship, till they
came to the city of Rodosto, a city very rich and very strong, and
inhabited by Greeks. These Greeks did not dare to defend themselves,
so our people entered in and took quarters; so at last were they in
safety.

Thus did the host escape from Adrianople, as you have heard. Then was
a council held in the city of Rodosto; and it seemed to the council
that Constantinople was in greater jeopardy than they were. So they
took messengers, and sent them by sea, telling them to travel night
and day, and to advise those in the city not to be anxious about
them-for they had escaped-and that they would repair back to
Constantinople as soon as they could.

SEVEN THOUSAND PILGRIMS LEAVE THE CRUSADERS

At the time when the messengers arrived, there were in Constantinople
five ships of Venice, very large and very good, laden with pilgrims,
and knights and sergeants, who were leaving the land and returning to
their own countries. There were at least seven thousand men at arms in
the ships, and one was William the advocate of Bιthune, and there were
besides Baldwin of Aubigny, and John of Virsin, who be-

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longed to the land of Count Louis, and was his liegeman, and at least
one hundred other knights, whom the book does not here name. Master
Peter of Capua, who was cardinal from the Pope of Rome, Innocent, and
Conon of Bιthune, who commanded in Constantinople, and Miles the
Brabant, and a great number of other men of mark, went to the five
ships, and prayed those who were in them, with sighs and tears, to
have mercy and pity upon Christendom, and upon their liege lords who
had been lost in battle, and to remain for the love of God. But they
would not listen to a single word, and left the port. They spread
their sails, and went their way, as God ordained, in such sort that
the wind took them to the port of Rodosto; and this was on the day
following that on which those who had escaped from the discomfiture
came thither.

The same prayers, with tears and weeping, that had been addressed to
them at Constantinople-those same prayers were now addressed to them
at Rodosto; and Geoffry the Marshal, and those who were with him,
besought them to have mercy and pity on the land, and remain, for
never would they be able to succour any land in such dire need. They
replied that they would consult together, and give an answer on the
morrow.

And now listen to the adventure which befell that night in the city.
There was a knight from the land of Count Louis, called Peter of
Frouville, who was held in honour, and of great name. The same fled by
night, and left all his baggage and his people, and gat himself to the
ship of John of Virsin, who was from the land of Count Louis of Blois
and Chartres. And those on board the five ships, who in the morning
were to give their answer to Geoffry the Marshal and to the Doge of
Venice, so soon as they saw the day, they spread their sails, and went
their way without word said to any one. Much and great blame did they
receive, both in the land whither they went, and in the land they had
left; and he who received most blame of all was Peter of Frouville.
For well has it been said that he is but ill-advised who, through fear
of death, does what will be a reproach to him for ever.

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MEETING OF MANY OF THE CRUSADERS-HENRY, THE BROTHER OF BALDWIN, IS MADE
REGENT

Now let us speak of these last no farther, but speak of Henry, brother
to the Emperor Baldwin of Constantinople, who had left Adramittium,
which he had conquered, and passed the straits at the city of Abydos,
and was coming towards Adrianople to succour the Emperor Baldwin, his
brother. And with him had come the Armenians of the land, who had
helped him against the Greeks-some twenty thousand with all their
wives and children-for they dared not remain behind.

Then came to him the news, by certain Greeks, who had escaped from the
discomfiture, that his brother the Emperor Baldwin was lost, and Count
Louis, and the other barons. Afterwards came the news of those who had
escaped and were at Rodosto; and these asked him to make all the haste
he could, and come to them. And because he wanted to hasten as much as
he could, and reach them earlier, he left behind the Armenians, who
travelled on foot, and had with them chariots, and their wives and
children; and inasmuch as these could not come on so fast, and he
thought they would travel safely and without hurt, he went forward and
encamped in a village called Cartopolis.

On that very day came thither the nephew of Geoffry the Marshal,
Anseau of Courcelles, whom Geoffry had summoned from the parts of
Macre, Trajanopolis, and the Baie, lands that had been bestowed upon
him; and with Anseau came the people from PhilippoPolis, who had left
Renier of Trit. This company held full a hundred good knights, and
full five hundred mounted sergeants, who all were on their way to
Adrianople to succour the Emperor Baldwin. But tidings had come to
them, as to the others, that the emperor had been defeated, so they
turned to go to Rodosto, and came to encamp at Cartopolis, the village
where Henry, the brother of the Emperor Baldwin, was then encamped.
And when Baldwin's men saw them coming, they ran to arms, for they
thought they were Greeks, and the others thought the same of Baldwin's
men. And so they advanced till they became known to one another, and
each was right glad of the other's

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coming, and felt all the safer; and they quartered themselves in the
village that night until the morrow.

On the morrow they left, and rode straight towards Rodosto, and came
that night to the city; and there they found the Doge of Venice and
Geoffry the Marshal, and all who had escaped from the late
discomfiture; and right glad were these to see them. Then were many
tears shed for sorrow by those who had lost their friends. Ah, God!
what pity it was that those men now assembled had not been at
Adrianople with the Emperor Baldwin, for in that case would nothing
have been lost. But such was not God's pleasure.

So they sojoumed there on the following day, and the day after, and
arranged matters; and Henry, the brother of the Emperor Baldwin, was
received into lordship, as regent of the empire, in lieu of his
brother.

And then misfortune came upon the Armenians, who were coming after
Henry, the brother of the Emperor Baldwin, for the people of the land
gathered together and discomfited the Armenians, so that they were all
taken, killed or lost.

RETURN TO CONSTANTINOPLE - APPEALS FOR HELP SENT TO THE POPE, AND TO FRANCE
AND TO OTHER LANDS - DEATH OF THE DOGE

Johannizza., King of Wallachia and Bulgaria, had with him all his
power, and he occupied the whole land; and the country, and the
cities, and the castles held for him; and his Comans over-ran the land
as far as Constantinople. Henry the regent of the empire, and the Doge
of Venice, and Geoffry the Marshal, were still at Rodosto, which is a
three days' journey from Constantinople. And they took council, and
the Doge of Venice set a garrison of Venetians in Rodosto -for it was
theirs. And on the morrow they put their forces in array, and rode,
day by day, towards Constantinople.

When they reached Selymbria, a city which is two days' journey from
Constantinople, and belonged to the Emperor Baldwin, Henry his brother
set there a garrison of his people, and they rode with the rest to
Constantinople, where they were received right willingly, for the
people were in great terror. Nor is that to be wondered at, for they
had lost so much of the country, that outside Constantinople they only
held Rodosto and Selymbria; the whole of the rest of the

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country being held by Johannizza, King of Wallachia and Bulgaria. And
on the other side of the straits of St. George, they held no more than
the castle of Piga, while the rest of the land was in the hands of
Theodore Lascaris.

Then the barons decided to send to the Apostle of Rome, Innocent, and
to France and Flanders, and to other lands, to ask for succour. And
for this purpose were chosen as envoys Nevelon, Bishop of Soissons,
and Nicholas of Mailly, and John Bliaud. The rest remained in
Constantinople, in great distress, as men who stood in fear of losing
the land. So they remained till Pentecost (29th May 1205). And within
this time a very great misfortune happened to the host, for Henry
Dandolo was taken sick; so he made an end and died, and was buried
with great honour in the church of St. Sophia.

When Pentecost had come, Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and
Bulgaria, had pretty well had his will of the land; and he could no
longer hold his Comans to-ether, because they were unable to keep the
field during the summer; so the Comans departed to their own country.
And he, with all his host of Bulgarians and Greeks, marched against
the marquis towards Salonika. And the marquis, who had heard the news
of the discomfiture of the Emperor Baldwin, raised the siege of
Napoli, and went to Salonika with as many men as he could collect, and
garrisoned it.

THE REGENT OBTAINS CERTAIN ADVANTAGES OVER THE GREEKS

Henry, the brother of the Emperor Baldwin of Constantinople, with as
many people as he could gather, marched against the Greeks to a city
called Tzurulum, which is a three days' journey from Constantinople.
This city surrendered, and the Greeks swore fealty to him-an oath
which at that time men observed badly. From thence he marched to
Arcadiopolis, and found it void, for the Greeks did not dare to await
his coming. And from thence again he rode to the city of Bizye, which
was very strong, and well garrisoned with Greeks; and this city too
surrendered. Aferwards he rode to the city of Napoli (Apros) which
also remained well garrisoned with Greeks.

As our people were preparing for an assault, the Greeks within the
city asked to negotiate for capitulation. But

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while they thus negotiated, the men of the host effected an entrance
into the city on another side, and Henry the Regent of the empire and
those who were negotiating knew nothing of it. And this proved very
disastrous to the Greeks. For the Franks, who had effected an
entrance, began to slaughter them, and to seize their goods, and to
take all that they had. So were many killed and taken captive. In this
wise was Napoli (Apros) captured; and the host remained there three
days. And the Greeks were so terrified by this slaughter, that they
abandoned all the cities and castles of the land, and fled for refuge
to Adrianople and Demotica, which were very strong and good cities.

SERES SURRENDERS TO JOHANNIZZA - HE FORFEITS HIS WORD

At that time it happened that Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and
Bulgaria, with all his host, marched against the marquis, towards a
city called Seres. And the marquis had set a strong garrison of his
people in the city, for he had set there Hugh of Colemi, who was a
very good knight, and hi,h in rank, and William of Arles, who was his
marshal, and great part of his best men. And Johannizza, the King of
Wallachia besieged them; nor had he been there long before he took the
burgh by force. And at the taking of the burgh a great misfortune
befell, for Hugh of Colemi was killed; he was struck through the eye.

When he was killed, who was the best of them all, the rest of the
garrison were greatly afeared. They drew back into the castle, which
was very strong; and Johannizza besieged them, and erected his
petraries and mangonels. Nor had he besieged them long before they
began to talk about surrendering, for which they were afterwards
blamed, and incurred great reproach. And they agreed to yield up the
castle to Johannizza, and Johannizza on his side caused twenty-five of
the men of highest rank that he had to swear to them that they should
be taken, safe and sound, with all their horses, and all their arms,
and all their baggage, to Salonika, or Constantinople, or
Hungary-wMchever of the three it liked them best.

In this manner was Seres surrendered, and Johannizza caused the
besieged to come forth from the castle and en-

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camp near him in the fields; and he treated them with much fair
seeming, and sent them presents. So he kept them for three days, and
then he lied and foreswore his promises; for he had them taken, and
spoiled of their goods, and led away to Wallachia, naked, and unshod,
and on foot. The poor and the mean people, who were of little worth,
he sent into Hungary; and as for the others, he caused their heads to
be cut off. Of such mortal treachery was the KinL, of Wallachia
guilty, as you have heard. Here'did the host suffer grievous loss, one
of the most dolorous that ever it suffered. And Johannizza had the
castle and city razed, and went on after the marquis.

THE REGENT BESIEGES ADRIANOPLE IN VAIN

Henry, the Regent of the empire, with all his power, rode towards
Adrianople, and laid siege to it; and he was in great peril, for there
were many, both within and without the city who so hemmed him in, he
and his people, that they could scantl buy provisions, or go foraging.
Therefore they enclosed their camp with palisades and barriers, and
told off part of their men to keep guard within the palisades and
barriers, while the others attacked the city.

And they devised machines of divers kinds, and scaling ladders, and
many other engines, and wrought diligently to take the city. But they
could not take it, for the city was very strong and well furnished for
defence. So matters went ill with them, and many of their people were
wounded; and one of their good knights, Peter of Bracieux, was struck
on the forehead from a mangonel, and brought near to death; but he
recovered, by the will of God, and was taken away in a litter.

When they saw that they could in no wise prevail against the city,
Henry the Regent of the empire, and the French host departed. And
greatly were they harassed by the people of the land and by the
Greeks; and they rode -from day to day till they came to a city called
Pamphyle, and lodged there, and sojourned in it for two months. And
they made thence many forays towards Demotica and the country round
about, where they captured much cattle, and other booty. So the host
remained in those parts till the beginning of winter; and supplies
came to them from Rodosto, and from the sea.

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DESTRUCTION OF PHILIPPOPOLIS BY JOHANNIZZA

Now let us leave speaking of Henry, the Regent of the empire, and
speak of Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and Bulgaria, who had taken
Seres, as you have already heard, and killed by treachery those who
had surrendered to him. Afterwards he had ridden towards Salonika, and
sojoumed thereby a long while, and wasted a great part of tfle land.
The Marquis Boniface of Montferrat was at Salonika, very wroth, and
sorrowing greatly for the loss of his lord the Emperor Baldwin, and
for the other barons, and for his castle of Seres that he had lost,
and for his men.

And when Johannizza saw that he could do nothing more, he retired
towards his own land, with all his force. And the people in
Philippopolis-which belonged to Renier of Trit, for the Emperor
Baldwin had bestowed it upon him-heard tell how the Emperor Baldwin
was lost, and many of his barons, and that the marquis had lost Seres;
and they saw that the relatives of Renier of Trit, and his own son and
his nephew, had abandoned him, and that he had with him but very few
people; and they deemed that the Franks would never be in power again.
So a great part of the people, who were Paulicians, [Note: An Eastem
sect. They believed, among other things, that all matter is evfl, and
that Christ suffered in appearance only.] betook themselves to
Johannizza, and surrendered themselves to him, and said: " Sire, ride
to Philippopolis, or send thither thy host, and we will deliver the
whole city into thy hands."

When Renier of Trit, who was in the city, knew of this, he doubted not
that they would yield up the city to Johannizza. So he issued forth
with as many people as he could collect, and left at the point of day,
and came to one of the outlying quarters of the city where dwelt the
Paulicians who had repaired to Johannizza, and he set fire to that
quarter of the city, and burned a great part of it. Then he went to
the castle of Stanimac, which was at three leagues' distance, and
garrisoned by his people, and entered therein. And in this castle he
lay besieged for a long while, some thirteen months, in great distress
and great poverty, so that for famine they ate their horses. He was
distant a nine

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days' journey from Constantinople, and could neither obtain tidings
therefrom, nor send tidings thither.

Then did Johannizza send his host before Philippopolis; nor had he
been there long before those who were in the city surrendered it to
him, and he promised to spare their lives. And after he had promised
to spare their lives, he first caused the archbishop of the city to be
slain, and the men of rank to be flayed alive, and certain others to
be burned, and certain others to have their heads cut off, and the
rest he caused to be driven away in chains. And the city he caused to
be pulled down, with its towers and walls; and the high palaces and
rich houses to be burned and utterly destroyed. Thus was destroyed the
noble city of Philippopolis, one of the three finest cities in the
empire of Constantinople.

THE REGENT SETS GARRISONS IN SUCH PLACES AS HE STILL HELD

Now let us leave off speaking of those who were at Philippopolis, and
of Renier of Trit, who is shut up in Stanimac, and return to Henry,
the brother of the Emperor Baldwin, who had sojourned at Pamphyle till
the beginning of winter. Then he took council with his men and with
his barons; and they decided to set a garrison in a city called
Rusium, which was situate at a place rich and fertile in the middle of
the land; and the chiefs placed over this garrison were Thierri of
Loos, who was seneschal, and Thierri of Tenremonde, who was constable.
And Henry,,the Regent of the empire, gave to them at least seven score
knights, and a great many mounted sergeants, and ordered them to
maintain the war against the Greeks, and to guard the marches.

And he himself went with the rest of his people to the city of Bizye,
and placed a garrison there; and left in command Anseau of Cayeux, and
confided to him at least six score knights, and a great many mounted
sergeants. Another city, called Arcadiopolis was garrisoned by the
Venetians. And the city of Napoli was restored by the brother of the
Emperor Baldwin to Vemas, who had to wife the sister [Agnes, sister to
Philip Augustus, King of France] of the King of France, and was a
Greek who sided with us; and except he, no other Greek was on our
part. And those who were in these cities maintained the war against
the Greeks,

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and made many forays. Henry himself returned to Constantinople with
the rest of his men.

Now Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and Bulgaria, though rich and of
great possessions, never forgat his own interests, but raised a great
force of Comans and Wallachians. And when it came to three weeks after
Christmas, he sent these men into the land of Roumania to help those
at Adrianople and Demotica; and the latter, being now in force, grew
bolder and rode abroad with the greater assurance.

DEFEAT OF THE FRANKS NEAR RUSIUM

Thierri of Tenremonde, who was chief and constable, made a foray on
the fourth day before the feast of St. Mary Candlemas (30th January
1206); and he rode all night, having six score knights with him, and
left Rusium with but a small garrison. When it was dawn, he came to a
village where the Comans and Wallachians were encamped, and surprised
them in such sort that those who were in the village were unaware of
their coming. They killed a good many of the Comans and Wallachians,
and captured some forty of their horses; and when they had done this
execution, they turned back towards Rusium.

And on that very night the Comans and Wallachians had ridden forth to
do us hurt; and there were some seven thousand of them. They came in
the morning before Rusium, and were there a lono, space; and the
garrison, which was but small, closed the gates, and mounted the
walls; and the Comans and Wallachians turned back. They had not gone
more than a league and a half from the city, when they met the company
of the French under the command of Thierri of Tenremonde. So soon as
the French saw them advancing, they formed into their four battalions,
with intent to draw into Rusium in slow time; for they knew that if,
by God's grace, they could come thither, they would then be in safety.

The Comans, and the Wallachians, and the Greeks of the land rode
towards them, for they were in very great force. And they came upon
the rear-guard, and began to harass it full sorely. Now the rear-guard
was formed of the men of Thierri of Loos, who was seneschal, and had
returned to Constantinople, and his brother Villain was now in
command.

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And the Comans and Wallachians and Greeks pressed them very hard, and
wounded many of their horses. Loud were the cries and fierce the
onslaught, so that by main force and pure distress they drove the
rear-guard back on the battalion of Andrew of Urboise and John of
Choisy; and in this manner the Franks retreated, suffering greatly.

The enemy renewed their onslaught so fiercely that they drove the
Franks who were nearest to them back on the battalion of Thierri of
Tenremonde, the constable. Nor was it long before they drove them back
still further on to the battalions led by Charles of the Frκne. And
now the Franks had retreated, sore harassed, till they were within
half a mile of Rusium. And the others ever pressed upon them more
hardily; and the battle went sore against them, and many were wounded,
and of their horses. So, as God will suffer misadventures, they could
endure no further, but were discomfited; for they were heavily armed,
and their enemies lightly; and the latter began to slaughter them.

Alas! well might Christendom rue that day! For of all those six score
knights did not more than ten escape who were not killed or taken; and
those who escaped came flying into Rusiiim, and rejoined their own
people. There was slain Thierri of Tenremonde, the constable, Orri of
l'Isle, who was a good knight and highly esteemed, and John of
Pompone, Andrew of Urboise, John of Choisy, Guy of Conflans, Charles
of the Frκne, Villain the brother of Thierri the seneschal. Nor can
this book tell the names of all who were then killed or taken. On that
day happened one of the greatest mishaps, and the most grievous that
ever befell to the Christendom of the land of Roumania, and one of the
most pitiful.

he Comans and Greeks and Wallachians retired, having done according to
their will in the land, and won many good horses and good hawberks.
And this misadventure happened on the day before the eve of our Lady
St. Mary Candlemas (31st January 1206). And the remnant who had
escaped from the discomfiture, together with those who had been in
Rusium. escaped from the city, so soon as it was night, and went all
night flying, and came on the morrow to the city of Rodosto.

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NEW INVASION OF JOHANNIZZA; RUIN OF NAPOLI

This dolorous news came to Henry the Regent of the empire, while he
was going in procession to the shrine of our Lady of Blachemae, on the
day of the feast of our Lady St. Mary Candlemas. And you must know
that many were then dismayed in Constantinople, and they thought of a
truth that the land was but lost. And Henry, the Regent of the empire,
decided that he would place a garrison in Selymbria, which was a two
days' journey from Constantinople, and he sent thither Macaire of
Sainte-Menehould, with fifty knights to garrison the city.

Now when tidings came to Johannizza, King of Wallachia. as to how his
people had fared, he was very greatly rejoiced'; for they had killed
or taken a very great part of the best men in the French host. So he
sent throughout all his lands to collect as many people as he could,
and raised a great host of Comans, and Greeks and Wallachians, and
entered into Roumania. And the greater part of the cities held for
him, and all the castles; and he had so large a host that it was a
marvel.

When the Venetians heard tell that he was coming with so great a
force, they abandoned Arcadiopolis. And Johannizza rode with all his
hosts till he came to Napoli, which was garrisoned by Greeks and
Latins, and belonged to Vemas, who had to wife the empress, the sister
of the King of France; and of the Latins was chief Bθgue of Fransures,
a knight of the land of the Beauvaisais. And Johannizza, the King of
Wallachia, caused the city to be assaulted, and took it by force.

There was so great a slaughter of people killed, that it was a marvel.
And Bθgue of Fransures was taken before Johannizza, who had him killed
incontinently, together with all, whether Greek or Latin, who were of
any account; and all the meaner folk, and women and children, he
caused to, be led away captive to Wallachia. Then did he cause all the
city-which was verv good and very rich, and in a good land, to be cast
down and utterly destroyed. Thus was the city of Napoli rased to the
ground as you have heard.

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DESTRUCTION OF RODOSTO

Twelve leagues thence lay the city of Rodosto, on the sea. Tt was very
strong, and rich, and large, and very well garrisoned by Venetians,
And besides all this, there had come thither a body of sergeants, some
two thousand strong, and they had also come to guard the city. When
they heard that Napoli had been taken by force, and that Johannizza
had caused all the people that were therein to be put to death, they
fell in to such terror that they were utterly confounded and foredone.
As God suffers misadventures to fall upon men, so the Venetians rushed
to their ships, helter-skelter, pell-mell, and in such sort that they
almost drowned one another; and the mounted sergeants, who came from
France and Flanders, and other countries, went flying through the
land.

Now listen and hear how little this served them, and what a
misadventure was their flight; for the city was so strong, and so well
enclosed by good walls and good towers, that no one would ever have
ventured to assault it, and that Johannizza had no thought of going
thither. But when Johannizza, who was full half a day's journey
distant, heard tell that they had fled, he rode thither. The Greeks
who had remained in the city, surrendered, and he incontinently caused
them to be taken, small and great-save those who escaped-and led
captive into Wallachia; and the city he ordered to be destroyed and
rased to the ground. Ah! the loss and dar.,iage! for the city was one
of the best in Roumania, and of the best situated.

JOHANNIZZA CONTINUES HIS CONQUESTS AND RAVAGES

Near there was another citv called Panedor, which surrendered to him;
and he caused it to be utterly destroyed, and the people to be led
captive to Wallachia like the people of Rodosto. Afterwards he rode to
the city of Heraclea, that lay by a good seaport, and belonged to the
Venetians, who had left in it but a weak garrison; so he assaulted it,
and took it by force. There aain was a mighty slaughter, and the
remnant that escaped the slaughter he caused to be led captive to
Wallachia, while the city itself he destroyed, as lie had destroyed
the others.

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Thence he marched to the city of Daonium, which was very strong and
fine; and the people did not dare to defend it. So he caused it to be
destroyed and rased to the ground. Then he marched to the city of
Tzurulum, which had already surrendered to him, and caused it to be
destroyed and rased to the ground, and the people to be led away
captive. And thus he dealt with every castle and city that
surrendered; even though he had promised them safety, he caused the
buildings to be destroyed, and the men and women to be led away
captive; and no covenant that he made did he ever keep.

Then the Comans and Wallachians scoured the land up to the gates of
Constantinople, where Henry the Regent then was, with as many men as
he could command; and very dolorous was he and very wroth, because he
could not get men enough to defend his land. So the Comans seized the
cattle off the land, and took captive men, women, and children, and
destroyed the cities and castles, and caused such ruin and desolation
that never has man heard tell of greater.

So they came to a city called Athyra, which was twelve leagues from
Constantinople, and had been given to Payen of Orlιans by Henry, the
emperor's brother. This city held a very great number of people, for
the dwellers in the country round about had fled thither; and the
Comans assaulted it, and took it by force. There the slaughter was so
great, that there had been none such in any city where they had been.
And you must know that all the castles and all the cities that
surrendered to Johannizza under promise of safety were destroyed and
rased to the ground, and the people led away captive to Wallachia in
such manner as you have heard.

And you must know that within five days' journey from Constantinople
there remained nothing to destroy save only the city of Bizye, and the
city of Selymbria, which were garrisoned by the French. And in Bizye
abode Anseau of Cayeux, with six score knights, and in Salymbria abode
Macaire of Sainte-Menehould with fifty knights; and Henry the brother
of the Emperor Baldwin remained in Constantinople with the remainder
of the host. And you may know that their fortunes were at the lowest,
seeing that outside of Constantinople they had kepl& possession of no
more than these two cities.

112

THE GREEKS ARE RECONCILED TO THE CRUSADERS - JOHANNIZZA DESIEGES DEMOTICA

When the Greeks who were in the host with Johannizza - the same who
had yielded themselves up to him, and rebelled against the Franks -
when they saw how he destroyed their castles and cities, and kept no
covenant with them, they held themselves to be but dead men, and
betrayed. They spoke one to another, and said that as Johannizza had
dealt with other cities, so would he deal with Adrianople and
Demotica, when he returned thither, and that if these two cities were
destroyed, then was Roumania for ever lost.

So they took messengers privily, and sent them to Vernas in
Constantinople. And they besought Vernas to cry for pity to Henry, the
brother of the Emperor Baldwin, and to the Venetians, so that they
might make peace with them; and they themselves, in turn, would
restore Adrianople and Demotica to the Franks; and the Greeks would
all turn to Henry; and the Greeks and Franks dwell together in good
accord.

So a council was held, and many words were spoken this way and that,
but in the end it was settled that Adrianople and Demotica, with all
their appurtenances, should be bestowed on Vernas and the empress his
wife, who was sister to the King Philip of France, and that they
should do service therefor to the emperor and to the empire. Such was
the convention made and concluded, and so was peace established
between the Greeks and the Franks.

Johanizza, the King of Wallachia and Bulgaria, who had sojourned long
in Roumania, and wasted the country during the whole of Lent, and for
a good while after Easter (2nd April 1206), now retired towards
Adrianople and Demotica, and had it in mind to deal with those cities
as he had dealt with the other cities of the land. And when the Greeks
who were with him saw that he turned towards Adrianople, they began to
steal away, both by day and by night, some twenty, thirty, forty, a
hundred, at a time.

When he came to Adrianople, he required of those that were within that
they should let him enter, as he had entered elsewhere. But they said
they would not, and spoke thus: "Sire, when we surrendered to thee,
and rebelled against the

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Franks, thou didst swear to protect us in all good faith, and to keep
us in safety. Thou hast not done so, but hast utterly ruined Roumania;
and we know full well that thou wilt do unto us as thou hast done unto
others." And when Johannizza heard this, he laid siege to Demotica,
and erected round it sixteen large petraries, and began to construct
engines of every kind for the siege, and to waste all the country
round.

Then did those in Adrianople and Demotica take messengers, and send
them to Constantinople, to Henry, the Regent of the empire, and to
Vemas, and prayed them, for God's sake, to rescue Demotica, which was
being besieged. And when those at Constantinople heard these tidings,
they decided to succour Demotica. But some there were who did not dare
to advise that our people should issue from Constantinople, and so
place in jeopardy the few Christian folk that remained. Nevertheless,
in the end, as you have heard, it was decided to issue forth, and move
on Selymbria.

The cardinal, who was there as legate on the part of the Pope of Rome,
preached thereon to the people, and promised a full indulgence to all
such as should go forth, and lose their lives on the way. So Henry
issued from Constantinople with as many men as he could collect, and
marched to the city of Selyrnbria; and he encamped before the city for
full eight days. And from day to day came messengers from Adrianople
praying him to have mercy upon them, and come to their relief, for if
he did not come to their relief, they were but lost.

THE CRUSADERS MARCH TO THE RELIEF OF DEMOTICA

Then did Henry take council with his barons, and their decision was
that they would go to the city of Bizve, which was a fair city, and
strong. So they did as they had devised, and came to Bizye, and
encamped before the city on the eve of the feast of our Lord St. John
the Baptist, in June (23rd June 1206). And on the day that they so
encamped came messengers from Adrianople, and said to Henry, the
brother of the Emperor Baldwin: "Sire, be it known to thee that if
thou dost not relieve the city of Demotica, it cannot hold out more
than eight days, for Johannizza's petraries have breached the walls in
four places, and his men have twice got on to the walls."

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Then he asked for counsel as to what he should do. Many were the words
spoken, to and fro; but in the end they said: " Lord, we have come so
far that we shall be for ever shamed if we do not succour Demotica.
Let every man now confess and receive the communion; and then let us
set our forces in array." And it was reckoned that they had with them
about four hundred knights, and of a certainty no more. So they
summoned the messengers who had come from Adrianople, and asked them
how matters stood, and what number of men Johannizza had with him. And
the messengers answered that he had with him at least forty thousand
men-at-arms, not reckoning those on foot, of whom they had no count.

Ah God! what a perilous battle-so few against so many 1 In the
morning, on the day of the feast of our Lord St. John the Baptist, all
confessed and received the communion, and on the following day they
marched forward. The van was commanded by Geoffry, the Marshal of
Roumania and Champagne, and with him was Macaire of Sainte-Menehould.
The second division was under Conon of Bιthune and Miles the Brabant;
the third under Payen of Orlιans and Peter of Bracieux; the fourth was
under Anseau of Cayeux; the fifth under Baldwin of Beauvoir; the sixth
under Hugh of Beaumetz; the seventh under Henry, brother of the
Emperor Baldwin; the eighth, with the Flemings, under Walter of
Escornai; Thierri of Loos, who was seneschal, commanded the
rear-guard.

So they rode for three days, all in order; nor did any host ever
advance seeking battle so perilously. For they were in peril on two
accounts; first because they were so few, and those they were about to
attack so many; and secondly, because they did not believe the Greeks,
with whom they had just made peace, would help them heartily. For they
stood in fear lest, when need arose, the Greeks would go over to
Johannizza, who, as you have already heard, had been so near to taking
Demotica.

JOHANNIZZA RETREATS, FOLLOWED BY THE CRUSADERS

When Johannizza heard that the Franks were coming, he did not dare to
abide, but burned his engines of war, and broke up his camp. So he
departed from Demotica; and you must know that this was accounted by
all the world as a

115

great miracle. And Henry, the Regent of the empire, came on the fourth
day (28th June) before Adrianople, and pitched his cainp near the
river of Adrianople, in the fairest meadows in the world. When those
who were within the city saw his host coming, they issued forth,
bearing all their crosses, and in procession, and showed such joy as
had never been seen. And well might they rejoice for they had been in
evil case.

Then came tidings to the host that Johannizza was lodged at a castle
called Rodosto. So in the morning they set forth and marched to those
parts to seek battle; and Johannizza broke up his,camp, and marched
back towards his own land. The host followed after him for five days,
and he as constantly retired before them. On the fifth day they
encamped at a very fair and pleasant place by a castle called Fraim;
and there they sojoumed three days.

And at this place there was a division in the host, and a company of
valiant men separated themselves therefrom because of a quarrel that
they had with Henry, the brother of the Emperor Baldwin. Of this
company Baldwin of Beauvoir was chief; and Hugh of Beaumetz went with
him, and William of Gommegnies and Dreux of Beaurain. There were some
fifty knights who departed together in that company; and they never
thought the rest would dare to remain in the land in the midst of
their enemies.

RENIER OF TRIT RELIEVED AND DELIVERED

Then did Henry, the Regent of the empire, take council with the barons
that were with him; and they decided to ride forward. So they rode
forward for two days, and encamped in a very fair valley, near a
castle called Moniac. The castle yielded itself to them, and they
remained there five days; and then said they would go and relieve
Renier of Trit, who was besieged in Stanimac, and had been shut up
therein for thirteen months. So Henry the Regent of the empire,
remained in the camp, with a great part of the host, and the remainder
went forward to relieve Renier of Trit at Stanimac.

And you must know that those who went forward went in very great
peril, and that any rescue so full of danger has but seldom been
undertaken, seeing that they rode for three days through the land of
their enemies. In this rescue took part

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Conon of Bιthune, and Geoffry of Villehardouin, Marshal of Roumania
and Champagne, and Macaire of Sainte-Menehould, and Miles the Brabant,
and Peter of Bracieux, and Payen of Orlιans, and Anseau of Cayeux, and
Thierri of Loos, and William of Perchoi, and a body of Venetians under
command of Andrew Valθre. So they rode forward till they came to the
castle of Stanimac, and approached so near that they could now see it.

Renier of Trit was on the walls, and he perceived the advanced guard,
which was under Geoffry the Marshal, and the other battalions,
approaching in very good order; and he knew not what people they might
be. And no wonder that he was in doubt, for of a long time he had
heard no tidings of us ; and he thought we were Greeks coming to
besiege him.

Geoffry the Marshal of Roumania and Champagne took certain Turcoples
[soldiers born of a Turkish father atid a Greek mother] and mounted
cross-bowmen and sent them forward to see if they could learn the
condition of the castle; for they knew not if those within it were
alive or dead, seeing that of a long time they had heard no tidings of
them. And when these came before the castle, Renier of Trit and his
men knew them; and you may well think what joy they had 1 They issued
forth and came to meet their friends, and all made great joy of each
other.

The barons quartered themselves in a very good city that lay at the
foot of the castle, and had aforetime besieged the castle. Then said
the barons that they had often heard tell that the Emperor Baldwin had
died in Johannizza's prison, but that they did not believe it. Renier
of Trit, however, told them of a truth that the emperor was dead, and
then they believed it. Greatly did many then grieve; alas I if only
their grief had not been beyond remedy I

So they lay that night in the city; and on the morrow they departed,
and abandoned Stanimac. They rode for two days., and on the third they
came to the camp, below the castle of Moniac, that lies on the river
Arta, where Henry, the Emperor's brother, was waiting for them.
Greatly did those of the host rejoice over Renier of Trit, who had
thus been rescued from durance, and great was the credit given to
those who had brought him back, for they had gone for him in great
peril.

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HENRY CROWNED EMPEROR - JOHANNIZZA RAVAGES THE COUNTRY AGAIN - THE EMPEROR
MARCHES AGAINST HIM

The barons now resolved that they would go to Constantinople, and
crown Henry, the brother of the Emperor Baldwin as emperor, and leave
in the country Vemas, and all the Greeks of the land, together with
forty knights, whom Henry, the Regent of the empire, would leave with
him. So Henry, the Regent of the empire, and the other barons, went
towards Constantinople, and they rode from day to day till they came
thither, and right well were they received. They crowned Henry as
emperor with great joy and great honour in the church of St. Sophia,
on the Sunday (20th August) after the festival of our Lady St. Mary,
in August. And this was in the year of the Incarnation of our Lord
Jesus Christ twelve hundred and six.

Now when Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and Bulgaria, heard that
the emperor had been crowned in Constantinople, and that Vemas had
remained in the land of Adrianople and Demotica, he collected together
as large a force as he could. And Vemas had not rebuilt the walls of
Demotica where they had been breached by Johannizza with his petraries
and mangonels, and he had set but a weak garrison therein. So
Johannizza marched on Demotica, and took it, and destroyed it, and
rased the walls to the ground, and overran the whole country, and took
men, women, and children for a prey, and wrought devastation. Then did
those in Adrianople beseech the Emperor Henry to succour them, seeing
that Demotica had been lost in such cruel sort.

Then did the Emperor Henry summon as many people as he could, and
issued from Constantinople, and rode day by day towards Adrianople,
with all his forces in order. And Johannizza, the King of Wallachia,
who was in the land, when he heard that the emperor was coming, drew
back into his own land. And the Emperor Henry rode forward till he
came to Adrianople, and he encamped outside the city in a meadow.

Then came the Greeks of the land, and told him that johanriizza, the
King of Wallachia, was carrying off men and women and cattle, and that
he had destroyed Demotica, and wasted the country round; and that he
was still within a

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day's march. The emperor settled that he would follow after, and do
battle-if so be that Johannizza would abide his coming-and deliver the
men and women who were being led away captive. So he rode after
Johannizza, and Johannizza retired as the emperor advanced, and the
emperor followed him for four days. Then they came to a city called
Veroi.

When those who were in the city saw the host of the Emperor Henry
approaching, they fled into the mountains and abandoned the city. And
the emperor came with all his host, and encamped before the city, and
found it well furnished with corn and meat, and such other things as
were needful. So they sojourned there for two days, and the emperor
caused his men to overrun the surrounding country, and they obtained a
large booty in beeves and cows and buffaloes, and otl-ler beasts in
very great plenty. Then he departed from Veroi with all his booty, and
rode to another city, a day's journey distant, called Blisnon. And as
the other Greeks had abandoned Veroi, so did the dwellers in Blisnon
abandon their city; and he found it furnished with all things
necessary, and quartered himself there.

THE EMPEROR MEETS JOHANNIZZA, AND RECAPTURES HIS PRISONERS

Then came tidings that in a certain valley, three leagues distant from
the host, were the men and women whom ohannizza was leading away
captive, together with 9.11 his plunder, and all his chariots. Then
did Henry appoint that the Greeks from Adrianople and Demotica should
go and recover the captives and the plunder, two battalions of knights
going with them; and as had been arranged, so was this done on the
morrow. The command of the one battalion was given to Eustace, the
brother of the Emperor Henry of Constantinople, and the command of the
other to Macaire of Sainte-Menehould.

So they rode, they and the Greeks, till they came to the valley of
which they had been told; and there they found the captives. And
Johannizza's men engaged the Emperor Henry's men, and men and horses
were killed and wounded On either side; but by the goodness of God,
the Franks had

119

the advantage, and rescued the captives, and caused them to turn
again, and brought them away.

And you must know that this was a mighty deliverance; for the captives
numbered full twenty thousand men, women, and children; and there were
full three thousand chariots laden with their clothes and baggage, to
say nothing of other booty in good quantity. The line of the captives,
as they came to the camp, was two great leagues in length, and they
reached the camp that night. Then was the Emperor Henry greatly
rejoiced, and all the other barons; and they had the captives lodged
apart, and well guarded, with their goods, so that they lost not one
pennyworth of what they possessed. On the morrow the Emperor Henry
rested for the sake of the people he had delivered. And on the day
after he left that country, and rode day by day till he came to
Adrianople.

There he set free the men and women he had rescued; and each one went
whithersoever he listed, to the land where he was bom, or to any other
place. The booty, of which he had great plenty, was divided in due
shares among the host. So the Emperor Henry sojoumed there five days,
and then rode to the city of Demotica, to see how far it had been
destroyed, and whether it could again be fortified. He encamped before
the city, and saw, both he and his barons, that in the state in which
it then was, it were not well to refortify it.

PROJECTED MARRIAGE BETWEEN THE EMPEROR AND THE DAUGHTER OF BONIFACE - THE
CRUSADERS RAVAGE THE LANDS OF JOHANNIZZA

Then came to the camp, as envoy, a baron, Otho of La Roche by name,
belonging to the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat. He came to speak of a
marriage that had been spoken of aforetime between the daughter of
Boniface, the Marquis of Montferrat, and the Emperor Henry; and
brought tidings that the lady had come from Lombardy, whence her
father had sent to summon her, and that she was now at Salonika. Then
did the emperor take council, and it was decided that the marriage
should be ratified on either side. So the envoy, Otho of La Roche,
returned to Salonika.

The emperor had reassembled his men, who had gone to place in safe
holding the booty taken at Veroi. And he marched day by day from
Adrianople till he came to the land

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of Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and Bulgaria. They came to a city
called Ferme, and took it, and entered in, and won much booty. They
remained there for three days, and overran all the land, got very much
spoil, and destroyed a city called Aquilo.

On the fourth day they departed from Ferme, which was a city fair and
well situated, with hot water springs for bathing, the finest in the
world; and the emperor caused the city to be burned and destroyed, and
they carried away much spoil, in cattle and goods. Then they rode day
by day till they came back to the city of Adrianople; and thev
sojoumed in the land till the feast of All Saints (1st November 1206),
when they could no longer carry on the war because of the winter. So
Henry and all his barons, who were much aweary of campaigning, turned
their faces towards Constantinople; and he left at Adrianople, among
the Greeks, a man of his named Peter of Radinghem, with ten knights.

THE EMPEROR RESUMES THE WAR AGAINST THEODORE LASCARIS

At that time Theodore Lascaris, who held the land on the other side of
the straits towards Turkey, was at truce with the Emperor Henry; but
that truce he had not kept well, having broken and violated it. So the
emperor held council, and sent to the other side of the straits, to
the city of Piga, Peter of Bracieux, to whom land had been assigned in
those parts, and with him Payen of Orlιans, and Anseau of Cayeux, and
Eustace, the emperor's brother, and a great part of his best men to
the number of seven score knights. These began to make war in very
grim and earnest fashion against Theodore Lascaris, and greatly wasted
his land.

They marched to a land called Skiza, which was surrounded by the sea
except on one side. And in old days the way of entry had been defended
with walls and towers, and moats, but these were now decayed. So the
host of the French entered in, and Peter of Bracieux, to whom the land
had been devised, began to restore the defences, and built two
castles, and made two fortified ways of entry. From thence they
overran the land of Lascaris, and gained much booty and cattle, and
brought such booty and cattle into their island: Theodore Lascaris, on
the other hand, harked back upon

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Skiza, so that there were frequent battles and skirmishes, and losses
on the one side and on the other; and the war in those parts was
fierce and perilous.

Now let us leave speaking of those who were at Skiza, and speak of
Thierri of Loos, who was seneschal, and to whom Nicomedia should have
belonged; and Nicomedia lay a day's journey from Nice the Great, the
capital of the land of Theodore Lascaris. Thierri then went thither,
with a great body of the emperor's men, and found that the castle had
been destroyed. So he enclosed and fortified the church of St. Sophia,
which was very large and fair, and maintained the war in that place.

ADVANTAGES OBTAINED BY BONIFACE - MARRIAGE OF HIS DAUGHTER WITH THE EMPEROR

At that time the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat departed from
Salonika, and went to Seres, which Johannizza had destroyed; and he
rebuilt it; and afterwards rebuilt a castle called Drama in the valley
of Philippi. All the country round about surrendered to him, and came
under his rule; and he wintered in the land.

Meanwhile, so much time had gone by, that Christmas was now past. Then
came messengers from the marquis to the emperor at Constantinople to
say that the marquis had sent his daughter in a galley to the city of
Abydos. So the Emperor Henry sent Geoffry the Marshal of Roumania and
Champagne, and Miles the Brabant, to bring the lady; and these rode
day by day till they came to Abydos.

They found the lady, who was very good and fair, and saluted her on
behalf of their lord Henry, the emperor, and brought her to
Constantinople in great honour. So the Emperor Henry was wedded to her
in the Church of St. Sophia, on the Sunday after the feast of our Lady
St. Mary Candlemas (4th February I207), with great joy and in great
pomp; and they both wore a crown; and high were the marriage-feastings
in the palace of Bucoleon. Thus, as you have just heard, was the
marriage celebrated between the emperor and the daughter of the
Marquis Boniface, Agnes the empress by name.

THEODORE LASCARIS FORMS AN ALLIANCE WITH JOHANNIZZA

Theodore Lascaris, who was warring against the Emperor Henry, took
messengers and sent them to Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and
Bulgaria. And he advised Johannizza that all the forces of the Emperor
Henry were fighting against him (Lascaris) on the other side of the
straits towards Turkey; that the emperor was in Constantinople with
but very few people; and that now was the time for vengeance, inasmuch
as he himself would be attacking the emperor on the one side, and
Johannizza on the other, and the emperor had so few men that he would
not be able to defend himself against both. Now Johannizza had already
engaged a great host of Comans, who were on their way to join his
host; and had collected together as large a force of Wallachians and
Bulgarians as ever he could. And so much time had now gone by, that it
was the beginning of Lent (7th March 1207).

Macaire of Sainte-Menehould had begun to build a castle at Charax,
which lies on a gulf of the sea, six leagues from Nicomedia, towards
Constantinople. And William of Sains began to build another castle at
Cibotos, that lies on the gulf of Nicomedia, on the other side,
towards Nice. And you must know that the Emperor Henry had as much as
he could do near Constantinople; as also the barons who were in the
land. And well does Geoffry of Villehardouin, the Marshal of Champagne
and Roumania, who is dictating this work, bear witness, that never at
any time were people so distracted and oppressed by war; this was by
reason that the host were scattered in so many places.

SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE BY JOHANNIZZA - SIEGE OF SKIZA AND CIBOTOS BY LASCARIS

Then Johannizza left Wallachia with all his hosts, and with a great
host of Comans who joined themselves to him, and entered Roumania. And
the Comans overran the country up to the gates of Constantinople; and
he himself besieged Adrianople, and erected there thirty-three great
petraries, which hurled stones against the walls and the towers. And
inside Adrianople were only the Greeks and

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Peter of Radinghem, who had been set there by the emperor, with ten
knights. Then the Greeks and the Latins together sent to tell the
Emperor Henry how Johannizza had besieged them, and prayed for
succour.

Much was the emperor distraught when he heard this; for his forces on
the other side of the straits were so scattered, and were everywhere
so hard pressed that they could do no more than they were doing, while
he himself had but few men in Constantinople. None the less he
undertook to take the field with as many men as he could collect, in
the Easter fortnight; and he sent word to Skiza, where most of his
people were, that they should come to him. So these began to come to
him by sea; Eustace, the brother of the Emperor Henry, and Anseau of
Cayeux, and the main part of their men, and thus only Peter of
Bracieux, and Payen of Orlιans, with but few men, remained in Skiza.

When Theodore Lascaris heard tidings that Adrianople was besieged, and
that the Emperor Henry, through utter need, was recalling his people,
and did not know which way to tum-whether to this side or to that-so
heavily was he oppressed by the war, then did Lascaris with the
greater zeal gather together all the people he could,, and pitched his
tents and pavilions before the gates of Skiza; and many were the
battles fought before Skiza, some lost and some won. And when Theodore
Lascaris saw that there were few people remaining in the city, he took
a great part of his host, and such ships as he could collect on the
sea, and sent them to the castle of Cibotos, which William of Sains
was fortifying; and they set siege to the castle by sea and land, on
the Saturday in mid-Lent (31st March 1207).

Within were forty knights, very good men, and Macaire of
Sainte-Menehould was their chief; and their castle was as yet but
little fortified, so that their foes could come at them with swords
and lances. The enemy attacked them by land and by sea very fiercely;
and the assault lasted during the whole of Saturday, and our people
defended themselves very well. And this book bears witness that never
did fifty knights defend themselves at greater disadvantage against
such odds. And well may this appear, for of the knights that were
there, all were wounded save five only; and one was killed, who was
nephew to Miles the Brabant, and his name was Giles.

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THE EMPEROR ATTACKS THE FLEET OF THEODORE LASCARIS, AND RESCUES CIBOTOS

Before this assault began, on the Saturday morning, there came a
messenger flying to Constantinople. He found the Emperor Henry in the
palace of Blachernae, sitting at meat, and spoke to him thus: "Sire,
be it known to you that those at Cibotos are being attacked by land
and sea; and if you do not speedily deliver them, they will be taken,
and but dead men."

With the emperor were Conon of Bιthune, and Geoffry the Marshal of
Champagne, and Miles the Brabant, and but very few people. And they
held a council, and the council was but short, and the emperor went
down to the shore, and entered into a galleon; and each one was to
take ship such as he could find. And it was proclaimed throughout the
city that all were to follow the emperor in the utter need wherein he
stood, to go and rescue his men, seeing that without help they were
but lost. Then might you have seen the whole city of Constantinople
all a-swarrn with Venetians and Pisans and other seafaring folk,
running to their ships, helterskelter and pell-mell; and with them
entered into the ships the knights, fully armed; and whosoever was
first ready, he first left port to go after the emperor.

So they went rowing hard all the evening, as long as the light lasted,
and all through the night till the dawn of the following day. And the
emperor had used such diligence, that a little after sun-rising he
came in sight of Cibotos, and of the host surrounding it by sea and
land. And those who were within the castle had not slept that night,
but had kept guard through the whole night, however sick or wounded
they might be, as men who expected nothing but death.

The emperor saw that the Greeks were close to the walls and about to
assault the city. Now he himself had but few of his people with
him-among them were Geoffry the Marshal in another ship, and Miles the
Brabant, and certain Pisans, and other knights, so that he had some
sixteen ships great and small, while on the other side there were full
sixty. Nevertheless they saw that if they waited for their people, and
suffered the Greeks to assault Cibotos, then those within

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must be all killed or taken; and when they saw this they decided to
sail against the enemy's ships.

They sailed thitherward therefore in line; and all those on board the
ships were fully armed, and with their helms laced. And when the
Greeks, who were about to attack the castle, saw us coming, they
perceived that help was at hand for the besieged, and they avoided the
castle, and came to meet us; and all this great host, both horse and
foot, drew up on the shore. And the Greeks on ship-board [The meaning
here is a little obscure in the original ] when they saw that the
emperor and his people meant to attack them in any case, drew back
towards those on shore, so that the latter might give them help with
bows and darts.

So the emperor held them close with his seventeen ships, till the
shouts of those coming from Constantinople began to reach him; and
when the night fell so many had come up that the Franks were
everywhere in force upon the sea; and they lay all armed during the
night, and cast anchor. And they settled that as soon as they saw the
day, they would go and do battle with the enemy on the shore, and also
seize their ships. But when it came to about midnight, the Greeks
dragged all their ships to land, and set fire to them, and burned them
all, and broke up their camp, and went away flying.

The Emperor Henry and his host were right glad of the victory that God
had given them,,and that they had thus been able to succour their
people. And when it came to be morning, the emperor and his barons
went to the castle of Cibotos, and found those who were therein very
sick, and for the most part sore wounded. And the emperor and his
people looked at the castle, and saw that it was so weak as not to be
worth the holding. So they gathered all their people into the ships,
and left the castle and abandoned it. Thus did the Emperor Henry
return to Constantinople.

JOHANNIZZA RAISES THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE

Johannizza, the king of Wallachia, who had besieged Adrianople, gave
himself no rest, for his petraries, of which he had many, cast stones
night and day against the walls and towers, and damaed the walls and
towers very greatly. And he set his sappers to mine the walls, and
made many

126

assaults. And well did those who were within, both Greeks and Latins,
maintain themselves, and often did they beg the Emperor Henry to
succour them, and wam him that, if he did not succour them, they were
utterly undone. The emperor was much distraught; for when he wished to
go and succour his people at Adrianople on the one side, then Theodore
Lascaris pressed upon him so straitly on the other side, that of
necessity he was forced to draw back.

So Johannizza remained during the whole month of April (1207) before
Adrianople; and he came so near to taking it that in two places he
beat down the walls and towers to the ground, and his men fought hand
to hand, with swords and lances, against those who were within. Also
he made assaults in force, and the besieged defended themselves well;
and there were many killed and wounded on one side and on the other.

As it pleases God that adventures should be ordered, so it befell that
the Comans who had overrun the land, and gained much booty, and
returned to the camp before Adrianople, with all their spoils, now
said they would remain with Johannizza no longer, but go back to their
own land. Thus the Comans abandoned Johannizza. And without them he
dared not remain before Adrianople. So he departed from before the
city, and left it.

And you must know that this was held to be a great miracle: that the
siege of a city so near to the taking should be abandoned, and by a
man possessed of such power. But as God wills, so do events befall.
Those in Adrianople made no delay in begging the emperor, for the love
of God, to come to them as soon as he could; for sooth it was that if
Johannizza, the King of Wallachia returned, they would all be killed
or taken.

SKIZA AGAIN BESIEGED BY THEODORE LASCARIS - THE EMPEROR DELIVERS THE CITY

The emperor, with as many men as he possessed, had prepared to go to
Adrianople, when tidings came, very grievous, that Escurion, who was
admiral of the galleys of Theodore Lascaris, had entered with
seventeen galleys into the straits of Abydos, in the channel of St.
George, and come before Skiza, where Peter of Bracieux then was, and
Payen of

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Orlιans; and that the said Escurion was besieging the city by sea,
while Theodore Lascaris was besieging it by land. Moreover, the people
of the land of Skiza had rebelled against Peter of Bracieux, as also
those of Marmora, and had wrought him great harm, and killed many of
his people.

When these tidi . ngs came to Constantinople, they were greatly
dismayed. Then did the Emperor Henry take council with his men, and
his barons, and the Venetians also; and they said that if they did not
succour Peter of Bracieux, and Payen of Orlιans, they were but dead
men, and the land would be lost. So they armed fourteen galleys in all
diligence, and set in them the Venetians of most note, and all the
barons of the emperor.

In one galley entered Conon of Bιthune and his people; in another
Geoffry of Villehardouin and his people; in the third Macaire of
Sainte-Menehould and his people; in the fourth Miles the Brabant in
the fifth Anscau of Cayeux; in the sixth Thierri of Loos, who was
seneschal of Roumania; m the seventh William of Perchoi; and in the
eighth Eustace the Emperor's brother. Thus did the Emperor Henry put
into all these galleys the best people that he had; and when they left
the port of Constantinople, well did all say that never had galleys
been better armed, nor manned with better men. And thus, for this
time, the march on Adrianople was again put off.

Those who were in the galleys sailed down the straits, right towards
Skiza. How Escurion, the admiral of Theodore Lascaris' galleys, heard
of it, I know not; but he abandoned Skiza, and went away, and fled
down the straits. And the others chased him two days and two nights,
beyond the straits of Abydos, forty miles. And when they saw they
could not come up with him, they turned back, and came to Skiza, and
found there Peter of Bracieux and Payen of Orlιans; and Theodore
Lascaris had dislodged from before the city and repaired to his own
land. Thus was Skiza relieved, as you have just heard; and those in
the galleys turned back to Constantinople, and prepared once more to
march on Adrianople.

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THE EMPEROR TWICE DELIVERS NICOMEDIA, BESIEGED BY THEODORE LASCARIS

Theodore Lascaris sent the most part of his force into the land of
Nicomedia. And the people of Thierri of Loos, who had fortified the
church of St. Sophia, and were therein, besought their lord and the
emperor to come to their relief; for if they received no help they
could not hold out, especially as they had no provisions. Through
sheer distress and sore need, the Emperor Henry and his people agreed
that they must once more abandon thought of going to Adrianople, and
cross the straits of St. George, to the Turkish side, with as many
people as they could collect, and succour Nicomedia.

And when the people of Theodore Lascaris heard that the emperor was
coming, they avoided the land, and retreated towards Nice the Great.
And when the emperor knew of it, he took council, and it was decided
that Thierri of Loos, the seneschal of Roumania, should abide in
Nicomedia, with all his knights, and all his sergeants, to guard the
land; and Macaire of Sainte-Menehould should abide at Charax, and
William of Perchoi in Skiza; and each defend the land where he abode.

Then did the Emperor Henry, and the remainder of his people return to
Constantinople, and prepare once again to go towards Adrianople. And
while he was so preparing, Thierri of Loos the seneschal, who was in
Nicomedia, and William of Perchoi, and all their people, went out
foraging on a certain day. And the people of Theodore Lascaris knew of
it, and surprised them, and fell upon them. Now the people of Theodore
Lascaris were very many, and our people very few. So the battle began,
and they fought hand to hand, and before very long the few were not
able to stand against the many.

Thierri of Loos did right well, as also his people; he was twice
struck down, and by main strength his men remounted him. And William
of Perchoi was also struck down, and remounted and rescued. But
numbers hemmed them in too sore, and the Franks were discomfited.
There was taken Thierri of Loos, wounded in the face, and in peril of
death. There, too, were most of his people taken, for few escaped.
William of Perchoi fled on a hackney, wounded in the hand.

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Those that escaped from the discomfiture rallied in the church of St.
Sophia.

He who dictates this history heard blame attached in this
affair-whether rightly or wrongly he knows not-to a certain knight
named Anseau of Remi, who was liegeman of Thierri of Loos the
seneschal, and chief of his men; and who abandoned him in the fray.

Then did those who had returned to the church of St. Sophia in
Nicomedia, viz. William of Perchoi and Anseau of Remi, take a
messenger, and send him flying to Constantinople, to the Emperor
Henry; and they told the emperor what had befallen, how the seneschal
had been taken with his men; how they themselves were besieged in the
church of St. Sophia, in Nicomedia, and how they had food for no more
than five days; and they told him he must know of a certainty that if
he did not succour them they must be killed or taken. The emperor, as
one hearing a cry of distress, passed over the straits of St. George,
he and his people, each as best he could, and pell-mell, to go to the
relief of those in Nicomedia. And so the march to Adrianople was put
off once more.

When the emperor had passed over the straits of St. George, he set his
troops in array, and rode day by day till he came to Nicomedia. When
the people of Theodore Lascaris, and his brothers, who formed the
host, heard thereof, they drew back, and passed over the mountain on
the other side, towards Nice. And the emperor encamped by Nicomedia in
a very fair field that lay beside the river on this side of the
mountain. He had his tents and pavilions pitched; and caused his men
to overrun and harry the land, because the people had rebelled when
they heard that Thierri of Loos, the seneschal, was taken; and the
emperor's men captured much cattle and many prisoners.

TRUCE WITH THEODORE LASCARIS - THE EMPEROR INVADES THE LANDS OF JOHANNIZZA

The Emperor Henry sojoumed after this manner for five days in the
meadow by Nicomedia. And while he was thus sojourning, Theodore
Lascaris took messengers, and sent them to him, asking him to make a
truce for two years, on condition that the emperor would suffer him to
demolish

130

Skiza and the fortress of the church of St. Sophia of Nicomedia, while
he, on his side, would yield up all the prisoners taken in the last
victory, or at other times of whom he had a great many in his land.

Now the emperor took council with his people; and they said that they
could not maintain two wars at the same time, and that it was better
to suffer loss as proposed than suffer the loss of Adrianople, and the
land on the other side of the straits; and moreover that they.would
(by agreeing to this truce) cause division between their enemies, viz.
Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and Bulgaria and Theodore Lascaris
who were now friends, and helped one another in the war.

The matter was thus settled and agreed to. Then the Emperor Henry
summoned Peter of Bracieux from Skiza; and he came to him; and the
Emperor Henry so wrought with him that he gave up Skiza into his
hands, and the emperor delivered it to Theodore Lascaris to be
demolished, as also the church of St. Sophia of Nicomedia. So was the
truce established, and so were the fortresses demolished. Thierri of
Loos was given up, and all the other prisoners.

Then the Emperor Henry repaired to Constantinople, and undertook once
more to go to Adrianople with as many men as he could collect. He
assembled his host at Selymbria; and so much time had already passed
that this did not take place till after the feast of St. John, in June
(1207). And he rode day by day till he came to Adrianople, and
encamped in the fields before the city. And those within the city, who
had greatly desired his coming, went out to meet him in procession,
and received him very gladly.. And all the Greeks of the land came
with them.

The emperor remained only one day before the city to see all the
damage that Johannizza had done to the walls and towers, with mines
and petraries; and these had worked great havoc to the city. And on
the morrow he departed', and marched towards the country of
Johannizza, and so marched for four days. On the fifth day he came to
the foot of the mountain of Wallachia, to a city called Euloi, which
Johannizza had newly repeopled with his folk. And when the people of
the land saw the host coming, they abandoned the city, and fled into
the mountains.

131

THE E MPEROR'S FORAGERS SUFFER LOSS

The Emperor Henry and the host of the French encamped before the city;
and the foraging parties overran the land and captured oxen, and cows,
and beeves in great plenty and other beasts. And those from
Adrianople, who had brought their chariots with them, and were poor
and illfurnished with food, loaded their chariots with corn and other
grain; and they found also provisions in plenty and loaded with them,
in great quantities, the other chariots that they had captured. So the
host sojoumed there for three days; and every day the foraging parties
went foraging throughout the land; but the land was full of mountains,
and strong defiles, and the host lost many foragers, who adventured
themselves madly.

In the end, the Emperor Henry sent Anscau of Cayeux to guard the
foragers, and Eustace his brother, and Thierri of Flanders, his
nephew, and Walter of Escomai, and John Bliaud. Their four battalions
went to guard the foragers, and entered into a land rough and
mountainous. And when their people had overrun the land, and wished to
return, they found the defiles very well guarded. For the Wallachians
of the country had assembled, and fought against them, and did them
great hurt, both to men and horses. Hardly were our men put to it to
escape discomfiture; and the knights had, of necessity, to dismount
and go on foot. But by God's help they returned to the camp, though
not without great loss and damage.

On the morrow the Emperor Henry, and the host of the French departed
thence, and marched day by day till they came to Adrianople; and they
stored therein the corn and other provisions that they brought with
them. The emperor sojourned in the field before the city some fifteen
days.

HOMAGE RENDERED BY BONIFACE TO THE EMPEROR, AND BY GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUIN
TO BONIFACE

At that time Boniface, the Marquis of Montferrat, who was at Seres,
which he had fortified, rode forth as far as Messinopolis, and all the
land surrendered to his will. Then he took messengers, and sent them
to the Emperor Henry, and told him that he would right willingly speak
with him

132

by the river that runs below Cypsela. Now they two had never been able
to speak together face to face since the conquest of the land, for so
many enemies lay between them that the one had never been able to come
to the other. And when the emperor and those of his councilheardthat
themarquis Boniface was at Messinopolis, they rejoiced greatly; and
the emperor sent back word by the messengers that he would speak with
the marquis on the day appointed.

So the emperor went thitherward, and he left Conon of Bethune to guard
the land near Adrianople, with one hundred knights. And they came on
the set day to the place of meeting in a very fair field, near the
city of Cypsela. The emperor came from one side, and the marquis from
the other, and they met with very great joy; nor is that to be
wondered at, seeing they had not, of a long time, beheld one another.
And the marquis asked the emperor for tidings of his daughter Agnes;
and the emperor told him she was with child, and the marquis was glad
thereof and rejoiced. Then did the marquis become liegeman to the
emperor, and held from him his land, as he had done from the Emperor
Baldwin, his brother. And the marquis gave to Geoffry of
Villehardouin, Marshal of Roumania and Champagne, the city of
Messinopolis, and all its appurtenances, or else that of Seres,
whichever he liked best; and the Marshal became his liegeman, save in
so far as he owed fealty to the emperor of Constantinople.

They sojourned thus in that field for two days, in great joy, and said
that, as God had granted that they should come together, so might they
yet again defeat their enemies. And they made agreement to meet at the
end of the summer, in the month of October, with all their forces, in
the meadow before the city of Adrianople, and make war against the
King of Wallachia. So they separated joyous and well content. The
marquis went to Messinopolis, and the Emperor Henry towards
Constantinople.

BONIFACE IS KILLED IN A BATTLE AGAINST THE BULGARIANS

When the marquis had come to Messinopolis, he did not remain there
more than five days before he rode forth, by the advice of the Greeks
of the land, on an expedition to the mountain of Messinopolis, which
was distant a long day's

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journey. And when he had been through the land, and was about to
depart, the Bulgarians of the land collected and saw that the marquis
had but a small force with him. So they came from all parts and
attacked the rear-guard. And when the marquis heard the shouting, he
leapt on a horse, all unarmed as he was, with a lance in his hand. And
when he came together, where the Bulgarians were fighting with the
rear-guard, hand to hand, he ran in upon them, and drove them a great
way back.

Then was the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat wounded with an arrow, in
the thick of the arm, beneath the shoulder, mortally, and he began to
lose blood. And when his men saw it, they began to be dismayed, and to
lose heart, and to bear themselves badly. Those who were round the
marquis held him up, and he was losing much blood; and he began to
faint. And when his men perceived that he could give them no farther
help, they were the more dismayed, and began to desert him. So were
they discomfited by misadventure; and those who remained by him-and
they were but few-were killed.

The head of the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat was cut off, and the
people of the land sent it to Johannizza; and that was one of the
greatest joys that ever Johannizza had. Alas! what a dolorous mishap
for the Emperor Henry, and for all the Latins of the land of Roumania,
to lose such a man by such a misadventure-one of the best barons and
most liberal, and one of the best knights in the world! And this
misadventure befell in the year of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ,
twelve hundred and seven.

END