The Capture of Jerusalem
[10.39.1] Tunc nostrī tenuērunt concilium, ut ūnusquisque faceret eleemosynās cum ōrātiōnibus, quātinus sibi Deus ēligeret quem vellet rēgnāre super aliōs et regere cīvitātem. Iussērunt quoque Saracēnōs mortuōs omnēs ēicī forās, prae nimiō foetōre; quia omnis urbs ferē plēna erat illōrum cadāveribus. Et vīvī Saracēnī trahēbant mortuōs ante portārum exitūs, et ōrdinābant montēs ex eīs, quasi essent domōs. Tālēs occīsiōnēs dē pāgānōrum gente nūllus umquam audīvit nec vīdit, quoniam pyrae erant ōrdinātae ex eīs sīcut mētae, et nēmō scit numerum eōrum nisi sōlus Deus. Fēcit vērō comes Raimundus condūcī ammiralium et aliōs quī cum eō erant, usque Scalōnam, sānōs et illaesōs.
[10.39.2] Octāvō autem diē quō cīvitās fuit capta, ēlēgērunt ducem Godefridum prīncipem cīvitātis, quī dēbellāret pāgānōs et cūstōdīret Chrīstiānōs. Similiter ēlēgērunt patriarcham sapientissimum et honōrābilem virum nōmine Arnulfum, in diē sānctī Petrī ad Vincula. Haec cīvitās fuit capta ā Chrīstiānīs Deī XV diē Iūliī, in sexta fēriā.
notes
(July 1099) The leaders discuss who is to rule Jerusalem, and also organize the collection of corpses. They select Godfrey of Bouillon as secular ruler, and a certain Arnulf as Christian patriarch.
10.39.1
quātinus sibi Deus ēligeret: “that God would choose for himself.”
sīcut mētae: “like pyramids”; the mētae in CL are cone-shaped structures, especially used as turning posts in the circus.
Scalōnam: Ascalon, modern Ashquelon, on the coast of Israel.
10.39.2
Octāvō autem diē quō cīvitās fuit capta: July 22, 1099. For the date of the capture see below.
ēlēgērunt ducem Godefridum prīncipem cīvitātis: Godfrey of Bouillon; he was remembered as having declined the title of king, in favor of the "Advocate of the Holy Sepulchre," implying subordination to the new Christian patriarch. It has been argued, however, that he did become king, but refused to wear a crown (Rubenstein 296ff.) His sword and spurs have been preserved in the Holy Sepulchre (see media).
Arnulfum: Arnulf of Choques, the chaplain of Robert of Normandy. Arnulf had doubted the validity of the Holy Lance. He behaved so badly in office that there were rude songs about him, and he was deposed after a few months.
in diē sānctī Petrī ad Vincula: August 1, 1099. The Feast of St. Peter in Chains (mentioned also at 10.30.5) commemorates Peter’s liberation from prison by an angel (Acts 12.6ff).
ā Chrīstiānīs Deī: “by God’s Christians.”
XV diē Iūliī, in sexta fēriā: Friday, July 15, 1099.
vocabulary
10.39.1
eleemosyna –ae, f.: charity, alms (LL)
pyra –ae, f.: a funeral pile, a pyre
mēta –ae, f.: a cone, pyramid
10.39.2
debellō (1): to fight out, subdue, conquer.
