3.9.1–2

(July 1097)  The Crusaders move past Nicaea, and split into two groups. Bohemond's group is ambushed by a large mass of Turks. He orders his men to set up camp, and directs the foot soldiers to stay back to protect it. The battle took place near the city of Dorylaeum, though its exact location is uncertain.

3.9.1

redditā: “captured.”

reddita sit: CL would use a pluperfect subjunctive in secondary sequence. Here redeō seems to have its CL meaning or “return.”

ēius potestātī: "to his (the emperor's) power"; CL would be suo potestati.

prīmā diē quā recessimus ā cīvitāte: On June 26 (see France, 169).

quemdam pontem: The bridge was at a place called Lefke, about 25 km east of Nicaea, over what is now called the Göksu river.

quia nox erat: in fact, the crusaders may have split their forces deliberately.

nōn vīdērunt tenēre ūnam viam: "they did not see (so as to be able) to keep to a single road," i.e., they got separated in the dark. tenēre is an infinitive of result (ML).

vēnērunt: “they went along”; in CL veniō means “come” rather than “go."

dīvīsī per duōs diēs: It is not clear whether the division of the army was accidental (as our author suggests) or intentional.

3.9.2

irruērunt Turcī: they were led by Kilij Arslan I, Seljuk sultan of Rum.

strīdere: westerners often commented on the Turkish battle cries.

nesciō quōmodo: “in some (strange) way or other” (OLD nescio 7c).

dēscendere: from their horses, apparently.

tentōria celeriter extendere: tentoria extendere (ML) = castra ponere (CL). The Franks were placing their pack animals and noncombatants into a “hollow square” for defence; presumably they were not literally “pitching their tents.”

fuissent:  CL would be essent.

ecce modō bellum angustum est undique circā nōs: in fact, they were not completely surrounded by the enemy, but were hemmed in on the left by a marsh.

omnēs mīlitēs … et peditēs … et citius extendant tentōria: i.e., The knights would attack on horseback; the footsoldiers would take care of the baggage, and fight to defend it. In the event, the knights were driven back to the camp and fought there until saved by the rest of the army.