The Road to Antioch

[4.11.3]  Sequentī nocte audīvit Boamundus quod Turcī, quī fuerant in obsessiōne cīvitātis, frequenter praecēderent nōs. Mox praeparāvit sē sōlummodo cum mīlitibus, quātinus illōs undique expugnāret, sed eōs invenīre nōn potuit.

[4.11.4]  Deinde vēnimus ad quandam urbem nōmine Coxōn, in quā erat maxima ūbertās omnium bonōrum quae nōbīs erant necessāria. Chrīstiānī igitur, vidēlicet alumnī urbis illīus, reddidērunt sē statim, nōsque fuimus ibi optimē per trēs diēs, et illīc maximē sunt recuperātī nostrī. Audiēns itaque Raimundus comes quod Turcī quī erant in cūstōdiā Antiochīae discessissent, in suō invēnit cōnsiliō, quod mitteret illūc aliquōs ex suīs mīlitibus, quī eam dīligenter cūstōdīrent. Tandem ēlēgit illōs quōs lēgāre volēbat, vidēlicet Petrum dē Castelliōne vicecomitem, Willelmum dē Monte Pisleriō, Petrum dē Roasā, Petrum Raimundum dē Pul, cum quīngentīs mīlitibus.

(September–October 1097)  Hearing that there is a band of Turks nearby, Bohemond goes to search for them but finds nothing. Meanwhile, Raymond of Toulouse, acting on rumors that the Turks have abandoned Antioch, sends an advance party to capture it.

4.11.3

Turcī, quī fuerant in obsessiōne cīvitātis: note the pluperfect; for the siege, see 4.11.2.

sōlummodo cum mīlitibus = sōlummodo cum (suīs) mīlitibus. Bohemond wanted the glory of defeating the Turks without the other contingents.

 

4.11.4

Coxōn: Ancient Cocussus, modern Gōksun.

in cūstōdiā: “in charge of,” i.e., in the garrison of.

in suō invēnit cōnsiliō: he decided, after consulting with his advisors.

quod: quod (ML) can = ut (CL).

eam: Antiochiam.

cūstōdīrent: CL would be (e.g.) caperent. They assume that they can take the city if there is no garrison.

Petrum dē Castelliōne vicecomitem: Peter, the seneschal of Castillon-sur-Dordogne (near Bourdeaux).

Willelmum dē Monte Pislerīō: William, count of Montpellier

Petrum dē Roasā: Peter of Roaix.

Petrum Raimundum dē Pul: Peter Raymond of Hautpoul.

4.11.3

frequenter: in large numbers

sōlummodo: only, alone

quātinus: how far; how (CL); that (ML)

undique: anywhere, wherever they might be (ML); from all sides (CL)

 

4.11.4

alumnus –ī, m.: son, child (OLD 2)

legō (1): to send as an envoy; appoint

quingentī –ae –a: five hundred

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