4.11.5–6 | Dickinson College Commentaries

The Road to Antioch

[4.11.5] Vēnērunt itaque in vallem prope Antiochīam ad quoddam castrum Pūblicānōrum, illīcque audiērunt Turcōs esse in cīvitātem eamque fortiter dēfendere praeparābant. Petrus dē Roasā dīvīsit sē ibi ab aliīs, et proximā nocte trānsīvit prope Antiochīam, intrāvitque vallem dē Rugīā; et invēnit Turcōs et Saracēnōs, et proeliātus est cum eīs, et occīdit multōs ex eīs, et aliōs persecūtus est valdē. Videntēs hōc Armēniī, habitātōrēs terrae illīus, illum fortiter superāsse pāgānōs, continuō reddidērunt sē. Ipse vērō statim cēpit Rūsam cīvitātem, et plūrima castra.

[4.11.6] Nōs autem quī remānsimus, exeuntēs inde, intrāvimus in diabolicam montānam, quae tam erat alta et angusta ut nūllus nostrōrum audēret per sēmitam, quae in monte patēbat, ante alium praeīre. Illīc praecipitābant sē equī, et ūnus saumārius praecipitābat alium. Mīlitēs ergō stābant undique trīstēs, feriēbant sē manibus prae nimiā trīstitiā et dolōre, dubitantēs quid facerent dē sēmetipsīs et dē suīs armīs, vēndentēs suōs clipeōs et lōrīcās optimās cum galeīs, sōlummodo propter trēs aut quīnque dēnāriōs, vel prout quisque poterat habēre. Quī autem vēndere nequībant, gratis ā sē iactābant, et ībant.

notes

(October 1097) The advance party learns that Antioch has not in fact been abandoned, and one of its leaders, Peter of Roaix, has a minor victory over a group of Turks. The rest of the main army continues its journey to Antioch over the Anti-Taurus Mountains. The passage is treacherous: many animals fall to their death, and men leave their armor behind.

4.11.5

in cīvitātem: CL would be in cīvitate.

Pūblicānōrum: Paulicians (see 1.4.4)

vallem dē Rugīā: idenfitied by most scholars as the Riha valley or valley of the Ruj, east of Antioch (modern Urfa/Şanliurfa). Dass suggests that it is Al-Ruj, in the Harim Mountains.

aliōs persecūtus est: he put them to flight.

hoc: hoc is redundant, introducing the indirect statement: “seeing this … that he …”

Rūsam cīvitātem: often identified as Ruweha/Ruweiha, in modern Syria, about 100 km south of Antioch, which seems improbable. Dass suggests either Al-Arus/Allaruz (which I can't find on the map) or Qastun.

4.11.6

exeuntēs inde: i.e. from Coxon.

diabolicam montānam: a pass through the Anti-Taurus Mountains, Identified by France as the Püren Geçidi pass, rising to 1,630 m.

saumārius: “beast of burden” (ML; see Niermeyer sv. sagmarius).

sōlummodo propter: “for the price of” (ML).

vel prout quisque poterat habēre: “any price they could get.”

vocabulary

4.11.6

sēmita –ae, f.: path, track

saumarius –iī, m.: beast of burden (ML)

praecipitō (1): to cause to fall headlong

feriō ferīre: to strike, beat