The Capture of Antioch

[8.20.2]  Nōn multō post, audīvimus nūntiōs dē exercitū hostium nostrōrum, Turcōrum, Pūblicānōrum, Agulānōrum, Azimītārum, et aliārum plūrimārum nātiōnum; statimque adūnāvērunt sē omnēs māiōrēs nostrī simul, tenuēruntque concilium, dīcentēs quoniam “sī Boamundus potuerit acquīrere cīvitātem aut per sē aut per aliōs, nōs ūnā libentī corde ultrō eī dōnāmus, eō tenore ut sī imperātor vēnerit nōbīs in adiūtōrium, et omnem conventiōnem nōbīs (sīcut prōmīsit et iūrāvit) attendere voluerit, nōs eī eam iūre reddēmus. Sīn autem, Boamundus eam in suam habeat potestātem.”

[8.20.3]  Mox itaque Boamundus coepit humiliter amīcum suum cotīdiānā dēprecārī petītiōne, prōmittendō humillima, maxima, et dulcia, in hunc modum: “Ecce vērē tempus modo habēmus idōneum, in quō possumus operārī quicquid bonī volumus; ergō adiuvet mē nunc amīcus meus Pirrus.” Quī, satis gāvīsus dē nūntiō, ait sē illum adiuvāre omnīnō, sīcut agere dēbēret. Nocte itaque veniente proximā, mīsit cautē fīlium suum pignus Boamundō, ut sēcūrior fieret dē introitū urbis. Mīsit quoque eī verba in hunc modum, ut in crāstinum omnem Francōrum gentem summonērī faciat, et quasi in Saracēnōrum terram depraedārī vadat dissimulet, ac deinde celeriter revertātur per dextram montāneam: “Ego vērō,” ait, “erō intentiōne ērēctā praestōlāns illa agmina, eaque recipiam in turrēs quās in meā habeō potestāte ac cūstōdiā.”

    (May 1098)  Hearing that a multiethnic Turkish army is approaching, the crusader leaders decide to give Antioch to Bohemond if he can take it, as long as emperor Alexius doesn't claim it. Bohemond and Firuz firm up the plans for betrayal.

    8.20.2

    dē exercitū hostium nostrōrum: "about the army of our enemies."

    Pūblicānōrum: Paulicians, the dualist Christian heretics (see 1.4.4).

    Agulānōrum: “Agulani," mentioned at 3.9.6. Their ethnicity is unknown, but at 9.21.1 they are said to be mounted warriors with plate armor.

    Azimītārum: “Azymites.” Their identity is disputed. According to Hill they are Armenians, and their name in Greek means “eaters of unleavened bread” (in the service of Holy Communion/Mass), which was one of the points of contention between the Western and Eastern churches.

    quoniam: in ML can be used like quotation marks; omit in translation.

    ūnā libentī corde ultrō: "with one willing heart, of our own accord."

    eō tenōre: “with this condition, on this understanding.”

    et omnem conventiōnem nōbīs ... attendere voluerit: “and should wish to stand by his whole agreement with us.”

    nōs eī eam iūre reddēmus: nos here is repeated, and is emphatic anyway. 

    Sīn autem: “Otherwise” (ML).

     

    8.20.3

    amīcum suum: Firuz.

    humillima: “most flattering.”

    Quī satis gavīsus: Firuz. CL would be quī valdē gavīsus or quī multum gavīsus.

    adiuvāre: CL would be adiūtūrum esse.

    Nocte ... veniente proximā: The night of June 2, 1098.

    pignus: “as a pledge,” i.e., as a hostage.

    quasi ... vadat dissimulet = dissimulet quasi vadat terram Saracēnōrum depraedārī. The crusaders wanted to hide the real reason they were preparing for an attack.

    per dextram montāneam: Firuz’s towers were on the SE corner of the city walls, and thus to the right of St. George’s Gate for the Franks who were camped south of it.

    eaque recipiam: i.e., et ea (agmina) recipiam.

    8.20.2

    adūnō (1): to make one, unite (LL); put together (ML)

    tenor –ōris, m.: line, thought, idea (in a law or document, etc.)

    conventiō –ōnis, f.: agreement

    sīn: but if; but if (it is otherwise)


     

    8.20.3

    dēprecor (1): to pray for, beg for (OLD 3b)

    humilis humile: submissive, abject, humble

    modo: now

    idōneus –a –um: suitable

    quisquis quidquid (quicquid): whoever, whatever

    omnīnō: entirely

    pignus pigneris (pignoris), n.: pledge

    summoneō summonēre summonuī summonitum: to summon (ML)

    dēpraedor dēpraedārī: to pillage, plunder completely

    vādō vādere: to go

    intentiō –ōnis, f.: concentrated attention

    ērēctus –a –um: attentive, alert (OLD 3)

    praestōlor (1): to wait for

    agmen –inis, n.: column (of an army); unit (of soldiers)

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