The Siege of Nicaea

[2.8.6]  Summō autem dīlūculō stābant nāvēs optimē ōrdinātae, per lacum properantēs contrā urbem. Videntēs eās Turcī mīrābantur, ignōrantēs an esset eōrum gēns an imperātōris. Postquam autem cognōvērunt esse gentem imperātōris, timuērunt usque ad mortem, plōrantēs et lāmentantēs; Francīque gaudēbant, et dabant glōriam Deō. Videntēs autem Turcī quod nullātenus ex suīs exercitibus adiūtōrium habēre possent, lēgātiōnem mandāvērunt imperātōrī quia cīvitātem sponte redderent, sī eōs omnimodō abīre permitteret cum mulieribus et fīliīs et omnibus substantiīs suīs. Tunc imperātor, plēnus vānā et inīquā cōgitātiōne, iussit illōs impūnītōs abīre sine ūllō timōre, ac sibi eōs Cōnstantīnopolim cum māgnā fīdūciā addūcī. Quōs studiōsē servābat, ut illōs ad Francōrum nocūmenta et obstācula parātōs habēret.

[2.8.7]  Fuimusque in obsidiōne illā per septem hebdomadās et trēs diēs, et multī ex nostrīs illīc recēpērunt martyrium, et laetantēs gaudentēsque reddidērunt fēlīcēs animās Deō; et ex pauperrimā gente multī mortuī sunt famē prō Chrīstī nōmine. Quī in caelum triumphantēs portārunt stolam receptī martyriī, ūnā vōce dīcentēs: “Vindicā, Domine, sanguinem nostrum, quī prō tē effūsus est; quī es benedictus et laudābilis in saecula saeculōrum. Āmēn.”

(June 1097)  The Turks in Nicaea realize that they are now completely surrounded. They surrender, but to Alexius, outraging many of the crusaders. The book concludes with a brief homage to the Christian "martyrs" who fell besieging Nicaea.

2.8.6

Summō ... dīlūculō: "right at dawn."

stābant: CL would be erant.

an esset eōrum gēns: CL would be an esset gens sua.

lēgātiōnem mandāvērunt imperātōrī quia cīvitātem sponte redderent: "they sent an embassy to the emperor (saying) that they would hand over the city of their own accord." quia is regularly used in our text to mean "that," introducing an indirect statement (ML).

ac sibi eōs Cōnstantīnopolim cum māgnā fīdūciā addūcī: Alexius ordered that they be brought to him, at Constantinople, under safe conduct.

ut illōs ad Francōrum nocūmenta et obstācula parātōs habēret: "so that he could have them prepared for the harming and impeding of the crusaders (ad ... nocumenta et obstacula)."

 

2.8.7

per septem hebdomadās et trēs diēs: Nicaea fell on June 19, 1097; the siege had begun on May 14, Ascension Day; see 2.8.1.

reddidērunt fēlīcēs animās Deō: "they surrendered their joyful souls to God."

in caelum triumphantēs: "entering heaven in triumph."

portārunt: = portāvērunt (CL).

stolam: the white robe of a Christian martyr; see Rev. 7:9: Post haec vidi turbam magnam, quam dinumerare nemo poterat ex omnibus gentibus, et tribubus, et populis, et linguis: stantes ante thronum, et in conspectu Agni amicti stolis albis, et palmae in manibus eorum. Also Rev. 10.11: Et datae sunt illis singulae stolae albae, etc.

receptī: presumably gen. sing., with martyrii.

saecula saeculōrum: literally “for the ages of the ages,” i.e., “for ever and ever.” saeculorum is genitive of intensity (not CL).

2.8.6

nullātenus: in no way

reddo reddere reddidī redditum: to hand over, surrender (OLD 11)

omnimodō: in every way

nocumentum –ī , n.: harm (ML) ( = CL noxa –ae, f. )

 

2.8.7

hebdomas –ados, f.: seven-day period; (ML) week

vindicō (1): to avenge (OLD 6)

triumphō (1): to celebrate a triumph

stola –ae, f.: robe

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