Kerbogah Tries to Retake Antioch
[9.26.2] Vidēns autem vir venerābilis Boamundus quia nullātenus posset condūcere gentēs sūrsum in castellum ad bellum—nam quī erant inclūsī in domibus timēbant, aliī famē, aliī timōre Turcōrum—īrātus est valdē, iussitque cōnfestim mittī ignem per urbem, in illā parte in quā erat Cassiānī palātium. Quod videntēs illī quī erant in cīvitāte, dērelīquērunt domōs et omnia quae habēbant, fugiēbantque aliī in castellum, aliī ad portam comitis Sānctī Egidīī, aliī ad portam ducis Godefridī, ūnusquisque ad suam gentem. Tunc nimia tempestās ventī subitō surrēxit, ita ut nēmō posset sē regere rēctum. Boamundus itaque vir sapiēns contrīstātus est valdē, timēns prō ecclēsiā sānctī Petrī et sānctae Mariae aliīsque ecclēsiīs. Haec īra dūrāvit ab hōrā tertiā usque in mediam noctem, fuēruntque cremātae ferē duo milia ecclēsiārum et domōrum. Veniente autem mediā nocte, statim omnis feritās ignis cecidit.
notes
(June 1098) Bohemond wants the crusaders to attack the citadel, but they are too hungry or afraid. Angered by this (according to our author) Bohemond sets fire to one part of the city. It soon spreads because of strong winds, lasting most of the day, then dies of its own accord.
sūrsum in castellum: “up to the citadel.”
Cassiānī palātium: the palace of Yaghi Siyan, who had been the Turkish governor. See 8.20.9.
in castellum: "towards the citadel," presumably to the positions held by the crusaders besieging the citadel, which was still in Turkish hands.
ad portam comitis Sānctī Egidīī: "towards the gate held by the count of St. Gilles," i.e., the Bridge Gate.
ad portam ducis Godefridī: the "Gate of the Duke," north of the Bridge Gate.
ūnusquisque ad suam gentem: "each one to his own people"; apparently members of the different contingents had found lodgings throughout the city, but the contingents were also also associated with particular parts of the city.
nēmō posset sē regere rēctum: “no one could walk straight.”
Haec īra: the "wrath"of the fire, spread by the windstorm.
vocabulary
feritās –ātis: ferocity
cadō cadere cecidī cāsum: to fall; subside (OLD 8)
