The March to Jerusalem
[10.33.5] Boamundus igitur fēcit per interpretem loquī Saracēnīs māiōribus, ut ipsī cum suīs mulieribus et īnfantibus aliīsque substantiīs mitterent sē in ūnum palātium quod est suprā portam, ipseque dēfenderet eōs dē mortālī sententiā. Intrāvērunt vērō omnēs nostrī in cīvitātem, et quicquid bonī invēnērunt in domibus et in foveīs, hoc ūnusquisque ad suum continēbat proprium. Factō autem diē, ubicumque reperiēbant quemquam illōrum sīve masculum sīve fēminam, occīdēbant. Nūllus angulus cīvitātis dēerat vacuus Saracēnōrum cadāveribus, vixque poterat aliquis per viās īre cīvitātis, nisi calcandō super Saracēnōrum cadāvera. Boamundus dēnique illōs quōs iusserat in palātium intrāre apprehendit, illīsque abstulit omnia quae habēbant, vidēlicet aurum, argentum, aliaque ōrnāmenta; aliōs vērō fēcit occīdī, aliōs autem iussit condūcī ad vēndendum Antiochīae.
[10.33.6] Mora autem Francōrum fuit in illā urbe per ūnum mēnsem et quātuor diēs; in quā fuit mortuus Oriēnsis epīscopus. Fuērunt ibi ex nostrīs quī illīc nōn invēnērunt sīcutī opus eīs erat, tantum ex longā morā, quantum ex districtiōne famis, quia foris nequīverant aliquid invenīre ad capiendum, sed scindēbant corpora mortuōrum, eō quod in ventribus eōrum inveniēbant bisanteōs reconditōs; aliī vērō caedēbant carnēs eōrum per frusta, et coquēbant ad mandūcandum.
notes
(December 1098–January 1099) Bohemond promises that the civilians will be spared if they shelter in a particular palace. The crusaders enter the city and kill everyone they find, and Bohemond robs and kills or enslaves all the people to whom he promised safety. The crusaders stay in Marra for more than a month. In desperate need some cut open enemy corpses to look for coins, others cut up the corpses and cook them.
10.33.5
ut ipsī = ut Saracēnī.
suprā portam: “next to the gate.”
dēfenderet eōs dē mortālī sententiā: he would spare them from death.
in foveīs: in storage pits or cellars.
hoc ūnusquisque ad suum continēbat proprium: = ūnusquisque continēbat hoc ad suum proprium (ūsum), “each man kept it for his own use.”
quemquam illōrum: “any of the Saracens.”
dēerat vacuus Saracēnōrum cadāveribus: “lacked and was empty of bodies of Saracens.” Both dēsum and vacuus can take an ablative.
illīsque abstulit: dative of disadvantage (AG § 376).
Antiochīae: loc.
10.33.6
Mora autem Francōrum: "the delay of the Franks," i.e., the time the Franks spent there.
per ūnum mēnsem et quātuor diēs: from December 11, 1098 to January 13, 1099.
in quā: “during which period.”
Oriēnsis epīscopus: William, the bishop of Orange (in France).
quī illīc nōn invēnērunt sīcutī opus eīs erat: “who did not find there that which they needed.”
tantum ex longā morā, quantum ex districtiōne famis: “as much because of the long delay as because of the affliction of hunger.”
bisanteōs: bezants were a type of Byzantine coinage.
per frusta: “in pieces.” Our author seems unemotional, but this episode of cannibalism was notorious (for a medieval painting see media, but it is disturbing).
vocabulary
10.33.5
fovea –ae, f.: a small pit; (ML) cellar
angulus –ī, m.: corner
calcō (1): to tread upon, trample.
10.33.6
districtiō –ōnis, f.: a difficulty
scindō scindere scidī scissum: to cut, tear, rend
bisanteus –ī, m.: bezant (a Byzantine coin)
frustum –ī, n.: a piece, bit
mandūcō (1): to chew, eat, devour
