The March to Jerusalem
[10.34.7] Dē exercitū vērō Raimundī comitis exiērunt Raimundus Pilētus et Raimundus vicecomēs dē Tentōriā, vēnēruntque ante Tortōsam cīvitātem, et fortiter aggrediuntur illam, quae nimis erat mūnīta multitūdine pāgānōrum. Sērō autem iam factō, sēcessērunt in quendam angulum, ibique hospitātī sunt; fēcēruntque innumerābilēs ignēs, ita ut tōta hostis esset ibi. Pāgānī vērō, timōre perterritī, nocte latenter fūgērunt, et dīmīsērunt cīvitātem plēnam omnibus bonīs, quae etiam valdē optimum portum secus mare in sē retinet. Crāstinā autem diē vēnērunt nostrī, ut undique invāderent illam invēnēruntque illam vacuam. Et intrantēs habitāvērunt in eā usque dum obsessiō esset ante urbem Archae. Est prope istam alia urbs, quae dīcitur Maraclea. Ammirālius quī eam regēbat pactus est cum nostrīs, et mīsit nostrōs in cīvitātem, nostraque vēxilla.
notes
(February 1099) Raymond Pilet and Raymond of Turenne attack Tortosa, with its excellent harbor. The crusaders light fires to suggest that they are there in great numbers, thus tricking the enemy into running away. The crusaders also enter Meraclea without a fight.
Raimundus Pilētus: Raymond Pilet, introduced at 10.30.3.
Raimundus vicecomēs dē Tentōriā: Raymond, viscount of Turenne (in central France), called (more accurately) Raimundus dē Taurīnā in 10.37.2.
ante Tortōsam cīvitātem: Tortosa is now Tartus, Syria; it was and is an important port (presently containing a Russian naval base), and was then subject to the emir or Tripoli.
Sērō autem iam factō: “but late in the day.” sērus –a –um, “late,” can be a neuter substantive.
in quendam angulum: “into some small section of the country.”
ibique hospitātī sunt: “and they camped there.”
ita ut tōta hostis esset ibi: “to give the impression that the entire army was there.”
quae etiam valdē ... in sē retinet: = quae (cīvitās) retinet valdē optimum portum in sē, secus mare; i.e., Tortosa contained a good harbor.
invāderent illam: = invāderent illam (cīvitātem).
urbem Archae: modern Arqa; for the siege see 10.35.3.
prope istam: near Tortosa / Tartus (see above)
Maraclea: modern Marqueh (now apparently famous for its beach) about 10 km north of Tartus.
et mīsit nostrōs in cīvitātem, nostraque vēxilla: the emir allowed the Franks to enter, with their banners flying.
vocabulary
sērus –a –um: late
angulus –ī, n.: corner, small part of the country
hostis hostis, m.: host, army (ML)
secus: alongside, next to (prep. + acc.)
obsessiō –ōnis, f.: siege
ammiralius –ī, m.: emir
vēxillum –ī, n.: a military ensign, standard, banner.
