

CHAP. VI.] 



THE CRUSADES. 



173 



knights a ad nobles dismounted, and engaged most actively 

 in all the operations of the attack, the officers of the 

 highest rank performing the same duties as the commonest 

 soldier. They commenced by making many assaults, in 

 which they were repulsed after useless displays of the 

 most astonishing valour; and we see accounts of 

 Eaymond and Godfrey, the two most prominent leaders 

 of the Christian host, fighting in the towers, and 

 personally using crossbows and other projectile weapons. 

 Mines were also used in the siege. E.aymond, having 

 undermined, and so destroyed one of the principal towers 

 of the city,' caused such consternation that the place 

 surrendered to the Greek emperor the following day, in 

 order to be protected from the rapacity of the crusaders 

 from the West. 



The siege of Antioch is marked by the same peculi- 

 arities that were shown in the siege of Nicea, except that 

 the Christians seem to have relied upon a blockade, rather 

 than upon direct operations. The knights were engaged 

 continually in foraging for provisions, in defeating 

 attempts to raise the siege, and to throw supplies into 

 the city, and in driving back sorties which the garrison 

 were continually making. 



By this time they had discovered the want of an 

 infantry force, and the uselessness of the vagabonds who 

 were in their following. To rectify as much as possible 

 this defect, they organised a military force that was very 

 formidable to the Saracens. The beggars and stragglers 

 that hung around the Christian army were employed in 

 the labours of the siege, and were placed under the orders 

 of an officer who was entitled the " Roi truand" or king 

 of the vagrants.'' They were paid out of the general 

 treasury for their services, and when they were able to 

 buy arms and clothes they were forced to enter one of 

 the regular troops of the army. Embarrassing camp 

 followers were thus made valuable auxiliaries. 



Although Antioch was besieged seven months, the 

 crusaders would have failed to take it, but for a piece 

 of treachery on the part of one of the officers of the 

 ^ Michaiid, i. 102. 2 ibid. U5. 



