THE APPEAL OF ALEXIUS FOR AID IN IO95 ^4^ 



to Jerusalem as a pilgrim. While in the East he saw and heard so many 

 new things that he decided to rewrite the story of the crusade. Returning 

 in 1 102 by way of Rome, he carried out his resolution, and called the 

 new work the Hierosolymita. In it he expresses the prejudices which 

 he contracted while associating with the Crusaders.^ In several places 

 he applies harsh epithets to Alexius^ although he had no personal 

 grievances against him. Fortunately for our purpose, Ekkehard twice 

 mentions appeals from the East. In chapter v, section 2 he says he 

 saw circular letters asking for western help, as given above.^ But in 

 section 3 of the same chapter he says Alexius sent many letters to Urban, 

 asking the entire Occident to hasten to his relief and promising the 

 necessary supplies for all both on sea and land.'* This extravagant 

 rumor does not appear in any other writer, and Ekkehard carefully 

 refrains from saying that he saw any of these letters in any form. He 

 does not furnish any particulars about such letters, and we know that 

 he could not have seen them at Rome.^ Neither could he have learned 

 of them from Urban, who died three years before Ekkehard visited 

 Italy. He does not mention Placentia at all. What he gives he prob- 

 ably accepted because it harmonized with the common estimate of the 

 character of Alexius. Long before 1102 it was perfectly plain that the 

 Emperor had cleverly used the Crusaders for his own advantage; Ray- 

 mond says the people hated him bitterly.^ Thus Ekkehard merely 

 joined in the popular refrain. 



The Condition of the Empire in 1095 



Finally, we may examine the best authorities as to the condition of 

 the Empire. If, as Bernold says, the strait alone saved the capital, 

 then Alexius may well have sought aid. Unfortunately, the words 



' Details in Hagenmeyer^s edition (Tubingen, 1877). 



' Notably in chapters xiii and xxiv. 



■s See note 2, p. 138. 



«" Predictus etiam Alexius . . . . nonpaucas epistolas Urbane papae direxit,quibus in defensionemorien- 

 talium ecclesiarum se non sufficere deploravit, obtestans totum, si fieri posset, Occidentem sibi in adiutorium 

 advocari, promittens per se cuncta necessaria proeliaturis terra marique ministrari." 



5 The anti-Pope destroyed Urban's correspondence in August, 1098. Archives de I'Orient latin, I, 

 p. 107. 



^ Recueil III: "Populus semper ei maledicat et proclamet eum proditorem." They also believed he 

 abandoned the company of Peter the Hermit near Nicea. 



