142 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



which Bernold attributes to the embassy of 1095 recur in almost 

 identical phraseology in Gregory's letter^ of March i, 1074, addressed 

 To All Christians. But if we waive this objection as to form, we must 

 insist that the contents also are at least misleading. Granting some 

 exaggeration on the part of the envoys, we must nevertheless deny the 

 circumstantial evidence supporting the alleged appeal. No crisis 

 existed in or about 1095, to justify any appeal. When Alexius sought 

 aid in 1082, 1084 and 1088 there were special reasons for his actions. 

 A call for mercenaries about 109 1 was merely incidental to the use of 

 such troops.^ Certain writers assert without adequate proofs that 

 Alexius was planning the recovery of the provinces which were lost in 

 107 1. If this be true, they are really denying the necessity, and conse- 

 quently the probability, of an appeal in 1095. 



The latest work devoted to the reign of Alexius declares plainly that 

 in 1095 the empire was enjoying greater peace and tranquillity than it 

 had known in fifteen years.'' There are two reasons for this condition: 

 the increasing control which the new ruler was exercising, and the dis- 

 sensions of his enemy, the Turk. In 1081 Alexius was a usurper; by 

 1095 he had put down his rivals and ruled without dispute. Secondly, 

 the Sultan Malek-Shah died in 1092 and the rival factions among the 

 Turks quarreled savagely over his dominions.^ So fierce were their 

 wars that the Crusaders' success was almost inevitable, and the alliance 

 with Egypt a logical result. So little was the great city in danger that 

 the motley hosts of Peter the Hermit advanced perhaps a hundred miles 

 beyond the strait before they met their fate. 



• Jaffe, Regesta, 4826. and Migne, P. L., CLXVIII. 329: " . . . . cognovimus gentem paganorum 

 contra Christianum fortiter invaluisse imperium, et miseranda cnidelitate jam fere usque ad muros Constan- 

 tinopolitanae civitatis omnia devastasse et tyrannica violentia occupasse, et multa millia Christianorum quasi 

 pecudes occidisse" (1074). 



Bemold merely substitutes the churches for the empire — "ecclesiam, quam pagani jam pene in iUis parti- 

 bus deleverant, qui partes illas usque ad muros Constantinopolitanae civitatis obtinuerant, . . . ." (1095). 



' Essays on the Crusades (1903) p. 92, the words of M. Diehl. Cf. also Freeman, Norman Conquest 

 (1873), IV, 426-428. 



3 For example, Kugler in Hist. Zeitschri/l, 1866. p. 304, note 16; a critical contention in his thesis, but no 

 proof. 



■« Chalandon, Essai .... (1900), pp. 156, 158. 



s RoHRiCHT has an admirable resume, with citations to the sources, in bis Geschichte des erslen Kreuz., 

 226-234. 



