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France during the first half of the 12th century
By Bernhardus de Clairvaux
I, Bernhardus de Clairvaux, humble servant of the most glorious and famous king of the French Renaud, son of the magnificent king Philip, will tell you what happend during the reign of our beloved ruler both in France and the Holy land.
Chapter I
How Renaud Rex was molested by rebellious barons and namely the most naughty Duke of Toulouse.
In the year of our lord 1101 there was much weeping among the peasantry in Frankish lands. Noble lords constantly waged war against each other and even against their liege, Renaud Capet, King of all Francs. Especially in southern France a lot of noble families did not love the King as it would have been their duty. This was a very disgraceful behaviour of unheard naughtiness as the position of the King should not be questioned. But nontheless the Frankish barons kept feuding because they liked it greatly and there was nothing else to do. So the realm was in turmoil and still is as I write this document which is really sad.
One must know that the peasants fear feuding very much as their homes get burned and their crop destroyed by this terrible constant warfare. Many parts of France were so heavily pillaged that there was no single living creature left, neither man nor animal, for the peasants were either killed or dispelled without mercy.
This found Renaud, King of France, most unpleasant as there was noone left to be taxed and noone left to workship God. And therefore in his wisdom His Royal Highness gathered all his loyal lords in order to fight against any defiant vassal and namely against Lord Raymond, the infamous Duke of Toulouse, who was known for his rebellious and heretic attitude for a long time.
Duke Raymond of Toulouse was the liege of several powerful barons of southern France who had pledged allegiance to him and he was able to field many knights and serjeants. He also controlled huge castles which were all stocked up and therefore full of both men-at-arms and food. Renaud Rex became very sad when he saw the Duke’s might because there was no victory possible without a long and lossy campaign.
Then, in the year of our lord 1107, there happend something which was much appreciated by His Royal Highness. The Kingdom of Burgundry was inherited by Renaud Rex! This indeed were great news as now it was possible to use the Burgundian barons in the fight against the rebellious Duke of Toulouse who has caused so much evil.
Chapter II
How the Kingdom of Jerusalem fought a hopeless battle against the infidels.
By that time however there was much grief among all Christians for the Kingdom of Jerusalem, vasall to the Crown of France, was severely ravaged by the infidels. Acre had already fallen to the saracens and the infant King of Jerusalem, Leon The Fat, was in great fear.
To the joy of all Christianity many great nobles took the cross and marched eastwards as noone was willing to let Jerusalem fall into the hands of the saracens again. But the infidels are utterly devilish and most snaky as everybody knows. They assaulted Jerusalem by night while everybody was sleeping and they attacked so surpisingly that noone could even grab his weapon! Many of the defending knights and serjeants were instantly slaughtered and so there was only a short battle with many christians dead and only few infidels slain. This was an utterly sad moment and the Holy City thus fell again to the saracens. Oh my dear God, what a tragedy!
But in the meantime there arrived in the holy land the most noble and powerful Frankish lord Guy de Cornouaille, Duke of Brittany, with great retinue. He immediatelly enquired what was going on, mounted his horse and rushed after the City of Jerusalem in which the citadel was still hold by a small but valorous group of christian soldiers. The ensuring battle was messy but this time the infidels were attacked by surprise and they soon fled in great panic as they always fear to meet Christian knights in open battle. Thus it happened that, by the will of god, the Holy City returned in the hands of Christianity!
France during the first half of the 12th century
By Bernhardus de Clairvaux
I, Bernhardus de Clairvaux, humble servant of the most glorious and famous king of the French Renaud, son of the magnificent king Philip, will tell you what happend during the reign of our beloved ruler both in France and the Holy land.
Chapter I
How Renaud Rex was molested by rebellious barons and namely the most naughty Duke of Toulouse.
In the year of our lord 1101 there was much weeping among the peasantry in Frankish lands. Noble lords constantly waged war against each other and even against their liege, Renaud Capet, King of all Francs. Especially in southern France a lot of noble families did not love the King as it would have been their duty. This was a very disgraceful behaviour of unheard naughtiness as the position of the King should not be questioned. But nontheless the Frankish barons kept feuding because they liked it greatly and there was nothing else to do. So the realm was in turmoil and still is as I write this document which is really sad.
One must know that the peasants fear feuding very much as their homes get burned and their crop destroyed by this terrible constant warfare. Many parts of France were so heavily pillaged that there was no single living creature left, neither man nor animal, for the peasants were either killed or dispelled without mercy.
This found Renaud, King of France, most unpleasant as there was noone left to be taxed and noone left to workship God. And therefore in his wisdom His Royal Highness gathered all his loyal lords in order to fight against any defiant vassal and namely against Lord Raymond, the infamous Duke of Toulouse, who was known for his rebellious and heretic attitude for a long time.
Duke Raymond of Toulouse was the liege of several powerful barons of southern France who had pledged allegiance to him and he was able to field many knights and serjeants. He also controlled huge castles which were all stocked up and therefore full of both men-at-arms and food. Renaud Rex became very sad when he saw the Duke’s might because there was no victory possible without a long and lossy campaign.
Then, in the year of our lord 1107, there happend something which was much appreciated by His Royal Highness. The Kingdom of Burgundry was inherited by Renaud Rex! This indeed were great news as now it was possible to use the Burgundian barons in the fight against the rebellious Duke of Toulouse who has caused so much evil.
Chapter II
How the Kingdom of Jerusalem fought a hopeless battle against the infidels.
By that time however there was much grief among all Christians for the Kingdom of Jerusalem, vasall to the Crown of France, was severely ravaged by the infidels. Acre had already fallen to the saracens and the infant King of Jerusalem, Leon The Fat, was in great fear.
To the joy of all Christianity many great nobles took the cross and marched eastwards as noone was willing to let Jerusalem fall into the hands of the saracens again. But the infidels are utterly devilish and most snaky as everybody knows. They assaulted Jerusalem by night while everybody was sleeping and they attacked so surpisingly that noone could even grab his weapon! Many of the defending knights and serjeants were instantly slaughtered and so there was only a short battle with many christians dead and only few infidels slain. This was an utterly sad moment and the Holy City thus fell again to the saracens. Oh my dear God, what a tragedy!
But in the meantime there arrived in the holy land the most noble and powerful Frankish lord Guy de Cornouaille, Duke of Brittany, with great retinue. He immediatelly enquired what was going on, mounted his horse and rushed after the City of Jerusalem in which the citadel was still hold by a small but valorous group of christian soldiers. The ensuring battle was messy but this time the infidels were attacked by surprise and they soon fled in great panic as they always fear to meet Christian knights in open battle. Thus it happened that, by the will of god, the Holy City returned in the hands of Christianity!
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