At that time those who had gone to the city of Piga—Peter of Bracieux
and Payen of Orléans being the chiefs—fortified a castle called
Palormo; and they left therein a garrison of their people, and rode
forward to conquer the land. Theodore Lascaris had collected all the
people he could, and on the day of the feast of our Lord St. Nicholas
(6th December 1204), which is before the Nativity, he joined battle in
the plain before a castle called Poemaninon. The battle was engaged
with great disadvantage to our people, for those of the other part were
in such numbers as was marvellous; and on our side there were but one
hundred and forty knights, without counting the mounted sergeants.
But our Lord orders battles as it pleases Him. By His grace and by His
will, the Franks vanquished the Greeks and discomfited them, so that
they suffered very great loss. And within the week, they surrendered a
very large part of the land. They surrendered Poemaninon, which was a
very strong castle, and Lopadium, which was one of the best cities of
the land, and Polychna, which is seated on a lake of fresh water, and
is one of the strongest and best castles that can be found. And you
must know that our people fared very excellently, and by God’s help had
their will of that land.
Shortly after, by the advice of the Armenians, Henry, the brother of
the Emperor Baldwin of Constantinople, started from the city of Abydos,
leaving therein a garrison of his people, and rode to a city called
Adramittium, which lies on the sea, a two days’ journey from Abydos.
This city yielded to him, and he lodged therein, and a great part of
the land surrendered; for the city was well supplied with corn and
meats, and other goods. Then he maintained the war in those parts
against the Greeks.
Theodore Lascaris, who had been discomfited at Poemaninon, collected as
many people as he could, and assembled a very great army, and gave the
command thereof to Constantine, his brother, who was one of the best
Greeks in Roumania, and then rode straight towards Adramittium. And
Henry, the brother of the Emperor Baldwin, had knowledge, through the
Armenians, that a great host was marching against him, so he made ready
to meet them, and set his battalions in order; and he had with him some
very good men, as Baldwin of Beauvoir, and Nicholas of Mailly, and
Anseau of Cayeux, and Thierri of Loos, and Thierri of Tenremonde.
So it happened that on the Saturday which is before mid-Lent (19th
March 1205), came Constantine Lascaris with his great host, before
Adramittium. And Henry, when he knew of his coming, took counsel, and
said he would not suffer himself to be shut up in the city, but would
issue forth. And those of the other part came on with all their host,
in great companies of horse and foot, and those on our part went out to
meet them, and began the onslaught. Then was there a dour battle and
fighting hand to hand; but by God’s help the Franks prevailed, and
discomfited their foes, so that many were killed and taken captive, and
there was much booty. Then were the Franks at ease, and very rich, so
that the people of the land turned to them, and began to bring in their
rents.
BONIFACE ATTACKS LEON SGURE; HE IS JOINED BY GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUIN,
THE NEPHEW
Now let us leave speaking further (for the nonce), of those at
Constantinople, and return to the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat. The
marquis had gone, as you have heard, towards Salonika, and then ridden
forth against Leon Sgure, who held Napoli and Corinth, two of the
strongest cities in the world. Boniface besieged both cities at once.
James of Avesnes, with many other good men, remained before Corinth,
and the rest encamped before Napoli, and laid siege to it.
Then befell a certain adventure in the land. For Geoffry of
Villehardouin, who was nephew to Geoffry of Villehardouin, Marshal of
Roumania and Champagne, being his brother’s son, was moved to leave
Syria with the company that came to Constantinople. But wind and chance
carried him to the port of Modon, and there his ship was injured, so
that, of necessity, it behoved him to winter in that country. And a
Greek, who was a great lord of the land, knew of it, and came to him,
and did him much honour, and said: “Fair Sir, the Franks have conquered
Constantinople, and elected an emperor. If thou wilt make alliance with
me, I will deal with thee in all good faith, and we together Will
conquer much land.” So they made alliance on oath, the Greek and
Geoffry of Villehardouin, and conquered together a great part of the
country, and Geoffry of Villehardouin found much good faith in the
Greek.
But adventures happen as God wills, and sickness laid hold of the
Greek, and he made an end and died. And the Greek’s son rebelled
against Geoffry of Villehardouin, and betrayed him, and the castles in
which Geoffry had set a garrison turned against him. Now he heard tell
that the marquis was besieging Napoli, so he went towards him with as
many men as he could collect, and rode through the land for some six
days in very great peril, and thus came to the camp, where he was
received right willingly, and much honoured by the marquis and all who
were there. And this was but right, seeing he was very honourable and
valiant, and a good knight.
EXPLOITS OF WILLIAM OF CHAMPLITTE AND GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUIN, THE
NEPHEW, IN MOREA
The marquis would have given him land and possessions so that he might
remain with him, but he would not, and spoke to William of Champlitte,
who was his friend, and said: “Sir, I come from a land that is very
rich, and is called Morea. Take as many men as you can collect, and
leave this host, and let us go and conquer that land by the help of
God. And that which you will give me out of our conquests, I will hold
from you, and I will be your liegeman.” And William of Champlitte, who
greatly trusted and loved him, went to the marquis, and told him of the
matter, and the marquis allowed of their going.
So William of Champlitte and Geoffry of Villehardouin (the nephew)
departed from the host, and took with them about a hundred knights, and
a great number of mounted sergeants, and entered into the land of
Morea, and rode onwards till they came to the city of Modon. Michael
heard that they were in the land with so few people, and he collected
together a great number of people, a number that was marvellous, and he
rode after them as one thinking they were all no better than prisoners,
and in his hand.
And when they heard tell that he was coming, they refortified Modon,
where the defences had long since been pulled down, and there left
their baggage, and the lesser folk. Then they rode out a day’s march,
and ordered their array with as many people as they had. But the odds
seemed too great, for they had no more than five hundred men mounted,
whereas on the other part there were well over five thousand. But
events happen as God pleases; for our people fought with the Greeks and
discomfited and conquered them. And the Greeks lost very heavily, while
those on our side gained horses and arms enough, and other goods in
very great plenty, and so returned very happy, and very joyously, to
the city of Modon.
Afterwards they rode to a city called Coron, on the sea, and besieged
it. And they had not besieged it long before it surrendered, and
William gave it to Geoffry of Villehardouin (the nephew) and he became
his liegeman, and set therein a garrison of his men. Next they went to
a castle called Chalemate which was very strong and fair, and besieged
it. This castle troubled them for a very long space, but they remained
before it till it was taken. Then did more of the Greeks of that land
surrender than had done aforetime.