The Marquis of Montferrat besieged Napoli, but he could there do
nothing, for the place was too strong, and his men suffered greatly.
James of Avesnes, meanwhile, continued to besiege Corinth, where he had
been left by the marquis. Leon Sgure, who was in Corinth, and very wise
and wily, saw that James had not many people with him, and did not keep
good watch. So one morning, at the break of day, he issued from the
city in force, and got as far as the tents, and killed many before they
could get to their armour.
There was killed Dreux of Estruen, who was very honourable and valiant,
and greatly was he lamented. And James of Avesnes, who was in command,
waxed very wroth at the death of his knight, and did not leave the fray
till he was wounded in the leg right grievously. And well did those who
were present bear witness that it was to his doughtiness that they owed
their safety; for you must know that they came very near to being all
lost. But by God’s help they drove the Greeks back into the castle by
force.
Now the Greeks, who were very disloyal, still nourished treachery in
their hearts. They perceived at that time that the Franks were so
scattered over the land that each had his own matters to attend to. So
they thought they could the more easily betray them. They took envoys
therefore privily, from all the cities in the land, and sent them to
Johannizza, the King of Wallachia and Bulgaria, who was still at war
with them as he had been aforetime. And they told Johannizza they would
make him emperor, and give themselves wholly to him, and slay all the
Franks. So they swore that they would obey him as their lord, and he
swore that he would defend them as though they were his own people.
Such was the oath sworn.
UPRISING OF THE GREEKS AT DEMOTICA AND ADRIANOPLE; THEIR DEFEAT AT
ARCADIOPOLIS
At that time there happened a great misfortune at Constantinople, for
Count Hugh of St. Paul, who had long been in bed, sick of the gout,
made an end and died; and this caused great sorrow, and was a great
mishap, and much was he bewept by his men and by his friends. He was
buried with great honour in the church of our Lord St. George of
Mangana.
Now Count Hugh in his lifetime had held a castle called Demotica, which
was very strong and rich, and he had therein some of his knights and
sergeants. The Greeks, who had made oath to the King of Wallachia that
they would kill and betray the Franks, betrayed them in that castle,
and slaughtered many and took many captive. Few escaped, and those who
escaped went flying to a city called Adrianople, which the Venetians
held at that time.
Not long after the Greeks in Adrianople rose in arms; and such of our
men as were therein, and had been set to guard it, came out in great
peril, and left the city. Tidings thereof came to the Emperor Baldwin
of Constantinople, who had but few men with him, he and Count Louis of
Blois. Much were they then troubled and dismayed. And thenceforth, from
day to day, did evil tidings begin to come to them, that everywhere the
Greeks were rising, and that wherever the Greeks found Franks occupying
the land, they killed them.
And those who had left Adrianople, the Venetians and the others who
were there, came to a city called Tzurulum, that belonged to the
Emperor Baldwin. There they found William of Blanvel, who kept the
place for the emperor. By the help and comfort that he gave them, and
because he accompanied them with as many men as he could, they turned
back to a city, some twelve leagues distant, called Arcadiopolis, which
belonged to the Venetians, and they found it empty. So they entered in,
and put a garrison there.
On the third day the Greeks of the land gathered together, and came at
the break of dawn before Arcadiopolis; and then began, from all sides,
an assault, great and marvellous. The Franks defended themselves right
well, and opened their gates, and issued forth, attacking vigorously.
As was God’s will, the Greeks were discomfited, and those on our side
began to cut them down and to slay them, and then chased them for a
league, and killed many, and captured many horses and much other spoil.
So the Franks returned with great joy to Arcadiopolis, and sent tidings
of their victory to the Emperor Baldwin, in Constantinople, who was
much rejoiced thereat. Nevertheless they dared not hold the city of
Arcadiopolis, but left it on the morrow, and abandoned it, and returned
to the city of Tzurulum. Here they remained in very great doubt, for
they misdoubted the Greeks who were in the city as much as those who
were without, because the Greeks in the city had also taken part in the
oath sworn to the King of Wallachia, and were bound to betray the
Franks. And many there were who did not dare to abide in Tzurulum, but
made their way back to Constantinople.
THE CRUSADERS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STRAITS ARE RECALLED TO MARCH ON
ADRIANOPLE—EXPEDITION OF GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUIN
Then the Emperor Baldwin and the Doge of Venice, and Count Louis took
counsel together, for they saw they were losing the whole land. And
they settled that the emperor should tell his brother Henry, who was at
Adramittium, to abandon whatsoever conquests he had made, and come to
their succour.
Count Louis, on his side, sent to Payen of Orléans and Peter of
Bracieux, who were at Lopadium, and to all the people that were with
them, telling them to leave whatsoever conquests they had made, save
Pioa only, that lay on the sea, where they were to set a garrison—the
smallest they could—and that the remainder were to come to their
succour.
The emperor directed Macaire of Sainte-Menehould, and Matthew of
Wallincourt, and Robert of Ronsoi, who had some hundred knights with
them in Nicomedia, to leave Nicomedia and come to their succour.
By command of the Emperor Baldwin, Geoffry of Villehardouin, Marshal of
Champagne and of Roumania, issued from Constantinople, with Manasses of
l’Isle, and with as many men as they could collect, and these were few
enough, seeing that all the land was being lost. And they rode to the
city of Tzurulum, which is distant a three days’ journey. There they
found William of Blanvel, and those that were with him, in very great
fear, and much were these reassured at their coming. At that place they
remained four days. The Emperor Baldwin sent after Geoffry the Marshal
as many as he could, of such people as were coming into Constantinople,
so that on the fourth day there were at Tzurulum eighty knights.
Then did Geoffry the Marshal move forward, and Manasses of l’Isle, and
their people, and they rode on, and came to the city of Arcadiopolis,
and quartered themselves therein. There they remained a day, and then
moved to a city called Bulgaropolis. The Greeks had avoided this city
and the Franks quartered themselves therein. The following day they
rode to a city called Neguise, which was very fair and strong, and well
furnished with all good things. And they found that the Greeks had
abandoned it, and were all gone to Adrianople. Now Adrianople was
distant nine French leagues, and therein were gathered all the great
multitude of the Greeks. And the Franks decided that they should wait
where they were till the coming of the Emperor Baldwin.
RENIER OF TRIT ABANDONED AT PHILIPPOPOLIS BY HIS SON AND THE GREATER
PART OF HIS PEOPLE
Now does this book relate a great marvel: for Renier of Trit, who was
at Philippopolis, a good nine days’ journey from Constantinople, with
at least one hundred and twenty knights, was deserted by Reginald his
son, and Giles his brother, and James of Bondies, who was his nephew,
and Achard of Verdun, who had his daughter to wife. And they had taken
some thirty of his knights, and thought to come to Constantinople; and
they had left him, you must know, in great peril. But they found the
country raised against them, and were discomfited; and the Greeks took
them, and afterwards handed them over to the King of Wallachia, who had
their heads cut off. And you must know that they were but little pitied
by the people, because they had behaved in such evil sort to one whom
they were bound to treat quite otherwise.
And when the other knights of Renier de Trit saw that he was thus
abandoned by those who were much more bound to him than themselves,
they felt the less shame, and some eighty together left him, and
departed by another way. So Renier of Trit remained among the Greeks
with very few men, for he had not more than fifteen knights at
Philippopolis and Stanimac-which is a very strong castle which he held,
and where he was for a long time besieged.