ENTRY OF THE CRUSADERS INTO CONSTANTINOPLE
Book XI.. Joseph-Francois Michaud .. Illustrated by Gustave Dore

History of the Crusades

Illus -50 Tissue

ENTRY OF THE CRUSADERS INTO CONSTANTINOPLE

The banners of the bishops of Troie and Soissons were planted on the top of the towers, and attracted the eager eyes of the whole army. This sight inflames those who are still on board the vessels ; on all sides they press, they rush forward, they fly to the escalade. The Franks obtain possession of four towers, terror prevails among the Greeks, and the few who resist are slaughtered at every point they endeavour to defend ; three gates fall to pieces beneath the strokes of the rams ; the horseman issue from the ships with their horses, and the whole army of the Crusaders precipitates itself at once into the city. A horseman ( Pierre Bacheux ), who preceded his fellows, advances almost alone to the hill upon which Mourzoufle was encamped, and the Greeks, in their fright, took him for a giant. Nicetas himself says that his helmet appeared as large as a tower ; the soldiers of the emperor could not stand against a single Frank horseman. Mourzoufle, abandoned by his troops, fled ; the Crusaders took possession of every Greek they met with. "IT WAS A HORRIBLE SPECTACLE," says Villehardouin, "TO SEE WOMEN AND YOUNG CHILDREN RUNNING DISTRACTEDLY HERE AND THERE, TREMBLING AND HALF DEAD WITH FRIGHT, LAMENTING PITEOUSLY AND BEGGING FOR MERCY." The Crusaders set fire to the quarter they had invaded, and the flames, driven by the wind, announced to the other extremities of city the presence of an irritated conqueror. - Book XI

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