On Perigrinus, Part IV: Heroes- The Expendables

The Expendables

The last two knights on our list are known most for their mediocrity.  I dubbed this chapter The Expendables, they’re mentioned enough in history to include them in my narrative but history remembers them mostly for their less than stellar contributions to the first crusade.  (In order of most expendable/least impressive)

Expendable #1: Hugh of Vermandois,

Also known as Hugh the Great (A title either given him by himself, or by some ancient historian’s mistake) He was known for being “Great only in his boasting.”  He was brother to Philip I, King of France and joined the crusade on his brother’s behalf (King Philip had been grounded by the Pope/excommunicated for philandering and couldn’t go himself.)

He is most known for his haughty, abrasive personality, and his tendency to run away from danger and other inconveniences.  He sent a letter to Emperor Alexius, (the most powerful man in the world at that time), saying:

 "Know, O King, that I am King of Kings, and superior to all, who are under the sky. You are now permitted to greet me, on my arrival, and to receive me with magnificence, as befits my nobility.” 

He sailed with a large army to Constantinople but his fleet sank in a storm just off the coast.  Most of his army and all of his credibility perished.  Hugh’s letter however did arrive in Constantinople, so when he was rescued/captured by Byzantine forces Alexius had Hugh the Arrogant imprisoned.  He was held in captivity until he agreed to swear vassalage, and acknowledge Alexius as his liege lord.  His infamy was not earned among his peers however, until he left Antioch to “request aid from Alexius.”  He failed in his mission to secure aid for his brothers in arms, (If he even attempted to do so) and returned to Paris.

Upon his return he was sharply criticized along with the other deserters, but It wasn’t until he was threatened with excommunication by the Pope, and noogied by his brother, that he finally agreed to return to Jerusalem on the ill-fated Crusade 1.5 which was destroyed by Kilij Arslan and his allies. (Ill-fated may be too strong a word.  It was ill-planned, ill-executed, and ill-manned!)  He died in Tarsus of a festering wound, probably from an arrow in the back.

Expendable #2: Stephen “the Sensitive,” Count of Blois

           

            

            Some knights were more lovers than fighters, none perhaps more than Count Stephen.   He was one of the leaders of the First Crusade, and the son-in-law of William the Conqueror.  He is known for often writing enthusiastic letters to his wife Adela of Normandy, to whom he seemed completely infatuated with. Stephen was the head of the army council at the crusaders' siege of Nicaea in 1097 so he must have held the respect of his peers.  His leadership position was short lived. Perhaps unable to concentrate on anything but his Adela, (or because Stephen believed the neighboring lord was trying to move in on his old lady), he lost heart. 

After enduring severe hardship alongside the beleaguered crusaders at Antioch, he stole away in the dead of night.  leaving his men and honor behind.  It’s easy to gloss over details with the word “beleaguered”.  In truth I’m sure the thought of running away crossed the mind of each and every one of the crusaders.  Soldiers have been known for their affinity for complaining, it’s a coping mechanism that helps one find humor in a very unfunny business.  The siege of Antioch was a combat situation that even the most hardened, and enlightened modern veteran couldn’t comprehend: looming defeat, constant attacks, little hope of re-enforcement, disease, and starvation (to the point of rampant cannibalism). Though thousands soldiered on, it was a daily reality that Stephen and many others simply couldn’t cope with.  

On Perigrinus, Part IV: Heroes- What about Bob?

Robert  “The Jerusalemite”-his real nickname

Robert II of Flanders, byname, French Robert Le Hierosolymitain, Dutch Robrecht Van Jeruzalem   (born c. 1065—died Oct. 5, 1111, near Meaux, Fr.), count of Flanders (1093–1111).

 Though you may never have heard of him, he was one of the most celebrated of crusaders.  Robert’s aunt was the wife of William the Conqueror, King of England. 

And if Auntie and Uncle The Conqueror weren't enough to make a young Frenchman sprout some early chest hair, he was also close friends with his aunt’s son, Robert Curthose of Normandy.

He earned his stripes early on, fighting his uncle alongside Robert Curthose, (Curt Bobby to his friends)  and in his unsuccessful attempt(s) to regain the English throne from Curthose’s younger brother, King William II (William Rufus.)

He sailed for the Holy Land on the First Crusade in 1096 and earned fame second only to that of Godfrey of Bouillon.  His name pops up fairly often throughout the crusader histories and he even appears to have been close friends with both Baldwin and Tancred I found that Interesting because they were often at odds with each-other. By all accounts he was a true friend and an all-around stand up guy. As stand up as a guy with that background can be I suppose.

He returned home to Flanders shortly after the fall of Jerusalem to fight alongside the Normans and his suzerain, Louis VI “the Fat” of France,

against the “English”.   <See Side note at the end for elaboration.>

We know that he met his glorious end in battle, an end all warriors dream of.  We just aren’t sure exactly how glorious it was.  Some say he was drowned in 1111 while charging across a bridge, causing it to crash into the raging river below, taking with him 100 of his foes! Some say he managed to push his king safely to shore and give a final salute before slipping beneath the torrent.

Others say he was wounded, fell from a bridge into the water, and was drowned.  (By “Some” I mean “me”, and by “Others” I’m referring to “actual historians” using historical “evidence”.)

He was succeeded by his son, Baldwin VII, who himself died fighting the English in 1119.  And the moral of the story is, if you are French don’t fight the English.  I’m sure each time France declared war on England, French historians smacked their heads and said "PAS ENCORE!" 

Side note:

 It's important to remember that England had recently been conquered by Normans and this was the begining of the hostilities that would embroil the two powers in conflicts for generations to come. 

Step further back in time with me and we'll attempt to better understand the political situation:

The vikings under Rollo's command made a deal with the King of France.   Rollo's army would agree to stop raping and robbing France and even protect France from other viking invaders,  lF the king gave up the land that Rollo wanted, and also his smoking hot daughter.  The king began France's tradition of capitulation that day and Rollo became the first Duke Normandy and technically, a subject of the king of France. 

It was a medieval lease agreement and Duke William broke that agreement when he sailed off and conquered Briton.  Did Normandy belong to a duke and vassal of France or to the new King of England?  When William the Conqueror died things got more complicated, his sons fought over the English crown and the king of France sided with the loser. 

 At the time of the first crusade England belonged to William II, and the Normans that wanted to keep Briton from his older brother Robert "Bad Bob" Curthose. The King of France, rightfully concerned, sided with the Normans who believed it belonged to the Duke of Normandy ("Bad Bob").  

             

Robert “Bad Bob” Curthose, Duke of Normandy

Robert II of Normandy, byname Robert Curthose, French Robert Courteheuse   (born c. 1054—died February 1134, Cardiff, Wales), Duke of Normandy (1087–1106), 

British history remembers him as a weak-willed and incompetent ruler whose poor record as an administrator of his domain was partly redeemed by his contribution to the First Crusade (1096–99).  Then again British historians also remember that he attacked 2 of their kings and was loyal-ish to France.  In truth he was just more akin to his great, great grandfather Rollo, preferring cracking skulls and pillaging over managing an important kingdom. 

I've seen a documentary that claimed he went on crusade because he had lost his kingdom to his younger brother. Some say he agreed to mortgage his kingdom in order to finance his crusade.  What is certain, is that he literally gave up everything to “take up the cross” It was all very Mark 10:21 <Sarcasm>

The eldest son of William I the Conqueror, Robert, was recognized in boyhood as his father’s successor in Normandy. Apparently a glutton for daddy’s attention, he twice rebelled against his father and was in exile in Italy until his father’s death in 1087.

 He allegedly bested his father in single combat.  In the battle William I was unhorsed  by his young, albeit large son.  Robert withheld the killing blow, only when he recognized his father’s voice, (when he cursed him.)  William withdrew from the field humiliated, and perhaps emotionally hurt.  If TLC was around in the 11/12^th century I’m sure His family would’ve been on reality TV:

Robert claimed his birth rite after his father’s death but he turned out to be a poor administrator.  His administrative, and social skills were so poor that his own nobles sided with his younger brother William Rufus, stripping him of any rights to the English crown.

Shortly thereafter Robert left the drama and joined the crusade, fighting with distinction in every major engagement (meaning he kicked so much Jihadi tail that everyone noticed….. in every battle!)  Contemporary accounts say he was a brilliant field commander, and herculean warrior. 

When his youngest brother, Henry I, succeeded William Rufus as king of England (1100), Robert was in Italy. He hastened back to invade England, with ignominious results, and Henry in turn invaded Normandy (1105 and 1106). Eventually he was captured in the Battle of Tinchebrai and spent the rest of his life as a prisoner, dying in Cardiff castle.^[1]

---

[1] The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica -authors. “Robert II Duke of Normandy| Biography – Robert Curthose." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 2 Sept. 2015.