Defeat Of The Musulman

(Conspiracy Nation, 11/29/05) -- This was one of the most amazing events ever seen. Scores of thousands of Europeans heard the exhortations of either a demented or an inspired wandering preacher, Peter the Hermit (image, left), and heeded his message. They left all behind and journeyed hundreds of miles, to rescue Jerusalem from the Musulman. Peter, a sort of Billy Graham of his time, awoke an intense revivalism. He is described as "pusillus, persona contemptibilis, vivacis ingenii, et oculum habens perspicacem gratumque, et sponte fluens ei non deerat eloquium." [1] He had been in the Holy Land where the infidels mistreated pilgrims, had seen and suffered same, and had returned to Europe bearing news of Muslim outrage. At first, the Turks or Turkmans had been fragmented. But then arose the Turkish leader Mamood. He waged "holy war" against the Hindoos of Hindostan. "To the religion of Hindostan the zealous Musulman was cruel and inflexible." [1] The Musulman horde turned west. All fell before their furious advance. Greek churches were profaned.

The infamy climaxed with the conquest of Jerusalem. "At the name of Hakem, the lord of the living and the dead, every knee was bent in religious adoration..." [1] Hakem hated both Jews and Christians. "The temple of the Christian world, the church of the Resurrection, was demolished to its foundations; the luminous prodigy of Easter was interrupted; and much profane labor was exhausted to destroy the cave in the rock which properly constitutes the holy sepulchre." [1]

Pilgrims were oppressed and robbed. Patriarchs were "dragged by the hair along the pavement and cast into a dungeon..." [1]

Into this cesspool of Musulman oppression wandered Peter the Hermit. He too suffered insult and injury. He vowed, "I will rouse the martial nations of Europe." [1]

In austere solitude Peter the Hermit's "body was emaciated, his fancy was inflamed." [1] In Europe, all were moved "by his call to repentance and arms. When he painted the sufferings of the natives and pilgrims of Palestine, every heart was melted to compassion; every breast glowed with indignation when he challenged the warriors of the age to defend their brethren, and rescue their Saviour." [1]

Deus Vult!

A domestic accord, known as the Truce of God, was agreed upon. All Europe put aside their petty rivalries and united behind the religious crusade. This Truce of God (a.k.a. Peace of God) is the foundation of the Chivalric Code, followed by all true knights.

Sir Gawain epitomizes the Chivalric Code. He received a test of honor from the Green Knight. "Gawain held true to all the tests presented by the Green Knight, the castle lord, Berkilac, and to the lady of the castle, but one. He could not withstand the temptation of the magical scarf that will bring protection to the one wearing it. This was a test of his love for his life. This love of life was the true character of the knight. In all they did, life was valued and cherished." [2]

In 1095 A.D., Pope Urban II climbed atop a scaffold in Clermont, France. His exhortation was vehement: Jerusalem must be saved! The crowd went wild. "Deus vult, Deus vult!" they shouted.

"It is indeed the will of God," replied the pope, "and let this memorable word, the inspiration surely of the Holy Spirit, be for ever adopted as your cry of battle, to animate the devotion and courage of the champions of Christ." [1]

"Deus vult! Deus vult!"

"His cross," continued the Roman pontiff, "is the symbol of your salvation; wear it, a red, a bloody cross, as an external mark, on your breasts or shoulders, as a pledge of your sacred and irrevocable engagement." [1]

Clergy and laity both accordingly sewed a red cross onto their outer garments.

The True Knight

How could followers of the Prince of Peace justify unsheathing the sword? The motive must be pure. The crusade was justified by (1) the right of a just defense; (2) a special title to the Holy Land; and (3) the impiety of the Musulman.

"In the accomplished character of Tancred we discover all the virtues of a perfect knight, the true spirit of chivalry, which inspired the generous sentiments and social offices of man far better than the base philosophy, or the baser religion, of the times." [1]

The knight could impart, on his own, according to his own judgement, the elevation into knighthood. The candidate, after having achieved a quest, knelt, and his shoulder received a slight blow, "as an emblem of the last affront which it was lawful for him to endure." [1]

The true knight "devoted himself to speak the truth; to maintain the right; to protect the distressed; to practice courtesy... to pursue the infidels; to despise the allurements of ease and safety; and to vindicate in every perilous adventure the honour of his character."

Clash Of Civilizations

"Europe was loosened from its foundations and hurled against Asia." Nothing of the like had ever been seen. Six hundred thousand armed pilgrims, not counting priests, monks, women and children, swarmed eastward. Hungary and Bulgaria were whitened with the crusaders' bones. Their vanguard was cut to pieces by the Turkish sultan. Still they came. These myriads "that marched, that pressed forwards on the holy pilgrimage, were a subject of astonishment to themselves and to the Greeks." [1]

Scorched by the rays and infected by the vapors of the Syrian sun, famine decimated their ranks. Spirits sank. Then, when all seemed lost, "their confidence was revived by a visible sign." Discovered was the Holy Lance which had pierced the side of their Savior. [1]

Greatly besieged by the Musulman, nevertheless the gates of Antioch were opened. "Let the Lord arise, and let his enemies be scattered!" shouted the crusaders. Out they marched, in twelve divisions, to confront the enemy. At the head of their army, they carried the Holy Lance. "Three knights,  in white garments and resplendant arms, either issued, or seemed to issue, from the hills." These were said to be St. George, St. Theodore, and St. Maurice. [1]

The Musulman force scattered in the face of the frenzied onslaught. The pilgrims continued on, to Jerusalem.

Defeat Of The Musulman

Godfrey of Bouillon directed the Christian siege of Jerusalem against its northern and western sides; his standard was erected on Mount Calvary. As far as St. Stephens Gate, "the line of attack was continued by Tancred and the two Roberts." The siege lasted forty days. On a Friday, "at three in the afternoon, the day and hour of the Passion, Godfrey of Bouillon stood victorious on the walls of Jerusalem." Approximately "four hundred and sixty years after the conquest of Omar, the holy city was rescued from the Mohammedan yoke." [1]

The spirit of freedom, which pervades the feudal institutions, was felt in its strongest energy by the volunteers of the cross, who elected for their chief the most deserving of his peers. Amidst the slaves of Asia, unconscious of the lesson or example, a model of political liberty was introduced; and the laws of the French kingdom are derived from the purest source of equality and justice. Of such laws, the first and indispensible condition is the assent of those whose obedience they require, and for whose benefit they are designed. [1]

Godfrey helped compose the Assise of Jerusalem and the new code was placed in the holy sepulchre. [1]

------- Notes -------
[1] Gibbon, Edward. Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol. VI, ch. LVII-LVIII
[2] "The Chivalric Code." http://nj.essortment.com/chivalriccode_rxnf.htm

-------
Conspiracy Nation
http://www.shout.net/~bigred/cn.html