38 quotes
Saladin was a man of keen intelligence. He was vigorous in war and unusually generous.
Historia (1170)
The princes wept for joy and lifted up their eyes and hands to the sky, giving abundant thanks to the Creator because he had deigned to grant such abundant treasure to unworthy men.
Historia (1170)
In that same year [1144], during the time which elapsed between the death of King Baldwin's father and Baldwin's elevation to the throne, one Zengi, a vicious man, was the most powerful of the Eastern Turks.
Historia (1170)
There was, as we have said before, bad feeling between Count Joscelyn and the Prince of Antioch — a feeling that was not hidden, but rather had become an open hatred.
Historia (1170)
The increased force of our men was unbeatable...That day's battle was fought by most unequal forces.
The kings and all the leaders of the army believed them and they deserted the places which they had earlier won with so much sweat and at the cost of the lives of so many of their men.
Historia (1170)
The new arrivals were fresh and greedy for glory...They suffered casualties frequently until they also had had a taste of our firmness.
It is said that, at the King's command, Guy first swore that while the King lived he would not transfer to another any of the castles possessed at present by the King and that he would alienate nothing from the treasury.
Historia (1170)
Our men—first the knights, and then the infantry—made attacks on the town almost every day. The townsmen met them boldly and resisted them vigorously, fighting for their wives and children and, what was most important, for their freedom.
Historia (1170)
Because they have a headquarters in the royal palace next to the Temple of the Lord, ... they are called the Brothers of the Militia of the Temple.
There were...men with lances hiding inside of the walls. When these men saw our men passing by, they would stab them as they passed, through little peepholes in the walls.
The whole city [Ascalon] lies in a kind of basin which is tilted down toward the sea...There are no springs...but wells both outside and within the city supply...drinking water.
His leprosy, which he had had from the beginning of his reign and, indeed, from early adolescence, had grown worse than usual. He had lost his sight and his extremities were covered with ulcerations so that he was unable to use either his hands or his feet.
Historia (1170)
Their primary duty, one which was enjoined upon them by the Lord Patriarch and the other bishops for the remission of sins, was that of protecting the roads and routes against the attacks of robbers and brigands. This they did especially in order to safeguard pilgrims.
Historia (1170)
There were, moreover, men with lances hiding inside of the walls. When these men saw our men passing by, they would stab them as they passed, through little peepholes in the walls which were cleverly designed for this purpose, so that those hiding inside could scarcely be seen.
Historia (1170)
Shawar, at the usual time, went to the camp to make his customary visit and pay his usual respects. The ministers of death ran up to him and carried out the execution which had been ordered: they threw him to the ground, stabbed him with their swords, and cut off his head.
Historia (1170)
Thus a company of kings and princes such as we have not read of through all the ages had gathered and, for our sins, had been forced to return, covered with shame and disgrace, with their mission unfulfilled.
Historia (1170)
"We shall send envoys in the name of the whole people to the powerful King who is besieging us and we shall try to secure definite peace terms to enable us to leave freely...so that we may put an end to such misfortunes."