The History of the Holy War, Book 2 · Chapter 40 – Chapter 41
Chap. 40. Saladine fitteth himself with forrein forces. The originall and great power of the Mammalukes, with their first service.
IN the minority of King Baldwine, who was but thirteen yeares old, Milo de Plancia Noble-man was Protectour of the Realm: Whose pride and insolence could not be brooked; and therefore he was stabbed at Ptolemais, and Reimund Count of Tripoli chosen to succeed him.
Now Saladine seriously intendeth to set on the Kingdome of Jerusalem, and seeketh to furnish himself with souldiers for that service. But he perceived that the ancient nation of the Egyptians had lasted so long, that now it ranne dregs; their spirits being as low as the countrey they lived in, and they fitter to make merchants and mechanicks then military men: For they were bred in such soft imployments, that they were presently foundred with any hard labour. Wherefore he sent to the Circassians by the lake of Meotis, neare Taurica Chersonesus, and thence bought many slaves of able and active bodies. For it was a people born in a hard countrey (no fewel for pleasure grew there nor was brought thither) and bred harder; so that warre was almost their nature, with custome of continuall skirmishing with the neighbouring Tartars.
These slaves he trained up in military discipline, most of them being Christians once baptized; but afterwards untaught Christ, they learned Mahomet, and so became the worse foes to religion for once being her friends. These proved excellent souldiers and speciall horsemen, and are called Mammalukes. And surely the greatnesse of Saladine and his successours stood not so much on the legs of their native Egyptians, as it leaned on the staff of these strangers. Saladine, and especially the Turkish Kings after him, gave great power, and placed much trust in these *Tyrius, lib. 21. cap. 23.Mammalukes: Who lived a long time in ignorance of their own strength, till at last they took notice of it, and scorning any longer to be factours for another, they would set up for themselves, and got the sovereignty from the Turkish Kings. Thus Princes who make their subjects over-great, whet a knife for their own throats. And posterity may chance to see the insolent Janizaries give the grand Seignor such a trip on the heel as may tumble him on his back. But more largely of these Mammalukes usurping the kingdome of Egypt (God willing) in its proper place.
Thus Saladine having furnished himself with new souldiers, went to handsel their valour upon the Christians; invaded the Holy land, burning all the countrey before him, and raging in the bloud of poore Christians, till he came and encamped about Askelon.
Mean time whilest Reimund Count of Tripoli, Protectour of the Kingdome, with Philip Earl of Flanders, & the chief strength of the Kingdome were absent in Celosyria, wasting the countrey about Emissa and Cesarea, young King Baldwine lay close in Askelon, not daring to adventure on so strong an enemy. With whose fear Saladine encouraged, dispersed his army, some one way,1176 some another, to forrage the countrey. King Baldwine courted with this opportunity,Nov. 25. marched out privately, not having past foure hundred horse, with some few footmen, and assaulted his secure enemies, being six and twenty thousand. But victory standeth as little in the number of souldiers, as verity in the plurality of voices. The Christians got the conquest, and in great triumph returned to Jerusalem.
This overthrow rather madded then daunted Saladine: Who therefore to recover his credit, some moneths after with his Mammalukes fell like a mighty tempest upon the Christians, as they were parting the spoil of a band of Turks, whom they had vanquished; put many to the sword, the rest to flight. Otto grand Master of the Templars, and Hugh sonne in law to the Count of Tripoli, were taken prisoners; and the King himself had much ado to escape. And thus both sides being well wearied with warre, they were glad to refresh themselves with a short slumber of a truce solemnly concluded; and their troubled estates breathed almost for the space of two yeares. Which truce Saladine the more willingly embraced,1179 because of a famine in the kingdome of Damascus, where it had scarce *Centurist. Cent. 12. in Baldvino 4.rained for five yeares together.
Chap. 41. The fatall jealousies betwixt the King and Reimund Earl of Tripoli.
1181BUt this so welcome a calm was troubled with domesticall discords. For the Kings mother (a woman of a turbulent spirit) and her brother his steward, accused Reimund Count of Tripoli, governour of the Realm in the Kings minority, as if he affected the Crown for himself: which accusation this Earl could never wholly wipe off. For slender and lean slanders quickly consume themselves; but he that is branded with an hainous crime (though false) when the wound is cured, his credit will be killed with the scarre. Before we go further, let us view this Earl Reimunds disposition, and we shall find him marked to do mischief, and to ruine this Realm. He was sonne to Reimund, grandchild to Pontius Earl of Tripoli, by Cecilie the daughter of *Tyrius, lib. 21. cap. 5.Philip King of France, great-grandchild to Bertram first Earl of Tripoli, great-great-grandchild to Reimund Earl of Tholose, one of speciall note amongst the primitive adventurers in the Holy warre. His mother was Hodiern, third daughter of Baldwine the second, King of Jerusalem. A man whose stomach was as high as his birth; and very serviceable to this State, whilest the sharpnesse of his parts were used against the Turks; which at last turned edge against the Christians: Proud, not able to digest the least wrong; and though long in captivity amongst the Turks, yet a very treuant in the school of affliction, who never learned the lesson of patience: So revengefull, that he would strike his enemy, though it were through the sides of religion and the Christian cause. For this present accusation of treason, good authours seem to be his compurgatours for this at this time, though afterwards he discovered his treacherous intents. And because he could not rise by his service, he made his service fall by him; and undid what he had done for the publick good, because thereby he could not attain his private ends. He commanded over the Earldome of Tripoli, which was a territory of large extent, wherein he was absolute Lord. And by the way we may take notice of this as one of the banes of the Kingdome of Jerusalem, That the principalities of Antioch, Tripoli, and Edessa (whilest it was Christian) were branches of this Kingdome, but too big for the body: For the Princes thereof on each petty distast would stand on their guard; as if they had been subjects out of courtesie, not conscience: and though they confessed they owed the King allegeance, yet they would pay no more then they thought fitting themselves.
To return to King Baldwine; This suspicion of Earl Reimund, though at first but a buzze, soon got a sting in the Kings head, and he violently apprehended it. Whereupon Reimund coming to Jerusalem, was by the way commanded to stay, to his great disgrace. But some of the Nobility foreseeing what danger this discord might bring, reconciled them with much labour. However, Baldwine ever after looked on this Earl with a jealous eye. Jealousie, if it be fire in private persons, is wild-fire in Princes, who seldome rase out their names whom once they have written in their black bills. And as the Italian proverb is, Suspicion giveth a passe-port to faith to set it on packing; so this Earl finding himself suspected, was never after cordially loyall, smothering his treachery in this Kings life, which afterwards broke forth into an open flame.