Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Brief History Of The Religious And Military Order Of The Knights Templars Of St. John Of Jerusalem.
Fulk king of Jerusalem died in 1142 , and was succeeded b y his son Baldwin , a minor , and soon after the infidels recovered the country of Edessa from the Christians . The affairs of the latter now began to wear an unfavourable aspect in the east ; upon which an ambassador was sent into Europe to solicit the aid of the Christian princes . Louis VII . of France readily
acceded to the proposal of a new croisade , and together with the imperial court soon raised a formidable army for the reduction of Asia . The emperor Conrad took the lead , and arrived with his legions at Constantinople early in 1147 . The same treachery which had distinguished the Greeks towards the Latin Christians in the former croisade , was manifested in the
present . The emperor Emanuel Comnenus caused all the wells and cisterns to be poisoned near the places the Germans were to march through , and the guides who were appointed to conduct them , had secret directions to lead them into the desarts of Cappadocia ; by which means nearl y half the imperial army was destroyed . At length both monarchs met at the lace of destinationand
dep , termined on undertaking the siege of Damascus ; here , however , they failed with the loss of near two hundred thousand men , and returned into Europe covered with mortifying contempt . By the failure of this flattering expedition , the condition of the Asiatic Christians became extremely alarming . It was natural to suppose that the
infidels would seize the favourable opportunity which it afforded them . The principal dependence of the Christians now was upon the military orders , and herein they were not'deceived . Old Gaza was strongly fortified to protect Jerusalem , and the property and prov tection of it given to the Templars . The infidels ravaged the country , of Edessa , and committed their
usual excesses of cruelty upon the unfortunate inhabitants . To repress their incursions , Baldwin advanced against them at the head of the military orders , and the infidels were by no means disposed to shun the encounter . They were numerous , and commanded by their sultan iu person . The engagement was obstinate and bloody ; and the sultan , finding his army dreadfully thinned by the fierce
courage of the Christians , gave up the contest and retreated . But whilst the king was engaged in this expedition , the Turcomans in considerable force laid siege to Jerusalem . A small number only of the milittjry orders was left in garrison , and bein g insufficient to defend the place in case of an assault , they resolutely determined on attacking the besiegers . At midnight they sallied forth , and finding
the camp buried in security and sleep , they set fire to the tents and obtained an easy victory . The infidels , ignorant of the numbers of their enemies , or from whence they proceeded , imagined the place was relieved by the arrival of the king , and fled on all sides . In their fli g ht they were ^ net by that monarch who completed their destruction . It was now the Christians' turn tocommence the hostile attack , and to carry their arms into their enemy ' s territory . In 1152 , Bald-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Brief History Of The Religious And Military Order Of The Knights Templars Of St. John Of Jerusalem.
Fulk king of Jerusalem died in 1142 , and was succeeded b y his son Baldwin , a minor , and soon after the infidels recovered the country of Edessa from the Christians . The affairs of the latter now began to wear an unfavourable aspect in the east ; upon which an ambassador was sent into Europe to solicit the aid of the Christian princes . Louis VII . of France readily
acceded to the proposal of a new croisade , and together with the imperial court soon raised a formidable army for the reduction of Asia . The emperor Conrad took the lead , and arrived with his legions at Constantinople early in 1147 . The same treachery which had distinguished the Greeks towards the Latin Christians in the former croisade , was manifested in the
present . The emperor Emanuel Comnenus caused all the wells and cisterns to be poisoned near the places the Germans were to march through , and the guides who were appointed to conduct them , had secret directions to lead them into the desarts of Cappadocia ; by which means nearl y half the imperial army was destroyed . At length both monarchs met at the lace of destinationand
dep , termined on undertaking the siege of Damascus ; here , however , they failed with the loss of near two hundred thousand men , and returned into Europe covered with mortifying contempt . By the failure of this flattering expedition , the condition of the Asiatic Christians became extremely alarming . It was natural to suppose that the
infidels would seize the favourable opportunity which it afforded them . The principal dependence of the Christians now was upon the military orders , and herein they were not'deceived . Old Gaza was strongly fortified to protect Jerusalem , and the property and prov tection of it given to the Templars . The infidels ravaged the country , of Edessa , and committed their
usual excesses of cruelty upon the unfortunate inhabitants . To repress their incursions , Baldwin advanced against them at the head of the military orders , and the infidels were by no means disposed to shun the encounter . They were numerous , and commanded by their sultan iu person . The engagement was obstinate and bloody ; and the sultan , finding his army dreadfully thinned by the fierce
courage of the Christians , gave up the contest and retreated . But whilst the king was engaged in this expedition , the Turcomans in considerable force laid siege to Jerusalem . A small number only of the milittjry orders was left in garrison , and bein g insufficient to defend the place in case of an assault , they resolutely determined on attacking the besiegers . At midnight they sallied forth , and finding
the camp buried in security and sleep , they set fire to the tents and obtained an easy victory . The infidels , ignorant of the numbers of their enemies , or from whence they proceeded , imagined the place was relieved by the arrival of the king , and fled on all sides . In their fli g ht they were ^ net by that monarch who completed their destruction . It was now the Christians' turn tocommence the hostile attack , and to carry their arms into their enemy ' s territory . In 1152 , Bald-