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Jacques de Vitry, Eastern History 23-25

   https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/171

Context

Jacques de Vitry was a prominent French cleric and theologian who was elected Bishop of Acre in 1214. In that post from 1216, he supported the Fifth Crusade and wrote a detailed history of the Holy Land, beginning with Mohammed and continuing to an appreciative assessment of European colonization in the region. In this passage, Jacques describes the first months after the coronation of Baldwin I as King of Jerusalem on Christmas, 1100 C.E., including the siege of Caesarea on May 2-17, 1101 C.E.

Text

(23) Ipso vero in fine eiusdem anni viam universe carnis ingresso, frater eius Baldwinus, miles in armis strenuus, ab annis adolescentie sue preliis exercitatus, de communi omnium assensu electus est in dominum et in regem inunctus. Ipse autem vir militaris et in agendis negotiis suis providus et sollicitus cum summo studio fines suos et regni angustias cupiens dilatare, auxilio fretus Ianuensium quorum classis in portu Ioppensi circa veris initium applicaverat, oppidum maritimum Assur expugnavit, quod alio nomine Antipatrida dicitur ab Herodis genitore Antipatro sic dictum, inter Ioppen et Cesaream situm in loco silvis condensis ameno et pascuis herbosis fecundissimo. (24) Post hec vero predictis Ianuensibus opem ferentibus, Cesaream Palestinam terra et mari obsidione vallatam sibi subiugavit. Hec autem Cesarea antequam Herodes, qui pueros interfecit, in honore Cesaris eam ampliasset, Turris Stratonis nomen habebat, que supra maris littora sita portum commodum non habet. Hortorum autem et pascuorum et aquarum fluentium plurimam habet ubertatem. Ipsa vero metropolis est Palestine secunde. In hac autem beatus apostolus Paulus longo tempore detentus in carcere, ut pergeret Romam suam prosequutus est appellationem. (25) Capta Cesarea addidit dictus rex, collecto universo exercitu a minore usque ad maiorem, Acconensem obsidere civitatem, eo quod peregrinis suscipiendis esset aptissima, et portum habens idoneum tutam navibus preberet stationem. 1

Textual Note

Ed. Donnadieu 2008

Translation

(23) At the end of the year, (Godfrey of Bouillon) went the way of all flesh, but his brother Baldwin, a knight valiant in arms, practiced in fighting from his childhood, was by common consent chosen to reign over them and anointed as King. He was a man of war, wise and intelligent in the management of his affairs, eagerly desiring to enlarge the borders of his narrow kingdom. With the help of the Genoese, whose fleet had put into the harbor at Joppa about the beginning of spring, he took the seaside city of Assur, otherwise called Antipatris after Antipater, Herod’s father. It stands between Joppa and Caesarea, in a place pleasant with thick woods and fertile with grassy meadows. (24) After this, with the aid of the aforementioned Genoese, he besieged Caesarea in Palestine both by sea and land and conquered it. This Caesarea was called Strato’s Tower before that. Herod who slew the children rebuilt it in Casesar’s honor. It stands by the seaside but lacks a convenient harbor, and yet it abounds in gardens, pastures and running waters. It is the chief city of Palestina Secunda. Here St. Paul the apostle was long detained in prison and made his appeal that he might go to Rome. (25) The aforementioned King Baldwin, after he had taken Caesarea, led his whole assembled army from the lesser task to the greater, and set it to besiege Acre, because Acre was most convenient for receiving pilgrims and, having a good harbor, offered a safe haven for ships. 2

Translation Note

Adapted from Stewart 1896

Works Cited

  • 1 Jacques de Vitry, Iacobus de Vitriaco: Historia Orientalis, ed. Jean Donnadieu, Sous La Règle de Saint Augustin 12 (Turnhout: Brepols, 2008), ch: 23-25.Link to Zotero Bibliographic Record
  • 2 Jacques de Vitry, The History of Jerusalem by Jacques de Vitry, trans. Aubrey Stewart, Palestine Pilgrims’ Text Society 11 (London: Palestine Pilgrims’ Text Society, 1896), p: 4-5.Link to Zotero Bibliographic Record
About This Text

 

How to Cite This Entry

Joseph L. Rife, “Jacques de Vitry, Eastern History 23-25,” in Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia, entry published June 30, 2023, https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/171.

Bibliography:

Joseph L. Rife, “Jacques de Vitry, Eastern History 23-25.” In Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia, edited by Joseph L. Rife., edited by Joseph L. Rife. Caesarea City and Port Exploration Project, 2023. Entry published June 30, 2023. https://caesarea-maritima.org/testimonia/171.

About this Entry

Entry Title: Jacques de Vitry, Eastern History 23-25

Authorial and Editorial Responsibility:

  • Joseph L. Rife, general editor, Vanderbilt University
  • Joseph L. Rife, editor, Caesarea Maritima: A Collection of Testimonia
  • David A. Michelson, Daniel L. Schwartz, and William L. Potter, technical editor, “Jacques de Vitry, Eastern History 23-25”
  • Joseph L. Rife, entry contributor, “Jacques de Vitry, Eastern History 23-25”

Additional Credit:

  • TEI encoding by William L. Potter
  • Electronic text added by Joseph L. Rife
  • Testimonia identified by Joseph L. Rife
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