Robert The Monk Response Paper
Kyle De Jan
Dr. Hosler
History 312
11/05/12
Response Essay to History of the First Crusade Robert the Monk’s history of the First Crusade, Historia Iherosolimitana (HI), was composed several years after the events it records. There is also no evidence making him an eyewitness for the anything he transcribes except for the Council of Clermont. Robert is generally accepted as a valuable source for the First Crusade as his story is based on the Gesta Francorum and he was commissioned by his abbot to offer a new more exciting account of the crusades.1 Robert’s account includes a number of themes as he describes different people the Crusaders encounter. In the history of the First Crusade, Robert the Monk uses his description of the Muslims to further display Crusaders as heroes.
Robert the Monk uses language in the HI to contrast the Crusader bravery with Muslim cowardice. Robert does this is in his description of Muslim tactics. Robert writes, “That was because the Turkish tactic is to turn and flee after shooting their arrows and whilst fleeing to inflict serious wounds on those following them.”2 Here Robert calls the Turkish tactic fleeing suggesting Turks and others fighting this way were afraid to battle the Christians. This was not the case as many Muslim forces were confident they would defeat the Crusaders. In reality, this method was smart as the Turks could deplete their enemies with little risk of death. This strategy is not only effective it was safety precaution. Though the tactic is sound and somewhat effective Robert describes it as fleeing that has a cowardly connotation.
Contrast this with an example of Bohemond’s courage in retreating during the siege of Antioch. Bohemond, a leader of the crusade and Count of Normandy, was injured in the fight and Robert describes his response, “Blood began to pour profusely from the wound, and the heart of the most noble prince began to lose its normal strength. He [Bohemond] retreated to another tower and left
Dr. Hosler
History 312
11/05/12
Response Essay to History of the First Crusade Robert the Monk’s history of the First Crusade, Historia Iherosolimitana (HI), was composed several years after the events it records. There is also no evidence making him an eyewitness for the anything he transcribes except for the Council of Clermont. Robert is generally accepted as a valuable source for the First Crusade as his story is based on the Gesta Francorum and he was commissioned by his abbot to offer a new more exciting account of the crusades.1 Robert’s account includes a number of themes as he describes different people the Crusaders encounter. In the history of the First Crusade, Robert the Monk uses his description of the Muslims to further display Crusaders as heroes.
Robert the Monk uses language in the HI to contrast the Crusader bravery with Muslim cowardice. Robert does this is in his description of Muslim tactics. Robert writes, “That was because the Turkish tactic is to turn and flee after shooting their arrows and whilst fleeing to inflict serious wounds on those following them.”2 Here Robert calls the Turkish tactic fleeing suggesting Turks and others fighting this way were afraid to battle the Christians. This was not the case as many Muslim forces were confident they would defeat the Crusaders. In reality, this method was smart as the Turks could deplete their enemies with little risk of death. This strategy is not only effective it was safety precaution. Though the tactic is sound and somewhat effective Robert describes it as fleeing that has a cowardly connotation.
Contrast this with an example of Bohemond’s courage in retreating during the siege of Antioch. Bohemond, a leader of the crusade and Count of Normandy, was injured in the fight and Robert describes his response, “Blood began to pour profusely from the wound, and the heart of the most noble prince began to lose its normal strength. He [Bohemond] retreated to another tower and left