Behind the Veil (25 page)

Alexius Comnenus
, Emperor of Byzantium, 1081-1118 A.D.

Pope Urban II
, who called for the First Crusade.

Peter the Hermit
, leader of the peasant-crusaders.

Bohemond I
, Norman prince of Taranto.

Count Raymond,
Count
of Toulouse.

Roger I
, the Great Count of Norman Sicily.

Godfrey of Bouillon
, Duke of Lower Lorraine.

Hugh,
Count of Vermandois, brother of King Philip of France.

Robert
, Duke of Normandy, son of William the Conqueror.

Adehemar
, Bishop of Le Puy, and official Papal Legate on the Crusade.
.

The Red Lion of the Desert
, Islamic commander.

Kerbogha
, commander of Seljuk warriors.

Yaghi-Sian,
Turkish commander at Antioch.

Firouz, 
Christian Armenian in Antioch who delivered the city to the Norman crusaders under Bohemond.

RELIGIOUS
:

Abbot
, the head of a monastery.

Abbey,
a group of buildings comprising a monastery.

Patriarch
, head of the Eastern Church at Constantinople.

CASTLE
:

Keep
, the stronghold of the castle, used as a watchtower and arsenal. The thick walls were laced with arrow loops. Usually there was a well beneath. The storage and eating rooms were above, and sleeping quarters were on the top level.

Arrow loops
, slit-like openings that permitted the firing of arrows with full protection.

Bailey
,
or courtyard, surrounded by soldiers’ quarters, stalls for horses, and food storage rooms.

Donjon,
a dungeon-like tower.

WEAPONS AND ARMOR:

Conical helmet
, was worn over a hood.  The shape of the crown, and the smooth metal, protected from cutting or thrusting weapons.

Halberd
, a cross between a battle-axe and a spear.

Mace
,
a favorite weapon of warrior-priests, was sanctified and carried in ceremonial processions. It was made of wood or metal, with multi-spiked head, the handle could be slung on a loop on the right wrist.

Morning Star
, a type of mace. A round ball studded with spikes, and attached to a handle by a chain.

Great Horse
,
of the Western knights. A destrier. A specially bred warhorse that could

endure heavy weight, and the clash of battle. It responded to leg commands so the knight could fight with both hands.

Scimitar
, a curved single-edged sword of Eastern origin.

Heraldic
, a family insignia worn on the helmet.              

Gonfanon
, a banner that hangs directly from the
shaft of a lance, just below the lance head.

Seigneur
, the trusted commander of a castle, a term of respect.

Historic Sword Blessing
: 
Hearken we beseech Thee, O Lord, to our prayers, and deign to bless with the right hand of Thy Majesty this sword with which Thy servant desires to be girded, that it may be a defense of churches, widows, orphans and all Thy servants against the scourge of pagans, that it may be the terror and dread of all evildoers, and that it may be just in both attack and defense.

Song Of Roland,
the epic poem about Charlemagne's Christian victory over the Moslem Moors of Spain, It was an early model of knightly chivalry.

His right hand gauntlet to God he offers it.

Saint Gabriel from his hand has taken it.

Durendal
, a name for the sword of Roland in the epic poem. It was representative of knightly swords pledged to the service of God. “Durendal” (like King Arthur and the Holy Grail) will prevail in the hands of the Christian warriors.

End