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detailSource 9: Woman crusader
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bulletHeroic death of a woman crusader, 1191
 

The siege of Acre was one of the longest of the Middle Ages. It began in the summer of 1189 and finally ended in July 1191. The Christians besieging the city were successful when the Muslim garrison surrendered to the Christian army led by King Richard I of England and King Philip II Augustus of France. The Turks were part of the Muslim force defending the city.

This extract is from the 'Itinerarium regis Ricardi' (Journey of King Richard). This chronicle was compiled in the early 13th century by Richard, a canon of the Augustinian Priory of Holy Trinity in London. He describes the events of 1187-1192, but was not actually present at any of them. He bases his accounts on a eye-witness account by a Templar chaplain of the events from 1187-1190, and on an old French rhyming chronicle by Ambroise, possibly a Norman clerk, for the later events.

In the sound extract you can hear the story read aloud.

 
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illuminated detail
 
Among those carrying soil to the city ditch to build an earthwork for the assault, was a certain woman who was working hard and diligently to further the task. Without stopping she went tirelessly to and fro, encouraging the others, until finally her zeal brought an end to life and work simultaneously. A great crowd of all ages and both sexes was bustling about trying to complete the task as soon as possible; this woman was hurrying to deposit her load when a Turk, lying in ambush, struck her a fatal blow with a javelin. She fell to the ground and lay writhing in agony. With what breath she had left she spoke to her husband and others who had hastened over when they heard her groans.

'My love,' she said, tearfully but urgently, 'my dear lord, I beg and beseech you by our sacred marriage vows and by the love we have shared, don't let my body - for I shall soon be dead - be moved from this spot. I can do no more for the work alive, but if my corpse has a share in it I shall feel I have made some contribution. Let it lie in the ditch in place of a load of earth - it will soon turn to earth, anyway.' She earnestly begged the crowd around her to make sure that this was done, and not long afterwards breathed her last.

 

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