§ 52. FALL OF EDESSA AND THE SECOND CRUSADE. 253
Edessa, the outer citadel of the Crusader's conquests, fell, December, 1144. Jocelyn II., whose father, Jocelyn I., suc ceeded Baldwin as proprietor of Edessa, was a weak and pleasure-loving prince. The besiegers built a fire in a breach in the wall, a piece of which, a hundred yards long, cracked with the flames and fell. An appalling massacre followed the inrush of the Turks, under Zengi, whom the Christians called the Sanguinary.1
Eugenius III. rightly regarded Zengi's victory as a threat to the continuance of the Franks in Palestine, and called upon the king of France to march to their relief. The forgiveness of all sins and life eternal were promised to all embarking on the enterprise who should die confessing their sins.2 The pope also summoned Bernard to leave his con vent, and preach the crusade. Bernard, the most conspicuous personage of his age, was in the zenith of his fame. He regarded the summons as a call from God,3 and proved to be a leader worthy of the cause.
At Easter tide, 1146, Louis, who had before, in remorse for his burning the church at Vitry with thirteen hundred per sons, promised to go on a crusade, assembled a great council at Vezelai. Bernard was present and made such an over powering impression by his address that the hearers pressed forward to receive crosses. He himself was obliged to cut his robe to pieces to meet the demand.4 Writing to Eugenius, he was able to say that the enthusiasm was so great that " castles and towns were emptied of their inmates. One man could hardly be found for seven women, and the women were
1 See Otto of Freising, VII. 30.
2 Gottlob, Kreuzablass, 106 sqq. Eugenius quoted Urban II. 's decree of indulgence at Clermont.
3 De consideration?,, II. 1, Reinkens' translation, pp. 31-37. In this chapter of his famous tract, Bernard explains and justifies his course in the Crusade.
4 Odo, I. 1, cceperunt undique conclamando cruces expetere . . . coactus est vfstf.s suas in cruces scindere et seminare.
254 THE MIDDLE AGES. A.D. 1049-1294.
being everywhere widowed while their husbands were still alive."
From France Bernard proceeded to Basel and Constance and the cities along the Rhine, as far as Cologne. As in the case of the First Crusade, a persecution was started against the Jews on the Rhine by a monk, Radulph. Bernard firmly set himself against the fanaticism and wrote that the Church should attempt to gain the Jews by discussion, and not destroy them by the sword.
Thousands flocked to hear the fervent preacher, who added miraculous healings to the impression of his eloquence. The emperor Konrad himself was deeply moved and won. During Christmas week at Spires, Bernard preached before him an impassionate discourse. " What is there, O man," he represented Christ as saying, seated in judgment upon the imperial hearer at the last day, — " What is there which I ought to have done for thee and have not done?" He contrasted the physical prowess,1 the riches, and the honors of the emperor with the favor of the supreme judge of human actions. Bursting into tears, the emperor exclaimed : " I shall henceforth not be found ungrateful to God's mercy. I am ready to serve Him, seeing I am admonished by Him." Of all his miracles Bernard esteemed the emperor's decision the chief one.
Konrad at once prepared for the expedition. Seventy thousand armed men, seven thousand of whom were knights, assembled at Regensburg, and proceeded through Hungary to the Bosphorus, meeting with a poor reception along the route. The Greek emperor Manuel and Konrad were brothers-in-law, having married sisters, but this tie was no protection to the Germans. Guides, provided by Manuel, "children of Belial" as William of Tyre calls
1 As a proof of Konrad's strength, William of Tyre, XVII. 4, relates that at the siege of Damascus he hewed a man clad in armor through head, neck, and shoulder to the armpit with one stroke of his blade.