Episode 30
“With such a gesture from the King of France, His Holiness the Pope will surely be moved.”
Upon arriving in Clermont, Philip II wasted no time in charming the church officials. Despite his supposed reluctance to join the Crusades, he appeared every bit the devoted guardian of the holy cause.
The cardinal, beaming, continued, “His Holiness tasked me with persuading King Richard and King Philip II, but it seems there was no need. Your faith is so steadfast that His Holiness’s concerns were unfounded. Ha ha ha!”
“Given the heavy burden of reclaiming the Holy Land, it’s understandable.”
“Indeed, you are truly the church’s most steadfast ally, King of France. If only all other kings would follow the example of England and France.”
Unaware of the discussions that had taken place before his arrival, the cardinal seemed in high spirits. True to his duplicitous nature, Philip II skillfully steered the conversation to his advantage while keeping the cardinal pleased.
“On my way here, I had many discussions with King Richard and the prophet Marshal. I came to understand how earnest the Pope is about this matter.”
“Ha ha ha, indeed, Sir Marshal. The Pope often inquires about him, showing how much he values him.”
More like keeping a close watch. That man is as paranoid as ever.
It was wise to pretend to cooperate this time.
“As the Count of Auvergne, I will do everything in my power to ensure the success of the Crusades.”
“Ha ha ha! Excellent, excellent. So, when should I tell the Pope that the armies of England and France will march towards the Holy Land?”
With anticipation in his eyes, the cardinal asked, and Philip II replied with a nonchalant smile.
“I’ll return to my country first and gather the troops. It might take a few months as I need to send out notices to the nobles.”
“Of course. I’m not so ignorant as to not understand that.”
“Even the most skeptical nobles can’t refuse when all of Europe is united in this cause. I’m coordinating with King Richard to find the optimal timing. With Emperor Frederick I advancing swiftly towards the Holy Land, we need to align with him as well.”
“Ah, yes. Emperor Frederick I is truly a faithful servant of the Lord. By now, he must have entered the region of Asia Minor.”
Asia Minor, known today as the Anatolian Peninsula in Turkey, was often referred to as Asia in ancient times. Although by the Middle Ages, the understanding of Asia had expanded, and it was rarely considered the entirety of Asia.
“However, I’ve heard some troubling news recently. It seems the Byzantine Empire has secretly made a pact with Saladin to counter Emperor Frederick I.”
“Surely not… Even if they lack decorum, they claim to be followers of Christ.”
“No, this information comes from a reliable source.”
Philip II glanced at me with a meaningful look before continuing.
“Emperor Isaac II of Byzantium is likely displeased with the Holy Roman Empire’s alliance with the Normans. Moreover, the massive army advancing without a single battle must be unsettling.”
Especially since opening the way for the Holy Roman Empire to Anatolia would have been a tremendous shock for Byzantium. They might even think it was done deliberately to spite them.
Although the news hadn’t reached Europe yet, the Byzantine Emperor would soon make a monumental blunder. Despite Frederick I’s assurances that he only wanted safe passage and meant no harm, Byzantium took his envoys hostage.
What possessed them to make such a foolish move is still a mystery to modern historians. If they intended to be aggressive, they should have committed fully. When Frederick I attacked the city in anger, they quickly surrendered in disgrace.
By now, Isaac II should be groveling in apology. The Holy Roman Empire accepted this and agreed to move towards the Dardanelles instead of Constantinople.
Upon hearing this, Philip II quickly concocted a plausible excuse.
“I plan to issue a statement with King Richard to the Byzantine side. The Crusades are a pan-European mission to reclaim the Lord’s Holy Land. Any interference will be seen as hostility towards all of Western Europe.”
“Oh! That would be immensely helpful.”
“Yes. So, we will provide all necessary support to ensure Emperor Frederick I can safely advance near Jerusalem. Once he establishes a foothold, we will follow.”
“Pushing from behind and pulling from the front, then.”
“Precisely. In a long-distance campaign, the most crucial aspect is ensuring the army reaches the destination safely.”
Despite the grand words, the essence was that they would only move once Frederick I arrived. However, the church, confident that the Holy Roman Empire would crush the Muslims, had no doubts about Philip II’s promises.
Philip II’s rhetoric was indeed artful, a skill I should consider adopting.
After charming the cardinal with his serpentine eloquence, Philip II and I left the church together.
“What do you think? This should buy us some time with the Pope, right?”
“Yes. The cardinal seemed very satisfied.”
“I didn’t tell a single lie, so there’s nothing to hold against me later. By the way, you speak quite well yourself. From what Alberic said, I thought you were just a straightforward and honest knight, but you seem to have a certain flexibility.”
“Ah, His Holiness once advised me that being too rigid would limit my growth. So I’ve been trying to adapt.”
“His Holiness gave you sound advice. I believe you have the potential to become someone truly great. In fact, you already are.”
Philip II smiled warmly, patting my shoulder.
“Why not visit Paris sometime? The people of our kingdom would be honored to feel the presence of a prophet born in Europe. Just hearing the word of God from you would be a great comfort.”
“I’ll try to visit soon.”
I could guess his true intentions. The invitation to share the word was just an excuse to keep me in Paris and sway me. He likely wanted to assess my true nature as well.
But this was also an opportunity for me. I needed to understand the character of Philip II more clearly. It was also a chance to meet influential French nobles and gauge their intentions, so there was no reason to refuse.
“Then I’ll prepare accordingly.”
“Yes. Take care, Your Majesty.”
Regardless of our true feelings, we parted ways with the appearance of close friends.
The advance of the Holy Roman Empire under Frederick I was unstoppable. The emperor’s massive army, which departed from Regensburg, was undoubtedly the strongest force in Europe. With tens of thousands of troops and numerous German nobles, including the Duke of Swabia, following the emperor, who could possibly stand in their way?
Frederick I easily brushed aside minor Byzantine interference and continued his march forward. Alarmed by their advance, the Turks broke their initial treaty and blocked the empire’s path. But Frederick I, unfazed, sent his soldiers to crush the Turkish forces effortlessly. The Turks were no match for this giant’s stride.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Arslan II hastily surrendered and reopened the path. Meanwhile, Nasr and Fatima, the siblings who had once attempted to assassinate Edward Marshal, observed all these events unfold in Anatolia.
“So far, everything is happening just as he said…”
“It’s just a coincidence…”
“Your confidence seems to have waned since the beginning.”
“It’s just your imagination.”
Initially, when all the countries except Byzantium granted passage to the Holy Roman Empire, it seemed plausible. Frederick I was renowned even among Muslims, so who would dare oppose him? The prophecy that Byzantium would quickly back down after throwing a tantrum was also easy to dismiss. Emperor Isaac II of Byzantium was known to be a petty man, after all.
But when the Turks broke their treaty and betrayed them, only to grant passage again…
As the prophecy began to unfold exactly as foretold, a creeping unease settled over them.
It was uncanny how everything was falling into place, almost too perfectly, to be mere coincidence or clever guesswork.
Nasir, the more rational of the siblings, felt a growing sense of dread slowly taking over his mind.
“What if Marshall truly is a prophet who has received the word of God?” he worried.
If that were true, what were they supposed to do?
Setting aside the sacrilege of attempting to kill a divine messenger, should they reveal that there were corrupted verses in the Quran?
Fatima, aware of her brother’s wavering resolve, bit her lip and murmured to herself as if trying to hypnotize herself into belief.
“It won’t matter if the last prediction is wrong. The most important thing is the end.”
“Yes… let’s wait and see where the word of God leads.”
The day of destiny was almost upon them.
The siblings positioned themselves across from the Salef River, where Marshall had indicated, and waited. Hidden from view, they watched as the grand army of the Holy Roman Empire finally appeared.
Even from a distance, the sheer size of the force was overwhelming, impossible to take in all at once.
If they reached Jerusalem, the sacred city they had fought so hard to reclaim might be desecrated once more.
Even Fatima, who was nearly fanatical in her faith, felt a vague terror at the thought of who could possibly stop such a formidable army.
And with each passing moment, their faith in Marshall plummeted.
Could an emperor commanding such a vast army really drown foolishly in a river like this?
But if, by some miracle… if it truly happened…
As the siblings watched with bated breath, a figure with a magnificent crown and a flowing red cape approached the river.
His attire was so distinctive that they recognized him immediately, even from afar.
It was none other than Frederick I, the Red Beard, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
A beacon of hope for Christians and the greatest threat to Islam.
The knights, upon reaching the river, plunged in, perhaps to refresh themselves or replenish their water supplies.
The river was only waist-deep for an adult man, hardly dangerous.
Even children wouldn’t drown in such shallow water.
Yet.
The mighty emperor, ruler of Europe’s strongest nation, sank beneath the water as soon as he entered, as if swallowed by the river.
”…”
“He must have slipped. He’ll resurface.”
They watched with wide eyes, but the emperor who had once ruled Europe never emerged from the water again.
Like a stone causing ripples on a calm surface, the realization of what had happened spread through the imperial army, their cries echoing across the Salef River.
Was the trembling in their bodies due to the shouts of the soldiers, or the unbelievable reality unfolding before their eyes?
Tears streamed down the siblings’ eyes, strained from watching so intently.
Without a word, they both sank to the ground, whispering.
“Oh God…”
What have we been doing all this time?