Atrocities in Jerusalem based on Arab Sources
Helena Schrader, PhD.
Much has been made of the fact that the Christians took Jerusalem in 1099 by assault resulting in the slaughter of many (though by no means all) of the inhabitants. It is usual to contrast this with Salah ad-Din's more "civilized" agreement to let the inhabitants of Jerusalem buy their freedom.
To put things in perspective, I'd like to share the following description written by Imad ad-Din, one of Salah ad-Din's intimates (his secretary and chancellor to be precise), of what happened after the surrender of Jerusalem in 1187.
Under the
treaty, at the end of forty days whoever was unable to pay what he owed
or refused to pay it ws to become our slave by right and come into our
possession. The tax was ten dinars for each man, five for a woman and
two for a boy or girl. Ibn Barzan (Balian d'Ibelin, son of Barisan) and
the Patriarch and the Grand Masters of the Temple and the Hospital [sic.
In fact, both Grand Masters had been slain and/or taken captive at
before the surrender of Jerusalem; one presumes Imad ad-din means the
senior officials of the respective orders in Jerusalem after the
surrender in 1187] stood guarantee, and Ibn Barzan gave 30,000 dinar for
the poor, fulfilling his word faithfully and without default.(1)
...There were
more than 100,000 persons in the city, men, women and children. The
gates were closed upon them all, and representatives appointed to make a
census and demand the sum due. ... About 15,000 were unable to pay the
tax, and slavery was their lot; there were about 7,000 men who had to
accustom themselves to an unaccustomed humiliation, and whom slavery
slip up and dispersed as their buyers scattered through the hills and
valleys. Women and children together came to 8,000 and were quickly
divided up among us, bringing a smile to Muslim faces at their
lamentations. How many well-guarded women were profaned, how many queens
were ruled, and nubile girls married, and noble women given away, and
miserly women forced to yield themselves, and women who had been kept
hidden stripped of their modesty, and serious women made ridiculous, and
women kept in private now set in public, and free women occupied, and
precious ones used for hard work and pretty things put to the test, and
virgins dishonoured and proud women deflowered, and lovely women's red
lips kissed and dark women prostrated, and untamed ones tamed, and happy
ones made to weep! How many noblemen took them as concubines, how many
ardent men blazed for one of them, and celibates were satisfied by them,
and thirsty men sated by them, and turbulent men able to give vent to
their passion. How many lovely women were the exclusive property of one
man, how many great ladies were sold at low prices, and close ones set
at a distance, and lofty ones abase, and savage ones captured, and those
accustomed to thrones dragged down!
The length to
which Imad ad-Din goes to describe the humiliations of the Christian
women, and the stress he puts on their misery and Muslim joy and delight
surely says all that needs to be said about Muslim attitudes to women.
These atrocities
-- committed not in blood-lust after a successful assault on a city
after three years of hard campaigning but in cold-blood after a
comparatively easy victory -- are far more outrageous and repulse in my
humble opinion.
The surrender of
Jerusalem to Salah ad-Din in 1187 forms the climax of "Defender of
Jerusalem," Book II in a three-part biographical novel of Balian
d'Ibelin.
"Defender of Jerusalem" will be released in September, 2015.
Book I, "Knight of Jerusalem" is on sale now.
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