Angelina of Glastonbury--and the Cart of Heads [1192-1199 AD] IV
IV
[The Green Night]
IV
[A.D. 1192-1199]
By Dennis L. Siluk
The Green Knight
Introduction: It was an ongoing dispatched war, like no other; it lasted 200-years, and six crusades, from 1096, on ward. Whatever their ultimate plan was, if indeed they had a plan were not sure. In any case, this story of Angelina’s husband is perhaps long over due, and it is really to let you know a little about him. In the first book, “The Rape of Angelina,” one got to know Angelina intimately. In the second, we were introduced to her son Phillip, and in the third, Phillip’s personality comes out more. In the fourth series, we see the gentle knight, not so gentile when it comes to war and this is the premise of Part IV.
I must agree with my wife, the three added series, are a ting boring compared to “The Rape of Angelina,” but I never set out to bring forth, another Angelina, but rather to fill in some gaps folks might have been wondering about. Her children, her husband, her sense of duty, and her love for Knighthood and in so doing, one must—I believe—look at what you are trying to show, or say. In this case: how was a life of a Page to a Squire and onto Knighthood. And how did a soldier fight in Crusades. And how does a mother look upon the world, her family, and her country, 800-years ago. Having said that let me proceed to the Green Knight’s story.
The story of the Crusades to me is a big display of motional warfare, and of course central to Angelina’s times. (Glastonbury could be compared to some small Midwestern Town, in the United States, if times were turned around. I have lived in the Midwest, was in Glastonbury, and Egypt, and most all places I write about.)
Some folks have said the Crusades were after ethnic cleansing or even religious love, and conversion; but the Green Knight, fought for his own reasons, as you will see, and as often soldier do, like myself, perhaps, out of youth, boredom, adventure, a high, to see a special place, colonialism; war has been arranged for less reasons. These motives existed then and do now; and of course the forgiveness of sins, which the Pope so neatly added into the last Crusades as a monumental obligation. But we shall see how it all comes out at the end, shall we not, as we drift to Chapter one.
The Crusades
Attack! Attack! Attack! —
An ecstasy of a fitting war:
Spirit-battle-seasons—two hundred
Years of death death came: Holy
War was its name: the Crusades.
Chapter One
A Cart of Heads
Men were called upon to go to the aid of their oppressed brothers, in Eastern Christendom (in particular, the Middle East ((fathers, sons and nephews)). I suppose one could compare the Crusades to an Islamic Jihad both sides waving their flags of religious uniformity. Thus, the first official Crusades stated in AD 1096, and about 90-years after the first came the second (1102-1187). It could be supposed, warfare at this period of time evolved out of the penitential investiture contest. Also at this point in time the Crusaders were definable in the sense to have taken a flag and emblem of the cross, which was also linked, to a vow they had to take.
It was in these early days, the Green Knight, after leisurely journeying by way of England to France, and on to Spain, readying and ending up in Sicily where eventually he was persuaded at this point. AD 1172, to join forces in a military campaign; he was a full squire, and was but 17-years old, untested in battle though.
(Born: 1155); and thirty-years older than his future wife, Angelina.)
Chapter Two
The Valley of Jezeel [AD 1183]
His first battle was that in the Valley of Jezeel. Swift he was with the sword and a mad-monster he was seen as. He had killed twenty-seven men that day, so an observing Page had told his comrades in arms.
In the heat of victory, he ran through the dusty campsite yelling:
“See, they die just like we do!” he had a cart full of slashed, sliced, and carved heads bouncing about as he pushed the cart to and fro, throughout the military camp.
A man doesn’t think of dying in battle, only before and after, and for him, he never, ever, never thought of it ever—it never occurred to him; it was, he was, incapable—death was inept of grabbing him out of his youth, his wild youth; yes indeed, unheard of to him: how foolish it my be, my sound, it is what he thought (for there is 2% of soldiers that love to kill, and have no qualms with it, and he was part of that figure).
Thus he kept these rotting heads for a week, with not helmets stinking, reeking—decaying, decomposing in the heat. He used them for Archery practice. By and by, they disappeared, as his companions saw to it unable of disposing of his trophies himself. This did in time bring a ting of fear into his own soldiers, those who fought side by side with him: brave he was, but reckless, much enjoying it, as a hawk swiftly fly’s by and grabs a land rodent, animal. And I suppose just knowing this, that he could, with a clap of an eye, show no blood in his face at staring at those rotting and decomposing heads, got to the men.
It was at the end of this year, or perhaps a moment before, he was Knighted, given Knighthood, there on the battlefield by another Knight; it was also this day he saw for the fist time—and not the last time—the face of Saladin, the Islamic warlord.
In time, the enemy feared him, feared his name that is, the Muslims, when waiting for a battle to start, had his name come up, it was like a prickle in their sides.
(The fall of Jerusalem reached the West in the autumn of 1187. Pope Urban III, in power had died.)
Chapter Three
Tripoli to Jerusalem
The Green Knight was now part of King Richard’s forces against Saladin. He had met the king while in Marseilles where King Richard had been waiting, and did not find his English Fleet as expected; they had stopped off in Portugal; thus, the King needed more men, more soldiers, and this was were the green Knight and King Richard became close allies. It would be in these following years his repudiation would grow immensely: if not legendary.
The Green Knight was part of the 3rd Division, out of three, his mission to fight off the attackers inland; this was perhaps the best classic demonstration of Frankish military of its day, to incant forth coming, and past military tactics; there were many Muslims skirmishers and light Calvary to endure on these missions, but on the 7 of September, a great battle took place, North of Arsuf—a general advance took place that is, at which point Richard stopped the charge once he archived his purpose to, perhaps to save lives, no one really knows; as a result, the Muslims retired; Richard’s army sustained little damage compared to the Muslims, and soon after the treaty with Saladin was reviewed [AD 1191].
The Green Knight was also involved with the Crusade of 1197, but thereafter having a dream of Angelina, put down his sword, once and for all, and replaced it with a green olive branch. Yet, I must add to that: once and for all, a note of reprieve:
Afterward
AD 1198
It would not be until 1199 the Green Knight would meet Angelina of Glastonbury, when he would ride on through the little town, and there see her and with one glance know for certain she was his soul mate. His last battles were in 1198 for the most part, when the forth Crusades started up, in August. He did accompany Richard, and was asked for, but declined to, server on further. His contribution was seen as sufficient (and out of the ten years King Richard would fight in the Holy Land, he would spend 10-months in his England ruling it from his throne; a pity for England, to have had a King gone so long, yet it was as it was]. And the remissions of his sins were between him and God, and the Pope, so Richard had said. At this time the Pope was promising a sinner’s sins were forgiven on the loving and willingness of men and their meritorious work, but as the Green Knight had pit it, “If God does not forgive me now, He never will.”
[The Green Night]
IV
[A.D. 1192-1199]
By Dennis L. Siluk
The Green Knight
Introduction: It was an ongoing dispatched war, like no other; it lasted 200-years, and six crusades, from 1096, on ward. Whatever their ultimate plan was, if indeed they had a plan were not sure. In any case, this story of Angelina’s husband is perhaps long over due, and it is really to let you know a little about him. In the first book, “The Rape of Angelina,” one got to know Angelina intimately. In the second, we were introduced to her son Phillip, and in the third, Phillip’s personality comes out more. In the fourth series, we see the gentle knight, not so gentile when it comes to war and this is the premise of Part IV.
I must agree with my wife, the three added series, are a ting boring compared to “The Rape of Angelina,” but I never set out to bring forth, another Angelina, but rather to fill in some gaps folks might have been wondering about. Her children, her husband, her sense of duty, and her love for Knighthood and in so doing, one must—I believe—look at what you are trying to show, or say. In this case: how was a life of a Page to a Squire and onto Knighthood. And how did a soldier fight in Crusades. And how does a mother look upon the world, her family, and her country, 800-years ago. Having said that let me proceed to the Green Knight’s story.
The story of the Crusades to me is a big display of motional warfare, and of course central to Angelina’s times. (Glastonbury could be compared to some small Midwestern Town, in the United States, if times were turned around. I have lived in the Midwest, was in Glastonbury, and Egypt, and most all places I write about.)
Some folks have said the Crusades were after ethnic cleansing or even religious love, and conversion; but the Green Knight, fought for his own reasons, as you will see, and as often soldier do, like myself, perhaps, out of youth, boredom, adventure, a high, to see a special place, colonialism; war has been arranged for less reasons. These motives existed then and do now; and of course the forgiveness of sins, which the Pope so neatly added into the last Crusades as a monumental obligation. But we shall see how it all comes out at the end, shall we not, as we drift to Chapter one.
The Crusades
Attack! Attack! Attack! —
An ecstasy of a fitting war:
Spirit-battle-seasons—two hundred
Years of death death came: Holy
War was its name: the Crusades.
Chapter One
A Cart of Heads
Men were called upon to go to the aid of their oppressed brothers, in Eastern Christendom (in particular, the Middle East ((fathers, sons and nephews)). I suppose one could compare the Crusades to an Islamic Jihad both sides waving their flags of religious uniformity. Thus, the first official Crusades stated in AD 1096, and about 90-years after the first came the second (1102-1187). It could be supposed, warfare at this period of time evolved out of the penitential investiture contest. Also at this point in time the Crusaders were definable in the sense to have taken a flag and emblem of the cross, which was also linked, to a vow they had to take.
It was in these early days, the Green Knight, after leisurely journeying by way of England to France, and on to Spain, readying and ending up in Sicily where eventually he was persuaded at this point. AD 1172, to join forces in a military campaign; he was a full squire, and was but 17-years old, untested in battle though.
(Born: 1155); and thirty-years older than his future wife, Angelina.)
Chapter Two
The Valley of Jezeel [AD 1183]
His first battle was that in the Valley of Jezeel. Swift he was with the sword and a mad-monster he was seen as. He had killed twenty-seven men that day, so an observing Page had told his comrades in arms.
In the heat of victory, he ran through the dusty campsite yelling:
“See, they die just like we do!” he had a cart full of slashed, sliced, and carved heads bouncing about as he pushed the cart to and fro, throughout the military camp.
A man doesn’t think of dying in battle, only before and after, and for him, he never, ever, never thought of it ever—it never occurred to him; it was, he was, incapable—death was inept of grabbing him out of his youth, his wild youth; yes indeed, unheard of to him: how foolish it my be, my sound, it is what he thought (for there is 2% of soldiers that love to kill, and have no qualms with it, and he was part of that figure).
Thus he kept these rotting heads for a week, with not helmets stinking, reeking—decaying, decomposing in the heat. He used them for Archery practice. By and by, they disappeared, as his companions saw to it unable of disposing of his trophies himself. This did in time bring a ting of fear into his own soldiers, those who fought side by side with him: brave he was, but reckless, much enjoying it, as a hawk swiftly fly’s by and grabs a land rodent, animal. And I suppose just knowing this, that he could, with a clap of an eye, show no blood in his face at staring at those rotting and decomposing heads, got to the men.
It was at the end of this year, or perhaps a moment before, he was Knighted, given Knighthood, there on the battlefield by another Knight; it was also this day he saw for the fist time—and not the last time—the face of Saladin, the Islamic warlord.
In time, the enemy feared him, feared his name that is, the Muslims, when waiting for a battle to start, had his name come up, it was like a prickle in their sides.
(The fall of Jerusalem reached the West in the autumn of 1187. Pope Urban III, in power had died.)
Chapter Three
Tripoli to Jerusalem
The Green Knight was now part of King Richard’s forces against Saladin. He had met the king while in Marseilles where King Richard had been waiting, and did not find his English Fleet as expected; they had stopped off in Portugal; thus, the King needed more men, more soldiers, and this was were the green Knight and King Richard became close allies. It would be in these following years his repudiation would grow immensely: if not legendary.
The Green Knight was part of the 3rd Division, out of three, his mission to fight off the attackers inland; this was perhaps the best classic demonstration of Frankish military of its day, to incant forth coming, and past military tactics; there were many Muslims skirmishers and light Calvary to endure on these missions, but on the 7 of September, a great battle took place, North of Arsuf—a general advance took place that is, at which point Richard stopped the charge once he archived his purpose to, perhaps to save lives, no one really knows; as a result, the Muslims retired; Richard’s army sustained little damage compared to the Muslims, and soon after the treaty with Saladin was reviewed [AD 1191].
The Green Knight was also involved with the Crusade of 1197, but thereafter having a dream of Angelina, put down his sword, once and for all, and replaced it with a green olive branch. Yet, I must add to that: once and for all, a note of reprieve:
Afterward
AD 1198
It would not be until 1199 the Green Knight would meet Angelina of Glastonbury, when he would ride on through the little town, and there see her and with one glance know for certain she was his soul mate. His last battles were in 1198 for the most part, when the forth Crusades started up, in August. He did accompany Richard, and was asked for, but declined to, server on further. His contribution was seen as sufficient (and out of the ten years King Richard would fight in the Holy Land, he would spend 10-months in his England ruling it from his throne; a pity for England, to have had a King gone so long, yet it was as it was]. And the remissions of his sins were between him and God, and the Pope, so Richard had said. At this time the Pope was promising a sinner’s sins were forgiven on the loving and willingness of men and their meritorious work, but as the Green Knight had pit it, “If God does not forgive me now, He never will.”
posted by Dennis and Rosa Siluk at 11:15 AM
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