Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/58

36 His triumph was, however, but of short duratiop. The Saracens retired into the citadel, where they withstood all his efforts to dislodge them. Meanwhile Noureddin, one of the sons of Zenghi, a young warrior destined to rival his father in ability, advanced rapidly to prevent the accomplishment of Baldwin’s enterprise. His army was so greatly superior to that of the king that the latter was compelled to retire with precipitation. The whole Christian population of Edessa accompanied him, dreading the vengeance of the Saracens. It required the most strenuous efforts and considerable skill on the part of Baldwin to prevent Noureddin, who hung upon the flanks of the retreat, from utterly destroying them. As it was, a large proportion had fallen victims before they reached Jerusalem, and the number would have been still greater but for the sleepless vigilance of Raymond and his brethren. To prevent the possibility of any further attempts of the like nature on the part of the Christians, Noureddin, as soon as he had regained possession of the city, levelled its fortifications and destroyed all its churches. In this way it was that Edessa passed for ever from the hands of the Christians.

The loss of this important post caused the utmost dismay throughout Palestine. Standing on the extreme eastern frontier, on the very confines of the desert, it had served as a most valuable outwork, keeping the Saracens at a distance from the centre of the province and its chief city, Jerusalem. The greatest possible efforts were therefore made for its recovery.