Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 6 (1897).djvu/502

 480 THE DECLINE AND FALL and their presence importunate, endeavoured to discharge the torrent on some neighbouring countries. After the peace of Sicily, many thousands of Genoese, Catalans,^^ &c., who had fought, by sea and land, under the standard of Anjou or Arragon, were blended into one nation by the resemblance of their manners and interest. They heard that the Greek pro- vinces of Asia were invaded by the Turks : they resolved to share the harvest of pay and plunder ; and Frederic, king of Sicily, most liberally contributed the means of their departure. In a warfare of twenty years, a ship, or a camp, was become their country ; arms were their sole profession and property ; valour was the only virtue which they knew ; their women had imbibed the fearless temper of their lovers and husbands ; it was reported that, with a stroke of their broad sword, the Catalans could cleave a horseman and an horse ; and the report itself was a powerful weapon. Roger de Flor was the most popular of their chiefs ; and his personal merit overshadowed the dignity of his prouder rivals of Arragon. The offspring of a marriage between a German gentleman *^^ of the court of Frederic the Second and a damsel of Brindisi, Roger was suc- cessively a templar, an apostate, a pirate, and at length the richest and most powerful admiral of the Mediterranean. He sailed from Messina to Constantinople, with eighteen galleys, four great ships, and eight thousand adventurers ; and his pre- vious treaty was faithfully accomplished by Andronicus the Elder, who accepted with joy and terror this formidable suc- cour.^i A palace was allotted for his reception, and a niece of [Sept. 1303] the emperor was given in marriage to the valiant stranger, [Megadnc] who was immediately created Great Duke or Admiral of Ro- mania. After a decent repose, he transported his troops over the Propontis, and boldly led them against the Turks ; in two bloody battles thirty thousand of the Moslems were slain ; ^3 In this motley multitude, the Catalans and Spaniards, the bravest of the soldiery, were styled by themselves and the Greeks Amogavares [Al-mugavari= scouts]. Moncada derives their origin from the Goths, and Pachymer (1. xi. c. 22) from the Arabs ; and, in spite of national and religious pride, I am afraid the latter is in the right. "" [A falconer (Ramon Muntaner, c. 194). His name was Richard Blum. It was translated by an Italian equivalent. See Buchon's note.] •^1 [Before he went himself, Roger sent envoys to make the terms. The Em- peror's niece, whom he married, was daughter of the Bulgarian Tsar, John Asen IV. (whom Muntaner calls the cmperador Lantzaura, c. 199). As to the numbers of the expedition Muntaner says (c. 201) that there were about 36 sail ; 1500 horse- men ; 4000 almogavars ; 1000 foot-soldiers ; as well as the oarsmen and sailors.]