Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/328

 240 General History oj Europe cruelly massacred the inhabitants. Godfrey of Bouillon was chosen ruler of Jerusalem. He soon died and was succeeded by his brother Baldwin. 386. Founding of Latin Kingdoms in Syria. It will be ob- served that the "Franks," as the Mohammedans called all the Western folk, had established the centers of four principalities. These were Edessa, Antioch, the region about Tripoli conquered by Raymond, and the kingdom of Jerusalem. The news of these Christian victories quickly reached the West, and in 1101 tens of thousands of new crusaders started eastward. Most of them were lost in passing through Asia Minor, and few reached their destination. The original conquerors were consequently left to hold the land against the Mohammedans and to organize their conquests as best they could. This was a very difficult task too difficult to accomplish under the circumstances, since the greater part of those who visited Palestine returned home after fulfilling the vow they had made to kneel at the Holy Sepulcher. 387. Military Religious Orders. A noteworthy outcome of the crusading movement was the foundation of several curious orders, of which the Hospitalers and the Templars (so called from the quarters assigned them in the king's palace at Jerusalem, on the site of the former temple of Solomon) were the most important. These orders combined the two great interests of the time, those of the monk and of the soldier. They permitted a man to be both at once ; the knight might wear a monkish cowl over his coat of armor. The Hospitalers was a charitable association which cared for the poor and the sick. The Templars became rich and powerful, for they were able to collect vast funds and the popes showered privileges on them. No wonder they grew insolent and aroused the jealousy and hate of princes and prelates alike. Early in the fourteenth century, through the combined efforts of the Pope and the king of France, the order was brought to a terrible end. Its members were accused of the most abominable practices, such as the worship of idols and the systematic insulting of Christ and his religion. Many distinguished Templars were burned for heresy ; others perished miserably in dungeons.