Page:The Fall of Constantinople.djvu/66

 48 THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE. The taking of Jerusalem was followed by an appeal of Gregory the Eighth to Germany to join in a new crusade. Saladin meanwliile observed his part of the treaty made with Isaac. He sent to Constantinople the Greek captives whom he had released, and valuable presents. His envoys were re- ceived in the capital with great respect. On his side the em- peror renewed the treaty with Saladin, and returned presents even more valuable than those which had been sent by the Moslem. Meantime the Turks were active in hostilities. The d}'- nastic struggles which had commenced in the capital had weakened the empire. During a hundred and twenty years a series of victories had been obtained over the Turks, who had been perpetually harassed and constantly defeated, l^ow, however, that in consequence of these dynastic struggles the efforts of the New Home were relaxed, they began at once to make headway. They plundered Laodicea, and struck where- ever they found the Koman garrisons weak. Finding that the new army of the Cross would give trouble to the emperor, the Sultan of Iconium sent to Frederic Barbarossa, offering him every assistance in his passage through Asia Minor to Differences ^lic Holy Land. The Crusaders were raising the empirl mld^ hopcs of the Sultan of Iconium, while the emperor the Crusaders, ^^.^g receiving the ambassadors of Saladin. A game of cross purposes continued for some time, the representative of the lioman empire in the East allying himself with the Arabs against the Turks, the representative of the Eoman empire in the West allying himself with the Turks. AVhile it is impossible to avoid regretting such a division in Christen- dom, it must be admitted that the Greeks were right in con- centrating their efforts against the Turks. Peace with the Turks was virtually impossible; all alliances with them by the Crusaders came to nouo:ht. When the Crusaders had passed over into Asia Minor the Turks continued for a time to be friendly, and furnished them with provisions. Soon, however, their friendliness ceased. It was, in fact, impossible that the passage of an enormous army, certainly not short of a hundred thousand men, should not arouse the hostility of