- Paperback: 499 pages
- Publisher: Arrow Books Ltd; New edition edition (16 Aug 1990)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0099683504
- ISBN-13: 978-0099683506
- Product Dimensions: 19 x 12.6 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
934,068 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #35 in Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Middle East > Israel > Jerusalem
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Product Description
Product Description
In the 11th century Duke Godfrey de Bouillon, one of the most celebrated knights of Christendom, set out with an army to march the gruelling 2500 miles to Jerusalem and liberate it. 900 years later, Tim Severin and his companion traced the path of that crusade, riding the same breed of Ardennes Heavy Horse that Duke Godfrey would have used. Across Germany, Austria, Hungary and down to Turkey and Syria, they rode past crusader settlements, ancient battlefields, through arid plains and precipitous mountain passes, in an odyssey that turned into a demonstration of practical history, exploration and high adventure. This is the account of this adventure. The author has also written "The Brendan Voyage", "Sinbad Voyage" and "Ulysses Voyage".
About the Author
Tim Severin was born in 1940 and educated at Tonbridge School and Oxford University. He has sailed a leather boat across the North Atlantic in the wake of Saint Brendan, captained an Arab sailing ship from Muscat to China, and steered the replica of a Bronze Age galley to investigate the stories of Jason and the Argonauts and Ulysses' Odyssey. He holds the Founder's Medal of the Royal Geographical Society, awarded in1 1986 for outstanding services to exploration and geographic history. In 1988, the Royal Scottish Geographical Society presented him with the Livingstone Gold Medal. When not travelling Tim Severin lives in County Cork, Ireland.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
A very well-written book which mixes history and adventure to explain what the first crusaders went through to get to Jerusalem. I wish I could have seen the documentaries!
0 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Country of Last Crusaders
Prince Vakhushti Batonishvili (1696-1757, historian-encyclopaedist,) tells us about the beginning of XVI century (at that time Georgia was divided in three small kingdoms): "Three kings went to Jerusalem by the invitation of Suleiman I -Turkish Sultan: king of Kartvelians - George (Central Georgia), king of Imeretians Bagrat (West Georgia) and king of Kakhetians Leon (East Georgia), in order to invade Jerusalem and free it from infidels" (Iranians). Vakhushti describes the true happiness of "Swards of Messiah"- the successor to Bagrations - famous kings dynasty, caused by the preposition from Sultan, who invaded Austria-Hungary, when they gathered, "joined Kvarkvare Atabagi (Lord of South Georgia)", had fight in Jerusalem, and Sultan Suleiman handed over the "Holy places to the winners: Christ's grave, Golgotha, Bethlem and "Holly Cross Monastery".
In XII century, after European Crusaders lost Jerusalem, all the rights and privileges that Georgian monks and pilgrims had on sacred places and monasteries of Holy Land, that was once re-established during Sultan Saladin's period, were intensified by Georgians in XIV-XV centuries, sometimes with war together with Mongolians against Bagdad and Damascus, sometimes with diplomatic arrangements. Since the fall of Constantinople, when Christian Europe couldn't dare to look towards East, after Lang-Temur (Tamerlane), in XVI century Georgians succeeded to get back their rights but they had to carry out an attack. The researchers have different opinions on the abovementioned, but Sultan's pragmatic events gives us a chance to think optimistic, the characteristic spontaneity of young kings and the bravery of knights, claim that Georgian pilgrims and warriors always used special rights on Holy Land in XI-XVII centuries.
The group of club "Tadzari"("Temple") members is getting ready for the horse riding on the historical road of pilgrims: Tbilisi (Georgia), Erzurum, Kayseri, Konia, Antakya (Turkey), Jerusalem. The aim of this project is to show the cultural and historical heritage of our countries.
The national heritage club "Tadzari" ("Temple") is the organization that aims to implement the project "Country of Last Crusaders" in the existing conditions, to draw the attention on one side of Governments, and on the other side of international TV channels, leading universities, scientific centers, tourism industry.
This will be a one month cultural show, very beautiful sight of horse riders expedition following the footsteps of ancestors, nonstop international broadcasting for the popularisation of Georgian, Turkish, Byzantine and Palestinian culture, the incredible epopee implemented in XVI century by the last crusaders of Christian world - Georgians.
The society will be involved in the conferences-seminars, the permanent internet forum will be created, the visitors will get to know Georgian monuments that are spread on the territory of Caucasus, Turkey/Byzantine, Palestine, the history, folklore, ethnology of these countries. According to the historical tradition, the flow of riders with open flags, volunteers and correspondents will hold a press-conference in front of "Holly Cross Monastery", there will be a symbolic entering in the main gate of Jerusalem castle, informing the everyone about the "Holly Cross Monastery", in the format of expedition.
Definitely the fact, that free from "Russia's slavery", fearless guards and unselfish appraisers of Holy Land - Georgians still continue their historical tradition, is telling us a lot...
Malkhaz Datukishvili
Prince Vakhushti Batonishvili (1696-1757, historian-encyclopaedist,) tells us about the beginning of XVI century (at that time Georgia was divided in three small kingdoms): "Three kings went to Jerusalem by the invitation of Suleiman I -Turkish Sultan: king of Kartvelians - George (Central Georgia), king of Imeretians Bagrat (West Georgia) and king of Kakhetians Leon (East Georgia), in order to invade Jerusalem and free it from infidels" (Iranians). Vakhushti describes the true happiness of "Swards of Messiah"- the successor to Bagrations - famous kings dynasty, caused by the preposition from Sultan, who invaded Austria-Hungary, when they gathered, "joined Kvarkvare Atabagi (Lord of South Georgia)", had fight in Jerusalem, and Sultan Suleiman handed over the "Holy places to the winners: Christ's grave, Golgotha, Bethlem and "Holly Cross Monastery".
In XII century, after European Crusaders lost Jerusalem, all the rights and privileges that Georgian monks and pilgrims had on sacred places and monasteries of Holy Land, that was once re-established during Sultan Saladin's period, were intensified by Georgians in XIV-XV centuries, sometimes with war together with Mongolians against Bagdad and Damascus, sometimes with diplomatic arrangements. Since the fall of Constantinople, when Christian Europe couldn't dare to look towards East, after Lang-Temur (Tamerlane), in XVI century Georgians succeeded to get back their rights but they had to carry out an attack. The researchers have different opinions on the abovementioned, but Sultan's pragmatic events gives us a chance to think optimistic, the characteristic spontaneity of young kings and the bravery of knights, claim that Georgian pilgrims and warriors always used special rights on Holy Land in XI-XVII centuries.
The group of club "Tadzari"("Temple") members is getting ready for the horse riding on the historical road of pilgrims: Tbilisi (Georgia), Erzurum, Kayseri, Konia, Antakya (Turkey), Jerusalem. The aim of this project is to show the cultural and historical heritage of our countries.
The national heritage club "Tadzari" ("Temple") is the organization that aims to implement the project "Country of Last Crusaders" in the existing conditions, to draw the attention on one side of Governments, and on the other side of international TV channels, leading universities, scientific centers, tourism industry.
This will be a one month cultural show, very beautiful sight of horse riders expedition following the footsteps of ancestors, nonstop international broadcasting for the popularisation of Georgian, Turkish, Byzantine and Palestinian culture, the incredible epopee implemented in XVI century by the last crusaders of Christian world - Georgians.
The society will be involved in the conferences-seminars, the permanent internet forum will be created, the visitors will get to know Georgian monuments that are spread on the territory of Caucasus, Turkey/Byzantine, Palestine, the history, folklore, ethnology of these countries. According to the historical tradition, the flow of riders with open flags, volunteers and correspondents will hold a press-conference in front of "Holly Cross Monastery", there will be a symbolic entering in the main gate of Jerusalem castle, informing the everyone about the "Holly Cross Monastery", in the format of expedition.
Definitely the fact, that free from "Russia's slavery", fearless guards and unselfish appraisers of Holy Land - Georgians still continue their historical tradition, is telling us a lot...
Malkhaz Datukishvili
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
7 reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
On the Trail of Godfrey of Bouillon
27 Aug 2001
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you are reluctant to delve into the ideological controversy surrounding the crusades but would like to know more about the practical aspects of such an enterprise, this is one book you might enjoy reading. Irish travel writer Tim Severin largely avoids speculation about what motivated and sustained the crusaders (was it greed? religious fanaticism? pursuit of fame and glory? promise of salvation? a thirst for adventure and empire building?), although he consults and cites historical sources. Instead, he concentrates on the logistics of such an expedition. How was it organized and financed? Which routes were used? How much distance could be covered per day? How did the men and the horses cope with the challenges posed by terrain, climate, food supply or lack thereof, disease and enemy attacks?
To find out, he and a female companion retraced the route of Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, leader of the first crusade (1096), from Chateau Bouillon in Belgium to Jerusalem, on horseback. In their effort to use horses closely resembling the medieval war horse, Tim and Sarah settled on a sturdy Ardennes stallion and an Irish bog mare. (Alas, neither horse completed the journey). A Jeep and a moped were used as backup transportation. The team covered an average of 20 miles/day, over a distance of more than 2500 miles. Frequent re-shoeing of the horses, dealing with saddle sores, lameness, heat exhaustion and digestive problems took up a considerable portion of the time.
Traversing Germany, Austria, Hungary (where another horse was added), Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Turkey, they followed the ancient Roman road as closely as possible. After 4 months - about the same time it had taken Godfrey - they reached Istanbul.
The narrative skillfully blends historical reports with the various stages of the author's progress. Encounters with hospitable and generous farmers, recalcitrant bureaucrats, wily horse traders and smugglers make for lively reading. After a winter's layover in Anatolia, the team pressed on to Syria and Israel. With 2 Turkish ponies, they finally entered Jerusalem and walked to the Holy Sepulchre, completing Godfrey's journey - and their own. Godfrey, having been appointed "Defender of the Holy Sepulchre", died in Jerusalem in 1100.
A number of color photographs and line drawings accompany the text. A serious drawback is the absence of maps: while the author frequently mentions " poring over old Ottoman maps", he doesn't show us any.
Summarizing his experiences, Severin felt he had gained " a new understanding of what went through the minds of the travellers: the fundamental change of emphasis from optimistic beginning, through disillusion, to a stubborn yearning to achieve the goal after so much affliction and commitment."
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
A sense of distance.
21 Nov 2003
Format:Paperback
In a world where we can hop on a plane and jet off to the Holy Land in a matter of hours the enormity of the achievement of the first Crusade is difficult to appreciate.
Tim Severin set out to demonstrate what was involved in his own imimical way, by doing it. Combining good historical research with practical archeology he set out to recreate the journey of the knights of the first crusade.
Follow him as he chooses his horses in Ireland and France, and sets out from the home of the very first King of the Crusader Kingdom of Jereusalem. You travel with him down the ancient Roman Roads of Europe, as he narrates how the Byzantine emperor called for help from Frankish knights in his war against the Turks, and how the response he got was not at all what he had planned.
Trace the route across the plain of Hungary, through Bulgaria and into what was the Byzantine Empire, as you learn of the horrors of the peoples crusade, the depravation, the cannibalism and the impalings.
In Turkey Severin meets friendly locals and impassable mountains and narrates the possible reasons for the success in battle of the Frankish knights.
This is a fascinating journey that will interest any Crusade follower, horse lovers, travellers and historians alike!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Entrancing travel narrative
23 July 2003
Format:Paperback
This is a very readable account of an unusual journey: to retrace the steps of the First Crusade, from Europe to Jerusalem, the author and a companion followed the old pilgrim trails on horseback, the same means of travel as the original Crusader knights used. The narrative of the travel is well-written and does not fail to "grab" the reader, whether describing the many local characters and land encountered in so many countries en route, the hardships and challenges of such a long equestrian venture, or the interesting passages of historical background interspersed with the ongoing travelogue. My only negatives were: (1) the book was obviously not proofread well before going to press and printing errors abound, and (2) inclusion of a map would have helped the reader to follow more easily the described route of travel as it occurred. These quibbles do not detract overall from a lovely story well-told, and of interest whether or not you have a horsey background.
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