Tag: John the Monk

This is part 3 of 3. Part 1 is here. Part 2 is here.

Nec mora, post haec flammarum globis alta astrorum sidera rutilantibus, qui bello affusi prolixo diei spatio legitimo certamine desudaverant, ut conspexerunt, agnoscunt se proditos fore, moxque istorum acie hinc redeuntium a tergo opperiuntur. quibus versa facie dum resistere vellent, inter medias acies fiunt simul ammixti, gravisque contra istos pugnae iactura decurrit. at ubi concito gradu illis insequentibus, et istis contraire nitentibus, telluris locum aliquanto spatio planiorem obtendunt, quem ex detruncatis ibi corporibus hactenus incolae vocant. omnium tela contra istos vertuntur: et concurrentibus cunctis, iam fessis artubus, non amplius resistere possunt. ruunt inter carnificum ictus. et quamvis ex ethnicis plurimi sint prostrati, tamen ex istis pauci superstites remanserunt. sed melius fuit occisis gladio, quam in captivitate ductis. denique peracta caede, cum in unum convenissent, servorum indicio fodientes hinc atque illinc, universum, ecclesiae thesaurum reppererunt, quem illorum pavore servi Dei iam pridem absconderant: et illum sibi in praedam dividentes, cuncta vastaverunt, plurima fregerunt, frumentum et legumina in fluvium, qui secus effluit, disperserunt. et cum iam quasi post laborem et triumphum exultantes discumberent, bibebat ille nefandissimus Saugdan in sacris calicibus, et cum turibulis aureis sibi turificari iubebat. facta est haec caedes beatorum pro Christo monachorum decimo die mensis Octobris, feria tertia, qua secunda lux Lucine rotam ducebat, ab aedificatione vero ipsius monasterii iam iverat annus centesimus sexagesimus quintus.
(John the Monk, Chronicon Vulturnense 1.364-365 Federici)

Immediately after this, sheets of scarlet flame rose up on high toward the stars in heaven. When those who had rushed into battle and labored for a whole day in a fair fight saw this, they realized that they had been betrayed, and soon they were attacked from behind by the men of this troop returning [from the church]. While the defenders wished to resist those who were in their rear, they were trapped between the two [enemy] forces, and the fortunes of battle turned against them. As the enemy pursued them violently, and they strove to fight back, they reached a stretch of ground that was for some way more level, which the inhabitants still today call “the place of headless bodies.” The weapons of all were turned against them, and everybody ran, though their limbs were weary, for they could make no further resistance. They fled amid the blows of the executioners, and although many were laid low by the foreigners, a few of them remained alive. But it was better to be killed by the sword than to be led into captivity. Finally, bringing the slaughter to an end, the enemy gathered together, and guided by the serfs dug hither and thither; and they discovered all the church’s treasures, which the servants of God had hidden through fear of them the day before. They divided the booty among themselves, destroyed everything around, broke many things, and cast the grain and vegetables into the river that flowed nearby. As they relaxed after their labors and rejoiced in their triumph, the most wicked Sawdan drank from the holy chalices, and ordered incense to be wafted on himself from the golden thuribles. This slaughter of the blessed monks for Christ’s sake took place on Tuesday 10 October, at the second hour, when one hundred and sixty-five years had elapsed from the building of the monastery. (tr. Graham Loud)

This is part 2 of 3. Part 1 is here.

In locum igitur iuxta pontem, qui Marmoreus dicitur, pariter convenerunt, captantes iter, quo ad monasterium pervenirent. illis ergo ex una parte, et istis ex altera consistentibus, validior pugna inter utrosque coepit, dum adversae partis hostes invalidi redderentur. etenim non erat illis leve transitum habere per istos. lapidibus quippe vel quibuslibet armis ad manum inventis, pellebant procul tyrannos, condensa silva et artae rupes nostrorum sublevare lacertos.
non gelidus sanguis oppletos strinxerat thoros
nam valida pugna diem abbreviant ultra
quam hiis necesse, vel illis fuerat ferre.
vibrantur enses, iaciuntur spicula, vectes,
et duris dumis haerebant spolia furis.
quid diu moror referre crimina dira,
plebeia manus quae gessit fronte iniqua?
quidam enim ex servis sacri monasterii, videntes se immenso certamine fatigari, et quia, divina gratia protegente, nulla dabatur facultas hostibus transeundi, magisque tyrannorum acies acrius prosternebantur, dominos suos deserentes, clam se subduxerunt; illisque in acie derelictis, Saracenorum regem adierunt, et libertatem cum vita ab eo postulantes, maioris lucri victoriaeque potioris eventum se ferre posse dixerunt. mox ille gavisus, servorum animos donis aureis et mortiferis suasionibus oblectans, incitat explere promissa. sponsione ergo accepta, et inito foedere, mali malorum duces effecti, dominis illorum nescientibus, verso itinere pars maxima pugnatorum, subito ex adverso super sacrum monasterium irruerunt, eumque undique circumdantes ignibus combuserunt, sanctos etiam seniores, quos ibidem invenerunt, gladiis necaverunt. exstat igitur sanctorum sanguis monachorum pro Christo effusus, evidentia indicia hodieque demonstrans, illitis vel aspersis eiusdem ecclesiae parietum ac pavimentorum saxis ac lapidibus.
(John the Monk, Chronicon Vulturnense 1.363-364 Federici)

Thus they mustered at a spot near the Marble Bridge,* blocking the road that led to the monastery. They stood on one side [of the river] and their opponents on the other, and a fierce battle began between them. The enemy were left helpless on the opposite bank, for it was no easy matter to cross to the near side. Seizing stones and other sorts of weapons, they drove the tyrants some way back, while the dense woods and the walls assisted the courage of our men.
No icy blood constrained their powerful muscles
For they cut the day short by fierce fighting.
That makes it hard for both our men and the enemy to endure.
Swords are brandished, javelins and darts are thrown,
And the plunder of the thief sticks fast in the sharp thorns.
Why do I spend such a long time relating the dreadful crimes
That the hand of the vulgar has carried out with evil intent?
However, some of the serfs of the holy monastery, exhausted by this great battle, and seeing that through the protection of Divine grace no opportunity had been given for the enemy to cross [the river], but rather that the battle line of the enemy was being fiercely struck down, deserted their lords. They secretly sloped away, abandoning their lords in the midst of the fight. They went to the king of the Saracens, begging their lives and freedom from him, and saying that they could bring him a favorable otucome and the great rewards of victory. He immediately rejoiced, seducing the minds of the serfs with golden gifts and deadly promises. These promises were accepted and an agreement was made; and without the knowledge of their lords, these evil men acted as guides to the [other] evildoers. Going by a back route, a large party of warriors suddenly rushed into the monastery from the other side, and set light to it, setting fires on every side. They also put all the elders whom they found there to the sword. Thus the blood of these holy monks was shed for Christ. The marks [of this] are clear and can be seen today, having been smeared or sprinkled on the wall of the church, on the flagstones of the floor and on the stones.

* A bridge crossing the river Volturno, very near the complex of monastery buildings.

(tr. Graham Loud, with his note)

This is part 1 of 3.

Cum nefanda gens Agarenorum ceteras terrarum partes depraedantes, incendentes ac subvertentes consumerent, tandem profana turba impiorum, cuius manus sunt contra omnes, necdum humano sanguine satiata, omnibus bestiis atrociores, ad pretiosi Martyris Vincentii sacrum coenobium furibunda procedit. moris tunc erat monachorum utriusque cenobii Beatissimi Vincentii, et Sanctissimi Benedicti caritatis gratia se invicem sedule visitare. cum igitur die quadam ad praedictum coenobium fratres quidam monasterii Casinensis de more abissent, et de suo ad invicem ordine loquerentur, repente illuc Saugdan saevissimus cum suis satellitibus supervenit. cuius monachi rumore comperto, qui advenerant ad castellum ipsius monasterii proximum, maturato cursu, nimis licet pavidi, incolumes tamen aufugerunt. quod ubi a Dei servis auditum est in monasterio, ilico omnem ecclesiae thesaurum absconderunt. ipsi vero non timore territi, sed constantes atque intrepidi, invicem se cohortantes, paucis tantum relictis senioribus aetate et vita venerabilibus ad ecclesiae munimina, reliqui omnes cum subiectis sibi famulis in obviam procedunt venientibus ethnicis.
(John the Monk, Chronicon Vulturnense 1.362-363 Federici)

When the evil race of the Agarenes* had wasted other parts of these lands through plunder, fire, and destruction, at length this profane crowd of unbelievers, whose hands are against all, than whom no beast is more fierce, and who were not yet satiated with human blood, turned their fury against the monastery of the holy martyr Vincenzo. It was then the custom for the monks of both the monasteries of the most blessed Vincenzo and the most blessed Benedict through the grace of charity to visit each other regularly. When therefore some brothers of the monastery of Cassino were going one day to the aforesaid monastery, as was customary, and speaking to one another about their observance, suddenly the most savage Sawdan and his minions appeared. The monks heard a rumor of this, and went with the utmost haste to the castellum close to the monastery; although they were greatly afraid, they were able to flee in safety. When the servants of God in the monastery heard this news, they hid all the treasures of the church in that very spot. They themselves were not stupefied by fear, but constant and intrepid, and encouraging each other. They left a few of the elders, venerable in age and way of life, to take shelter in the church, while the remainder, with the servants subject to them, went to meet the arrival of the foreigners.

* A biblical name for Arabs—”the descendants of Hagar.”
** Sawdan had been the emir of Bari during the period when this port was in Muslim hands, 843-70. He was probably dead by 881, so the chronicler was in error. His name was included since he was known to be the leading figure in the attacks on southern Italy at this period.

(tr. Graham Loud, with his notes)