Letters to My Love
1095
My Love-
I am so scared on the battlefield, but I don’t know what to do.
If my
soldiers knew, they wouldn’t look up to me. I miss home. France
is my second
true love after you. If I had been born the first son instead
of the second,
my life would be so much easier and I could be with you right
now. Thus,
becoming a knight changed my life. And as soon as I heard Pope
Urban II give
his speech that day, it inspired me. He is calling all of us
to join the
crusades and go to Constantinople and then to Asia Minor to fight
the Muslims
and help Alexius regain control of his empire. Pope Urban has
promised us
riches and more if we participate in the First Crusade. I am
supposed to
recruit more crusaders. I will start that tomorrow.
Love Your Fiancé,
Tristan the Bold
1095
Emily-
Today I recruited many people to join my troops. Some of them
were minor
Noblemen. Most of them were poor people, including unemployed
farmers,
workers, women, and even children. They only joined because they
have been
living an awful life and Pope Urban has promised everyone riches
and eternal
salvation. These crusades are holy wars against the "unbelievers."
The
Crusade that I am participating in is the first ever. Alexius
I has asked
Pope Urban to help the eastern Christians to re-establish control
from the
Seljuk Turks. I miss you my dear, and I will keep writing, give
everyone my
love. And don’t forget me.
-Tristan
1096
Emily-
Today I made
a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, may God’s will help us win
the First Crusade, so I may come home to you as soon as possible.
Pope Urban
is a wonderful man, did you know that he spent the first five
years of his
papacy establishing his own legitimacy and traveled widely throughout
Europe
teaching? His goal is to unite the church and to increase the
papacy’s power.
He is masterful. I have been thinking of you every moment of
everyday. I wish
we could get each other’s letters quicker, but I can’t help that.
Maybe after
the holy war, we could figure out a way to deliver it faster.
We could call
it the…mailing system! Won’t that be funny? I can’t wait to see
your eyes
again, I miss staring into them. You will soon be my bride.
Write me soon my love,
Tristan
1096
Love-
Peter the Hermit has
recruited thousands of people! He and I have
become close friends. He says after the battle, he would love
to meet you.
That would be nice, maybe he could stay with us for a while,
and get settled
in France. If that is alright with you, Emily. I want to tell
you whatever
happens to me out here, I will always love you. And you will
be mine and I
will be yours forever. We are going to attack the Muslims soon.
I quiver just
to think about it. Don’t be scared for me, because I am already
Scared enough
for both of us.
Love Always,
Your Love
1097
Emily-
When I write your name, it brings tears to
my eyes. We are participating
in one of the most major battles of the First Crusade. The battle
is the
battle of Nicaea. Peter the Hermit lead the first wave of soldiers
in the
battle. He got wounded. I am scared for myself, I am scared for
him. I am
scared for everyone, Emily. We have almost successfully conquered
the Muslims
in this battle. But anything can happen, just anything. But word
is going
around that the Turks may surrender to us. If they do so, that
will infuriate
Alexius. Write me soon. I love you.
Tristan
1098
My Emily-
I am coming home as
we speak. I have been wounded, but don’t worry it
is not major. I got stabbed in the leg, but luckily it wasn’t
deep, and the
cut stopped bleeding. This is a sign my love, that as soon as
we get home we
be wed. I am overcome with joy right now that I will see you
soon. But I am
in sum what of a little pain, but don’t worry my darling, I will
be in your
arms sooner than you get this letter. I love you.
-Your Knight Tristan
the Bold