Alexis left the court of Philip probably

Alexis left the court of Philip probably at the same time as the messengers for Zara, but appears to have diverged in order to visit his uncle Emeric, King of Hungary. In the middle of December Boniface had arrived at Zara. Boniface If the account of Robert de Olari is to be trusted, reaches Zara. something like a comedy was arranged between him and Dandolo. The latter saw that the pilgrims were uneasy. The leaders were aware that they had not provisions enough for an expedition to Egypt or to Syria, and they had given out that even if they had they could do nothing when they reached either of these two countries.

Dandolo, therefore, said to them : “ Sirs, in Greece there is a bountiful supply of all things. If we can find a reasonable occasion to go there and to take provisions and other things, then we can easily manage to go Outremer? Then uprose Boniface, Marquis of Montferrat, and explained that at Christmas time he had been in Germany at the court of Philip, where he had seen young Alexis, whose father had been treacherously driven from his throne. “ Whoever,” said Boniface, “ has this young man can go into the land of Constantinople and take provisions and what is needed.” Hence, according to Robert, the messengers were sent to Alexis in order that by inducing him to come the Crusaders might have home acoison, rasnauvle ocaision, to go to Constantinople.

On New Year’s Day, 1203, the messengers returned from Philip, accompanied by those whom that king had sent. Henceforward it was impossible to keep the object of their mission secret.

Substitute the leaders

The organization of the Crusaders for the purpose of taking a decision was not unlike that which prevailed throughout most European states. Substitute the leaders and the great barons for the king, the lesser barons of the army and the knights for the lords, and the whole army for the commons, and the parallel will be complete. The leaders took the initiative. Then the parliament of lesser barons and knights had the proposition submitted to them, and lastly the commons of the army had to give their approval. The leaders had been consulted at Venice, and had accepted in principle the proposal to aid Alexis in return for his subsequently assisting the army. At Zara the proposition in a definite shape had to be submitted to the parliament of lesser barons and knights.