Nature of Frankish Combat

In Sec. VI Anna spares no criticism of what she thinks of the nature of the Frankish heart in battle and mind in strategy. The knight is valiant in the attack and will rush into a battle but hardly has the physical stamina to last long or devise a defense against the ensuing counter attack. "For the nation of the Franks in general is self-willed and independent and never employs military discipline or science, but when it is a question of war and fighting, anger barks in their hearts and they are not to be restrained; and this applies not only to the soldiers but to the leaders themselves for they dash into the middle of the enemies' ranks with irresistible force, especially if their opponents yield a little. But if the enemy with strategic skill often sets ambuscades for them and pursues them methodically, then all this courage evaporates. In short, the ranks cannot be resisted in their first attack, but afterwards they are exceedingly easy to master both because of the weight of their arms and from their passionate and irrational character."

Peter the Hermit and the Discovery of the Holy Lance

Anna, I believe has to tow the line between pius Christianity and obvious plays at mythmaking. While she earlier relates the story of her father and the veil of the virgin Mary she makes a point to share the mighty warriors turn in their despair to the musings of the manipulative Peter the Hermit who apparently leads them to the Holy Lance that pierced Christ as he hung on the cross. Without saying it, it may be implied that the discovery was a ruse. "They obeyed the bishop's instructions. And after a few days the bishop... urged them to dig on the right side of the altar, and there [285] they would find the Holy Nail.[*= This should be, Lance.]' They did as he bade and as they did not find it, they returned all discouraged and announced that they had failed in their quest. He accordingly prayed still more earnestly and bade them conduct their search for the object more carefully. They again did his bidding and when they had found what they sought, carried it headlong to Peter, overcome with joy and awe." The talisman combined with what she's expressed about the nature of the Frankish heart was enough to spur the crusaders to victory. "The following day, they sallied out upon the Turks from a secret door... when the armies stood drawn up in squadrons on either side and were preparing for the shock of battle... they all shouted. "God with us! " and at full gallop... rode straight at Curpagan himself..."

The Fall of Jerusalem

In all of the Alexiad the Frankish siege of Jerusalem occupies just two sentences giving cause the the argument that the event itself was a small blip of the the history of the Islamic/Byzantine story. "They encircled [Jerusalem's] walls and made frequent attacks on them and besieged the [286] town and within one lunar month they took it and killed many of the Saracenic and Jewish inhabitants. When they had brought all into subjection and no one resisted them, they invested Godfrey with supreme authority by unanimous consent, and called him 'king.'