DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4679#0043
18 I. THE LYCOS VALLEY.
Philadelphia into the Lycos valley (which is evidently conceived as
the enemy's country), and took Laodiceia, which was defended by
a Turkish garrison. According to Nicetas p. 17 he rebuilt the walls
of the city; but this seems rather doubtful, in view of the statement
made by that author as to its condition in 1158.
§9. The Turkish Conquest, 1118-1178. The whole valley con-
tinued in Byzantine hands throughout the reign of John Comnenus
1118-1143. Sozopolis, east of Apameia, was the frontier city during
this time, having been taken by him in 1120, and unsuccessfully
attacked by the Turks in 1142. It is, however, probable that the
administration was rather careless in the valley, that Laodiceia was
suffered to pass into decay \ and that the aqueduct on which it
depended for water fell into disrepair, for in 1158 we find that its
Christian population had deserted it and settled in villages on the
hills that fringed the southern mountain-wall, and its fortifications
had been dismantled.
The inhabitants themselves must have been greatly to blame for
this state of things. They were evidently helpless and apathetic, and
submitted unresistingly to the attack of the Turks. Throughout
these border forays no mention is ever made of the slightest attempt
at defence by the inhabitants of the district. Even such small
bodies of mercenaries as the pretenders could collect ravaged the
country at their will without opposition, while the inhabitants sat
behind the walls of Laodiceia or on the lofty height of Khonai,
trusting only in miracles and the Byzantine armies. Such was the
result of so many centuries of Roman and Byzantine government.
Looking at these facts we are astounded to read in Fiolay's History 2
that Frederick Barbarossa in 1190 ' found at Laodiceia an independent
Greek population accustomed to continual war with the Turks, and
who trusted to their own exertions, not to the imperial court and the
central government for safety. These free citizens gave the Crusaders
a sincere welcome.' It is quite certain that if the Byzantine govern-
ment had produced such free citizens, who when left alone before the
enemy, faced and fought them, the Turks would never have conquered
either Asia Minor or Europe. But it is hard to say whether the con-
tempt of all economic and moral law among the governing classes or
1 Probably I ought rather to say ' re- Tripolis, p. 24, was far superior in
main in the decay and disrepair' which vigour to Laodiceia and Khonai, and so
had affected it since 1071. did Sozopolis, where there has remained
2 Finlay has been misled by the ex- a strong body of Christians to the pre-
ample of Philadelpheia, which showed sent day. But Laodiceia shows no
splendid energy and self-reliance: even analogy to them.
Philadelphia into the Lycos valley (which is evidently conceived as
the enemy's country), and took Laodiceia, which was defended by
a Turkish garrison. According to Nicetas p. 17 he rebuilt the walls
of the city; but this seems rather doubtful, in view of the statement
made by that author as to its condition in 1158.
§9. The Turkish Conquest, 1118-1178. The whole valley con-
tinued in Byzantine hands throughout the reign of John Comnenus
1118-1143. Sozopolis, east of Apameia, was the frontier city during
this time, having been taken by him in 1120, and unsuccessfully
attacked by the Turks in 1142. It is, however, probable that the
administration was rather careless in the valley, that Laodiceia was
suffered to pass into decay \ and that the aqueduct on which it
depended for water fell into disrepair, for in 1158 we find that its
Christian population had deserted it and settled in villages on the
hills that fringed the southern mountain-wall, and its fortifications
had been dismantled.
The inhabitants themselves must have been greatly to blame for
this state of things. They were evidently helpless and apathetic, and
submitted unresistingly to the attack of the Turks. Throughout
these border forays no mention is ever made of the slightest attempt
at defence by the inhabitants of the district. Even such small
bodies of mercenaries as the pretenders could collect ravaged the
country at their will without opposition, while the inhabitants sat
behind the walls of Laodiceia or on the lofty height of Khonai,
trusting only in miracles and the Byzantine armies. Such was the
result of so many centuries of Roman and Byzantine government.
Looking at these facts we are astounded to read in Fiolay's History 2
that Frederick Barbarossa in 1190 ' found at Laodiceia an independent
Greek population accustomed to continual war with the Turks, and
who trusted to their own exertions, not to the imperial court and the
central government for safety. These free citizens gave the Crusaders
a sincere welcome.' It is quite certain that if the Byzantine govern-
ment had produced such free citizens, who when left alone before the
enemy, faced and fought them, the Turks would never have conquered
either Asia Minor or Europe. But it is hard to say whether the con-
tempt of all economic and moral law among the governing classes or
1 Probably I ought rather to say ' re- Tripolis, p. 24, was far superior in
main in the decay and disrepair' which vigour to Laodiceia and Khonai, and so
had affected it since 1071. did Sozopolis, where there has remained
2 Finlay has been misled by the ex- a strong body of Christians to the pre-
ample of Philadelpheia, which showed sent day. But Laodiceia shows no
splendid energy and self-reliance: even analogy to them.