Armenia and the Crusades: Tenth to Twelfth Century, The Chronicle of Matthew of Edessa

Armenia and the Crusades: Tenth to Twelfth Centuries
The Chronicle of Matthew of Edessa
Translated by Ara Edmond Dostourian
University of America, 1993

This eastern based chronicle, being written by a resident of the important city of Edessa in the early period of the twelfth century, gives modern scholars a look into the political and military life of the northern Syria during an extremely hostile time.  Covering a history primarily centered on the Kingdom of Armenia and its highs and lows from 952 -1136, Matthew of Edessa is eventually succeeded in his chronicle writing by a certain Gregory the Priest who then carries the narrative forward until the year 1162.

This chronicle by Matthew is very important for many reasons, but of particular note is the fact that he reveals through prose that is somewhat exaggerated and unscrutinized by it's composer, a world that is wrought with strife and violence that is not even comparable to feudal Europe.  Between Seljuk Turks, Arabs from Damascus and Cairo, and the Byzantine and Armenian Kingdoms, the scale of violence and backstabbing is remarkable in the Middle East, even before the arrival of the crusaders in 1096-97.  Unfortunately, a western biased view of the northern Syria is popularly viewed as the battle ground of the crusaders, when in fact they were the new kids in a fray that was older than their pretensions. 

On the other hand Matthew of Edessa gives scholars a picture that can best be compared with feudal Europe, depicting the back and forth power play between opposed factions, who on occasion find usefulness in allying themselves with each other in order to not allow one power too much of a gain versus the others.  This chronicle is completely devoid of cultural or intellectual developments, other than theological disputes between the emperor of the Byzantines and the Armenian doctors.  In each case, the Armenian theologians win all debates.

Matthew of Edessa is ardently a supporter of the Armenian heritage he feels he belongs too, and is more than explicit when he feels the wrath of God is justly falling on the heads of those deserving it.  However, he has provided us with a window into the period before and after the First Crusade that is valuable for understanding the scenario that the crusaders marched in upon.  Matthew provides a counter point to the idea of the benevolent rule of the crusader's once successfully in command of the important strongholds of the holy land, but at the same time ridicules the idea that there were any "good guys" among the warring factions of the east.  Far from civil, Matthew of Edessa demonstrates in black and white the good and bad sides of the Greeks, Turks, and Arabs of his period in history.