Volume 3 – Chapter 4 – A Bloody Battle …

| Morning of November 3 - 1248 - Near Bardawil Lake - Attila |

I wish this melody would never end, but we didn't have time.

We do not know when the French army has been fighting the Arabs waiting for our help.

We have to move.

I shouted: << Well soldiers, now I see you loaded! Now, chargeeeeeeeee! >>

Everyone was so enthusiastic that they too let out a rallying cry.

It didn't matter if you were on foot or horseback, everyone was coming down from that knoll as if they were a herd of animals ready to attack.

I looked towards the Emperor: << Your Majesty, I strongly advise you to go to the King of France. I will throw myself on the battlefield >>

<< Before going I want to ask you a question Attila. How did you manage to make this speech? >>

I looked at him a few seconds before replying: << Majesty, what I said is nothing but the pure truth. This is the seventh crusade, so Europeans are already fighting six times. The euphoria of the first crusades has been lost and it is obvious that the soldiers are not here only for the riches and not because they believe in God. What I have done is just a way to make them enthusiastic. Now, let me go to battle Your Majesty >>

The Emperor had an expression of resignation on his face: << Go Attila and try to come back alive >>

<< It will be done >>

After these last words of mine, I also loaded my horse.

From above the hill, I had seen the battlefield and had an idea.

The French troops were on the verge of being encircled by the Arabs, this is because the Arabs not only had more infantry than them, they also had more cavalry. So they would lose in the long run.

But since we are here now, the situation is dire for them.

I have sent all my cavalry to break through the flanks of a part of the Arab one.

When our theirs arrived, taken aback, they saw our spears sticking into their chests or the necks of their horses.

Within minutes, the right-wing cavalry of the Arab army was being massacred.

I shouted to the troops: << Men on horseback, follow me! >>

We all moved behind the Arab infantry, who hadn't noticed our arrival.

We charged again by sticking our spears into the backs of those poor men.

Only afterwards did we kill more than a hundred of them, their army realized that they had the enemy cavalry that was annihilating them from behind.

Once they noticed it, part of the enemy army turned towards us with spears.

| Morning of November 3 - 1248 - Camp of the King of France - Frederick II |

I, my advisers and our escort arrived at the French camp.

There the King of France, with Alexios in tow, looked at us in amazement with a smile on his face.

<< Oh, you're finally here Federico. I was thinking that you would not arrive more >>

<< Forgive our delay, Luigi. We walked almost day and night to get there on time. We arrived as quickly as possible >>

<<Yes, do not worry thanks to your men now we have a landslide victory. Also because thanks to your orders they are closing them in a circle by exterminating them. I didn't think you were so good at military tactics >>

I turned my gaze to the battlefield.

I hadn't done anything, since Attila arrived I was doing nothing but asking for his help and following his proposals.

Even now, I have not ordered anything from the troops. Attila is the one who is commanding them right now and is wreaking havoc among the Arabs.

Attila, how do you get all this knowledge if you were just a farmer?

Who you are?

| Morning of November 3 - 1248 - Near Bardawil Lake - Attila |

At that moment our infantry had arrived and had distributed themselves in such a way as to encircle the right side and the rear of the Arab army.

The cavalry and I reciprocated again by attacking the left flank, where the French cavalry was suffering the most.

This time she was not fooled, seeing us she charged us on sight.

But even this was a bad choice, as once the French saw us face the Arabs face to face they charged them from behind and locked them in a lethal grip.

The Arab cavalry was annihilated, the infantry was closed on all fronts from the French one in front and ours from behind and from the sides. Also considering that our cavalry had fun with them too.

The Arabs were trapped and quickly realized it.

They tried to fight a little more but realized that there were too many deaths in a short time.

They all dropped to their knees, throwing their weapons to the ground.

What used to be a respectable army was now reduced to just a pile of corpses.

By eye, the enemy has lost more than 75% of his men.

And the rest were on their knees begging for mercy.

But this was not my decision, it was up to the Emperor.

I then gave an order: << Listen to me men, both those of the Emperor and the French! >>

They all turned towards me, I continued: << You were brave and magnificent! We have won the battle! >>

A triumphant chorus rose as the Arabs ate their lips.

I continued: << Some of you go and inform the Emperor and the King of France that we have won the battle and that the enemies have surrendered! >>

| Afternoon of November 3 - 1248 - Near Bardawil Lake - Attila |

After the battle, the most important imperial and French figures gathered in a tent to discuss the next move. Since we have indeed won the battle but not the war.

The rulers were seated at a table, while I and the other councilors were standing.

The King of France spoke: << Before starting this meeting I would like to thank you for having warned us of the Arab attack. Without this warning, we would have been doomed >>

The Emperor replied: << Luigi, it is I who must thank you. That message could have been a fake yet you trusted me. This gave us time to rush to your rescue >>

But what has it become? A contest of thanks?

The King resumed: << Having said that, I would like to discuss what to do in the future. From what I understand, the Arab army we wiped out was only half of all Arab forces. Isn't that so? >>

<< Yes, that's it. The other half is under the direct control of the Sultan. Of which we still have no information on what he is doing >>

And we shouldn't care too much, as anything he does is not going to win.

<< Instead, the commander of this army what happened to Federico? I only know that we have many men taken as prisoners >>

<< The commander, from what I was told, ran away as soon as he saw his army encircled >>

I started walking towards the center of the table and said: << Emperor, forgive the intrusion, you are wrong. The Arab commander was killed >>

He was surprised: << Yes? I was told that he had escaped >>

<< Don't worry, I killed him with my hands >>

From a bag, which I took for this occasion, I had taken a severed head. It was that of the commander.

At the beginning they were all a little shocked but the King of France broke the astonishment: << Well at least we know that he is dead >>

<< Yes, you are right. Now, what do you propose to do Luigi? >>

As I returned to my seat the King was replying: << I propose to march on Jerusalem with both of our armies, obviously after having rested >>

<< I also think the same, the Arab army divided in half can do nothing against us >>

They are in a hurry to get to Jerusalem, they don't think with their brains.

It makes no sense to go there immediately if Acre, the only city capable of providing us with reinforcements and food, is captured by the Sultan.

Although, perhaps the Sultan could be stupid enough to try to defend Jerusalem.

The French King said: << Well, then it is decided that we will march on Jerusalem! >>

Both leaders shook hands in friendship.

Once a battle is over, another must be fought.