122 THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE. second crusade, which commenced in 1147, tlie armies of the Cross were led, respectively, by Conrad, the first Difficulties ^ _ , . ,5 t ^ t I c^ 1 • with the sec- Swabuin Kino:, and founder of the line oi bwabian oud crusade. *^ t • • /• i -r» -n« emperors ot the western division oi the Koman Em- pire, and by Louis YII. of France. Conrad's army was the first to reach the dominions under the rule of Constantinople. There was fair reason to believe that the Crusaders would be well received. The Eastern Empire, even more than the West, was at this time interested in resisting and driving back the various Moslem races that had already swamped so consider- able a part of its territory, and had invited the Crusaders to share in this task. Moreover, Conrad and Manuel, the reign- ing Byzantine emperor, had married sisters, and family affec- tion might hav^e aided the two to work harmoniously together. But the brothers-in-law were jealous of each other, and fam- ily quarrels added fuel to the unfriendly feeling w^iich soon displayed itself. It must be noticed, in fairness to the empire, that it was hardly possible that the Western army should march across the Balkan peninsula without giving cause for dissatisfaction. The messengers sent by Manuel estimated the number of men who had crossed the Danube at ninety thousand. The army was at once attended by another of By- zantine troops, intended to see that the Crusaders complied w^ith the conditions on which they had been allowed to enter Manuel's territory. But the army, as indeed all armies at that time, was much less under discipline than are those of modern states. The crusading armies, in particular, had so much of a volunteer character about them that great license had to be allowed. Conrad's was attended by an ^unusual number of pilgrims, over w^hom it was difficult to exercise control. Pil- grimages in the East are in our own day, usually, at least, oc- casions for the widest license. The pilgrims among the Cru- saders were ready to plunder the inhabitants of the districts through which they passed on every occasion. As great num- bers of them were without money, plunder was indeed neces- sary if they were to live. The inhabitants naturally demand- ed high prices, and, perhaps, as naturally cheated the Crusad- ers as much as possible. Conrad seems to have done his best
